Content Center Installation and Setup

You can work with Content Center as a stand-alone user (libraries are saved in the Desktop Content location on your computer) or as a member of a workgroup (libraries are shared on a Vault server).

If you select the Desktop Content option in the installation, Content Center libraries are installed to the folder specified in the installation configuration. After the installation, the Desktop Content environment is set up and Content Center is ready for use. If you select the Vault Server option in the installation, Content Center libraries are not installed on your computer. You must install Content Center libraries on the server, and log in to the server to use Content Center.

TipMigrate your legacy user libraries to use them with the new version of Autodesk Inventor.

Before you start using Content Center, set up Autodesk Inventor and Content Center libraries to correspond with your needs:

  • Set the Application Options. The Content Center tab in the Application Options dialog box sets the storage location of Content Center libraries and refreshing of standard parts on instancing. The File tab in the Application Options dialog box specifies the default Content Center Files folder where instanced Content Center parts are saved.
  • Set Content Center options in the Autodesk Inventor project. Use the Configure Libraries dialog box to configure Content Center libraries. If appropriate, change the Content Center Files folder.

After a successful installation and configuration of Autodesk Inventor Content Center, the following components are available:

  • Standard Content Center libraries installed in the Desktop Content folder or on an Autodesk Vault Server and configured in the project.
  • One or more user libraries located in the Desktop Content folder or on an Autodesk Vault Server and configured in the project.

Content Center environment for a stand-alone user

If you want to work as a stand-alone user, perform the following steps to set up Content Center:

  • Select the Desktop Content option in the Autodesk Inventor installation.
  • If your legacy user libraries reside on the server, transfer them to Desktop Content location. Autodesk Inventor can do the transfer automatically on the first startup. Click Yes in the Content Center Library Migration dialog box.
  • If appropriate, copy user libraries from an external Desktop Content location to your Desktop Content folder.
  • Set up the configuration of Content Center libraries in the project:
    • Transfer user libraries from a server by using Library Transfer guide.
    • Select the In Use box to add libraries in the configuration.
    • Migrate and synchronize legacy user libraries by using the Update Tool.
TipLegacy and new version of Autodesk Inventor on the same computer: Use separate folders for old and new Desktop Content libraries. Remember that migration in Update Tool irreversibly changes user libraries. You cannot use migrated Desktop Content libraries in an old version of Autodesk Inventor.

Content Center environment for a design workgroup

You can eliminate the need for each member of a design workgroup to install and synchronize their own Content Center libraries by installing Content Center libraries on a Vault server.

Local settings for workgroup members

After Content Center libraries are set up on the server, members of the workgroups configure their local settings.

We recommend that you designate an administrator to install the server, set up projects and predefine the standard set of libraries to use in a design project. The administrator can create a common project and add shared libraries to the Content Center configuration, and then share the common project file (.ipj) with the other team members.

To log into the server within Autodesk Inventor, you specify the location (or name) of the remote server in the Log In dialog box.

Storage folder for instanced standard components

When you insert a Content Center library part in an assembly, the library part is copied from the server to the Content Center Files folder. The configuration of the Default Content Center Files folder is saved in Application Options, and the setting can be overridden in the project.

Set the Content Center Files folder depending on how you want to consume changes to the Content Center libraries:

  • Specify a network location of the Default Content Center Files folder on each of the local computers for each user to get the most recent library content automatically.
  • Specify a location on the local computers for users to decide when to update their libraries. In this scenario, use the Refresh Standard Components command to get the latest content.

Separate servers for Content Center and Vault

The Vault server manages libraries for Content Center and file databases for Autodesk Vault Basic. If needed, you can use two separate servers for Content Center libraries and Autodesk Vault Basic files. Install the server on two computers, and then use one as a Vault server and the other as a Content server:

  • To enable the connection to two separate servers, change the Autodesk Inventor settings on computers of the workgroup members: Click Vault Server Connection Options and select Use Separate Servers for Content and Vault in the Connection Options dialog box.
  • To log in to the Content Center server, click Vault Server Content Center Log In.
  • To view the status of the server, click Vault Server Connection Status.

