Manufacturing DevBlog

What’s New in Autodesk Vault 2026

The latest release of Autodesk Vault 2026 introduces powerful new features and enhancements designed to streamline data management, improve collaboration, and boost workflow efficiency.

 New Features

• Project & Data Archive – Easily archive completed or obsolete projects, keeping your Vault organized and optimized.
• Trash Bin – Accidentally deleted a file? No worries! Recover it effortlessly with the new temporary storage and restore options.
• Hyperlink User-Defined Property (UDP) – Add clickable URLs or email addresses directly in user-defined properties for quick and easy access.
• Prioritize Critical Jobs – Move urgent jobs to the top of the queue, ensuring faster processing when it matters most.
• Automatic Account Disablement – Set expiration dates for user access, enhancing security and reducing manual account management.

 Enhanced Features

• Smarter Client Configuration Deployments – Expanded settings ensure consistency across deployments, reducing errors and improving compliance.
• More Intelligent Copy Design – Avoid unnecessary file duplication while reusing library files more efficiently.
• With Vault 2026, managing your data is more intuitive, secure, and efficient than ever. Upgrade today and experience a smoother, smarter way to work!

Autodesk Vault Key Features Summary

Category	Feature	Description
PDM Essentials	Direct CAD Integration	Integrates with Autodesk design tools (e.g., Inventor, AutoCAD, Revit) for seamless data management.
	Data Reuse & Design Automation	Enables copying, replacing, or reusing components to save time and reduce errors.
	Concurrent Design	Allows multiple team members to work on the same project simultaneously from a central location.
	Copy Folder	Facilitates starting new projects by copying existing folder structures.
	Automated CAD Formats for Document Control	Automatically publishes and manages DXF and STEP files within the design release process.
	Backup & Restore	Provides flexible backup options for Vault and library databases.
	Fast Data Searching	Offers advanced search capabilities, saved searches, and shortcuts for quick data retrieval.
	Easy Administration & Configuration	Simplifies deployment and configuration for effective data management.
Enterprise PDM	Engineering Change Orders (ECOs)	Manages ECOs with an intuitive workflow, tracking revisions and comments.
	BOM Management	Creates and maintains accurate manufacturing BOMs with item assignments.
	Enterprise Scalability	Supports replication for multiple locations, eliminating the need for object ownership.
Productivity	Inventor Model States & Properties	Utilizes Inventor model states and instance properties within Vault for efficient workflows.
	Inventor Design Data & Template Management	Manages and deploys Inventor design data and templates directly from Vault.
	AutoCAD & Vault Integration	Integrates AutoCAD with Vault for optimized design data management.
	Modern User Interface	Features a modern UI with dark and light themes.
	Lifecycle State Colors	Easily identifies file states through color coding.
	Peer Review for Lifecycle State Transitions	Enforces peer reviews for state changes to enhance transparency.
	Duplicate Search	Quickly identifies duplicates using property filtering and geometric search capabilities.
	Job Processor	Offloads processing tasks from CAD workstations to improve performance.
Connected Data & Collaboration	Vault Gateway	Provides secure remote access to Vault data without requiring a VPN connection.
	Project Sync	Synchronizes files between Vault and cloud drives automatically or manually.
	Shared Views	Shares native files with external collaborators while protecting intellectual property.
	Markups	Allows collaboration through design markups and comments.
	Inventor Read-Only Mode	Provides controlled viewing of Inventor files.
	Vault PLM	Extends data and processes with Autodesk Fusion Manage for cloud-based PLM.
	Enterprise Integrations	Integrates with ERP and PLM systems to extend data value.
Vault PLM	Product Data Management	Improves collaboration and design reuse, tracks revisions, and boosts productivity with centralized data management.
	Product Portfolio Management	Builds a competitive product portfolio with integrated change management and product development tracking.
	Ideas Management	Captures and reviews ideas through a formal process to drive innovation.
	Requirements Management	Ensures products meet market and customer expectations by managing all requirements in a connected environment.
	New Product Introduction	Organizes product development projects with standardized templates and automated workflows.
	Quality Management	Improves product quality and traceability with automated processes for managing non-conformance and corrective actions.
	BOM Management	Configures and manages items and structured BOMs in a centralized system.
	Change Management	Manages changes efficiently with automated processes and full traceability.
	Supplier Collaboration	Connects with the supply chain for quoting, procurement, and product development processes.
	Comprehensive Process Template Library	Increases productivity using a library of ready-to-implement business processes.
PDM Beyond Engineering	Mobile App	Collaborates on projects using mobile devices while away from the desktop.
	Thin Client	Performs read-access tasks and views design data through a web browser.
	Document Management for Non-CAD Users	Integrates with Microsoft Office applications for document management.
	Project Data Integration	Integrates with Autodesk Fusion 360 and Autodesk Construction Cloud to sync project data.

