17 Replies Latest reply on May 3, 2016 10:15 AM by Deepak Gupta

How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?

Alfred Jelinek May 2, 2016 12:10 PM

I currently have a large macro to create an assembly then subassemblies and mates, mate references....etc. for Designing of Stamping Dies.

The last thing I think I need to correct is I currently have the code pointing to a location of my assembly template file....but I would like to eventually let others use it so I would like to correct the code to point to the default Solidworks assembly template set in the options.

right now the line with:

"C:\Users\aljel\Desktop\Mill Tool Templates - 2016\templates\Assembly.asmdot"

Will not work for others. (LocationInfo.Caption and AppearAs.Caption are the labels where the final folder and file name are shown for the user to verify the selections made are correct.)

my code for this is currently:

'create new assembly
Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.NewDocument("C:\Users\aljel\Desktop\Mill Tool Templates - 2016\templates\Assembly.asmdot", 0, 0, 0)
swApp.ActivateDoc2 "Assem1", False, longstatus
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
longstatus = Part.SaveAs3(LocationInfo.Caption, 0, 2)

'close default/all assembly file(s)
boolstatus = swApp.CloseAllDocuments(True)

'open new assembly
Set Part = swApp.OpenDoc6(LocationInfo.Caption, 2, 0, "", longstatus, longwarnings)
swApp.ActivateDoc2 AppearAs.Caption, False, longstatus
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
Dim myModelView As Object
Set myModelView = Part.ActiveView
myModelView.FrameLeft = 0
myModelView.FrameTop = 0
Set myModelView = Part.ActiveView
myModelView.FrameState = swWindowState_e.swWindowMaximized
Set myModelView = Part.ActiveView
myModelView.FrameState = swWindowState_e.swWindowMaximized

Thank you for your help!!!

Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?

Matt Martens May 2, 2016 12:14 PM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)

Use ISldWorks::GetUserPreferenceStringValue with swDefaultTemplateAssembly as your argument.
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- Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
  
  Alfred Jelinek May 2, 2016 12:55 PM (in response to Matt Martens)
  
  Matt,
  
  thank you for the reply....how would I use it?
  
  sorry trying to learn as I go.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Al
  
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Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?

roberto gennari May 2, 2016 12:22 PM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)

I use this macro

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Sub main()
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
        Dim myPath As String
        myPath = "C:\Users\aljel\Desktop\Mill Tool Templates - 2016\templates\Assembly.asmdot"
        swApp.SetUserPreferenceStringValue swUserPreferenceStringValue_e.swDefaultTemplateAssembly, ""
        swApp.SetUserPreferenceStringValue swUserPreferenceStringValue_e.swDefaultTemplateAssembly, "myPath"
End Sub

Thanks
Roberto
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- Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
  
  Alfred Jelinek May 2, 2016 12:54 PM (in response to roberto gennari)
  
  Roberto,
  
  would I replace:
  Set Part = swApp.NewDocument("C:\Users\aljel\Desktop\Mill Tool Templates - 2016\templates\Assembly.asmdot", 0, 0, 0)
  I get an error at:
  longstatus = Part.SaveAs3(LocationInfo.Caption, 0, 2)
  
  when I comment out the "mypath" stuff to test the default template location code.
  
  I ultimately would like to remove the reference to c:\users\aljel\desktop......
  
  thanks
  
  Al
  
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Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?

Matt Martens May 2, 2016 1:02 PM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)

Use a string variable to catch the value and plug that in as the argument from NewDocument.
Dim template as String
Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
template = swApp.GetUserPreferenceStringValue(swDefaultTemplateAssembly)
Set Part = swApp.NewDocument(template, 0, 0, 0)
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- Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
  
  Alfred Jelinek May 2, 2016 1:16 PM (in response to Matt Martens)
  
  Thanks Matt...
  
  I am getting an error at:
  longstatus = Part.SaveAs3(LocationInfo.Caption, 0, 2)
  
  LocationInfo.Caption is coded above this as:
  
  Private Sub SelectFolderButton_Click()
  If Okay.Visible = True Then Okay.Visible = False
  If JobNumber.Text = "" Then JobNumber.Text = "Enter a Job Number"
  'error if box is empty
  If FileName.Text = "" Then FileName.Text = "Main_Die_Assy"
  AppearAs.Caption = JobNumber.Text + "-" + FileName.Text 'caption filled
      Dim myPath As String
      myPath = SelectFolder("Select Folder to Save Assembly File", "")
      If Len(myPath) Then
          'MsgBox MyPath
          LocationInfo.Caption = myPath + "\" + AppearAs.Caption + ".sldasm"
          Okay.Visible = True
          Okay.Value = False
      Else
          MsgBox "Cancel was pressed"
      End If
  End Sub
  
  Again I truly appreciate your help!!
  
  Al
  
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  - Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
    
    Deepak Gupta May 2, 2016 1:48 PM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
    
    Are you saving the file as copy? The 2 in this line is for save as copy.
    
    longstatus = Part.SaveAs3(LocationInfo.Caption, 0, 2)
    
    Have you tried using swModel.Extension.SaveAs
    
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    - Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
      
      Alfred Jelinek May 2, 2016 6:28 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
      
      Deepak,
      
      First of all.....thank you very much for all of your help with all my coding issues!
      
