Sovelia Inventor Property Editor

The default setup

When we install we will get a default setup. The Property editor can be set up individually for all file types in Inventor. We also separate sheet metal and modeling.

The property editor can be docked or float free just like Inventors own menu's.

Short Introduction Video

Part

If we use content center or Sovelia Components it will be automatic measured. When we measure we can set up where the result of the Update Code get written.

Pr default it is written to ct_description. Also note that we use Stock Number for some measurement prefixes. This is according to how the Content Center databases are mostly set up. It can be reconfigured.

Assembly

Drawing

Use the Property Editor

When we set the update code we can select from lists or just type in the input fields

When we set the update code we can also add information with the calculation

Here we use remarks to add information behind the plate calculation

We can build strings by Right Mouse Click in the field and select expressions

We can also build strings by Right Mouse Click in the field and select expressions

Then we can build strings from pre defined values.

This can be configured. See "Create Expression List" chapter

Pr default the Stock Number are used to create prefix and if Stock number have a value it will be written in front of the measurement.

This can be configured in "Stock Number Remove" chapter

The property editor remember last typed values in a list.

This can be configured in the CaditInventor.ini
MaxHistoryItems=10

To add properties into the model you can press "Apply" or press "Enter"

Select and Create Properties

To set up the property editor we use the configurator to select or create properties

We can create properties, or headings by selecting new and then move them into position. To see more; use the Help symbol.

Selecting OK prompts us to save as new, or modify the existing. The setup will be saved into the common folder\Property Editor to be available for all.

We can also type Aliases for the properties

And export and import setups

Create Read Only Properties

Global Read Only

This will make the property read only in all modes. Part, assembly and drawing.

[Property Modes]
; property name = source, disabled or listonly.
; MRU.Property Editor.property name = name of ini file section defining context menu
YourProperty = disabled

Mode Spesific Read Only

This will make the property read only in the selected Mode. Part, assembly or drawing.

[Property Modes Modeling] (Parts)
; property name = source, disabled or listonly.
; MRU.Property Editor.property name = name of ini file section defining context menu
YourProperty = disabled

[Property Modes Assembly] (Assemblies)
; property name = source, disabled or listonly.
; MRU.Property Editor.property name = name of ini file section defining context menu
YourProperty = disabled

[Property Modes Drawing Layout] (Drawings)
; property name = source, disabled or listonly.
; MRU.Property Editor.property name = name of ini file section defining context menu
YourProperty = disabled

To decide where the Update code are written

1. Open the "Cadit Update.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Go to the section "[ResultPropertyName]"
3. Change the property

Standard Setup:
[ResultPropertyName]
PartDescription = ct_description
;PartDescription1 = Design Tracking Properties.Part Number
;PartDescription2 = Design Tracking Properties.Description

If I for example want to use Description:
[ResultPropertyName]
;PartDescription = ct_description
;PartDescription1 = Design Tracking Properties.Part Number
PartDescription = Design Tracking Properties.Description****

If you don't want to write to Stock Number

1. Open the "Cadit Update.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Remove the Stockdescription by placing a semicolon in front of the line “stockdescription” if you don’t want to set a stock number value

[ResultPropertyName]
;StockDescription = Design Tracking Properties.Stock Number

You can set any other property for this value.
[ResultPropertyName]
StockDescription = Design Tracking Properties.My Property

Create Dropdown lists

1. Create a property or decide on what property should have a list. (We will use Title in this example)
2. Set up if the property will be list only, or if you want to also type free text.
3. To set list Only, open the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" file from Common Folder/Settings.
4. Go to Section "[Property Modes]" and set Listonly if you want to only select from the list. If you do nothing you can also type free text.

If we select Title to be list only it will look like this
[Property Modes]
Title =Listonly

5. Next is to create the dropdown list. Create a txt file and place it into the "Common Folder/Property editor" folder. You can call it whatever you want. I use to name it same as the property.

6. Now we need to tell the property where to find the list.
   Go to Section "[Property DropDownFile]" in the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" and add your Information.