Comparing Desktop Content and Vault Server

  Desktop Content Autodesk Vault Server
Installation Autodesk Inventor installation includes Desktop Content libraries Autodesk Inventor without libraries installed on client computers, Vault Server and libraries installed on the server
Additional software needed No IIS or AWS, SQL Server
User accounts and permissions No (can be added on the file access level of the operation system, if appropriate) Yes (managed by Vault Server)
Supports multiple Autodesk Inventor versions on one computer Yes (with no limitations) Yes, with limitations (one version of Vault Server, the corresponding and two previous versions of Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Inventor Client Update installed for legacy Autodesk Inventor versions)
Management of Content Center libraries In Autodesk Inventor, by using the Configure Libraries dialog External, by using Vault Server Console
Work with Content Center No log-in or permissions needed, all Content Center functionality available Connection and log-in to the server required, editing permissions needed to perform editing tasks
Migration of legacy user libraries Yes (transfer from ADMS or copying from a legacy Desktop Content folder and migration by Update Tool) Yes (migration and set up on the Vault Server, then migration by Update Tool)

Working with Autodesk Inventor 2011 , 2012, and 2013 libraries on the same server

Autodesk Inventor 2013, the Autodesk server 2013, and the server Client Update installation for Autodesk Inventor 2011 and 2012 enable you to access Autodesk Inventor 2009, Autodesk Inventor 2011 and Autodesk Inventor 2012 libraries on one library server.

To support Side-by-Side installation, the Autodesk server maintains Content Center libraries that were built for different Autodesk Inventor versions. Libraries are saved in the corresponding Partition of the Autodesk server. Libraries in Autodesk Inventor 2011 partition are used by Autodesk Inventor 2011 with Client Update patch. Libraries in Autodesk Inventor 2012 partition are used by Autodesk Inventor 2012 with Client Update patch. Libraries in Autodesk Inventor 2013 partition are used by Autodesk Inventor 2013.

The default prefix of the library name is determined by the partition where the library is saved. You can copy user libraries from Autodesk Inventor 2011 or 2012 partition into Autodesk Inventor 2013 partition. Copying from Autodesk Inventor 2013 partition to Autodesk Inventor 2011 or 2012 partition is not supported.

Procedures

Set up the Content Center environment for a stand-alone user

If you work as a standalone user, we recommend you to work in the Desktop Content environment. You do not need to log in to a server or set any user permissions. Libraries are treated as files in the Desktop Content folder on your hard disc. Work with libraries, for example creating, deleting, moving, or copying libraries, is more convenient.

Step 1: Install Autodesk Inventor

Select the Desktop Content option in the Autodesk Inventor installation. Then select Standard Content Center libraries to install. Libraries are installed in the Desktop Content folder on your computer.

Step 2: If appropriate, transfer legacy user libraries on the first startup

When you first run Autodesk Inventor, Content Center looks for legacy user libraries saved on your computer. If a legacy ADM Server is installed on your computer and legacy user libraries are found, Content Center automatically starts transfer of legacy libraries into the Desktop Content location. Click Yes in the Content Center Library Migration dialog box to perform the transfer.

Step 3: Configure Content Center libraries in the project

  1. Click Manage Projects.
  2. In the Projects dialog box, click the Configure Content Center Libraries command.
  3. Use the options in the Configure Libraries dialog box to customize the configuration, and then click OK.
  4. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.
NoteThe fewer libraries you configure in a project, the better Content Center performs.

Tips:

  • Use Library Transfer guide to manually transfer libraries from a Vault server to the Desktop Content location.
  • Copy external Desktop Content user libraries to your Desktop Content folder: Locate a library to copy, and copy it as a file to your Desktop Content folder. The library appears in the Libraries list of the Configure Libraries dialog box, and can be added to the configuration.
    NoteThe copied library must be unique in the Desktop Content folder. That means it must have a unique File Name and internal library name. The internal library name is created when the library is created, and cannot be changed. If more libraries with the same internal name exist in the Desktop Content folder, they are duplicates even if they have different File Names and Display Names. Content Center configuration does not allow adding libraries duplicate to currently configured libraries.

