au08 cd111 1 vault basics

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12/2/2008 - 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm Room:Lido 3106 (PTD)

The Basics of Autodesk Vault

Get a jump start on your Vault implementation or brush up on some workflows with thisintroductory course. You'll learn the essentials of Autodesk Vault from implementation to dailyusage.

CD111-1

About the Speaker:

Irvin Hayes - , AutodeskBrian Schanenand

Stay Connect with AU all year at www.autodeskuniversity.com

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Table of Contents Autodesk Vault .............................................................................................................................................. 4The Vault Environment..................................................................................................................................4Vault Applications..........................................................................................................................................5

Vault Explorer............................................................................................................................................ 5 ADMS Console..........................................................................................................................................6 A Closer Look at Vault Explorer ................................................................................................................ 7

Client Add-Ins................................................................................................................................................ 8Vault Add-In for Autodesk Inventor ........................................................................................................... 8Vault Add-In for AutoCAD Mechanical......................................................................................................9Vault Add-In for Microsoft Office .............................................................................................................10

Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................ 11Logging into the Vault .............................................................................................................................11The Vault Folder Structure ...................................................................................................................... 13The Working Folder.................................................................................................................................14

Vault Features.............................................................................................................................................15Version Control........................................................................................................................................15Check In / Check Out ..............................................................................................................................16The Uses Tab..........................................................................................................................................17The Where Used Tab..............................................................................................................................18The View Tab (Automatic DWF Creation)...............................................................................................19The Rename Wizard ...............................................................................................................................20Intelligent Copy Design ........................................................................................................................... 21Attachments ............................................................................................................................................ 22Property Indexing .................................................................................................................................... 22 Advanced Searching ...............................................................................................................................24

Summary.....................................................................................................................................................25 References..................................................................................................................................................28


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Autodesk VaultAutodesk Vault is an easy-to-use data management tool integrated with more than a dozen Autodesk

CAD products including Autodesk Inventor Series, Autodesk Inventor Professional, AutoCAD

Mechanical, and AutoCAD. Autodesk Vault helps design teams track work-in-progress documents,

maintain version control in a multi-user environment, and improve design reuse by consolidating product

information in one central database. This document will offer greater insight into the nature of Vault andhow to use it. Furthermore, it will describe some of the value-added features that optimize your

investment in your design data.

The Vault EnvironmentThe Vault is a true client-server application that allows users to manage and control their Autodesk

Inventor data as well as other related files in a secure, centralized location. One of the keys to

understanding how to work in this environment is to understand its various components.

In the illustration below (left), you can see how multiple clients are connected to a common server. The

recommended configuration is a single serverdedicatedto data management (dedicatedmeans thatother competing business applications do not interfere with the operation of the vault software). Multiple

clients can log into this common server in order to access and manipulate data in a controlled manner.

The server itself is made up of three main components (shown below, right): the web server, the

database, and the file store.

The web serveruses Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) to communicate with the other

components via Web Services using HTTP protocol. The database stores all of the metadata. Metadata

is extracted from files when they are added to the vault so clients can quickly search for important

information without opening the files themselves. By default, Autodesk Vault installs Microsoft SQL2005 Express Edition to capture metadata from files and manage data access. This metadata includes

properties and file relationships that are crucial to the operation of the vault. The database server makes

this data readily available so you can quickly get to the information that you need. The file store uses

your file system to store the actual files; these files are kept separate from the database in order for the

database to remain lightweight and fast. However, database relationships ensure that you can retrieve

your files whenever you need to examine them or make edits.

Client 1

Client 2

Client 3

Dedicated Server Inside the Dedicated Server

Database

File StoreWeb Server


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The recommended server configuration is shown in the illustration above. Although there are multiple

possible configurations for the three main components, it is recommended that you maintain the database

and file store on the same dedicated server machine for the fastest and most reliable performance. For

more information on the pros/cons of various deployment options, please follow this link:

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Vault.pdf.

Vault ApplicationsA vault clientis any application that connects to the vault server to perform vault-related operations. A

typical Vault environment includes several clients that interact with the server concurrently.

