Choosing a Sheet Metal Base Face before Creating a Flat Pattern in Autodesk Inventor

Simon: I'm trying to put this as delicately as I can... How do I know you won't kill me in my sleep?
Mal: You don't know me, son, so let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.
Simon: Are you always this sentimental?
Mal: I had a good day.

Exchange between Simon Tam and Mal Reynolds in the television series "Firefly"

The trick I share this week is one I've actually known about for a while.  As a matter of fact, it's become part of my "background knowledge".  Something that has become second nature.

I've known it so long, I can't remember when I didn't know it. f

But I'm sure there are those that may not know it, so I choose to share it today.

When unfolding a sheet metal part in Autodesk Inventor, inventor chooses which face is going to be shown to the user via it's own means.

It might be considered common knowledge that the face can be changed in the flat pattern screen by right clicking on the Flat Pattern icon in the browser, and choosing Edit Flat Pattern Definition.

This tool invokes the Flat Pattern Definition dialog box.  This has a button where the flat pattern can be flipped.

But there's another way that it can be done before the flat pattern is created.

Just pick the face you want to see before hitting the flat pattern icon, and that will become the "Base Face"

And if you really want to make sure, change the color of one of the faces to a different color by selecting it and right clicking.  Give it a try!  It works!

And for those who prefer a video format, here you go!