✨ Rename Drawing to Match Model in Inventor — Save Time & Stay Organized!

2 minute read

If you’ve ever found yourself opening a drawing in Autodesk Inventor and wondering “Which part or assembly is this drawing for?”, you’re not alone.

🔄 Keeping drawing file names in sync with their model names is one of the simplest ways to stay organized — yet it’s something that gets missed far too often.

That’s exactly why I built this free macro:
🎯 RenameDrawingToMatchModel — a tiny but powerful Inventor VBA macro that automatically renames your drawing to match the name of the first model it references.

🚀 What This Macro Does

  • ✅ Detects the first referenced .ipt or .iam file in your open drawing
  • ✏️ Renames the drawing (.idw or .dwg) to match the model’s file name
  • 💾 Creates a safe backup copy before renaming
  • 🔄 Reopens the renamed drawing in Inventor
  • ⚠️ Prompts you if a file with the new name already exists

📂 Why This Is Useful

  • Keeps file names consistent between drawings and models
  • Makes file navigation and version control easier
  • Reduces chances of mistakes during file sharing or release
  • Great for teams who need to enforce naming conventions
  • Helps new users understand what’s inside a drawing — instantly

📸 Real Example

Let’s say you’re working with these files:

  • Model: C:\Projects\Brackets\Bracket01.ipt

  • Drawing: C:\Projects\Brackets\SidePlate.idw

After running the macro, the drawing will be renamed to:

And the original SidePlate.idw will be backed up safely in:

  • C:\Projects\Brackets\Backup\SidePlate.idw

✨ Clean, safe, and fast.

⚙️ How to Use the Macro

  1. Open your drawing in Autodesk Inventor
  2. Press Alt + F11 to launch the VBA editor
  3. Import the macro file: RenameDrawingToMatchModel.bas
  4. Press Alt + F8, select RenameDrawingToMatchModel, and hit Run

🔄 The drawing is renamed and reopened automatically!

🧩 Requirements

  • Autodesk Inventor 2015 or newer
  • Windows with VBA support
  • The drawing must be saved and reference at least one model

💬 Common Errors & How to Fix Them

Error Message Solution
Open a drawing document first. Make sure a drawing is open
Save the drawing before renaming. Save the drawing file first
No model referenced in the drawing. Insert a reference to a part or assembly
Rename failed: ... Check if the new file is already open or locked

📦 Download the Macro

You can grab the .bas file and detailed instructions in our Macro Library.

🌍 Available in Multiple Languages

  • 🇬🇧 English
  • 🇩🇪 Deutsch
  • 🇨🇳 中文
  • 🇯🇵 日本語

Perfect for international teams!

🙌 Final Thoughts

This macro is small — but mighty. If your Inventor folders are filled with mismatched filenames, this tool can bring instant order to the chaos.

🔐 As always, the macro is provided as-is, but you’re welcome to modify and use it in your projects or client work.

✉️ Need Help or Want Custom Macros?

I love building practical, real-world Inventor tools for engineers and designers.
💬 Reach out via prashantbaher@thecadcoder.com or visit:

🌐 https://thecadcoder.com

Happy automating! 🛠️

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