Register iParts
You may register iParts into Upchain in a number of different ways as outlined in the following sections.
Note: The method you choose to register iParts may result in factory or member files being registered as phantom.
Important: Registered iPart factory and member files are not renamed regardless of filename.pattern tenant property. That is, they retain their original file name. Therefore, you must ensure all iParts are named correctly before registering them into Upchain.
Register an iPart factory file
You may register an iPart factory file to an item in Upchain. To do this:
Open the factory file in Inventor and refresh the cBOM view of the CAD plugin.
Right-click the factory file and select Create item.
The Location selection window opens.
Select the location where you want to place the new factory item.
Click OK.
The CAD Check in window opens.
(Optional) In the CAD Check in window, change the item type.
Click OK.
The factory file is registered to an item and placed in your chosen location. The following is also true:
- All generated member files are registered as phantom into Upchain.
- The registered factory file is copied into your home folder. A sub-folder named the same as the registered factory file is created in the home folder and all registered member files are copied there.
Note:
- You cannot use the Item View to register an iPart factory file. You must use the cBOM view instead.
- You may generate additional iPart member files after the factory file is registered into Upchain. The next time the iPart factory file is checked in, its additional member files will also be registered as phantom into Upchain.
- If you rename a member file from the factory file table and regenerate the member file, Upchain will treat it as a new member the next time the factory file is checked in.
- If you delete a member file from the factory file table and check in the factory file, the relationship between the latest factory file version and the deleted member file is removed, but older file versions still retain the relationship in Upchain.
- You may use Find item or Attach active CAD to associate a factory file to an existing item. However, this does not register any member files.
Register an iPart member file
You may register an iPart member file to an item in Upchain. To do this:
Open the iPart member file in Inventor and refresh the cBOM view of the CAD plugin.
Right-click the member file and select Create item.
The Location selection window opens.
Select the location where you want to place the new member item.
Click OK.
The CAD Check in window opens.
Note: The factory file is not shown in the CAD Check in window and so it is not possible to create an item for it at this time. You may create an item for it later.
(Optional) In the CAD Check in window, change the item type for the member item.
Click OK.
The member file is registered to an item and placed in your chosen location. The following is also true:
- Only the member file and its child factory file are registered into Upchain. Any additional generated member files that the factory file may have are not registered into Upchain.
- The factory file is registered as a phantom file.
- The factory file is saved as a child in the cBOM of the member file.
- The registered factory file is copied into your home folder. A sub-folder named the same as the registered factory file is created in the home folder and the registered member file is copied there.
- Registered iPart factory and member files are not renamed, that is, they retain their original file name.
- You may use Find item or Attach active CAD to associate the member file to an existing item. This registers the factory file as a phantom and does not register any additional member files.
Note: You may now create an item for the factory file if desired. However, the factory item will not be added to the member item’s eBOM. You must do this manually.
Register an iPart member file as part of an assembly
You may register an assembly that contains one or more iPart member files to an item in Upchain. To do this:
Open the assembly that contains one or more iPart member files in Inventor and refresh the cBOM view of the CAD plugin.
Right-click the assembly and select Create item.
The Location selection window opens.
Select the location where you want to place the new assembly item.
Click OK.
The CAD Check in window opens.
Note: The factory file is not shown in the CAD Check in window and so it is not possible to create an item for it at this time.
(Optional) In the CAD Check in window, change the item type for the assembly
Ensure a green checkmark appears beside each iPart member file to create items in the assembly and (optionally) set their item type.
Click OK.
The assembly is registered to an item and placed in your chosen location. The following is also true:
- Only the member files used in the assembly and their child factory file are registered into Upchain. Any additional generated member files that the are not used in the assembly are not registered into Upchain.
- The factory file is registered as a phantom file.
- The factory file is saved as a child in the cBOM of each the member file.
- The registered factory file is copied into your home folder. A sub-folder named the same as the registered factory file is created in the home folder and each registered member file is copied there.
- Registered iPart factory and member files are not renamed, that is, they retain their original file name.
Note: You may now create an item for the factory file if desired. However, the factory item will not be added to the member item’s eBOM. You must do this manually.
Model translations
The usual STEP, STL, and PNG translations are generated for each iPart factory and member file registered to an item.