Why Use Autodesk Vault’s Rename Utility?

Renaming files is often necessary due to changes in part numbers, stock numbers, or naming conventions. For example, if your company is implementing SAP, a new 10-digit naming convention might be required for all design-related documentation. Renaming files is usually straightforward. However, issues can arise when you need to rename files linked to others. This scenario happens particularly in CAD environments.

Using Windows Explorer to rename files does not update “parent” documents with the new names of “child” documents. In AutoCAD®, this causes missing or broken XREFs (External References). In Inventor, it can lead to modeling or documentation failures in parts, assemblies, presentations, and drawings.

The Rename utility within Autodesk® Vault™ addresses these issues by using the power of Vault’s database engine to update parent files with the renamed child files.This means that all relationships remain intact, with no missing references or broken XREFs.

Renaming 101

The Rename utility can be activated from the Edit menu or by selecting files, right-clicking, and choosing Rename. The Rename utility allows you to work with multiple files at once.. You can either select multiple files before launching the utility or add more files after it has been opened. We’ll dive into these steps in more detail shortly.

Is Rename Limited to Only Filenames?

Yes and no. The Rename utility is primarily designed to change the names of files, but it can also adjust the Part Number field in Inventor files.

To Err is Human; To rename, You Need Vault

Renaming files in Vault is both simple and incredibly powerful. Our example shows a LEGO® model that needs some component renaming. The Tire.ipt, is too generic, considering how many different LEGO® tire configurations are available. In Figure A, we see the impact of renaming the Tire.ipt as it is used by many assemblies and drawings. Let’s outline each step.

Figure A

1. To rename a file, go to the Edit menu or right-click on the desired file and select Rename.

   1. Note: You can also rename multiple files by selecting them (using Ctrl+click or Shift+click) before launching the Rename utility. Alternatively, additional files can be added directly within the Rename utility.

2. Figure B displays the Rename utility interface. From here, you can use the Add Files… button to include more files in the renaming operation, streamlining the process.

   1. Note: You can also launch the Rename utility from a Search window within Vault. This is particularly useful when renaming a large number of files to match a new naming convention, such as updating from a 7-digit to a 12-digit naming scheme across multiple designs.

                                                         Figure B

3. Clicking Next > brings us to the actual Rename function screen. See Figure C. By default, the Rename utility puts the prefix of “NEW” for any files being renamed. This can be changed by editing the New Name column in Figure C. In this example, we’ll rename Tire.ipt to Slick Tire Model 01.ipt. Notice that the file extension does NOT have to be specified in the New Name field.

   

   Figure C

4. The Numbering Scheme button allows you to choose any predefined numbering scheme or build one for this Rename operation. In Figure D, we see that prefixes, suffixes, and even incremental numbering can be applied during the Rename process.   Take note that all of these options are flexible and should be customized based on your company’s standards.

   

                                                     Figure D

5. Referring to Figure C, the Update Part Number column is checked or activated for our Tire.ipt file. This changes or updates the Part Number iProperty of the Inventor file so that the Part Number field and new filename match. (This is the default behavior for Inventor files, where Part Number = File Name)

6. Also, in Figure C, the Numbering Scheme column displays whether the file(s) are being renamed based on conditions set in any defined Number Scheme within Vault, as outlined in Step 4, and shown in Figure D.

7. Clicking Finish will apply the rename changes. Vault will then update all database records for any files that reference the renamed files, ensuring all links and references are intact with no broken relationships. A results display, as shown in Figure E, allows you to save a report outside of Vault or use the Send to Vault… option to store the report within the Vaulted folder structure for future reference.

   

                                                                              Figure E

8. Upon closing the utility and reviewing the results, Figure F shows that ipt has been successfully renamed to Slick Tire Model 01.ipt, and all previously displayed parent relationships have been updated to reference the newly named file.

Figure F

Ready to take your Autodesk Vault skills to the next level? Our Autodesk Vault for Inventor User Training Course will help you organize files, work with Vault Explorer, and streamline your design workflow.