Open a File from Vault

Open a File with the Vault Stand-Alone Client

Open from Vault with the AutoCAD Add-in

Opening a file from the vault opens an existing drawing file from the vault. To modify a file from the vault, the file must be checked out to you. You can edit it on your local drive.

Local copies that are not checked out are read-only.

Each of the following conditions must be met to open a file from the vault for editing:

You must be logged into the vault that contains the file you want to edit.
The file must be in a checked-in state. It cannot be checked out to another user.
You must have permissions to check out the file for editing.

If the working copy of a file is older than the version in the vault, you are prompted to replace the working copy. If the working copy is currently checked out, it is not replaced.

NoteIf a file is not available for editing, you are informed with a message upon checking out the file. Files that are locked cannot be checked out of the vault.

Open File from Vault Features

Look in	Shows path of the active directory.
	Displays the Find dialog so you can search for any file in the vault.
Locations	Shows the top-level of the current vault database as the root. Navigate to the file you want to open.
File list	The main window shows folders defined in the active vault. Double-click a folder to show the files it contains, and then navigate to the file you want to open.
File name	Specifies the file to open, enter a file name, or select a file from the listed files. NoteIf the file name is italicized, then it is a historical revision with a different file name. This feature applies only to Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions.
File of Type	Filters file list to include only files of a specific type. Click the arrow to show list, and then highlight to select a file type.
Revision (Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional only)	Specifies the revision of the file to open.
Released Biased (Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional only)	Indicates that the related files downloaded should be the released versions in the revision.
Open options	Click the down arrow next the Open button to select an Open option.
	Open (Check Out) Checks out the file you selected.
	Open (Check Out All) Checks out the file you selected and all xrefs. NoteIn Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions, the Check Out All option is disabled if any children of the selected files may no be the latest revision.
	Open Read Only Opens the file you selected in read-only mode. NoteOnly the files that are not currently checked out are downloaded. If the working copy of a file is older than the version in the vault, you are prompted to replace the working copy. If the working copy is currently checked out, it is not replaced.
Cancel	Cancels the file open operation and closes the dialog box.

Open Files from a Vault

Use Open from Vault to access files in the vault for viewing or editing. To modify a file from the vault, the file must be checked out to you and worked on from your local drive. You must be logged into the Autodesk Vault Server to open and check out a file.

NoteTo make edits to database files that are linked to a .dwg file:

If you do not have a local copy of the database, use Autodesk Vault to get local copies of the files.
Use Autodesk Vault to check out the database.
Check out the .dwg files in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Mechanical.
Select Open from Vault on the Autodesk Vault toolbar.
In AutoCAD Electrical, open the Project Manager. Select Open Project from Vault from the project selection menu.

NoteIf you are not logged into the vault, the Vault login dialog box displays. You must login to the vault to open a file from the vault.
In the Select file dialog box, navigate to the file you want to open, and then select it. You can also search the vault for a file.
- Click Find to locate a file in the vault.
- From the search results list, select the file to open and then click OK. The file is added to the file name field.
In AutoCAD Electrical, in the Select Project dialog box, navigate to the project definition file, and then select it. To maintain the relationship between the drawing files that are defined in the project file you must check out all files specified in a project file when opening a project from Vault.
This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. From the Revision list, select the revision of the file.
This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. Click Released Biased to open the released version of the selected file revision instead of the latest version.
From the Open drop down list, choose to either check out and open the file, check out and open all the related files, or to open the file without checking it out from the vault.
Click Open to complete the operation, or Cancel to dismiss the operation, and close the dialog box.

Open or Place a File with the Inventor Add-in

You can open any Autodesk Inventor file stored in a vault or place a file that is stored in the vault into the current project.

Select File From Vault Reference

Selects a file from the vault to be opened or placed into the current project.

NoteThe Open and Place from Vault dialog box opens to the last path accessed within the active Project file during the current Autodesk Inventor session.

Access:

Select Open from the Vault ribbon.

Select Place from the Vault ribbon.

