An INV file inventories objects used by the Sphinx documentation system extension Intersphinx. The INV file compresses objects using Zlib. Typical names are objects.inv. Intersphinx links Sphinx projects. The Sphinx HTML build creates an objects.inv file mapping object names to URIs.
Projects specify Intersphinx mapping files to resolve references. By default, the mapping assumes documentation locations match. But locations can specify individually, for building without Internet.
INV also stores patient data for the CliniView imaging software. dnaLIMS DNA sequencing uses INV to store yearly invoices. Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear’s discontinued first-person shooter used INV to store inventory.
The syntax below is believed accurate for Sphinx versions after 1.0b1. Previous syntax had inaccuracies: Names can contain whitespace. Roles allow colons.
Suggest edits intersphinx inventory for desired objects fuzzy search. Print version and other information.
Manipulate and inspect Sphinx objects.inv files. Sphobjinv maps objects to help Sphinx guess cross-references. Specify completely to resolve mapping.
Intersphinx links to Sphinx documentation on the Web. Django reveals underlying structure. Save INV after removing header as plain text. Decompress zlib to see references.
The first line checks correct format version 2. Describe total objects, search threshold and score.
An idea is hosting objects.inv for projects lacking them, with a Sphinx extension easing configuration. My commitment would be modest, but could start something in weeks. Opinions?