Vault Explorer

Vault Exploreris a standalone client application that allows you to browse the vault structure,

perform searches, access stored files, and manipulate the data in the vault; it is your window

into the vault. Vault Explorer is organized like Windows Explorer or Microsoft Outlook; it has a

folder tree on the left and a list of associated files on the right. Because the vault requires a secure user

name and password for accessibility, your data is safe from unauthorized access thereby preventingunwanted change.

In addition to providing controlled

access to your engineering data,

Vault Explorer also offers the ability

to search for files based on

advanced criteria, view Where

Used information about your

designs, examine assembly

structure, and view your model or

drawing interactively using DWF(both 2D and 3D DWF viewing is

supported).

Vault Explorer is especially

advantageous for operations that

are normally performed outside the

context of your CAD application.

For example, special utilities allow

you to rename or copy design files

while repairing affected references throughout the vault. You can also examine file status to determine

when a file was last edited orwho currently has a file reserved.


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ADMS Console

Autodesk Data Management Server (ADMS) Console (below, right) is a standalone application

that allows you to create and manage vaults and view statistics relating to your vault databases

on a particular server. This application is only accessible on the server by the vault

administrator.

The ADMS Console provides a wide range of

services for managing your vaults. You can track

the size of both the database and file store, and

this data can help you determine if you need to re-

index properties, purge unwanted file versions, or

defragment the database which all can be done

within the console itself.

However, one of the more important functions of

the ADMS Console is facilitating backup and

restore. Creating a backup plan is essential.ADMS Console includes a backup utility that

packages all necessary data to restore a server if

a failure should happen.


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Preview Pane

Main View

Navigation

Pane

A Closer Look at Vault Explorer

Vault Explorer is the users main interface for examining the vault outside of the context of the CAD

applications. Along with the standard interface paradigms (i.e. menu, toolbar, and status bar), Vault

Explorer is made up of three main interface components (below):

Navigation PaneFolder structure (including search folders and shortcuts)

Main ViewList of files per folder (including properties and status)

Preview PaneFile details (including file relationships)

From the users perspective, the starting point of this familiar-style interface is the Navigation Pane

(below, left). This pane contains the user-specified folder structure. When you select a folder in theNavigation Pane, the contents (i.e. files) are displayed in the Main View. When the user selects one of

the files in the Main View, the details of that file are shown in the Preview Pane. You have the ability to

customize the properties that are displayed for each file shown Main View and Preview Pane. Examine

the illustration below to see how these components interact to provide quick access to your files and

related metadata.


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Client Add-InsA vault add-in is client software that plugs into your existing applications to extend their capabilities to

support vault operations and workflows. These are tight integrations that allow you to interact with the

vault while continuing to work in the contextof the applications that you use every day. Its important to

work with the vault through the add-ins so that you can properly capture all file relationships when adding

files to the vault.

Vault Add-In for Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Vault is tightly integrated into the Autodesk Inventor user interface such that you can perform

nearly all of your file management and vaulting tasks without ever leaving the Autodesk Inventor

environment. From adding files to the vault for the first time, to checking them into the vault after changes

are complete, the integrated vault browseris a central interface for working with your files in relation to

the vault.

The vault integration also supports the ability to directly access files in the vault and examine the status of

dependent files relating to your design. Such interaction with the vault includes the following:

Ability to browse the vault in order to open a file directly in Inventor

Browse the vault in order toplace a component directly into your current design

Examine which files are currently checked out to you or by another user

Determine whether your currently opened design contains out-of-date components

The icons in the vault browser allow you to constantly be informed of the current status of the data with

which you are working. Examine the integrated vault browser in the illustration below (lower left).


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Vault Add-In for AutoCAD Mechanical

Autodesk Vault also integrates into the AutoCAD environment. Once installed, vault-related commands

are accessible through the pull down menus, the toolbars, and the command line; and there is also a tight

integration with the External References palette. These integration points allow you to work seamlessly

with the vault while performing your everyday CAD operations. Similar to the Inventor interface, you can

perform most of your file management tasks without leaving the AutoCAD environment. Interaction withthe Vault includes the following:

Vault status indicators in the application title bar (Checked Out or Read Only).

Command feedback in the command line window.

Integration with the External References palette, including status icons (see floating palettebelow).

Commands for adding files to the vaultor for opening and attaching files from the vault.

Examine the illustration below to see how Vault is integrated into the AutoCAD Mechanical environment.