My Shortcuts/My Saved Searches

Switches between shortcuts created in Autodesk Vault and saved searches created using the Find dialog, allowing you to select files from either a shortcut or a search folder. Shortcuts can be managed either here or using Autodesk Vault.

Look in

Select a path from inside the current vault or select a search folder.

File name

Specifies the file to open, enter a file name or select a file from the listed files.

Files of type

Filters file list to include only files of a specific type. Click the arrow to show list, and then highlight to select a file type.

Find

Displays the Find dialog box so you can search for a file in the vault.

Options

If available, opens an Options dialog box. The type of file being opened or placed determines the available options. For example, you can specify the level of detail to load when opening or placing an Autodesk Inventor assembly. In addition, you can specify whether to defer updates when opening an idw file.

Quick Launch

When accessed from Open from Vault: Click the Open file button to switch to the File Open dialog box. Click the New file button to switch to the New file dialog box.

When accessed from Place from Vault: Click the Place Component dialog box to switch to the Place Component dialog box.

NoteThe recommended practice is to have a single project file for a vault. If you use multiple project files within a single vault and you open a file in a folder that is outside of the current project, resolve its links.

Use iMate

Places a component using iMate matching. Available for Place From Vault only.

Open a File Stored in the Vault

Select Open from the Vault ribbon.
NoteUnder Quick Launch: To switch to the Open file dialog box, click the Open file button. To switch to the New file dialog box, click the New file button.
Under iMate: You can Interactively place with iMates or Automatically generate iMates on place

In the Select File From Vault dialog box, locate and select one or more files in the current project.

NoteYou can resize the dialog box by left-clicking on a corner and dragging the window to the desired size. The new size will persist throughout the session.

NoteIf the File Name field displays the file name in italics, then it is a historical revision with a different file name than the latest revision. This feature applies only to Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions.
- From the Look in list, select a folder from the vault. The contents of the folder are displayed in the file list. Select a file from the list.
- From the My Shortcuts list, select a vault shortcut. If the shortcut is to a specific file, the file is selected in the file list. If the shortcut is to a directory in the vault, the files in the directory are displayed in the file list. Select a file.
  NoteShortcuts can be managed within the Select File From Vault dialog box as well as in Autodesk Vault.
- Click My Shortcuts and then select My Saved Searches. Any search folders you have created using the Find dialog box are listed. Select a search folder from the list. The search is performed and the results of the search are displayed in the file list. Select a file.
  NoteTo interrupt a search that is in progress, right-click in the file list and then select Stop Search.
  
  NoteUnder Quick Launch: To switch to the Open dialog box, click the Open button. To switch to the New File dialog box, click the New File button.
- This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. From the Revision list, select the revision of the file. If multiple files are selected, this feature is disabled.
- This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. Select the Released Biased check box to open the released version of the selected file revision instead of the latest version.
From the Open drop down list, choose to either check out and open the file, check out and open all the related files, or to open the file without checking it out from the vault. Click Open. The selected file is opened.

NoteIn Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions, the Check Out All option is disabled if any children of the selected files may not be the latest revision.

Place a File Stored in the Vault into the Current Project

Select Place from the Vault ribbon.
Note: To switch to the Place Component dialog box, click the Place Component button located under Quick Launch.
In the Select File From Vault dialog box, locate and select one or more files in the current project.
NoteYou can resize the dialog box by left-clicking on a corner and dragging the window to the desired size. The new size will persist throughout the session.
- From the Look in list, select a folder from the vault. The contents of the folder are displayed in the file list. Select a file from the list.
- From the My Shortcuts list, select a vault shortcut. If the shortcut is to a specific file, the file is selected in the file list. If the shortcut is to a directory in the vault, the files in the directory are displayed in the file list. Select a file.
  NoteShortcuts can be managed within the Select File From Vault dialog box as well as in Autodesk Vault.
- Click My Shortcuts and then select My Saved Searches. Any search folders you have created using the Find dialog box are listed. Select a search folder from the list. The search is performed and the results of the search are displayed in the file list. Select a file.
  NoteTo interrupt a search that is in progress, right-click in the file list and then select Stop Search.
- This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. From the Revision list, select the revision of the file. If multiple files are selected, this feature is disabled.
- This feature available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, and Professional editions. Select the Released Biased check box to open the released version of the selected file revision instead of the latest version.
- Click Find to locate a file in the vault. In the Find dialog box, enter the search criteria and then click Find. From the search results list, select the file to open and then click OK. The file is added to the file name field.
To place a component using iMate, select the Use iMate check box. The component will be placed and matched to a corresponding iMate.
NoteFor more information on placing components using iMate, see Place a component with an iMate in Autodesk Inventor Help.
Click Open.
Place instances of the file in the current Autodesk Inventor model.
Right-click and select Done from the context menu to finish placing files.