Please find the reference link for more details:

https://www.autodesk.com/products/vault/features#new_features

https://blogs.autodesk.com/vault/2024/04/autodesk-vault-2025-sdk-breaking-news/

https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/vault-data-api

By Manaiah Patil |Vault

Key Highlights from Vault 2025 to 2025.2

• Copy Design Improvements:
  Vault 2025.1 introduced support for reusing library files, making design reuse more efficient.
• ECO Enhancements:
  ECO property sync became bidirectional in 2025.1, improving integration between item properties and change orders.
• Thin Client Upgrades:
  Password reset and enhanced BOM property views were added in 2025.1 for easier web access.
• Admin & Deployment Tools:
  Vault 2025.1 allowed admins to reset user dialogs and client settings; 2025.2 expanded this with centralized deployment tools for add-ins and settings.
• Hyperlink and Property Enhancements:
  2025.2 introduced hyperlink-type user-defined properties (UDPs) for more dynamic metadata usage.
• Search & Navigation Improvements:
  Vault 2025.1 added support for @me filters and saved searches, streamlining user workflows.
• Cloud API Layer (Vault Data APIs):
  Vault 2025.2 debuted secure APIs enabling integrations with platforms like Power BI, Microsoft Teams, and SAP.
• UI/UX Enhancements:
  Folder pickers and login identity feedback were improved in 2025.2 for better usability.

Summary of Differences (Vault 2025 vs. 2025.1 vs. 2025.2)

Feature Area	Vault 2025	Vault 2025.1	Vault 2025.2
Copy Design	Improved support	Reuse of library files	-
ECO Support	Property sync	Improved bidirectional sync	-
Thin Client	Basic BOM access	Password reset, BOM props	-
Admin Tools	Job Processor logs	Reset dialogs, configs	Add-in/client deployment tools
Hyperlinking	Share links	Expand targets	Hyperlink UDPs
Search	Basic search	@me, saved searches	-
APIs	Vault API (on-prem)	-	New Vault Data APIs for SaaS integrations
Folder UX	Basic	-	Better folder picker
Authentication Visibility	-	-	Clear login info

Please find reference link with more information on this :

 

https://blogs.autodesk.com/vault/2024/04/autodesk-vault-2025-whats-new/

https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/vault-data-api

https://blogs.autodesk.com/vault/2024/04/autodesk-vault-2025-sdk-breaking-news/

 

 

By Manaiah Patil |Vault

Understanding BOM Delegation in Autodesk Inventor API

by Chandra shekar Gopal,  

Bill of Materials (BOM) management is a cornerstone of effective digital design and manufacturing workflows. With the advent of Model States in Autodesk Inventor, the management of BOMs—especially across legacy designs and substitutes—has evolved significantly. One powerful yet often misunderstood concept introduced in this context is BOM Delegation.

🔄 What is BOM Delegation?

BOM Delegation refers to the behavior where one model state defers its BOM and iProperties to another model state—typically the Primary or Master. This ensures that legacy Level of Detail (LOD) representations and substitute models maintain BOM consistency after migration to Inventor 2022 or newer.

BOM Delegation is Triggered When:

• The model state is a migrated non-Master Level of Detail (LOD)
• The model state is a migrated substitute LOD
• The model state is a substitute part file

How It Works:

• A substitute model state uses the BOM from the source model state.
• A migrated non-Master LOD or substitute uses the BOM from the Primary model state.

Tip:
You can edit the BOM of a migrated Master LOD.
You cannot edit the BOM of a migrated non-Master LOD directly. To make edits, copy the model state, edit the copy, and optionally remove the original.

