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Why won't the API create a BOM?

Question asked by Tim Lewis on Apr 19, 2016
Latest reply on Apr 20, 2016 by Tim Lewis

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I'm using the code below to try to create a BOM using the API:

Sub main()

Dim swBOMTable As SldWorks.BomTableAnnotation, BOMTemplate As String

BOMTemplate = "\\Server\path\to\bom-standard.sldbomtbt"

Set swBOMTable = Application.SldWorks.ActiveDoc.Extension.InsertBomTable(BOMTemplate, 0, 0, _

swBomType_e.swBomType_TopLevelOnly, "")

End Sub

However, when line #5 executes, the swBOMTable is empty and no BOM is created. This is somewhat mystifying to say the least because this is essentially the code that was created with the macro recorder when I recorded myself adding a BOM to an open SW assembly. It seems like this should be fairly straightforward. I believe the above code above is the recommended means of creating a BOM with the API according to a couple different answers I've found (Example #1, Example #2). I can't figure out what I'm doing differently to cause it not to work in my case.

John Alexander Apr 19, 2016 5:49 PM

Correct Answer

Tim,

This is just an anecdote, I can't see what is wrong with the code that you posted, but maybe it is useful information. The following is from a macro that I use for exporting BOMs to excel from assembly models.

Set swBomTable = swModel.Extension.InsertBomTable2(pathToBomTemplate, 0, 0, swBomType_e.swBomType_Indented, "Default", False)

I don't recall if passing an empty string argument for the configuration worked for me. This might be why I chose to use "Default" in that example; I would certainly prefer not to force the assembly to contain a specific named configuration in order for the macro to work.

Edit: Actually, in the link that you posted, the (unmarked) correct answer was that the OP had not specified a configuration.

Macro: Generate BOM, Export to Excel

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Kevin Chisholm Apr 19, 2016 5:06 PM

You need to select a view and get selected view...

You only need to change the BOMTemplate in this example and it should work:

2015 SOLIDWORKS API Help - Insert BOM Table Example (VBA)

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Tim Lewis @ Kevin Chisholm on Apr 19, 2016 5:31 PM

That is inserting a BOM into a drawing document (i.e. a .slddrw file). I want to insert a BOM into an assembly file (i.e. a .sldasm file). The code I included above uses this method: InsertBomTable. I just realized that it is technically obsolete, but the current version (InsertBomTable2) does the same thing. Additionally, the example given for using the current method throws an error on the line after the BOM was supposed to be created because the BOM failed to be created and swBOMAnnotation is empty.

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Kevin Chisholm @ Tim Lewis on Apr 19, 2016 5:44 PM

This works for me... InsertBomTable3 exists also!

Option Explicit

Sub main()

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

Dim swModelDocExt As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension

Dim swBOMAnnotation As SldWorks.BomTableAnnotation

Dim BomType As Long

Dim Configuration As String

Dim TemplateName As String

Dim nErrors As Long

Dim nWarnings As Long

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

' Open assembly document

Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc

Set swModelDocExt = swModel.Extension

' Insert BOM table

TemplateName = "\\Server\path\to\bom-standard.sldbomtbt"

BomType = swBomType_TopLevelOnly 'For Top Level

'BomType = swBomType_PartsOnly 'For Parts Only

Configuration = ""

Set swBOMAnnotation = swModelDocExt.InsertBomTable3(TemplateName, 0, 0, BomType, Configuration, False, swNumberingType_Detailed, True)

End Sub

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John Alexander @ Tim Lewis on Apr 19, 2016 5:49 PM

Tim,

Set swBomTable = swModel.Extension.InsertBomTable2(pathToBomTemplate, 0, 0, swBomType_e.swBomType_Indented, "Default", False)

Edit: Actually, in the link that you posted, the (unmarked) correct answer was that the OP had not specified a configuration.

Macro: Generate BOM, Export to Excel

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Tim Lewis @ John Alexander on Apr 20, 2016 8:31 AM

Evidently, that's correct. Specifying the configuration creates the correct table.

I should note that there was initially a typo in my template path which is what was causing the table to be empty initially. Correcting that, but leaving the configuration specified as an empty string results in an empty table being created.

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5 Replies

Kevin Chisholm Apr 19, 2016 5:06 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
You need to select a view and get selected view...

You only need to change the BOMTemplate in this example and it should work:
2015 SOLIDWORKS API Help - Insert BOM Table Example (VBA)
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- Tim Lewis @ Kevin Chisholm on Apr 19, 2016 5:31 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  That is inserting a BOM into a drawing document (i.e. a .slddrw file). I want to insert a BOM into an assembly file (i.e. a .sldasm file). The code I included above uses this method: InsertBomTable. I just realized that it is technically obsolete, but the current version (InsertBomTable2) does the same thing. Additionally, the example given for using the current method throws an error on the line after the BOM was supposed to be created because the BOM failed to be created and swBOMAnnotation is empty.
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  - Kevin Chisholm @ Tim Lewis on Apr 19, 2016 5:44 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    This works for me... InsertBomTable3 exists also!
    
    Option Explicit
    Sub main()
    
        Dim swApp                   As SldWorks.SldWorks
        Dim swModel                 As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
        Dim swModelDocExt           As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension
        Dim swBOMAnnotation         As SldWorks.BomTableAnnotation
    
        Dim BomType                 As Long
        Dim Configuration           As String
        Dim TemplateName            As String
        Dim nErrors                 As Long
        Dim nWarnings               As Long
    
        Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
       ' Open assembly document
        Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
        Set swModelDocExt = swModel.Extension
    
        ' Insert BOM table
        TemplateName = "\\Server\path\to\bom-standard.sldbomtbt"
        BomType = swBomType_TopLevelOnly 'For Top Level
        'BomType = swBomType_PartsOnly 'For Parts Only
        Configuration = ""
    
        Set swBOMAnnotation = swModelDocExt.InsertBomTable3(TemplateName, 0, 0, BomType, Configuration, False, swNumberingType_Detailed, True)
    
    End Sub
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  - John Alexander @ Tim Lewis on Apr 19, 2016 5:49 PM
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    Correct Answer
    Tim,
    
    This is just an anecdote, I can't see what is wrong with the code that you posted, but maybe it is useful information. The following is from a macro that I use for exporting BOMs to excel from assembly models.
    
    Set swBomTable = swModel.Extension.InsertBomTable2(pathToBomTemplate, 0, 0, swBomType_e.swBomType_Indented, "Default", False)
    
    I don't recall if passing an empty string argument for the configuration worked for me. This might be why I chose to use "Default" in that example; I would certainly prefer not to force the assembly to contain a specific named configuration in order for the macro to work.
    
    Edit: Actually, in the link that you posted, the (unmarked) correct answer was that the OP had not specified a configuration.
    
    Macro: Generate BOM, Export to Excel
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    - Tim Lewis @ John Alexander on Apr 20, 2016 8:31 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Evidently, that's correct. Specifying the configuration creates the correct table.
      
      I should note that there was initially a typo in my template path which is what was causing the table to be empty initially. Correcting that, but leaving the configuration specified as an empty string results in an empty table being created.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Why won't the API create a BOM?

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