Using Attachments

You can add any number of files to model elements as attachments. These are saved in the Innovator repository and can be viewed, edited and saved as a copy; they can also be exported as part of the documentation. Attachments are shown as their own node below their owner in the model tree. They can also be shown in diagrams.

Attaching Any File to a Model Element

Context

The Attach File... command exists in the context menu for a selected model element and in the diagram. This command opens a file selection dialog; you can select (practically) any number of files.

The applied file attachment is identified by the file name and the icon. If necessary, the name is made unique.

The file attachment is displayed for structuring elements in the structure content and in the Model Element List. With the appropriate configuration, attachments are also displayed in the Details tool window.

In principle, model elements can have multiple attachments, one of which is managed as the default attachment.

A newly added attachment is automatically defined as a default attachment if this property of the model element is not yet assigned.

How to proceed

Select the model element in the model structure which you want to attach a file to.
Select Attach File... from the context menu.

The file selection dialog appears.
Select the file you want to attach and confirm your selection with Open (Enter).

The file attachment is applied for the selected element and identified by the file name and the icon. If necessary, the name is made unique. A copy of the file is adopted in the repository.

The model element is identified using the same icon in the Model Element List and in the Result Region in the column.

It is also possible to drag-and-drop files from the Windows desktop or Windows Explorer into the Model Structure, the Model Element List or into the diagram and store them there.

Opening an Attachment

Context

Attachments can be opened in the same way as diagrams or tables. On opening, you will be asked if you want to edit the file. If not, it will be opened as read only. The registered application of the attached file is started and the document is opened.

Repeated opening to read will always open the latest version. Any modifications by other modelers updated in the meantime will also be displayed.

When opening an attachment, the Open Documents Read-Only option is relevant.

If this option is activated, double-clicking will always open the attachments in read-only mode.
If this option is deactivated, you can open the attachments to edit by double-clicking, but you will be explicitly asked if you want to edit the file.

Opening an Attachment to Edit

How to proceed

Select the attachment in the model structure which you want to open for editing in its registered application.
Select Open (Enter) from the context menu or double-click on the attachment if the Open Documents Read-Only option is deactivated.

The Open dialog appears.
To open the attachment for editing, answer the question "Do you want to edit the file '{0}' exclusively or just view it?" with Edit. If you answer View to this question, the attachment is opened in read-only mode.

The attachment is saved to the temporary directory and opened in the registered application. This reserves the attachment .

Innovator implements an additional block so that the file cannot be modified by more than one user at the same time.

Note

Please note that this block can only be canceled using the Update Attachment command, independently of whether you have made modifications.

Opening an Attachment as Read-Only

How to proceed

Select the attachment in the model structure which you want to open as read-only in its registered application.
Select Open Read-Only from the context menu or double-click on the attachment if the Open Documents Read-Only option is activated.

The attachment is saved to the temporary directory and opened as read-only in the registered application.

Innovator does not implement a block. Multiple users can open the attachment as read-only at the same time.

Updating a Modified Attachment

Context

An attachment opened for editing is issued with a block which can only be canceled again by updating the attachment, irrespective of modifications.

The Update Attachment command is always available if there is a temporary work file. It is not important whether this has been modified.

The commands Release and Release All offer the option of updating modified attachments in the model, as do the commands Logout, Exit Innovator, Close, Switch Role and Administrator Logout.

In principle, the modifications can be discarded following appropriate confirmation.

These commands delete the temporary files created by opening file attachments.

Note

Please note that some applications (e.g. Microsoft Office) prevent the updating and deleting of work files when these are open. In such instances, Innovator may ask you to close the external application, or temporary files may remain once you have closed Innovator.

During updating, modifications will be applied only to the specific attachment.

How to proceed

Select the attachment that you want to update in the Model Structure tool window, in the Model Element List or in the diagram.
Select Update Attachment in the context menu.

The dialog of the same name appears.

The attachment is imported, the temporary file is deleted, the block and the reservation are canceled .

Confirm the message with OK.

Replacing Attachments

Context

You can replace a file attachment with a new file. All relationships to model elements remain.

How to proceed

Select the attachment that you want to replace in the Model Structure tool window, in the Model Element List or in the diagram.
Select Replace Attachment... in the context menu.

The default dialog for file selection appears.
Select the file which should replace the attachment and confirm it with Open.

The file is imported and replaces the attachment.

Assigning an Attachment as Default Attachment

Context

Model elements can have a specially marked attachment as default attachment property.

This default attachment can be explicitly mentioned in the documentation in special documentation notes.

The default attachment is displayed in the Attachment Preview tool window if the graphics format is supported.

The default attachment property is automatically awarded to the first attachment and can be changed manually.

How to proceed

In the Propertiestool window for the Default attachment property, click on the selection icon .

The Determine default attachment for <element> dialog appears.
Select the default attachment from the attachments of the model element.
Confirm with OK.

The selected attachment will be displayed as default attachment in the property.

Saving a Copy of an Attachment

Context

The context menu contains the Save Copy As... command for a selected attachment. This command opens a directory selection dialog; here you can save a copy of the file.

How to proceed

Select the attachment(s) in the model tree or diagram which you want to save a copy of in the file system.
Select Save Copy As... from the context menu.

The directory selection dialog appears.
Select the target directory.

The attachments are stored as file copies in the specified directory.

Displaying a Picture Attachment as a Picture in the Diagram

Context

Attachments which reference a picture can be displayed as nodes or pictures in the diagram. Multi-selection is possible for the commands. The command is applied to all picture attachments if nothing is selected.

The shorter sides of the picture are reduced to 40 pixels as standard and the longer sides are then adjusted accordingly. You can individually adjust the size.

How to proceed

Select the node for the picture attachment you want to display as a picture in the diagram.
Select Display as Image in the context menu.

The selected nodes are shown as pictures; the shorter sides are displayed with 40 pixels and the larger sides in relation to this.
To show the displayed attachment as a node again and not a picture, select it and then select Display as Node in the context menu.

The selected attachments are displayed as nodes.

Displaying an Attachment in the Documentation

If the attachments are to be taken into consideration in the structure used, they are also displayed with their assigned model element in the documentation. Innovator attempts to use the registered application for this. Internal output is used in Innovator itself for graphic formats.