Shortcuts

Searches

Load Family from Vault with the Revit Add-in

Open a File with the Office Add-in

Open a File with All Other Add-ins

Use the Open a File from a Vault command to open any file already stored in a vault. When you open a file from vault, you can choose to view it or check it out. You must check out the file to make modifications to it. The file is temporarily stored on your local drive while you make the changes.

Local copies that are not checked out are read-only.

Each of the following conditions must be met to open a file from the vault for editing:

You must be logged into the vault that contains the file you want to edit.
The file must be in a checked-in state. It cannot be checked out to another user.
You must have permissions to check out the file for editing.

If the working copy of a file (i.e., the file stored in your working folder) is older than the version in the vault, you are prompted to replace the working copy. If the working copy is currently checked out, it is not replaced.

NoteIf a file is not available for editing, you are notified as soon as you attempt to check out the file. Files that are locked cannot be checked out of the vault. For more information on locking and unlocking files, see File Locking in the Autodesk Vault Client Help.

Open File from Vault Features

Look in	Shows path of the active directory.
	Displays the Find dialog so you can search for any file in the vault.
Locations	Shows the top-level of the current vault database as the root. Navigate to the file you want to open.
File list	The main window shows folders defined in the active vault. Double-click a folder to show the files it contains, and then navigate to the file you want to open.
File name	Specifies the file to open. Enter a file name or select a file from the listed files. NoteIf the file name is italicized, then it is a historical revision with a different file name. This feature is available in Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional.
File of Type	Filters file list to include only files of a specific type. Click the arrow to show the list, and then highlight to select a file type.
Revision This feature is available in Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional.	Specifies the revision of the file to open.
Released Biased This feature is available in Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional.	Indicates that the related files downloaded should be the released versions in the revision.
Open options	Click the down arrow next the Open button to select an Open option.
	Open (Check Out) Checks out the file you selected.
	Open (Check Out All) Checks out the file you selected and all related files. Note: In Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional editions, the Check Out All option is disabled if any children of the selected files may not be the latest revision.
	Open Read Only Opens the file you selected in read-only mode. NoteOnly the files that are not currently checked out are downloaded. If the working copy of a file is older than the version in the vault, you are prompted to replace the working copy. If the working copy is currently checked out, it is not replaced.
Cancel	Cancels the file open operation and closes the dialog box.

Open a File from a Vault

Use Open from Vault to access files in the vault for viewing or editing. To modify a file from the vault, the file must be checked out to you and worked on from your local drive. You must be logged into the Autodesk Vault Server to open and check out a file.

Select Open from Vault on the Autodesk Vault ribbon.
NoteYou must be logged into a vault to open a file from that vault.
In the Select file dialog box, navigate to the file you want to open, and then select it. You can also search the vault for a file.
- Click Find to locate a file in the vault.
- From the search results list, select the file to open and then click OK. The file is added to the file name field.
This feature is available in Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional.
From the Revision list, select the revision of the file.
This feature is available in Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, and Vault Professional.
Click Released Biased to open the released version of the selected file revision instead of the latest version.
From the Open drop down list, choose to either check out and open the file, check out and open all the related files, or to open the file without checking it out from the vault.
Click Open to complete the operation, or Cancel to dismiss the operation, and close the dialog box.