Assign Items

CAD data becomes available to the non-CAD user by assigning an item to a file. Assigning an item requires Item Create permission.

Assigning an item to a file within a vault creates an item record in the Item Master and allows the CAD data to be tracked throughout its lifecycle.

Files that can be assigned items

Autodesk Inventor IPT, IAM, IPN, DWG, and IDW files that have been checked into the vault using the Inventor add-in

Note: You cannot assign an item to an iAssembly or iPart factory.
AutoCAD and AutoCAD Mechanical DWG files
AutoCAD Electrical projects
Non-CAD files such as Microsoft Office documents

When an item is assigned to an Autodesk Inventor .ipt or .iam file, the related 2D .idw files are automatically associated to the item.

Note: Only design representation files (.pdf, .dxf, .step) created through standard Vault workflows such as Job Processor tasks or the Vault Client 'Create File from CAD Files' operation are automatically associated with items. Files that are manually attached, even if recategorized as Design Representation, are not automatically associated during Assign/Update Item operations.

The associated .idw files are listed in the item's Associated Files list and are available for mark up within the item. When an .iam file is assigned an item, the presentation file, .ipn, is also associated with the item and displayed in the Associated Files list.

When you assign an item to a file, an item number is automatically generated based on property mapping. You can apply a different item numbering scheme other than the default item number by editing the item record.

Assign an Item

Right-click one or more files in the main view and select Assign/Update Item.

A new item is created for each of the files selected and for the related files.
If you assign an item to a single file, the item record automatically opens for editing. Begin making changes, if needed.
If you select multiple files and assign an item, an item icon displays in the Item Column. However, you must right-click on a file and select Open Item to view the item record. Select Edit on the item record toolbar to begin editing.

Note: Item Numbering is automatically applied based on the default numbering scheme. However, if the numbering scheme requires user input, the Item Number dialog opens. Enter the required values and click OK to continue.

See Edit an Item for information on modifying an item record, including changing the item number, adding and removing rows to the BOM, adding items to a change order, and attaching files.
Click Save and Close when you are finished.

The item master is updated with the new items. If items were assigned to Autodesk Inventor assembly files, any associated drawing (.idw) and presentation (.ipn) files are linked to the items. If items were assigned to Inventor part files, the associated drawing (.idw) files are linked to the items.

Note: Links to design representation files (.pdf, .dxf, .step) are automatically removed when their source files are removed from the item. During the next Assign/Update Item operation, any remaining design representation files in Vault will be automatically re-associated with the item.