      Thank you for the suggestion....I tried it...I get an error with the code I am trying...tried it a couple of ways...
      
      'longstatus = Part.SaveAs3(LocationInfo.Caption, 0, 2) (the old stuff)
      
      Dim Location1 As String
      Location1 = LocationInfo.Caption
      swModel.Extension.SaveAs Location1, swSaveAsCurrentVersion, swSaveAsOptions_Silent, Nothing, errors, warnings
      
      I also tried omitting the dim and location1 code and simply using LocationInfo.Caption in the above example.
      
      LocationInfo.Caption is where I get the folder path and file name:
      LocationInfo.Caption = myPath + "\" + AppearAs.Caption + ".sldasm"
      
      I attached the failing macro...it works fine if I leave the ("c:\users\aljel\....)
      
      the code is under the "savebutton_click" then " 'create new assembly"
      
      Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.
      
      Thanks again!
      
      Al
      
      Create the Main_Die_Assy.swp.zip 49.5 KB
      
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      - Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Deepak Gupta May 3, 2016 12:50 AM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
        
        Here is updated macro. I made these changes.
        
        Added declarations
        Commented this line
        Changed swModel to Part here
        
        Create the Main_Die_Assy.swp.zip 64.2 KB
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Alfred Jelinek May 3, 2016 3:07 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak,
        
        Thanks again for your help....I tried to run your updated macro as well as apply it to my copy. Unfortunately I get the following error:
        I appreciate that you also showed me what you did...makes perfect sense to me and I am learning...thank you...
        when I hover over each attribute each shows its value and all seems okay to me...location1 shows perfect when hovered over.
        
        what would cause this error?
        
        Thank you and I hope you have a great day!
        
        Al
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Deepak Gupta May 3, 2016 3:19 AM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
        
        The macro is working fine for me. What is your SW version?
        
        Can you post the declarations you've added?
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Alfred Jelinek May 3, 2016 8:37 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak,
        
        Sorry for the mess...I do appreciate your help! I am using SolidWorks Premium 2016 SP3 on Win10Pro_64bit.
        
        (general) Declarations are:
        Dim swApp As Object
        Dim Part As Object
        Dim tmpPath As String
        Dim boolstatus As Boolean
        Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long
        Dim errors As Long, warnings As Long
        
        I also call out:
        Dim Location1 As String
        
        in this context:
        Dim Location1 As String
        Location1 = LocationInfo.Caption
        Part.Extension.SaveAs Location1, swSaveAsCurrentVersion, swSaveAsOptions_Silent, Nothing, errors, warnings
        
        I hope this is what you asked for...I plan on taking Keith Rice's course in the future but unfortunately I am out of commission with a back injury and funds are low at the moment.
        
        The reason I am creating this is... as a die designer I would love to use Logopress3 but the cost is too much right now....and designing Dies with Solidworks alone is a pain in the behind....so I am trying to...in the event my surgeons find a solution to my injury which now looks like the chances are low to none....create some tools I can use to make my job and hopefully other's jobs easier in the process by sharing these macros.
        
        Originally this large macro was 6 or 7 smaller ones I created to use together in sequence...learning SolidWorks API can be a pain but it definitely helps to pass the time....and I am learning a ton thanks to you, @Keith Rice and many others here on the forum. This stuff, learning SW API/macros, is definitely the most challenging SW has been for me since I began using it. Becoming a CSWE was a breeze in comparison.
        
        Thanks again!
        
        Respectfully,
        Al
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Deepak Gupta May 3, 2016 8:39 AM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
        
        No worries Al and we wish you speedy recovery.
        
        Let me test the codes on SW016 SP3
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Alfred Jelinek May 3, 2016 8:44 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Thank you very much!
        
        I am in Kewaskum, WI, USA...where are you from?
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Deepak Gupta May 3, 2016 8:54 AM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
        
        I'm based in India.
        
        The macro works great on SW2016 SP3.0, so check these settings on your machine.
        
        Try once again as I've made some minor changes in the attached macro.
        
        Create the Main_Die_Assy.swp.zip 55.2 KB
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Alfred Jelinek May 3, 2016 9:11 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
        
        Deepak...
        
        Holy smokes! I went to the default template settings...."Always..." was selected...
        
        however the "Assemblies:" box had "mypath3" in it instead of the actual path (c:\...)....I clicked the "..." button reset the assembly template location....and now the original macro solution works...perfectly!!
        
        Very weird...not sure how/why that would have gotten changed to "mypath3"...
        However.....
        
        Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
        
        You sir are a gentleman and a scholar!
        I truly hope you have an awesome day, as you have made mine!!
        
        Al
        
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        Re: How do you code a macro to point to the default assembly template location?
        
        Deepak Gupta May 3, 2016 10:15 AM (in response to Alfred Jelinek)
        
        Sounds great. I should have mentioned to check to default template path too.
        
        Very weird...not sure how/why that would have gotten changed to "mypath3"...
        Could have been result of some macro.
        
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