38 Replies Latest reply on Mar 4, 2016 11:46 AM by Cad Admin

Automatic File Export Macro.

Michael Gilling Jul 16, 2014 9:53 AM

I often have to export many files for toolpathing and it is very time consuming to go to each one and go through the options when saving an iges file and then save it, im looking for a way to streamline this process. It would be nice to just open the part and run a macro that would save the file in a folder (existing or it creates it, preferably called "toolpath").

Does anybody know of a macro that will do this? It would be nice to have it automaticly save all configurations of a part as .iges files and allow me to select the coordinate system that it is exporting with? Maybe have the ability to export only selected parts in an assembly also.

If somebody makes this macro could you either have an option to set the name format or make it in this format: YYYY-MM-DD_FILENAME.iges

Thanks in advance

Mike

Re: Automatic File Export Macro.

Deepak Gupta Jul 16, 2014 10:32 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)

Welcome to SOLIDWORKS forums Michael.

There are many macro on this forum which can save/export all configurations of an active part OR all part files in the specified folder as IGES. The file location is both ways i.e. you can fix it to desired location OR browse for it.

The file format can be tweaked as required. But I would say that to add something to the files name as all configs of same part can't be saved as YYYY-MM-DD_FILENAME.iges. OR only the last one would be saved.

I'm not sure if there any macro that allow you to select the co-ordinate system (hopefully that option an be added too).

You might also find this post helpful for your future reference.
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- Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
  
  Michael Gilling Jul 16, 2014 10:39 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
  
  Deepak
  
  Could you point me in the direction of one of those macros? I couldnt seem to find one earlier.
  
  I see what you are saying about the file name issue. What if it saved them as YYYY-MM-DD_CONFIGNAME.iges instead? Would that work?
  
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  - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
    
    Deepak Gupta Jul 16, 2014 11:28 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
    
    Yes that would work. I'm tweaking a macro for you but need to know as where you need the file saved; i.e. in the same path but under a sub folder OR do you want to be prompted to select the folder. Also suggest if you want to do batch conversion OR only for active part?
    
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  - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
    
    Deepak Gupta Jul 16, 2014 11:43 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
    
    Try this macro which works for active part file. Make sure you try this on sample files first.
    
    Export Part Configurations as IGES.swp.zip 13.1 KB
    
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    - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
      
      Michael Gilling Jul 16, 2014 12:02 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
      
      This seems to work great! Could you maybe add a few extra features though.
      
      Could you make it prompt for file location instead of making the toolpath folder where the part is. many times we have the toolpath folder already made and just need to add files to it.
      
      Also could you make it so you could select which configurations to export.
      
      Lastly is there any way to make it work for assemblys also but only export what parts are selected? (could just make a new config for the parts needed too)
      
      not sure how hard it would be to do all of this but if your up to the task that would be great!!
      
      Thanks,
      Mike
      
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      - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Jul 16, 2014 3:11 PM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Hi Mike adding folder prompt is easy for me. I've never done the other too but there are similar macro with those options. I'll try what I can do on it.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Jul 16, 2014 3:57 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Thanks for all your help Deepak.
        
        I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
        
        Mike
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Jul 21, 2014 9:37 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak
        
        Any news on this?
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Jul 22, 2014 12:07 PM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Hi Mike, haven't got any chance yet. Will try to spend time on it in a day or two. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Jul 23, 2014 10:13 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Thank you for the update Deepak. I apreciate the work you are doing for me here.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Jul 26, 2014 3:23 PM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Hi Mike,
        
        Just wanted to update you that I've found a similar macro for Part Configurations: DeleteSelectConfigs (http://www.lennyworks.com/solidworks/?ID=20)
        
        DeleteSelectConfigs is a simple macro that displays a list of the current configurations in a SolidWorks model prior to deleting these configurations, except for the current configuration.
        I'll be modifying this macro to export selected configurations as IGES instead of delete. Will also add a folder selection option. Once we're done with it, I'll try to modify it further to work on assemblies (but haven't think of that yet).
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Jul 29, 2014 8:14 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        That looks great Deepak. cant wait to see the finial product here!
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Aug 4, 2014 4:29 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak
        
        Have you had a chance to make any progress on this?
        
        Thanks
        Mike
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 5, 2014 10:46 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Yes, should be sharing the macro soon.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 7, 2014 12:05 PM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Mike, the macro is almost ready but it only export the active configs. Even if you select all or multiple configs, they all would be exported with correct file name but result is only of active config. I'm trying to fix that.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Aug 7, 2014 2:48 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Sounds great Deepak!
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 8, 2014 5:08 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Try this macro.
        
