Autodesk InventorAutodesk® Inventor™ software serves as a flexible development platform for building specialized mechanical design applications, as well as for interfacing with upstream, downstream, and enterprise applications for manufacturers. To learn more about Inventor, visit the Autodesk Inventor product center. What’s New in the APIAutodesk Inventor 2010 includes many API enhancements. These are discussed in the PowerPoint presentation contained within the “Inventor 2010 New API.zip” file below. The comments in this presentation provide additional detail and also discuss associated samples which are available in the “Inventor 2010 API Samples.zip” file below. A complete list of changes in the API for Autodesk Inventor 2010 can be found in the "Changes since last release" topic accessed from the Homepage of the programming help within Autodesk Inventor. Programming Tools
Technology
Inventor exposes its programming interface using a COM Automation interface. You can access this interface using most of the popular programming languages available today including Microsoft Visual C++®, VB, Delphi, and C#. Autodesk Inventor includes Microsoft’s VBA, the most popular programming environment in the world.
Software Development Kit (SDK)The default installation of Inventor will install the Inventor Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK is divided up into two pieces; user tools and developer tools. To use either one you need to install it using the appropriate installer in the SDK directory; DeveloperTools.msi or UserTools.msi. Installing UserTools.msi will create a UserTools directory that contains several subdirectories containing various utilities. These utilities provide useful functionality for users of Inventor. Both the source code and the runtime are delivered for use. The source code is provided to allow programmers to use them as examples or to customize them to meet their unique requirements. Installing DeveloperTools.msi will create a DeveloperTools directory that contains many sample programs written using different languages, some additional documentation, header files for C++ programmers, and some utilities including wizards to help with creating add-in programs. SDK UpdateThere is an update available for the Inventor 2010 SDK that addresses several issues that were found in the initial release of Inventor 2010. The updated SDK files are available using the links below. These updates should only be used with the initial release of Inventor 2010 and not any subsequent service packs since the service packs will contain these updates. To use these updates, use the following directions: - Download either the 32 or 64 bit zip file depending on whether you have 32 or 64 bit Windows.
- Extract the .msi files into the existing SDK directory, replacing the files that are already there.
- If you’re using Windows XP this will typically be in:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2010\SDK - If you’re using Windows Vista this will typically be in:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2010\SDK
- If you previously installed the Inventor 2010 DeveloperTools.msi or UserTools.msi you must uninstall them.
- Install DeveloperTools.msi and/or UserTools.msi
ApprenticeAutodesk Inventor Apprentice is a free COM server enabling standalone applications to have query access to Inventor Documents. Access includes assembly structure, solids topology and geometry, plus query/edit access to file references and document properties. Apprentice is installed as part of Inventor and is also installed as part of the freely available Inventor View which can be installed from here. Documentation and samples are included as part of the Inventor SDK. DocumentationAutodesk Inventor includes extensive application development documentation built into the help system under its Programming Help. Below is the object model chart that can help to provide an understanding of the breadth of what is exposed through Inventor’s programming interface. (It is also delivered as part of the SDK) Autodesk Inventor Object Model For those with little previous programming experience, the paper below provides a brief overview of Inventor’s programming interface and illustrates this with examples using iProperties. The following resource will help you get started with programming Inventor. It assumes familiarity with Autodesk Inventor and general programming concepts. DevTV: Introduction to Inventor Programming
A self-paced video tutorial demonstrating how to get started developing with Autodesk Inventor.
View online | Download TrainingReview the class description for Autodesk Inventor API instructor-led training and check for Autodesk Inventor instructor-led training classes already scheduled. To register for a scheduled instructor-led training class, to request that a new class be scheduled, or to receive personalized API training at your facility send us an email message. Autodesk Inventor Certified Application Program
Autodesk® Inventor™ Suite leads the industry in the breadth, depth, and quality of third-party companion applications. Not only is Autodesk Inventor the best-selling 3D mechanical design software, it’s also the leading platform for providing specialized 3D design functionality. More than 100 Autodesk Inventor Certified applications are currently available, with more coming every day. Become a partner and unlock a new market for your Autodesk Inventor companion products. Partner products bearing the Autodesk Inventor Certified Application logo provide the highest level of interoperability because they use the Autodesk Inventor API (application programming interface) and meet Autodesk’s quality guidelines and testing criteria. | 
