Smart Copies

Smart Copies

Win64, English

Gras Solutions
An add-in that allows you to create and save multiple copies of a model, each with different parameters, by using an Excel table.

General Usage Instructions

Execution requirements:

  • Have an active document (you must be able to see the model in the active Autodesk® Fusion 360™ window) that is correctly parameterized (meaning that if a parameter changes the model is updated).
  • The model needs to be parameterized with user parameters (model parameters are not supported).
  • A valid Excel table that is copied to the clipboard at the moment of execution.

 

Note: A valid Excel table is one whose column headers match the names of the defined user parameters of the active document (excepting the “Name of File” special header) as well as Fusion 360/ Unit parameter value expressions. 

 

Excel table Structure:

Each column represents a user parameter, the only exception to this is if it’s named “Name of File”. If the “Name of File” column is present, each field beneath it will be used as the name of the file for the configuration (parameters) specified in its row. If the “Name of File” column header is not present each file will be saved using the prefix “SmartCopy_” followed by a number. 

The parameter field values support expressions, even if the units vary (although their type should be the same), so you can create components in both the metric and imperial system using the same table. 

Spelling check is not supported, meaning that if a user parameter is not found due to a spelling error, no files will be saved. To help counter this, there is the “case sensitive” flag that enables for small capitalization errors. If this flag is enabled, parameter names will have to be identical. If it is disabled, their name capitalization can vary (e.g. “Parameter1” will be equal to “PARAMETER1”).

 

Workflow:

  1. Create a model and parameterize it using the Fusion 360 parameters table with user parameters (model parameters are not supported).
  2. Create a valid Excel table such that each column header corresponds to a parameter and each row as a file configuration.
  3. Copy the Excel table to the clipboard (you can use ctrl+c).
  4. With the Fusion 360 window that contains your document currently open, click the “Create Copies” button. It will display a dialog box.
  5. In the dialog box, select your project folder (this is where your projects will be saved in the Fusion 360 cloud), the maximum time you want to allow waiting for each file to be saved, case sensitivity, and if you want for the whole process to stop if a file exceeds the assigned saving time.
  6. Click the “Ok” button in the dialog box (when clicking it, your clipboard must contain the Excel table and nothing else).

 

If you don’t know how much time it takes for your file to be saved, you can use the “Clock Saving Time” button to save the currently active document to a default project folder and display the time it took to do so.

Screenshots

Commands

Ribbon/Toolbar Icon Command Command Description

Create Copies

Creates multiple copies of the active document modifying the user parameters as provided by an Excel table copied on the clipboard at the moment of execution. This command provides the options to choose where are the files going to be saved, the maximum waiting time allowed for each file to be saved on the Fusion 360 cloud, if the parameters should be evaluated with case sensitivity, and the option to stop the process if a file exceeds the maximum saving waiting time allowed.

Clock Saving Time

Saves the currently active document to the "Demo Project" Folder and displays a message showing the time it took to do so.

Installation/Uninstallation

Install:
The installer that ran when you downloaded this app/plug-in from Autodesk App Store will start installing the app/plug-in. Or, simply double-click the downloaded installer to install the app/plugin.

Uninstall:
You can unload the add-in without uninstalling it by clicking the "Stop" button when the add-in is selected in the list box on the "Add-Ins" tab of the "Scripts and Add-Ins" dialog.
Unchecking "Run on Startup" causes the add-in not to be loaded in future sessions of Fusion 360.
To uninstall this plug-in, exit the Autodesk product if you are currently running it, simply rerun the installer, and select the "Uninstall" button.
Or, you can uninstall it from 'Control Panel/Programs and Features' (Windows 7/8.1/10/11), just as you would uninstall any other application from your system.

Additional Information

Known Issues

  • When the clipboard holds anything but an Excel table the program will most probably fail.
  • Beware of white spaces since they can mess up with the user parameter names.
  • Using unit types that don’t match will throw an error.
  • Internet connection and logging in are crucial for the app to work.
  • If an empty file is parameterized and a valid/matching excel table is copied on clipboard, the app will procede to create empty files, only modifying the user parameters, automatically.

Contact

Company Name: Gras Solutions

Author/Company Information

Gras Solutions

Support Information

You may reach us via email and we’ll answer as soon as we’re available.

Version History

Version Number Version Description

1.0.0

Initial release
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