Step 4: If needed, change the folder where standard components are saved

To change the Content Center Files folder in Autodesk Inventor project:

  1. Click Manage Projects.
  2. In the Projects dialog box, expand Folder Options.
  3. Right-click the Content Center Files entry, and select Edit. Then set the new location of the Content Center Files folder.
  4. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.

If appropriate, change the default folder where standard components are created:

  1. On the ribbon, click Tools tab Options panel Application Options.
  2. On the File tab of the Application Options dialog box, change the default folder for Content Center files.
  3. Click Apply and OK to close the Application Options dialog box.
NoteWhen Content Center creates a component, it first searches a cache of previously utilized content located in the Content Center Files location to improve access time to commonly used components. Although it is possible to set different Content Center Files location, we recommend that you use the same Content Center File location for all projects to optimize the performance.

Share libraries across design workgroups

Before beginning, designate an administrator who installs and manages Content Center libraries on the Autodesk data management server.

Library configurations for team members are saved in the Autodesk Inventor project and can be edited in Project Editor. Each team member can create a personal project using the project file (.ipj) as a template, or include a common project (.ipj) file that is configured with the shared libraries. This enables each team member to have the same configuration.

NoteYou cannot include a project file in an Autodesk Vault project file. Autodesk Vault Basic does not support included project files.

If you are connecting to a vault database and the Content Center libraries database, the administrator creates the vault project file first and makes it the active project. Then the administrator configures the Content Center libraries in the Configure Libraries dialog box.

Overview

  • Install the server and client components for a design team.
  • Create a common project file (.ipj) with the desired configuration of Content Center libraries. This project can be used as a template or as an included project.
  • In the common project, change the folder where standard components are created, if needed.
  • In Autodesk Data Management Server Console, create the user accounts for anyone requiring editing permissions. Communicate user account information and the Login procedure to each member in the team.

Install the server components

Install Content Center libraries on the server. For installation details, please refer to the Autodesk Vault Server Implementation Guide. The guide is installed as a PDF in Program Files Autodesk ADMS [version] Help.

TipIf appropriate, use two separate servers for Content Center libraries and Autodesk Vault Basic files. Install the server on two computers, and then use one as a Vault server, and the other as a Content server.

Use the server console to configure libraries on the server

Before you start using Content Center, set up Content Center libraries to correspond with your needs. Use the server console to create, attach, import, export, detach, and delete Content Center libraries, and to change a library status.

  1. To run the server console, click Start Programs Autodesk Autodesk Data Management Autodesk Data Management Server Console [version].
  2. In the server console window, expand the root folder and perform the appropriate changes:
    • To create a library, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Create from the menu.
    • To attach a library saved in the default libraries folder, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Attach Library from the menu.
    • To import a library, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Import Library from the menu.
    • To detach a library from the server, right-click the library name and choose Detach from the menu.

Create Content Center Editor user accounts in the server console

Create Content Center Editor user accounts for anyone requiring editing permissions.

  1. Run the server console: Program Files Autodesk Autodesk Data Management Autodesk Data Management Server Console [version].
  2. Click Tools Administration.
  3. In the Administration dialog box, click Users.
  4. In the User Management dialog box, click New User.
  5. In the New User dialog box, enter the appropriate information for the user.
  6. Click Roles to assign the user a Content Center role.
  7. Select Content Center Editor to assign editing permissions.
  8. Click Vaults to assign the user to a vault.
  9. If needed, click Groups to assign the user to a group (optional).
  10. Click OK.
  11. In the User Management dialog box, and then in the Administration dialog box, click Close.
  12. Communicate user account information and the Login procedure to each member in the team.