🛠️ BOM Delegation in the Inventor API

To handle BOM delegation programmatically, use the read-only property:

BOMDelegate As ModelState

This returns the model state currently holding the BOM for the given model state.

Delegation Behavior Summary

Model State Type	BOMDelegate Behavior
Legacy LOD	Delegates to Master (Primary)
Legacy Substitute	Delegates to Master (Primary)
New Substitute (from model state)	Delegates to source state
New Substitute (from part/LOD)	Delegates to Master (Primary)
New Non-substitute	No delegation (owns its BOM)

💼 Real-World Use Case: Legacy Substitute BOM Access Failure

A user attempted to access the BOMStructure property in a substituted model state migrated from Inventor 2021. Since the file wasn't saved post-migration, the call failed.

❌ Problematic Code

Sub BOMStructureTest()
    Dim oAssemblyDoc As AssemblyDocument
    Set oAssemblyDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    Dim oCompDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition
    Set oCompDef = oAssemblyDoc.ComponentDefinition

    Dim eBOMStructure As BOMStructureEnum
    eBOMStructure = oCompDef.BOMStructure ' Fails due to delegation
End Sub

✅ Correct Code Using BOMDelegate

Sub BOMStructureTest()
    Dim oAssemblyDoc As AssemblyDocument
    Set oAssemblyDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    Dim oCompDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition
    Set oCompDef = oAssemblyDoc.ComponentDefinition

    Dim eBOMStructure As BOMStructureEnum
    eBOMStructure = oCompDef.ModelStates. _
        ActiveModelState.BOMDelegate.Document.ComponentDefinition.BOMStructure
End Sub

This correctly accesses the BOM from the delegated source model state.

🧾 Managing BOMs in the Inventor UI

Navigate to Assemble → Manage → Bill of Materials to access:

• Model Data View – Browser-like, non-exportable
• Structured View – Exportable hierarchical BOM
• Parts Only View – Flat exportable BOM

UI Capabilities Include:

• BOM renumbering and sorting
• Add/Edit custom iProperties
• Drag and reorder/remove columns
• Multi-cell editing, Find/Replace, and Excel paste
• QTY = 0 handling for suppressed components

To hide suppressed components:
Use BOM Settings → Hide Suppressed Components in BOM

📘 Understanding Level of Detail (LOD) Migration

With Inventor 2022 and beyond, LODs are deprecated and replaced by Model States.

When you open a legacy assembly:

• System-defined LODs like All Components Suppressed are removed
• Primary/user-defined LODs and substitutes are converted to model states
• BOM in non-primary migrated states continues to delegate to the Primary

Tip: To modify BOM from a delegated state:

1. Copy the model state
2. Edit the BOM in the new state
3. Optionally delete the old migrated LOD

📄 Full Autodesk Help documentation:
About Level of Detail Migration – Autodesk Help

📚 Additional Resource

To learn more about the enhancements made to the Inventor Apprentice Server in 2026 (including registry-free behavior), refer to this Autodesk Developer Blog post:

👉 Inventor Apprentice Server Enhancement in Inventor 2026

🧠 Final Thoughts

Understanding and applying BOM delegation principles—both through the UI and API—ensures your Inventor assemblies remain consistent, editable, and aligned with best practices in modern digital engineering.

Adapting to Change: Inventor Design Automation 2026 Engine Moves to .NET 8

by Chandra shekar Gopal, 

With the release of Inventor Design Automation (DA) 2026, Autodesk has taken a decisive step into the future by exclusively supporting a .NET 8-based Inventor Server. This transition marks a pivotal evolution for developers working with Inventor’s automation capabilities, especially those maintaining legacy workflows based on the older .NET Framework.

🚀 What’s New in Inventor DA 2026?

• Single Engine Version: Inventor DA 2026 now runs exclusively on the .NET 8 engine, dropping support for the .NET Framework variant that was available alongside .NET 8 in the 2025 release.
• Built on .NET 8: Leveraging Microsoft’s latest Long-Term Support (LTS) platform, Inventor DA 2026 introduces enhanced performance, stability, and modern development features.

This shift signals Autodesk’s commitment to aligning with the broader software industry’s modernization efforts, phasing out legacy components and focusing on sustainable, high-performance solutions.