Selecting our list will look like this
[Property DropDownFile]
Title =Title.txt

7. Save the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" file and check your Sovelia Inventor

Add Tooltip

1. Open the ""Cadit Property Editor.ini"" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Go to the section "[Property StarToolTip]"
3. Add your tooltip

[Property StarToolTip]
property name = tooltip text

A star will appear on the property and the text will show when you hover the mouse over it

How to set text Settings

1. Open the ""Cadit Property Editor.ini"" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Go to the section you want to set
3. Add your settings

Some Examples using property "Subject"
[Property MinLength]
; property name = min number of characters for property value
Subject = 1

[Property MaxLength]
; property name = max number of characters for property value
Subject = 8

[Property TextCase]
; property name = lower or upper
Subject = Upper

4. Save the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" file and check your settings. (You have to open and close the property editor to see the changes)

Anything you type will be uppercase and you cant type more than 8 letters and spaces.

Link old Properties

To take care of and update old properties

1. Open the "Cadit Update.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Go to the section "[ResultPropertyName]"
3. Set up what property will be updated. Below you can see that the Sovelia Inventor property ct_lenx will update .CQTools_X and/or Naviate_Range_X.

[ResultPropertyName]
ct_lenx = Custom Properties.ct_lenx
;ct_lenx1 = Custom Properties.CQTools_X
;ct_lenx2 = Custom Properties.Naviate_Range_X
ct_leny = Custom Properties.ct_leny
;ct_leny1 = Custom Properties.CQTools_Y
;ct_leny2 = Custom Properties.Naviate_Range_Y
ct_lenz = Custom Properties.ct_lenz
;ct_lenz1 = Custom Properties.CQTools_Z
;ct_lenz2 = Custom Properties.Naviate_Range_Z
ct_lenmax = Custom Properties.ct_lenmax
ct_lenmid = Custom Properties.ct_lenmid
ct_lenmin = Custom Properties.ct_lenmin

Update Properties

Sovelia Inventor can copy properties netween files and also internaklly in files.

1. Open the "CaditInventor.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Add your settings

To Autoupdate the properties on save, set up the sections like this:

[UpdateProperties] (This is to update the Cadit Update.ini on save)
AutoUpdate=1

[UpdateDrawing] (This is to update the drawing on save)
AutoUpdate=1
ItemNo = 1
;ScaleProperties = 0
CopyModelProperties = 1

Expression List

The Expressions are stored in the "Cadit Property Editor.ini".

1. Open the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Go to the [Standard Expression List] and add or edit your settings

[Standard Expression List]
; Expression# = expression to show in context menu
Expression1 = =
Expression2 = =
Expression3 = =
Expression4 = =<ct_lenx>
Expression5 = =<ct_leny>
Expression6 = =<ct_lenz>
Expression7 = =<ct_lenmax>
Expression8 = =<ct_lenmid>
Expression9 = =<ct_lenmin>
Expression10 = =<ct_lenmin> x <ct_lenmid> x <ct_lenmax>

Linked Excel Lists

How to create linked properties based on an excel sheet.

1. Place the Excel sheet in the Common folder/Property Editor ;

2. In the "Common folder/Settings/Cadit Inventor.ini" file, go to the "DropDownListSetup]" Section.
   [DropDownListSetup]
   ExcelFile = Category.xlsx (Name of Excel file in the "Common folder/Property Editor" folder)
   ExcelSheetName = Sheet1 (Name of sheet with data)
   ExcelStartCell = A2 (Where Sovelia Inventor will look for the first value)
   ExcelNoOfColumns = 4 (Number of properties read. One property pr column)

3. In the "Common folder/Settings/Cadit Property Editor.ini" file, go to the "[Property Modes]" Section to set as a global property list only. (If you want to set for only some property modes, go to [Property Modes Modeling], [Property Modes Assembly] or [Property Modes Drawing] and add as below.