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Vault Add-In for Microsoft Office

Likewise, Vault is similarly integrated with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint so you can perform

vault operations within those applications and control/manage office documents along with your design

files.


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Getting StartedLearn how to access the vault, setup your users and folders, and start using Autodesk Vault today.

Logging into the Vault

As described previously, the vault administrator is responsible for setting up the vault using the serverconsole. The administrator is able to choose the name of the vault as well as the location of its file store.

A vault is essentially the combination of a database and its associated file store. Data can be managed

in a single vault or in multiple vaults on the same server. The illustration below depicts a server

configuration with multiple vaults.

In this example (right), the administrator

has chosen to establish two vaults on a

single server. Each vault has its own

database and associated file store. The

name of each vault and location of each file

store is specified by the administrator.

Each vault is an island of data, but the

same Web Services are used to facilitate

communication. However, communication does not occur between the vaults.

Note: Autodesk recommends the use of a single vault for your production data. This will promote design

reuse and allow you to perform robust searches because your data is consolidated in a single database.

Additional vaults are still useful, however, for training in non-production environments or for temporary

projects.

Server

Vault1

Vault2


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Once the vaults are configured, the administrators next task is to setup the users who will access the

data.

User management is

available through the

Security tab of the

Administration dialog (left) inVault Explorer. The

administrator can create

users and assign

membership to vaults.

Note: Your vault environment is ready

for operation once the vaults are setup

and your users are created. Users may

then begin to log in and start utilizingthe vault.

You need a few pieces of information in

order to log into the vault. First, the

vault administrator must supply your

user name and initial password. You

must also know the name of the server

that you are logging into as well as the

name of the database. In this example

(right), the named user Administrator

is about to log into the vault database

Vault on the server localhost.


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The Vault Folder Structure

One of the first tasks for a new vault is establishing an organized folder structure. This organization is

one of the primary benefits of the vault. The structure allows you to recreate or mimic folder structures

that are already well-known to your company so the transition to using the Vault is as easy and painless

as possible. In fact, you can organize your vault much in the same way that you already organize files

using Windows Explorer.

In this example (left), the vault administrator has organized this vault much

like theyve always organized files in Windows Explorer. Libraries are

organized at the top-level, and the various projects are organized by name.

Imagine how you would organize your own vault structure in your own

company.

Notice that the root of the vault is designated by the $ symbol. The vault is

a virtual file system, so a vault path will start with the $ symbol rather

than a typical drive letter or UNC path. For example, the vault path for the

selected folder (left) looks like: $/Designs/Padlock/Assemblies.


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The User Workspace

When files are added to the Vault, the data is ownedby the vault. When a user wants to work on a

particular file, a local copy is downloaded (or checked out) for editing. A user never works directly on a

file in the vault itself. The file in the vault is secure and protected from accidental mishandling. Instead,

the user works on a local copy of the file in the working folder. When the user is finished editing the data,

the file is then uploaded (or checked in) to the vault, thereby updating the server and making the newestversion of the file available to other users.

The user workspace is the location on the local hard drive that is used for making changes to the file. A

copy of the file is downloaded to this workspace so the user can edit the file safely on the local machine

(where nobody else can edit it). The user workspace offers the following advantages in a vault

environment:

It allows you to work offline because a copy of the file is downloaded to the workspace.

It benefits system performance because you are working locally rather than over thenetwork.

It ensures that the mastercopy of the file is safe in the vault and cannot be corrupted

To ensure that the local working copy is properly checked back into the vault and in the correct location

there is a mapping between your local workspace and the vault structure. In the example below, the

root of the vault ($) is mapped to the Vault directory on the users drive (e.g. C:\My documents\Vault).

When editing files from the vault, local copies will be downloaded to your workspace in a structure parallel

to the vault (as shown below).


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Vault FeaturesWith Vault up and running, engineers and designers can instantly access and manipulate the most up-to-

date designs in a central location. Design efforts are synchronized and controlled, and therefore costly

mistakes are reduced. In the following sections learn about the features in Vault that bring added value to

your data investment.