⚠️ Compatibility Considerations

While Inventor DA 2026 still supports legacy application bundles in theory, many APIs that functioned under the .NET Framework are not compatible with .NET 5+. Key limitations include:

• Restrictions on file system access
• Deprecation of Windows-specific APIs
• Modifications to reflection and dynamic assembly loading
• Adjustments to COM interop

Microsoft provides extensive documentation on these limitations: Unsupported APIs in .NET Core and .NET 5+

✅ Developer Action Checklist

• Audit your existing Inventor DA application bundles for compatibility with .NET 8.
• Refactor or replace deprecated APIs.
• Test all automation workflows in a controlled staging environment using Inventor DA 2026.
• Monitor updates from Autodesk and Microsoft for emerging best practices and migration guidance.

💡 Why This Transition Matters

This modernization is more than a version change—it’s a platform evolution. By unifying around .NET 8, Autodesk is:

• Aligning with Microsoft’s long-term vision
• Improving developer experience with enhanced performance and tooling
• Encouraging maintainable and future-proof codebases

“By consolidating to .NET 8, Autodesk empowers developers to build faster, cleaner, and more maintainable automation solutions.”

This transition also ensures that Inventor DA 2026 applications will run on a platform actively supported by Microsoft until November 2026.

🧠 Understanding Microsoft LTS Support

Microsoft’s Long-Term Support (LTS) guarantees three years of updates and fixes for supported .NET versions:

.NET Version	Support Until
.NET 6 (LTS)	November 2024
.NET 8 (LTS)	November 2026

Benefits include:

• Regular security patches
• Critical bug fixes with stability improvements
• Enterprise-grade reliability with minimal risk of breaking changes

📊 Summary Table

Feature / Change	Inventor DA 2025	Inventor DA 2026
Engine Variants	.NET Framework & .NET 8	.NET 8 only
Unsupported Legacy APIs	Limited in .NET 8 version	Enforced in .NET 8
Migration Required	Optional	Mandatory
Microsoft LTS Support	.NET 6 (LTS)	.NET 8 (LTS)

🧩 Supported Inventor Engines for Design Automation

Autodesk Platform Services (APS) supports the following Inventor engine versions for Design Automation as of the 2026 release:

Engine ID/Name	Description	Supported .NET Runtime	Status
Autodesk.Inventor.2025	Inventor Server 2025 (Legacy)	.NET Framework	Available (Legacy)
Autodesk.Inventor.2025_Net8	Inventor Server 2025 for .NET 8	.NET 8 (LTS)	Available
Autodesk.Inventor.2026	Inventor Server 2026 (Modernized)	.NET 8 (LTS)	Current / Recommended

With the 2026 release, Autodesk has fully transitioned to .NET 8, making it the sole supported engine for new development on Inventor Design Automation. For more information, refer APS Engine Lifecycle Guide

📚 Helpful Resources

• APS Engine Lifecycle Guide
• Unsupported APIs on .NET 5+
• Download .NET 8 SDK

🏁 Final Thoughts

The shift to .NET 8 in Inventor DA 2026 isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic transformation. Developers should proactively adapt their codebases, audit their dependencies, and begin migration efforts now. Modernizing your Inventor automation projects will help you take full advantage of Autodesk’s evolving ecosystem and ensure long-term sustainability for your solutions.

Introducing Sketch-Based BreakOperations for Drawings in Autodesk Inventor 2026 API

by Chandra shekar Gopal,

Autodesk Inventor 2026 continues to expand its API capabilities, offering even greater flexibility for developers and design automation experts. A notable enhancement in this release is the introduction of the new BreakOperations.AddBySketch method and the BreakOperation.BreakLineSketch property. These features empower users to define drawing view breaks using custom sketch geometry—improving automation workflows and enabling more precise visual control directly within the drawing environment.

---

🔧 What’s New in Inventor 2026?

🆕 BreakOperations.AddBySketch

This method, new in Inventor 2026, allows you to create break views based on sketch geometry instead of selecting two points manually. It offers higher design flexibility and parametric control.

🆕 BreakOperation.BreakLineSketch

Also introduced in Inventor 2026, this property returns the sketch used to define the break lines, enabling custom inspection and editing.

