About AnyCAD for Inventor

AnyCAD for Inventor allows you to reference a part or assembly file that is one year newer than the version you are on.

Basics

• The file is associative to the newer version of the Inventor file. You create a reference to the newer file using the Open, Place, or Derive command.
• If the newer part or assembly changes, the file is marked for update in the feature browser. When you perform an update, the revised newer file is loaded and the changes are incorporated.
• If you no longer want to update the part or assembly file with changes to the newer model, you can suppress or break the link between the earlier version of the file and the newer version of the file.
• The file can be saved and reopened by any installation of Inventor of the same version.
• The newer file is imported as solid and surface bodies. The newer file's iProperties, design view, and positional representations settings are maintained. All other Inventor features, geometries, and attributes are excluded, including:
  • Modeling feature
  • Parameters
  • Mesh body
  • 2D and 3D sketch
  • DWG underlay
  • Work features
  • iMate
  • MBD objects
  • Assembly relationships
  • Inventor file attributes, such as Sheet Metal settings, Weldment information, and Graphics settings

Migration

If you open and save the file in a newer version of Inventor (or use Task Scheduler to migrate files with references to newer versions):

• The newer version references become standard Inventor Place/Derive relationships.
• Downstream features are retained.

Workflows

The file type and the method for opening the newer file determine the workflow and options as shown in the following table.

Available methods for referencing a file 1 year newer than the release you are on	Result
Open newer part: File Open. or Derive newer part: On the ribbon, click Manage tab Insert panel Derive	Creates a reference to the newer part file in a part file. Only solids and surfaces are created. In the Derived Part dialog box you can include or exclude solid and surface bodies, and specify the design view representation.
Place newer Inventor part into an assembly file: On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Component panel Place.	Creates a reference to the newer part file in an assembly file. Only solids and surfaces are created.
Derive newer assembly: On the ribbon, click Manage tab Insert panel Derive	Creates a reference to the newer assembly file in a part file. Only solids and surfaces are created. In the Derived Part dialog box you can include or exclude component nodes, and change the design view and positional view. The derived assembly feature is editable.
Open newer assembly: File Open. or Place newer Inventor assembly into an assembly file: On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Component panel Place.	Creates a reference to the newer assembly file in an assembly file. Only solids and surfaces are created.