Version Control

One of the key benefits of the vault is version control . The vault maintains accurate file relationships

throughout the history of a design. A simple example of such a relationship is the Inventor drawing file

(*.IDW) and its associated part file (*.ipt). In order for the drawing to be complete, the two files must

coexist and be accessed as a pair. The vault automatically tracks these files and their relationships

making them available whenever they are needed for examination or manipulation.

For larger assemblies, the prospect of manually keeping track of multiple versions of multiple files can be

daunting especially considering that files are often edited independently. The vault manages this for

you. Traditionally, you might print a hard copy of the drawings, save a complete copy of the design in an

alternate folder, or archive the data into a zip file or CD. All of these methods are manual, time

consuming, and prone to error. Since the vault automatically tracks the appropriate relationships and

versions, these manual methods are no longer necessary. When you need a past version of a design, all

you need to do is retrieve it from the vault. The files, and the correct versions of all related files, are

automatically retrieved exactly as they were when originally checked into the vault.

The example below clearly depicts the version history of a part. Notice how the combination of comments

and thumbnail images make it easy to trace the historical progression of a design from version to

version.


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Note: Autodesk Vault manages work-in-progress data; that is, it manages file iterations as the design

changes throughout the design cycle and it maintains all necessary file relationships along the way. For

more information on how to manage yourrelease processes, follow the link below and learn how

Autodesk Productstream increases the power of Vault to benefit your extended team:

http://www.autodesk.com/productstream

Check In / Check OutThe Check In and Check Out commands facilitate the creation of new versions in the vault. One of the

core functions of the Check Out command is its ability to reserve files to a specific user. This allows you

to be confident that the files you are working on will not be edited or changed by other users while you are

editing them (even if you no longer have the files open in the CAD application).

This fundamental ability allows you to minimize the risk of overwriting someones work thereby avoiding

last saved wins situations that are so common when working in a networked environment using

Windows Explorer alone.

After you are finished making changes to your designs, use the Check In command to make your

changes available to others. Checking a file into the vault uploads your local copy and removes thereservation on that file in the vault. This process actually stores your edited file as a newversion of the

file in the vault, but rest assured that you can always retrieve a copy of an older version at any time.

The basic Check In / Check Out process is shown in the illustration below.

Locate File

in the Vault

Check Out

for Editing

Check In

New Version

Step 1: Navigate within the

vault to find the file; the file

must be available for edit

Step 2: Use Check Out to reserve

the file exclusively to you; a copy

is downloaded to your local

working folder for editing

Step 3: When your edits are

done, use Check In to upload the

file; your modified file becomes

the latest version in the vault


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When you check out a file, it is reserved in your name; no other user can edit that file whether or not

you currently have the file opened in the CAD application. However, other users can still get read-only

copies of the file while you make changes. Your changes only become available to others when you

check in a new version.

The Uses Tab

The Uses feature offers the ability to view the complete (child) file structure of an assembly without everopening the CAD application that created it; all child relationships are captured and maintained in the

vault.

As shown in this example

(right), the Uses tab also shows

related metadata along with the

hierarchical relationships; you

can see who last updated a

particular part in an assembly

and when it was done.

These file relationships ensurethat all file operations take into

account the child files that are

also part of the design.

Vault Explorer uses status iconsindicate which files are checked

out and by whom. A checkmark

indicates a file checked out by

you. In this example (left), two

files are checked out by you. Tw

other files are checked out by

someone else (nicolt). Notice h

the tool tips help explain the

meaning of the icons.


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The Where Used Tab

The Where Used capability in

the vault is fast and extensive.

This feature allows you to

examine parent relationships

files that are either directlyrelated or related through any

number of higher-level

parents.

In this example (right), the part file is directly referenced in an assembly file and a drawing file. But you

can see that the assembly is also referenced in both presentation and drawing files of its own; and the

presentation file has an associated drawing file as well. This information indicates to the user that a

change to the part affects 5 other files.

A unique benefit of the Where Used capability over Inventors native capabilities (and over Windows

Explorer) is its ability to perform this query throughout the entire vault not just the scope of the current

project. This means that files such as standard parts from your companys library that are used over andover again throughout many assemblies, presentations, and drawings can be accurately tracked

throughout the vault.

Note: The parent/child relationships captured in the vault are crucial to its operation. These relationships

ensure that your data is complete and accurate when you need them. Its important to note, however,

that these relationships are captured onlywhen checking files into the vault through the add-ins (e.g. vault

add-in for Autodesk Inventor and the vault add-in for AutoCAD Mechanical).