Note that the properties have to be named as the headings form the Excel sheet.
[Property Modes]
Category_1 = listonly
Category_2 = listonly
Category_3 = listonly
Category_4 = listonly

Or like this if you only want to use on parts only
[Property Modes Modeling]
Category_1 = listonly
Category_2 = listonly
Category_3 = listonly
Category_4 = listonly

4. Under the "[Property MinLength]" section we can set a minimum length. Text Settings
   [Property MinLength]
   Category_1 = 1
   Category_2 = 1
   Category_3 = 1
   Category_4 = 1

5. Under the "[Property DropDownFile]" section, add information to describe how he Excel should be read. To speed up the read process we create temporary text files in the users App data folder. (C:\Users%Username%\AppData\Local\Symetri\Sovelia Inventor 2021 Addin\Property Editor Cache\Category.xlsx_Sheet1_A2)
   [Property DropDownFile]
   Category_1 = %ExcelFile%\Column_1.txt
   Category_2 = %ExcelFile%\Column_2_(pp:Category_1).txt
   Category_3 = %ExcelFile%\Column_3_(pp:Category_1)(pp:Category_2).txt
   Category_4 = %ExcelFile%\Column_4(pp:Category_1)(pp:Category_2)(pp:Category_3).txt

How to create a system default Setup

When you are creating a setup and save it you create a setup .ini file in the "Common/Property Editor" folder.

The data from this file can be copied into the "Cadit Property Editor.ini" file.
In our example the ini file will be called "Symetri.ini"

Cadit Property Editor.ini - Parts
[Properties Modeling]
; Settings for property editor setup "" for Part and Sheet Metal part
;AllowSetup=0 (We can restrict the users from editing the editor)
Paste your setup here from the setup ini file [Properties Modeling]

Cadit Property Editor.ini - Assemblies
[Properties Assembly]
; Settings for property editor setup "" for Assembly
;AllowSetup=0 (We can restrict the users from editing the editor)
Paste your setup here from the setup ini file [Properties Assembly]

Cadit Property Editor.ini - Drawing
[Properties Drawing]
; Settings for property editor setup "" for Drawing
;AllowSetup=0 (We can restrict the users from editing the editor)
Paste your setup here from the setup ini file [Properties Drawing]

Start Property editor at Inventor startup

** Open the "CaditInventor.ini" file from Common folder/Settings**
2. Go to the section "[Startup]"
3. Set up OperPropertyEditorOnStartup to 1

Example
[Startup]
OpenPropertyEditorOnStartup=1

Change Profile Types List

**This is the menu topics in the property editor. We can edit those values in the Cadit Property Editor.ini in the common folder. **

1. Lets change Flat Bar to Flatt Jern.

[Cadit Cut Info Description list Menu4] ; profile types
FL = Flat bar (FJ = Flatt Jern)
RB = Round bar
HRB = Half round bar
SQB = Square bar
TBAR = T bar
-- = --
INP = INP profile
IPE = IPE profile
UAP = UAP profile
UNP = UNP profile
UPE = UPE profile
USP = USP profile

This gives this result in the menu

2. The next we have to do is setting the update code in the cadit update.ini

• First the Measuring Method reference

[MeasuringMethods]
Method2=PL|DPL|PLATE|DPLATE|FJ|FJPEL|SQB|TBAR|INP|IPE|UAP|UNP|UPE|USP|H
Method3=L|RB|HRB

• Then the Update Code string (TIP : Search for the FL and change it in the Update Rule to FJ)

[UpdateRule1.17] ; FJ for flatt Jern (replaces FPEL /FL))
IfProperty = ct_cut_info
IfValue = FJ
SetProperty = ResultPropertyName(PartDescription)
SetValue = FJ (ExtW,0:)x(ExtTZ,0:) L=(ExtL,0:) (pp:ct_remarks)
SetProperty1= Design Tracking Properties.Stock Number
SetValue1 = FJ (ExtW,0:)x(ExtTZ,0:)
SetProperty2= ResultPropertyName(CutLength)
SetValue2 = (ExtL,0:)
SetProperty3= ResultPropertyName(ExternalDimensions)
SetValue3 = (ExtL,0:)
Type3 = Text
SetProperty4= ResultPropertyName(CutWidth)
SetValue4 =
Type4 = Text
SetProperty5= ResultPropertyName(ct_qty)
SetValue5 = (ExtL,0:) mm
SetProperty6= ResultPropertyName(ct_qtyunit)
SetValue6 = mm
UpdateIAM = 0
UpdateIPT = 1
Goto = exit

**This gives this result: **

To calculate weight

1. Open the "Cadit Update.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Search for ct_weight
3. Set up ct_weight to be active by setting values to 1
4. ct_weight is now a custom property that will give the weight with the correct measure.

