Using Inventor "Notes" as a Mini Vault

Inventor "Create Notes" function probably does not get a lot of use but for those who unfortunately do not have access to the Autodesk Vault, this feature can be turned into a mini Vault.  In this article I will outline the process of saving model versions, with images, using the "Create Note" command.  I know you can do this if you configure your Inventor project file to keep an unlimited numbers of "Old Versions" but that is across all Inventor files and can get cumbersome.

I will be using a part model but the process will work with assemblies as well.  I would not recommend it though because tracking the necessary part versions will be problematic.  You need to install the Autodesk Vault to handle assemblies effectively.  My part is a mounting post for a gearbox with a file name of 563549.ipt which will become important later in the article.  I am showing the browser so you can see the feature callouts.

An edit of the part is required, starting the process of capturing a version using the Inventor "Create Note" function.  Right click on the part name at the top of the browser and select "Create Note" from the context menu.

The first thing to do, after the Inventor notebook opens, is to remember to "Freeze" the thumbnail image so you will have a visual record of the current version.  Right click over the image and select "Freeze" from the context menu.  This prevents the image from updating as changes are made to the model later on.

Next, lazy left click the note name in the notebook browser.  Give it a descriptive name to help you remember this version.  Since this is my original, that will be my name.  You can also add dialog to the note box as well if desired.  

The next step is the main step in the process.  You will be using the "Insert Object" command to place a copy of the current Inventor part into the note area.  Select the "Insert Object" command in the Insert panel.

In the Insert Object dialog box, select the "Create from File" radio button, select "Browse" and navigate to the current part file, in my case it is 563549.ipt.  Place a check file in the "Display As Icon" box and then select "OK" to finish.  

The file will be added to the current "Comment" dialog box.  You may have to rearrange the box if needed.  You have finished capturing the current version, select the "Finish Notebook" command on the Exit panel.

The next thing is to save your part file then you can start making your version edits.  I am going to speed up the process and make two more version notes using the same process outlined above.   One important thing to remember is to make sure you save the part before using the "Insert Object" tool during the creation of any further version creations.  This will make sure the file will be representative of the desired version if it is ever restored.  Below are the image files from each version to make sure you understand my changes.

Time passes and I need to capture the design of the second version "Remove bar holes and Wrench Flats".  The first step is to open up the current file containing the three versions.  Next you need to use the "Save As" command to save the part file under a different name.  The name and file location is not important but the current file cannot have the same name as the file you will be restoring.  For my example I will choose 563549-1.

While in the newly renamed part file, highlight the note created from the version you would like to restore, right click and select "Display Note" from the context menu. 

Select the inserted object file then right click and select "Copy" from the context menu.

Exit the Engineer's Notebook and browse to the folder you would like to "Paste" the part version.  I am going to place it in the original folder, replacing the original file when prompted.  Returning to Inventor open up the part file to show you have restored one of the previous versions.  You could go back at anytime and restore an other version if needed. 

This process can be used to attach a different reference files or documents if needed.  Capturing an image will have to be done with an a screen capture application and pasted into the Engineer's Notebook if you desire an image.