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The View Tab (Automatic DWF Creation)

With Autodesk DWF (Design Web Format) files, your team can easily share the latest design

information in a compact, non-editable, secure format. Autodesk Vault automatically generates a DWF

for every file that you check into the vault, and then it updates the DWF whenever the file changes.

Automated DWF publishing eliminates the extra work involved with manual publishing and reduces the

errors inherent in the manual updating process. The creation of the DWF file is an option available duringthe check in process. But once created, you can then view the automatically generated DWFs using the

View tab of the Preview pane (below).

These system-generated DWFs

are automatically associated with

their source CAD files.

When you click on the CAD file

and choose the View tab the

associated DWF will be served up

for viewing which is typicallymuch faster because its leaner

than the native file format. In this

example (right), a 2D Inventor

drawing is being viewed; you can

dynamically pan, zoom, and

optionally turn layers ON/OFF.

DWFs are also created for 3D

models. In this example (left),

the user is examining a 3D

Inventor part. The slicing tool in

the DWF viewer is being used to

examine a cross section of the

part. In this example, the

section exposes a countersunk

hole. Similar sections can be

created on any plane. Also, the

rotate, pan, and zoom

commands allow you to

examine finer details of the

geometry.

By default, the View tab displays

the latestversion of the

specified part, assembly, or

drawing. However, you can

easily switch to prior versions

using the slider control in order to visually compare one version to the next.


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The Rename Wizard

Renaming AutoCAD or Inventor files has traditionally been a very painful task; the process is both error

prone and time consuming. There are a couple of ways to go about it:

Windows Explorer You can rename the file on disk, then open it in the CAD application and fixall the broken references. This method can be very dangerous and its easy to overlook affectedfiles.

Design Assistant This Inventor tool is limited to a single project. Furthermore, when there aremany files located over a network, the process is quite slow because it has to search for filereferences/relationships.

With Autodesk Vault you have the ability to rename files using a simple wizard process that will repair

references as needed. This can be a huge time saver and is a critical feature for anyone who needs to

rename large sets of Inventor files. For example, you may need to rename files to match part numbers

prior to release.

The Rename Wizard (right) allows

you to specify one or more files to

rename.

The second step in the wizard is

identifying the related files to be

repaired. This is where the power

of the feature is fully realized.

The Where Used file

relationships are captured in the

vault, so the parent files are

already known.

You will need access to the

parents so the system can

automate the process of fixing

references. A new version of

each parent file will be generated

as well each pointing to the newly renamed file(s).

The illustration below demonstrates the result of a Rename operation from the perspective of the

assembly.

Note: This utility supports both AutoCAD (DWG) as well as Inventor file types.

In this example (left), Combo

Spacer is going to be renamed.The result (right) shows how a

new version of the assembly,

Combo Assembly, is created

and it references the newly

renamed part. This entire

process is fully automated.


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Intelligent Copy Design

Another concept that is absolutely fundamental to the design process is the reuse of existing designs.

Its not uncommon for new assembly designs to reuse 80% (or more) of the parts that are already used in

existingdesigns. Money is often wasted recreating those parts from scratch. Or you may spend

countless hours copying files, renaming them, and repairing file references manually.

The Copy Design functionality offers immediate time savings because it automates this process. You can

choose which parts or subassemblies that you wish to copy, reuse, or replace. The Copy Design dialog

also offers the ability to specify where the new files are going to be copied and what those files will be

named.

In this example (below), the assembly file Pad Lock is going to be copied in order to create a new design

configuration. The files with the blue (double plus sign) icons are going to be copied. The files with the

yellow (single plus sign) icons are going to be reused. Notice that you have the ability to specify the

folder location and new name for all copied files. This tool also offers advanced find and replace

capabilities, as well as the ability to specify a prefix and suffix, so you can quickly automate the process of

copying/renaming several (possibly hundreds) of files at once. After a few clicks, you can start a new

design with most of the work already done.

The key advantage of this command is its ability to utilize the file relationships captured in the vault to

repair all file references for the newly copied assembly. This automation ensures that all files are pointing

to the correctfile references so the resulting assembly can be opened in the CAD application without

error (ready-to-go).