---

💡 Use Cases and Capabilities

✅ Legacy Compatibility

• Supports traditional two-point break creation.
• A hidden sketch is automatically generated to preserve legacy behavior.

✏️ Sketch-Driven Breaks

• Create breaks using a sketch that contains two vertical or horizontal lines.
• Break orientation is inferred from the sketch—no additional input is needed.
• Supports constraints and parametric control for precise documentation layout.

⚠️ Editing Behavior

• Editing break start/mid/end points attempts to update the sketch geometry.
• Constraints may limit modification impact—some edits may have no visible effect.

---

📜 Sample Code: Creating a Break Using a Sketch (Inventor 2026)

Sub CreateBreakOpertionBySketchSample()
    ' Open a drawing document and place a drawing view on the active sheet before running this sample.
    Dim oDoc As DrawingDocument
    Set oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    Dim oView As DrawingView
    Set oView = oDoc.ActiveSheet.DrawingViews(1)

    Dim oSk As DrawingSketch
    Set oSk = oView.Sketches.Add
    oSk.Edit

    Dim oLine As SketchLine
    Dim oPt1 As Point2d, oPt2 As Point2d
    Set oPt1 = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry.CreatePoint2d(-oView.Width / 6, oView.Height / 2)
    Set oPt2 = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry.CreatePoint2d(-oView.Width / 6, -oView.Height / 2)
    Set oLine = oSk.SketchLines.AddByTwoPoints(oPt1, oPt2)

    Set oPt1 = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry.CreatePoint2d(oView.Width / 6, oView.Height / 2)
    Set oPt2 = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry.CreatePoint2d(oView.Width / 6, -oView.Height / 2)
    Set oLine = oSk.SketchLines.AddByTwoPoints(oPt1, oPt2)
    oSk.ExitEdit

    ' Create break operation based on sketch
    Dim oBreak As BreakOperation
    Set oBreak = oView.BreakOperations.AddBySketch(oSk, kRectangularBreakStyle)
End Sub

---

📘 Summary of Benefits

Feature	Description
Flexible Break Definition	Use precise sketch geometry instead of selecting points manually.
Improved Control	Break orientation is inferred directly from the sketch.
Seamless Integration	Legacy workflows remain supported.
Editable Geometry	Modify breaks by editing the sketch (if constraints allow).

---

🔍 Final Thoughts

The new sketch-based break functionality in Autodesk Inventor 2026 adds powerful flexibility for creating cleaner, more controlled documentation. Whether you're automating drawing creation or defining parametric break behavior, these features offer a better way to express design intent visually. 

Autodesk Inventor 2026 API Now Supports IFC4x3: Here’s How to Automate BIM Exports with VBA

by Chandra shekar Gopal,

In the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM), interoperability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential. With growing contractual requirements and cross-platform collaboration across tools like Revit, Navisworks, and Tekla, users of Autodesk Inventor have long requested better support for IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) exports.

💡 The Problem with Legacy IFC Exports

Until recently, Inventor users faced a major limitation when exporting assemblies to IFC:

• Entire assemblies were flattened into a single solid lump, losing structure and metadata.
• No option to select IFC4 or newer versions during export.
• External workarounds like BIM-Dex were used, often with limited results.

📣 The Big News: Autodesk Listened

After years of feedback and feature requests from the community, Autodesk officially implemented full IFC4/IFC4x3 export support in Inventor 2026.

✅ Key Enhancements in Inventor 2026:

• Support for IFC2x3 and IFC4x3 formats.
• Ability to preserve the full assembly structure in the IFC file.
• Seamless interoperability with Revit, Tekla, and other BIM platforms.
• Works with the Revit Core Engine (RCE) for accurate geometry translation.

