Add Pick Component

Overview

The Add Pick Component command is designed to streamline the process of adding a new, selected component to your active Inventor assembly. This feature is especially useful when you need to incorporate parts or assemblies from different project workspaces, ensuring that every new component is uniquely named and properly organized within your current assembly folder.

Before using Add Pick Component, it is essential that your assembly has a valid file name prefix. The prefix is required for this command to work and helps keep your project files organized and unique. For a detailed explanation of how prefixes work and how to structure your file names, see File Names. It is strongly recommended to always use a prefix for all assemblies and components in your projects.

Unlike the Copy command, which places new files in the same location as the originals, Add Pick copies all new component files—including nested components—directly into the folder of the active edit document. This approach keeps your assembly structure clean and centralized, making it easier to manage and locate files.

When you use Add Pick, the command automatically applies the assembly prefix to each new component and appends a unique index to the file name. If the selected component already has a prefix, it is replaced with the current assembly's prefix, ensuring consistency throughout your project. The command also checks for static files or files outside the assembly folder; these are not copied and are listed in the logger output for your review. For more details on static and library files, see Static and Library Files.

To maintain data integrity, the active assembly must be saved and have a valid prefix before you can add a component. If these conditions are not met, you will be notified and the command will close without making changes. This safeguard helps prevent accidental file placement and naming conflicts.

Overall, Add Pick Component is an essential tool for users who need to efficiently build assemblies with unique, well-organized components, whether working with templates, library parts, or custom designs from other projects.

How It Works

Select the component you want to add to your assembly.
The command creates a new unique copy of the component and all nested components.
All new files are saved in the same folder as the active edit document.
Component names are managed by applying the assembly prefix and a unique index to each new file name.
If the component already has a prefix, it is ignored and replaced with the current assembly prefix.
If files are static or not located in the assembly folder, they are listed in the logger output. See Static and Library Files for details.

Usage Instructions

Ensure the active assembly is saved and has a prefix.
Click the Add Pick Component button in the Create panel.
Select the desired component file.
Follow any prompts to complete the operation.
Review the results in the active document and logger output.

Troubleshooting

If the assembly does not have a prefix, you will be notified and the command will close without adding a component.
Check the logger output for files that were not copied due to being static or outside the assembly folder.
Ensure all required files are accessible and not locked by other processes.

Add Examples

Add a template component from a library folder: A new unique component and all sub-components are added to the active edit document, saving all files in the same location as the active edit document.
Add a component from another folder: For example, copy “2404-TC – Booth Walls” from a “TC Booth” folder to a new assembly “2404-CC – Booth Walls” in a “CC Booth” folder. All files are copied to the new assembly folder and renamed with the new prefix.
Add a component from another project folder: The new component and sub-components are copied to the active edit document folder and renamed with the current assembly prefix and unique indexes. Static components from the previous project are also copied and references updated.