Double-click on an IPJ opens Project Manager instead of Inventor 2020

Issue:

Double-click on an Inventor .ipj project file opens the Inventor 2020 Project Manager instead of opening Inventor with that project set current. 

Right-click on the .ipj and choosing 'Open With' and selecting Inventor 2020 opens Inventor but doesn't set the project current.

Cause:

This is a documented issue caused by the Inventor 2020.3 update:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Double-clicking-on-the-ipj-file-does-not-open-Inventor-but-opens-the-project-editor-instead.html

Solution:

Install the Inventor 2020.3.1 update or newer to fix this:

Inventor 2020 updates

If this still doesn't resolve it, verify that these settings are correct in the registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Inventor.ProjectDocument\Shell\Edit\Command
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2020\Bin\ipj.exe "%1"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Inventor.ProjectDocument\Shell\Open\Command
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2020\Bin\Inventor.exe /pf"%1"

Verify that the .ipj file type is associated with Inventor 2020 in Windows:

• Go to Windows Start and type in 'default apps' to open the Choose a default app for each type of file.

• If Autodesk Inventor 2020 is not the default program associated with the file type click on the app and choose Inventor 2020 from the list.

If this doesn't resolve the problem perform a clean uninstall of Inventor 2020:

Note: Backup your Tools>Application Options settings to an XML file before if you customized Inventor.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Clean-uninstall-of-Inventor-2020.html

Reinstall Inventor 2020 from a full download in Autodesk Account or AVA:

https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/06/autodesk-download-manager-and-download-now-method.html

https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/03/download-a-product-using-autodesk-ava.html

About the Author

Manufacturing Technical Support Specialist<br><br>Joanna has over eight years of experience working with Autodesk products. She started supporting core AutoCAD and network installations of all Autodesk products. She now has five years of experience with Inventor. <br> She graduated from Mechanical Engineering and has been providing solutions to clients and dedicating her knowledge to the Solution Center since then.

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