🧠 Automate IFC Exports Using VBA

You can now automate IFC exports using the Inventor API and a simple VBA macro. Below is a sample script that demonstrates how to export your active assembly to IFC4x3 format:

' Ensure BIM Content add-in is loaded
Sub ExportToIFCFormatSample()
    Dim oBIMContent As ApplicationAddIn
    Set oBIMContent = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{842004D5-C360-43A8-A00D-D7EB72DAAB69}")
    If Not oBIMContent.Activated Then
        oBIMContent.Activate
    End If

    ' Get active assembly
    Dim oDoc As AssemblyDocument
    Set oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    ' Access BIM component
    Dim oCompDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition
    Set oCompDef = oDoc.ComponentDefinition
    Dim oBIMComp As BIMComponent
    Set oBIMComp = oCompDef.BIMComponent

    ' Set IFC options
    Dim oOptions As NameValueMap
    Set oOptions = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
    oOptions.Value("IFCFileVersion") = "IFC4x3" ' Options: "IFC2x3" or "IFC4x3"

    ' Export to IFC
    oBIMComp.ExportBuildingComponentWithOptions "C:\Temp\MyIFC.ifc", oOptions
End Sub

💡 Note: The Revit Core Engine must be installed to enable this export functionality.

📁 Use Case: Export Inventor Steel Structure to BIM

This update is particularly beneficial for design workflows involving:

• Structural steel and piping assemblies for Revit or Tekla.
• Facility management models requiring rich metadata and object hierarchy.
• BIM coordination meetings where file fidelity matters.

---

📌 Summary

With Inventor 2026, Autodesk has finally delivered on years of community feedback by adding native support for IFC4 and IFC4x3 exports, complete with assembly structure. This is a major win for manufacturers, designers, and BIM professionals working in a connected design ecosystem.

• ✅ Native support
• ✅ Full structure retention
• ✅ VBA-compatible automation

---

🔗 Resources:

• Inventor 2026 – What’s New
• IFC4x3 Schema Overview

Parameter-Driven Sketch Dimensions in Autodesk Inventor Drawing Sketches: Limitations and a Practical Workaround

by Chandra shekar Gopal,

Overview

Autodesk Inventor is renowned for its robust parametric modeling capabilities, allowing engineers and designers to drive geometry using parameters. While this works seamlessly in part and assembly environments, users often encounter challenges when trying to apply the same principles in .idw drawing files—particularly in associating drawing sketch dimensions with user-defined parameters.

In this blog, we address a real-world issue reported by users, clarify the limitations of drawing sketches, and provide a generic iLogic-based solution to simulate parametric behavior in .idw sketches.

---

🛑 The Problem: Parameter Linkage Failure in Drawing Sketches

A team encountered a limitation when attempting to associate a drawing sketch dimension (d10 = 100) with a user-defined parameter (GrundrissOffset) inside an .idw drawing. Despite efforts using the Inventor UI and the Inventor API/iLogic, the linkage failed:

• Assigning the parameter value to the dimension worked once.
• However, subsequent changes to the parameter did not automatically update the sketch dimension.
• No live or persistent link between the FX parameter and the dimension was established.

This posed a challenge for maintaining dynamic, design-driven control within drawing annotations or custom layouts.

---

🔍 Understanding the Core Limitation

To understand the issue, it's important to compare how Inventor handles parameters in part sketches vs drawing sketches:

Feature	Part Sketches	Drawing Sketches (.idw)
Parameter Linkage	Fully supported via UI and FX table	Not persistently supported
Auto-update Behavior	Dimensions update automatically with parameter change	Manual or code-based update required
iLogic Support	Bi-directional and dynamic	One-time assignment; linked dynamically via event triggers
UI Linking	Supported via dimension input	Not available

In essence, drawing sketches lack the full parametric infrastructure of the modeling environment. While you can assign a parameter value to a dimension using iLogic, it does not result in a live, dynamic connection.

---

✅ The Solution: iLogic Rule to Simulate Parametric Behavior

Although drawing sketches don’t support persistent parameter linking natively, you can simulate this behavior using iLogic rules that assign parameter values to sketch dimensions programmatically.

Below is a generic iLogic rule that can be implemented in any drawing to achieve this effect. This example assumes a base drawing view named "ANSICHT6" on sheet "Blatt:1", and parameters linked to dimensions such as d10, d5, and d3. Replace these names to fit your specific model.

