Create custom Add-ins to automate creating standard parts, applying specific constraints, or generating BOMs (Bill of Materials).
Build integrated add-ins that appear inside the Inventor ribbon UI.
: It provides full read and write access to Inventor's data types, including parts ( ), assemblies ( ), and drawings ( Version Sensitivity The DLL is typically located in
Select the added reference in Visual Studio and view its properties panel. Set Embed Interop Types to True (or False if you require strict type checking or deploy legacy add-ins).
: Each version of Inventor has its own specific interop version (e.g., Inventor 2026 uses version 30.0). Mismatches can cause "Could not load file or assembly" errors. Implementation and Deployment autodesk.inventor.interop.dll
: It is the gateway for creating add-ins, automation scripts, and external tools that interact with Inventor documents, geometry, and metadata.
is the primary dynamic-link library (DLL) that enables external software applications to communicate with and automate Autodesk Inventor. It serves as a Component Object Model (COM) Interop assembly, acts as a bridge between managed .NET code (like C# or VB.NET) and the unmanaged C++ source architecture of the Autodesk Inventor API.
Once added, you will have access to the Inventor namespace in your code, allowing you to instantiate objects like Application , PartDocument , or AssemblyDocument .
With the release of Inventor 2025 and the shift towards .NET 8, the landscape for Inventor development is evolving. The SDK tools have been migrated to .NET 8, but developers have noted issues where the reference path for autodesk.inventor.interop.dll pointed to an incorrect OEM location. As Autodesk continues to modernize its platform, developers will need to upgrade their projects to .NET 8 using tools like the ".NET Upgrade Assistant" in Visual Studio 2022 (version 17.8+). While the interop assembly remains the primary gateway to the Inventor API, the surrounding development environment is moving forward, and developers must keep pace. Create custom Add-ins to automate creating standard parts,
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Because Inventor was originally built using COM technology, .NET applications cannot interact with it directly. The Interop DLL acts as a "wrapper," translating .NET object calls into COM calls that Inventor understands. Key Characteristics
To start working with Autodesk.Inventor.Interop.dll , you need to reference it in your .NET project (e.g., using Visual Studio).
Generating STEP, IGES, DXF, or PDF files from models and drawings instantly upon a trigger event. Set Embed Interop Types to True (or False
Automatically opening hundreds of legacy files to update iProperties, change title blocks, or migrate them to newer file versions.
Creating external user interfaces that let non-CAD users input dimensions to generate custom 3D models automatically.
Starting, closing, or switching between different sessions of Inventor. Document Management: Programmatically creating, opening, or saving Part ( ), Assembly ( ), and Drawing ( Geometry Creation:
To put it simply, this DLL provides a .NET-friendly description of the entire Inventor API. This enables tasks such as creating parametric models, automating drawing generation, performing design calculations, and managing data with Vault.
The file is a primary assembly required for developers to interface with the Autodesk Inventor API using .NET languages like C# or VB.NET. It acts as a bridge (COM interop) between managed .NET code and Inventor's underlying COM-based object model. Key Locations