Note: This tool addresses the task of copying designs for both Inventor and AutoCAD files alike (i.e.

external references are repaired in AutoCAD files as well).


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Attachments

Attachments are file associations that are created manually. An attachment can be anything from a

design specification to an ECO for an assembly to something less design-specific like a work order. The

ability to attach files allows you to create relationships between files and keep important design

information linked together.

Its easy to recognize which files have attachments

associated with them. As shown in this example (left), files

that contain one or more attachments are clearly indicated

with the use of a paperclip icon. You can sort by the icon or

search for files that have attachments. Once attached, that

attachment will be associated with every version of the file

until the relationship is removed.

Note: When you add an attachment to a file in the vault, a new version of that file is generated. This

ensures that all changes, even the addition/removal of file relationships, are tracked so that you can

determine when those relationships were made (or so you can return to a version that existed before the

relationship was made).

Property Indexing

Indexing is a very important part of Vault. Indexing refers to the way data is extracted from files when

they are checked into the vault. Important properties are extracted and then cataloged for later use. The

indexing engine stores properties such that they are optimized for quick retrieval. Likewise, its designed

to handle massive quantities of metadata while still maintaining high performance. In addition to indexing

Autodesk Inventor and DWG files, the vault is also able to index content from Microsoft Office documents

(and many others).

Inventor iProperties areautomatically extracted when

Inventor files are checked into

the vault. Likewise, file

properties (DWGPROPS) are

extracted from DWG files. You

can choose to arrange these

properties as columns (right) so

you can sort and group files.


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Note: You can even choose to extract AutoCAD block attributes by specifying which blocks to extract.

These block attributes can then act as file properties that can be displayed as columns in the Main View.

A unique aspect of the Vault is its ability to extract properties from many different types of files. It uses

standard iFilter technology which means that you can register standard iFilters for multiple file types and

the Vault will automatically recognize and use those registered iFilters to extract important file properties.

Click the File Properties button (below) on the Administration dialog in Vault Explorer to remove

unwanted properties from the database (and ensure that they never come back) and even change their

display name.


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Advanced Searching

Leveraging the indexing technology, you are able to quickly and efficiently search through the vault and

return files that match your search criteria. For example, you can perform a basic search simply by

specifying a string with the intention of finding all files that contain that string.

The Quick Find bar (right) is an easy way to search for fileswithin a single folder structure. With the desired folder

selected, enter a string that you wish to search for and click the

magnifying glass. The search will examine the folder for files

that contain this string and return the results in the Main View.

The Advanced Find dialog (left) allows you to

build advanced searches based on specific

criteria. For example, you can build a set of

criteria that will allow you to search for: all parts

that Nancy has modified this month that are made

out of steel but not stainless steel.

You can quickly define your criteria and perform

the search immediately. In this example (left), the

criteria will ensure that the search will only return

files that are not currently checked out and that

contain the word exhaust.

You can perform this search and see the results

appear directly in the dialog. You can then refine

your search by adding more conditions and

performing the search again and again until you

achieve the desired results.

Once the desired results are returned, you can act

upon them. For example, you might want to search for all files that are currently in need of editing so that

you can select them and check them all out at once. Or you might want to print the results or export them

in order to create a formal report.

Searches are intended to be a primary method for accessing files. You can save searches that you

intend to use often and recall them at any time. You can even edit a saved search if necessary. In

addition to specifying criteria, a search also allows you to specify where (i.e. in which folders) to search.

When you have a search that you intend to use often, you can also turn it into a search folder. A search

folderis a folder that appears in the Navigation Pane beneath the normal folder structure. It is essentially

a predefined query. Clicking a search folder has the effect of dynamically performing a search, and the

results are displayed in the Main View. The illustration below shows how a search folder can be used toquickly and easily access files based on pre-defined criteria.

Search results are

displayed in the Main

View (right)


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SummaryReview the summary paragraphs below in order to take away all the key concepts.

Autodesk Vault

Autodesk Vault is an easy-to-use data management tool that helps design teams track work-in-progress

files, maintain version control in a multi-user environment, and incorporate design reuse by consolidating

product information in a centralized storage location.

