2009

DescriptionTerm
should be the only defined editable loca-
tion.
Learn About Projects
A project represents a logical grouping of a complete design or product,
including its model files, drawings, presentations, and design notes. Project
information is stored in XML files with the .ipj extension that specify where
you edit files, how many versions are retained when you save a file, where
referenced data is stored, and other settings.
The project identifies the root folders where files are stored and the hierarchy
of the project design. Data files can be stored directly in these root folders or
in their subfolders.
You can create two project types: single user and, if you have installed
Autodesk
®
Vault, a vault project. Single User projects are for designers working
alone. When Autodesk Vault is installed, you use Vault projects to collaborate
on projects with multiple designers. Common files are stored in a vault and
never accessed directly, and each designer has a personal project that defines
where the files are copied for viewing and editing. The vault also maintains
version history of files as well as additional attributes.
Default Project
When you first start Autodesk Inventor, a default project is automatically
active. The default project does not define an editable location, but you can
use it to create designs immediately, and save files anywhere without regard
to projects and file management. Generally, you use the default project for
experimentation only, not actual design work. It is more difficult to migrate
your files to a project when the design gets complex than it is to set up a
project before you start designing.
Set an Active Project
In an Autodesk Inventor work session, only one project can be active. The
active project specifies the options and paths to folders containing design files
114 | Chapter 6 Using Projects to Organize Data