        Export Selected Configs as IGES.swp.zip 57.9 KB
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Aug 8, 2014 8:13 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        I attempted to run it this morning and got this error.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 8, 2014 8:59 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Sorry for the error. I should have checked that you're using SW2013 and should have mentioned that the macro was updated on SW2014. I've fixed the macro to work on SW2013.
        
        Also check this video on how to fix this type of error: Fix SOLIDWORKS Macro Missing References
        
        Export Selected Configs as IGES (SW2013).swp.zip 59.5 KB
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Aug 8, 2014 9:51 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        That works great!! Thanks for all the work on this Deepak! It works exactly like I expected it to and a has a very nice user interface.
        
        If you are interested in tweaking it, it would be nice to have the ability to choose the coordinate system to export. I'm not sure how complex this would be to add however.
        
        The only thing I noticed was when I pick the export location, if i choose my desktop it gives me the error in the picture below. However this error doesnt come up if i choose a folder on my desktop.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 8, 2014 10:23 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        I'm getting same here here and try to fix that.
        
        Will check into the co-ordinate option later.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Michael Gilling Aug 8, 2014 3:32 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Thanks Deepak
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Aug 9, 2014 12:45 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)
        
        Fixed the desktop error.
        
        Almost done with the co-ordinate options.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Cad Admin Feb 24, 2016 8:55 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak,
        
        I have a question. if i mistakenly run this on a assembly with a single configuration i get a run-time error '424': Object required. Is there a way to allow a "single" config file to run, or to prompt the user it is not a multi config file?
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Feb 24, 2016 9:42 AM (in response to Cad Admin)
        
        Both should be do able.
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Cad Admin Feb 24, 2016 9:49 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        My users get irate when they get a run-time error. What would be the shorter simpler solution to fix this, besides not running it on a single config part...lol
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Feb 24, 2016 10:29 AM (in response to Cad Admin)
        
        Here is macro that would run on single config also.
        
        And if you don't want to run on single config then check the following codes under Sub Main()
        If ModelDoc2.GetConfigurationCount() = 1 Then
        MsgBox "Only one configuration, macro closing"
        Exit Sub
        Else
        
        Export Selected Configs as IGES (SW2015)_v2.swp.zip 60.4 KB
        
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Re: Automatic File Export Macro.

Roland Schwarz Aug 5, 2014 11:13 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)

No one has mentioned Task Manager yet? SW utility Task Manager can do this.
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- Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
  
  Deepak Gupta Aug 5, 2014 11:37 AM (in response to Roland Schwarz)
  
  You mean Task Scheduler. If yes then I'm not sure if TS can do specific configurations export.
  
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Re: Automatic File Export Macro.

Cad Admin Feb 24, 2016 11:21 AM (in response to Michael Gilling)

Deepak,

Did you mean to attach a file to your last response?
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- Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
  
  Deepak Gupta Feb 24, 2016 11:30 AM (in response to Cad Admin)
  
  it's already there but attachment don't show in inbox messages. Open the full post.
  
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  - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
    
    Cad Admin Feb 24, 2016 12:04 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
    
    I see it now, thx.
    
    As a side question, what would be a "best reference" book/how to for SolidWorks API?
    
    I've haven't coded in YEARS...as you can tell, I would like to freshen up.
    
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    - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
      
      Deepak Gupta Feb 24, 2016 12:41 PM (in response to Cad Admin)
      
      If you need strictly VBA then CadSharp: SolidWorks API Video Tutorials (from Keith Rice) is one of the best.
      
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  - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
    
    Cad Admin Mar 4, 2016 6:44 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
    
    Deepak,
    
    Everything works great, my guys like it, but now they are requesting a STEP type output file type. I looked at the code and tried to change the iges to step, but get crashes is it because there are (2) step output types? How would i specify if it is?
    
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    - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
      
      Deepak Gupta Mar 4, 2016 10:00 AM (in response to Cad Admin)
      
      Use STP and not STEP.
      
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      - Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Cad Admin Mar 4, 2016 10:25 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak,
        
        i thought it would have been that, however changing the "igs" to "stp" does not generate any file. The iges export works fine. Is there anything else you see wrong with this export sub?
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Deepak Gupta Mar 4, 2016 11:27 AM (in response to Cad Admin)
        
        Sorry I meant to say use STEP and not STP
        
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        Re: Automatic File Export Macro.
        
        Cad Admin Mar 4, 2016 11:46 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Thanks, i forgot STEP vs STP. Works fine now....thanks again
        
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