The Vault Environment

The vault is a client-server environment that manages data in a controlled manner. The recommended

deployment scenario is a single, dedicated server with multiple client machines accessing the serverover the network using standard HTTP protocol. The server contains 3 main components: a web server

(IIS), a database (SQL), and a file store (e.g. Windows file system). When files are added to the vault,

metadata is extracted and stored in the database subsequently allowing for quick and easy access to

important design information.

Vault Applications

There are two standalone applications available as a result of installing the vault. The ADMS Console is

installed onlyon the server and is onlyaccessible by the vault administrator. This application is

necessary for the creation and management of vaults as well as backup and restore. Vault Exploreristhe main client application installed on every client machine, and it provides the interface for browsing the

vault (it is yourwindow into the vault).

A closer look at Vault Explorer reveals that it is similar in its layout to Microsoft Outlook. The Navigation

Pane allows you to browse the virtualfolder structure, execute pre-defined searches, and manage

shortcuts to your favorite files and folders. The Main View is where the contents (i.e. files) of each folder

are displayed. The files appear as rows in a detailed list view, and you can customize the properties (i.e.

columns) that are visible for each folder. The Preview Pane displays details pertaining to the currently

selected file in the Main View.

Client Add-Ins

A vault add-in is a piece of software that plugs into your existing applications in order to extend their

capabilities to support vault operations and workflows. Vault supports add-ins for Autodesk Inventor and

Inventor Professional as well as AutoCAD-based applications and Microsoft Office applications (Word,

Excel, and PowerPoint). Each add-in allows you to work with the vault without leaving the native

application.


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Use the vault browserin the Inventor add-in to examine vault status and act upon dependent files.

Likewise, use the vault-enabled External References palette in AutoCAD to work with external files in a

vault environment.

Getting Started

Once the vault is installed, the vault administrator has to setup one or more vaults. A vault is the

combination of a database and a file store. Autodesk recommends the use of a single vault for your

production data; this will promote design reuse and allow you to perform robust searches because your

data is consolidated in a central location. Additional vaults may still be useful for training purposes.

Once vaults are setup, the vault administrator creates users and assigns them to one or more vaults.

You need a few pieces of information in order to log in to the vault: a user name, a password, the

server name, and a database (i.e. vault) name. The administrator is responsible for supplying this

information to client users.

From an end-users perspective, the basic organization of the vault is a folder structure similar to

Windows Explorer. It is a virtual file system where data is safe from unwanted access. One of the first

things each client needs to do is map the root of the vault (a virtualfolder) to a local working folder(a

realfolder) on your hard drive; this location is where you make edits to files before checking them back

into the vault.

Vault Features

Autodesk Vault helps you maximize the return on your engineering investment through a robust set of

features that ensure design efforts are synchronized and costly mistakes are reduced. The following

features offer immediate value and time savings over the use of Windows Explorer alone:

Version Control Examine file versions and use thumbnail images to track/visualize historical

progression

Check In / Check Out Reserve files for edit, and then upload changes to create a new version in the

vault

The Uses Tab Examine a files child relationships as a hierarchical structure

The Where Used Tab Examine a files parent relationships

The View Tab Pan and zoom 2D drawings, or rotate and measure 3D models (using auto-generated

DWF)

The Rename Wizard Rename one or more files and automatically repair references in parent files

Intelligent Copy Design Copy designs and repair references; rename, replace, orreuse files in the

new design

Attachments Manually create file associations and link specific file versions together


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Property Indexing The indexing process captures file properties and catalogs them for faster

searching

Advanced Searching Perform a simple string search or use advanced criteria and save it as a search

folder


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References

White Papers:

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Vault.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Practical_DM_WP.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/DataManagement_CaseStudies.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Implementing_Practical_Data_Management_050412a.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Remote.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/vault_background_processes_whitepaper.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/publishing_options_for_autodesk_vault_2009.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/migrating_autodesk_inventor_data_in_autodesk_vault.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/best_practices_for_using_autoloader.pdf

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/dwf_settings_in_vault.pdf

Related Links:

http://www.autodesk.com/vault

http://www.autodesk.com/productstream

Newsgroup:

http://www.autodesk.com/discussiongroup-vault

http://www.autodesk.com/discussiongroup-productstream

Presenter Emails:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

au08 cd111 1 vault basics

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