Install the client components

On the local computers, install Autodesk Inventor. Select the Use Vault Server option to skip installing Content Center libraries.

Connect to the server from Autodesk Inventor

  1. Start Autodesk Inventor.
  2. Click Vault Server Log In.
  3. Enter the appropriate data to the Log In dialog box:
    • User Name: Enter the user name.
    • Enter the password.
    • Server: Enter the name of the computer (for example: MyRemoteServer), the IP address (for example: 141.111.111.111), or the full computer name for your network domain (for example: pc-name.xyz.autodesk.com).
    • Database: Enter the name of a Vault database located on the specified server.
    • Select Automatically login next session to get automatically logged in the next Autodesk Inventor session.
    TipIf you use two servers for Content and Vault, change the setting on computers of the workgroup members: Click Vault Server Connection Options and select Use Separate Servers for Content and Vault in the Connection Options dialog box. To log in to the Content Center server, choose Vault Server Content Center Log In. To view the status of the server, choose Vault Server Connection Status.

Create a project file (.ipj) and configure Content Center libraries

Library configurations are saved in the Autodesk Inventor project and edited in Project Editor.

After the common project is configured, copy the project file (.ipj) to a shared location. Request each team member to use the project as a template or as an included project.

TipYou can create several projects with different setting that is specific for your company projects.

Configure Content Center libraries

  1. Click Manage Projects.
  2. In the Projects dialog box, create a project file or select an existing project file.
  3. In the Projects dialog box, click the Configure Content Center Libraries command.
  4. In the Configure Libraries dialog box, configure Content Center libraries. Remove all libraries you do not use and add libraries you want to use. If needed, migrate old libraries.
  5. Click OK to close the Configure Libraries dialog box.
  6. Click Save in the Projects dialog box.
NoteTo increase performance, remove all Content Center libraries that are not used by the workgroup. In the Configure libraries dialog box select a library and click Remove Library. If needed, removed libraries can be added back using the Add Library command.

Optionally, change the folder where standard components are created.

When Content Center creates a component, it first searches a cache of previously utilized content located in the Content Center Files location to improve access time to commonly used components. Although it is possible to set different Content Center Files location, we recommend that you use the same Content Center File location for all projects to optimize the performance.

  1. In the Project dialog box, expand Folder Options.
  2. Right-click the Content Center Files entry, and enter the new location of the Content Center Files folder.
    • Specify a network location for all users to share the same cache memory of instanced components. The network location ensures that everyone in the shared environment is always accessing the same standard parts and automatically gets the most recent library content.
    • Specify a location on local drives for users to decide when they want to refresh their libraries. In this scenario, a user must click Manage tab Content Center panel Refresh to get the latest content.
  3. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.

Configure local project settings

Connect to the server to change the library configuration in the Autodesk Inventor project.

Use one of the following methods to create a local project:

Create a local project which uses the common project as an included file

NoteYou cannot include a project file in an Autodesk Vault project file. Autodesk Vault Basic does not support included project files.
  1. In Autodesk Inventor, in the Project dialog box, create a new personal project file.
  2. Double-click the new project to make it the active project.
  3. In the Project dialog box, highlight Included files, and then click the Edit selected item.
  4. Browse to the location of the common project file (.ipj) configured by the administrator.
  5. Click Open.
  6. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.

Use the common project as a template for a local project

If you create a personal project file with the shared project as a template, you can save filters and favorites locally.

TipSelect the common project before you click New to use the selected project as a template. The new project has the same library definitions as the common project.
  1. In Autodesk Inventor, in the Project dialog box, add the common project file (.ipj) created by the Administrator to your projects:
    1. Click Browse.
    2. In the Choose Project file dialog box, select and open the common project file (.ipj) created by the administrator.
  2. In the Project dialog box, highlight the common project file.
  3. Click New.
  4. Create a new personal project file.
  5. Click Finish to create the project.
  6. If appropriate, edit the new project.
  7. Double-click the personal project to make it the active project.
  8. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.