[UpdateRule11]
Description = Set custom Weight, Density and COG properties
Comments = Set values from physical properties to custom properties.
DefaultChecked = 1
InUse = 1
Mandatory = 1

[UpdateRule11.1]
IfProperty =
IfValue =
SetProperty = ResultPropertyName(ct_weight)
SetValue = (weight:) kg
UpdateIAM = 1
UpdateIPT = 1

To set drawing scale based on view

The default settings is that the first base view will be the target to collect the scale, but the other views can be selected from the Update drawing menu.

In addition to the main scale property there will be made one property for each sheet with the sheet number added to the name and with the value from the first view on each sheets.

If the property name is ct_scale and the drawing has tree sheets there will be four scale properties: ct-scale, ct_scale1, ct-scale2 and ct_scale3.

#### In order to change the settings for all users we need to edit the settings inside the "Cadit Update Drawing.ini" file.

1. Open the "Cadit Update Drawing.ini" file from Common folder/Settings
2. Set the scale to update automatically with your scale property name in the drawing.

[Options]
UpdateScaleProperty=1 (Updates the scale property on save)
ScalePropertyName=ct_scale (You can set the property name)

After this is set you should see your scale property name in the menu. If not, find the properties in your Caditmru.ini file and delete them.

To find the Caditmru.ini file, use the Sovelia Inventor menu and select "Open User folder"
(C:\Users%username%\AppData\Local\Symetri\Sovelia Inventor 20XX Addin\Caditmru.ini file)

Then delete the scale property lines. They will be recreated from the common configuration settings

UpdateScaleProperty=1
ScalePropertyName=ct_scale

The Update Properties Menu

When Updating components there are some measurements that dont need any interaction if your Inventor is set up properly.

Any known component to Inventor such as sheet metal, from content center etc can be measure automatically and kept updated.

If this selections should be mandatory and not available to change for users it can be set up in the ini files.

Sovelia Inventor (ERP) Lookup

Sovelia Inventor (ERP) lookup is integrated in the Inventor panels, and as automatically activated for supported file types (e.g. ipt, iam, ipn).

CSV or SQL lookup

Sovelia Inventor (ERP) lookup can read item data from CSV-files or a SQL lookup table or view on a database server. The available Inventor properties along with the available properties in the CSV-files or the SQL table/view is listed, and presented in a GUI to easily configure the property mapping. The first row is considered the primary key, typically the part number. The numbers of rows and row names are fully dynamic.

Configuration

Sovelia Inventor (ERP) lookup has a password protected configuration page. The configuration is stored in the common templates folder, and as such is distributed and loaded on all other users’ workstation on startup if distributed. This makes it easy to share and maintain a common configuration for the ERP lookup for all users.

Multiple Csv files in a folder can be read by using "foldername*csv"

Video description Here

Installation instructions pre "SoveliaInventor2024 (x64L) 24.0.437"

Request the files from Sovelia.Com

• Add the two files:
  Sovelia_Inventor_ERP_Lookup 2.0.2.0\Sovelia_Inventor_ERP_Lookup.dll
  Autodesk.Sovelia Inventor ERP Lookup.Inventor.addin

• into :
  %appdata%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\Sovelia_Inventor_ERP_Lookup

• Start Inventor and unblock the add in.

Installation instructions post "SoveliaInventor2024 (x64L) 24.0.437"

The add in is installed with the software but need to be loaded in Inventor.

Secondary Properties

This can be used as a translator or just a way to import static data. This example shows a translation where we select the name and get translated from a list to Norwegian, English and Swedish.

To set this up you need to edit the Common folder file "Cadit Property editor.ini" below the [Property DropDownFile]

The example is set up like this:

The "Multiple properties example.txt" placed in the common folder Property Editor folder look like this:

Your Ini file will look like this after you set it up in the property editor

For this example we have saved the setup as "MultipleProperties"