Option Explicit On
Dim trigger = GrundrissOffset ' Or any relevant parameter

Dim view1 = ThisDrawing.Sheet("Blatt:1").View("ANSICHT6").View
Dim sketch1 = view1.Sketches(1) ' Adjust index if multiple sketches

Dim ourOwnEdit As Boolean = ThisApplication IsNot Nothing AndAlso sketch1 IsNot ThisApplication.ActiveEditObject
If ourOwnEdit Then
    sketch1.Edit()
End If

Try
    For Each constraintX In sketch1.DimensionConstraints
        Dim paramX = constraintX.Parameter
        Select Case paramX.Name
            Case "d10"
                paramX._Value = Parameter.Param("Height")._Value
            Case "d5"
                paramX._Value = Parameter.Param("Length")._Value
            Case "d3"
                paramX._Value = Parameter.Param("Width")._Value
        End Select
    Next
    sketch1.Solve()

Finally
    If ourOwnEdit Then
        sketch1.ExitEdit()
    End If
End Try

---

🛠️ How to Use This Rule

• Replace "Height", "Length", and "Width" with your actual drawing parameter names.
• Adjust the sheet name "Blatt:1" and view name "ANSICHT6" to your drawing’s actual names.
• Add the rule to your .idw drawing’s iLogic browser.

---

🔄 Enabling Dynamic Linking with Event Triggers

To achieve dynamic behavior—where drawing sketch dimensions update automatically whenever relevant parameters change—add this iLogic rule to Inventor’s event triggers:

1. Open the iLogic browser.
2. Right-click the rule and select Triggers.
3. Check Any Parameter Changes.

With this setup, the rule runs instantly when any parameter changes, ensuring your drawing sketch dimensions remain synchronized with the latest parameter values without manual updates.

---

📌 Key Takeaways

• Autodesk Inventor’s drawing sketches do not natively support persistent parameter linkage like part sketches.
• Parameter-driven control of sketch dimensions in drawings requires a code-based workaround.
• The iLogic rule above simulates live parametric behavior by reapplying parameter values to sketch dimensions programmatically.
• Adding the rule to Any Parameter Changes trigger enables automatic updates for seamless design changes.

---

By leveraging iLogic in this way, you can bridge the gap between Inventor’s powerful parametric modeling and the more limited drawing environment—empowering your drawings with responsive, parameter-driven sketches.

Accessing Inventor Apprentice Server with PowerShell

by Chandra shekar Gopal,

📌 Issue

Many developers and IT professionals seek lightweight ways to extract metadata from Autodesk Inventor files without launching the full Inventor application. A common scenario involves retrieving iProperties from part files using scripting languages such as PowerShell.

✅ Solution

Autodesk Inventor Apprentice Server provides a powerful COM interface that allows you to read Inventor file data—including iProperties—without opening the Inventor UI. This is ideal for batch processing, automation scripts, and headless environments.

Below is a PowerShell script example demonstrating how to use Apprentice Server to open a .ipt part file and display its Part Number iProperty.

💻 PowerShell Script: Read Part Number from IPT File

# Create the ApprenticeServer object
$apprentice = New-Object -ComObject Inventor.ApprenticeServer

# Open the specified Inventor part file
$apprenticeDoc = $apprentice.Open("C:\Temp\Part1.ipt")

# Retrieve and print the Part Number iProperty
Write-Host $apprenticeDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Part Number").Value

# Clean up the COM object
[System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($apprentice) | Out-Null

🔍 Explanation

• New-Object -ComObject Inventor.ApprenticeServer: Creates an instance of the Apprentice Server.
• .Open("C:\Temp\Part1.ipt"): Opens the specified IPT file for read access.
• .PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Part Number").Value: Accesses the Part Number iProperty.
• ReleaseComObject: Properly releases the COM object to avoid memory leaks.

🛠️ Products and Versions Supported

This approach applies to the following versions of Autodesk Inventor where Apprentice Server is available:

• Inventor 2021
• Inventor 2022
• Inventor 2023
• Inventor 2024
• Inventor 2025
• Inventor 2026 (Note: Requires separate installation of Apprentice Server). 

⚠️ Notes

• In Inventor 2026, Apprentice Server is no longer registered by default and must be installed separately. Refer this blog for more details on Inventor Apprentice Server Enhancement in Inventor 2026 
• Running PowerShell as Administrator may be required depending on system policies.

