To Harvest or Purge Styles

The Style Management Wizard is a tool for administrators to assist in batch-style management. Batch processes harvest or purge styles for multiple files in one operation. All files must migrate to the most recent version of Inventor or they are skipped during batch processing, including assemblies that were migrated but contain components that were not migrated.

To open the Style Management Wizard, click Start menu Programs Autodesk Inventor Tools Style Management Wizard.

Harvest styles in a batch process

Specify a group of files (such as parts, assemblies, and drawings) and a target style library. Using the Style Management Wizard, all styles from the selected documents are added to the style library.

This process is useful if you did not make extensive use of templates for the source of styles, but primarily created styles on-the-fly in individual documents.

  1. Select a project to manage. In the listed projects, double-click to make a selection. The Style Library settings and Inventor version number are listed below the window. Click Next.
  2. Select files to process. Add files using one of these methods:
    • Add Specific Files command Click to open the Choose Files to Process dialog box. Browse to the folder that contains the files to process. Select one or more files and then click Open. Selected files are listed by file name, file type, and path.
    • Add All Files in Active Command Lists all files accessible in project folders file name, type, and path. Clear the check box to exclude a file from processing.

    If you prefer, use an alternate method to add files to the list:

    • Drag and drop files from Windows Explorer. Drop them in the list to add them.
    • Get all files referenced by a specific file by right-clicking the file in the process list, and then selecting Get Referenced Files. Adds all files that the selected file is dependent on to the list.
    • Get all drawings or presentations that use a specific file by right-clicking a file in the process list. Select Drawings and Presentations, and then Get All. Adds to the process list all drawings and presentations in the project search paths that use the specific file.
    Tip: Click the column headings of the files list to sort the window contents.
  3. On the Select Management Options page, select Harvest Styles into Target Style Library.
  4. Select the target library, the destination of the harvested styles. Choose one:
    • Use Source Project Style Library automatically selects the style library specified in the project.
    • Create a New Style Library opens the New Style Library dialog box. Specify to copy an existing style library or create an empty library. Browse to the folder where the library will be stored, and if copying, the source style library you are copying.
    • Select an Existing Style Library lists the Default Style Library, but you can browse to a different library.
  5. Click Next.
  6. If necessary, review the selections you have made, and then click Start to harvest styles to the specified library.

A log file is generated during processing. You can press Pause to halt the processing temporarily or Cancel to stop.

Purge styles in a batch process

Specify a group of files (such as parts, assemblies, and drawings) and remove every unused style in all documents. This technique is a fast way to remove styles from legacy documents that you no longer need after you start using a style library.

Note: Use caution when purging styles. Every unused style is removed permanently from all processed documents. If the styles are not saved in another document or a style library, they are permanently lost. Always back up your data before purging styles.
  1. Select a project to manage. In the listed projects, double-click to make selection. The Style Library settings and Inventor version number are listed below the window. Click Next.
    Note: The source project must have a style library.
  2. Select files to process. Click one:
    • Add Specific Files command Click to open the Choose Files to Process dialog box. Browse to the folder that contains the files to process. Select one or more files, and then click Open. Selected files are listed by file name, file type, and path.
    • Add All Files in Active Project command Lists all files accessible in project folders file name, type, and path. Clear the check box to exclude a file from processing.

    If you prefer, use an alternate method to add files to the list:

    • Drag and drop files from Microsoft Windows Explorer. Drop them in the list to add them.
    • Get all files referenced by a specific file by right-clicking the file in the process list, and then selecting Get Referenced Files. Adds all files that the selected file is dependent on to the list.
    • Get all drawings or presentations that use a specific file by right-clicking a file in the process list. Select Drawings and Presentations, and then Get All. Adds to the process list all drawings and presentations in the project search paths that use the specific file.
    Tip: Click the column headings of the files list to sort the window contents.
  3. On the Select Management Options page, select Purge All Unused Styles from Files.

    Be sure that you want to purge all unused styles from all documents. Styles not saved in a style library are permanently lost. Click Next.

  4. If necessary, review the selections you have made, and then click Start to purge all unused styles from all selected documents.

You can press Pause to halt temporarily the processing or Cancel to stop.