📘 Additional Resources

• Inventor API Help Documentation
• What’s New in Inventor 2026
• Apprentice Server Standalone Installer for Inventor 2026
• Autodesk Inventor Customization Forum

Inventor Apprentice Server Enhancement in Inventor 2026

by Chandra shekar Gopal,

With the release of Autodesk Inventor 2026, Autodesk introduces a significant architectural change to the Inventor Apprentice Server—it is now distributed as a standalone installation. This update gives developers more control over deployment and ensures a consistent, version-specific setup environment, especially in multi-version or automation-heavy environments.

🔍 What’s New – Standalone Apprentice Server Installation

In Inventor 2026, the Apprentice Server is no longer embedded or automatically managed through Inventor’s installation or registry behavior. Instead, it is provided as a separate standalone installer, which allows IT teams and developers to explicitly install, configure, and register it when needed.

⚙️ Registration Behavior Changes in Inventor 2026

✅ Previous Versions (Inventor 2025 and Earlier)

• Launching Inventor automatically registered the corresponding version of Apprentice Server.
• This behavior allowed seamless switching in multi-version installations.

⚠️ New in Inventor 2026

• Installing Inventor Pro 2026 does not automatically register Apprentice Server.
• Launching Inventor Pro 2026 has no effect on Apprentice Server registration.
• To use Apprentice Server 2026, you must install the standalone version and manually register it if needed.
• If another version (e.g., 2025) was previously registered, that version remains active until explicitly changed.

🔄 Important Note for Multi-Version Environments

Even before Inventor 2026, customers were advised to manually register the correct Apprentice Server version when working in environments with multiple Inventor versions. This recommendation becomes a requirement with Inventor 2026.

With Inventor 2026:

• Install the standalone Apprentice Server 2026 package separately.
• Use the provided ApprenticeRegSrv.exe to register it when required.

🧪 Example: Multi-Version Environment

Assume you have these installed:

• Inventor Pro 2025
• Inventor Pro 2026
• Standalone Apprentice Server 2026

Scenario:

1. Launch Inventor Pro 2025 → Apprentice Server 2025 is now active (registered).
2. Launch Inventor Pro 2026 → No change in registration; Apprentice Server 2025 remains active.
3. To activate 2026 version:
   Run:
   "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor Apprentice Server 2026\Bin\ApprenticeRegSvr.exe" /install
   ⚠️ Use straight double quotes (") to avoid syntax errors.

✅ Ensuring Your App Uses Apprentice Server 2026

To ensure compatibility and functionality with VBA scripts, Vault extraction tools, or COM-based integrations:

1. Download and install the standalone Apprentice Server 2026.
2. Run the following command after installation (or after launching an older Inventor version):
   "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor Apprentice Server 2026\Bin\ApprenticeRegSvr.exe" /install

📥 Release Notes: Autodesk Inventor Apprentice Server 2026 (Build 175)

Autodesk now offers the Apprentice Server 2026 as a standalone, COM-registered component, giving developers backward-compatible support for automation tools, VBA, and custom add-ins.

🧩 Installation Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest service pack and updates)
• Disk space: 2.2 GB total, 1.0 GB on system drive
• Permissions: Administrator rights required

📌 Installation Instructions:

1. Install all pending Windows Updates.
2. Reboot your system.
3. Download the standalone installer from Autodesk.
4. Run the installer and follow the prompts.
5. Reboot if required.
6. Verify the installation under Help > About:
   Build: 175, Release: 2026

📝 Reminder: This version is COM-registered and must be installed separately—it is not bundled or auto-registered with Inventor Pro 2026.

📍 Download Location:

 Autodesk Inventor Apprentice Server & Updates

💬 Common Developer Question

Q: We use Apprentice Server to extract custom properties and part numbers from Vault. Can we still use our COM-based integrations in Inventor 2026?

A: Yes—but only with the standalone COM-registered Apprentice Server. The built-in version in Inventor 2026 no longer auto-registers, so you must install and manually register the standalone component.

🏁 Summary

Inventor 2026 represents a major shift in how the Apprentice Server is distributed and used. By requiring a standalone installation, Autodesk offers clearer control, improved isolation between versions, and a more secure deployment path. However, developers must take steps to update their setup and deployment procedures.

🔑 Action Items:

• ✅ Download and install the standalone Apprentice Server 2026 for COM-based tools.
• ✅ Update automation scripts to manually register the Apprentice Server before usage.
• ✅ Refer to Autodesk’s official installation guide for detailed steps and support.