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[API]about GetPreviewBitmapFile method

Question asked by Xiao Cake on Aug 14, 2018
Latest reply on Aug 23, 2018 by Xiao Cake

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I want to create previews for each solidworks models in VB6.

I use the swApp.GetPreviewBitmapFile to create bitmap files,it seems that this is the only way to create preview file for sw models in VB6(as I know)

The bitmap files has been created,but they seem to have been broken,the back color of the bitmaps is random,they are not what I want.

I also tested this method in solidworks VBA,the files that created is also not normal.

There is another method swApp.GetPreviewBitmap, it create bitmap(stdole.StdPicture) and works well,but it can be use only in VBA environment.

Is there anyone have the same problem?

The attached Pictures blew are the bitmapfiles that created by swApp.GetPreviewBitmapFile

Xiao Cake Aug 23, 2018 4:47 AM

Correct Answer

Today I Solved this problem by myself !

I create a vba macro to export all preview BMP files of an assembly model and its sub models to a folder,

after open an assembly model in Solidworks, in my standalone app,use swapp.runmacro(...) to run this macro in solidworks,

and then the BMP files of all models (include sub models) is ready for me!

When I need a preview of a model,just find its BMP file and show it !

and before my standalone app exit ,delete all the BMP files.

This is a perfect solution!

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Artem Taturevych Aug 15, 2018 9:32 PM

As far as I understand you are using pure Visual Basic 6 (stand-alone). What do you mean by?

There is another method swApp.GetPreviewBitmap, it create bitmap(stdole.StdPicture) and works well,but it can be use only in VBA environment.

VBA and Visual Basic 6 are basically the same things. Why do you think this method won't work in VB6? I do not have VB6 Studio so cannot check, but I believe this should work in exactly the same way as VBA macro.

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Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 16, 2018 7:32 AM

That's not "I think", I had tested to use swApp.GetPreviewBitmap in VB6,so I'm sure this method can not work in VB6.

The following words come from Solidworks API help, just about this method.

NOTES:

Currently only in-process applications (that is, macros or add-ins) can use this method; out-of-process applications (that is, executables) will get an automation error because the IPictureDisp interface cannot be marshalled across process boundaries. This is a Microsoft behavior by design. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base for details.
This method is not supported in macros or out-of-process applications in SOLIDWORKS x64.

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Josh Brady @ Xiao Cake on Aug 16, 2018 8:08 AM

Give this a try:

GetPreviewBitmap with Document Manager

(Note that the solution provided in that thread is not actually using GetPreviewBitmap, or any SolidWorks API for that matter)

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Xiao Cake @ Josh Brady on Oct 19, 2019 7:41 AM

Thanks for your advice!

The Document Manager Api needs a diffenrnt license key for new version of solidworks.

but I want to create a application that can works well with future version of solidworks

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Artem Taturevych @ Xiao Cake on Aug 17, 2018 1:42 AM

Ok, got it, thanks for the clarification. You need to use GetPreviewPNGBitmapBytes/GetPreviewBitmapBytes so it can be extracted for out-of-process application for any file version. Here is example in C#: Extract PNG Preview Image From The Active Configuration

This works for out-of-process console application and extract the good quality image:

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Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Oct 19, 2019 7:44 AM

Thanks for your Help!

These 2 mdthods (GetPreviewPNGBitmapBytes/GetPreviewBitmapBytes ) belong to Document Managet Api.

The Document Manager Api needs a different license key for new version of solidworks.

I had created a application in vb6 that can works well with future version of solidworks(I had tested it with the version of solidworks from 2007 to 2017,and works well.)

And now,I want to add a function to preview solidworks models.

I find a api PreviewDoc, syntax: swApp.PreviewDoc(HWnd, FullName)

but i don't know how to use it,

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Artem Taturevych @ Xiao Cake on Aug 19, 2018 9:27 PM

This method has the same constraint:

HWnd Window handle where you want the preview bitmap to display; this pointer is not valid across processes; therefore, this method only works if your application is implemented as a DLL

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Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 19, 2018 10:11 PM

It seems that there is no good solution about this issue.

But thank you all the same!

Now I have to do like this:

Click one row in the table,then open the model in that row with solidworks automatically.

this action may take a lot of time if the computer has a week performance.

Actions

Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 23, 2018 4:47 AM

Today I Solved this problem by myself !

I create a vba macro to export all preview BMP files of an assembly model and its sub models to a folder,

after open an assembly model in Solidworks, in my standalone app,use swapp.runmacro(...) to run this macro in solidworks,

and then the BMP files of all models (include sub models) is ready for me!

When I need a preview of a model,just find its BMP file and show it !

and before my standalone app exit ,delete all the BMP files.

This is a perfect solution!

Actions

9 Replies

Artem Taturevych Aug 15, 2018 9:32 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
As far as I understand you are using pure Visual Basic 6 (stand-alone). What do you mean by?
There is another method swApp.GetPreviewBitmap, it create bitmap(stdole.StdPicture) and works well,but it can be use only in VBA environment.
VBA and Visual Basic 6 are basically the same things. Why do you think this method won't work in VB6? I do not have VB6 Studio so cannot check, but I believe this should work in exactly the same way as VBA macro.
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- Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 16, 2018 7:32 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  That's not "I think", I had tested to use swApp.GetPreviewBitmap in VB6,so I'm sure this method can not work in VB6.
  The following words come from Solidworks API help, just about this method.
  
  NOTES:
  Currently only in-process applications (that is, macros or add-ins) can use this method; out-of-process applications (that is, executables) will get an automation error because the IPictureDisp interface cannot be marshalled across process boundaries. This is a Microsoft behavior by design. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base for details.
  This method is not supported in macros or out-of-process applications in SOLIDWORKS x64.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - Josh Brady @ Xiao Cake on Aug 16, 2018 8:08 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Give this a try:
    
    GetPreviewBitmap with Document Manager
    (Note that the solution provided in that thread is not actually using GetPreviewBitmap, or any SolidWorks API for that matter)
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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    - Xiao Cake @ Josh Brady on Oct 19, 2019 7:41 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Thanks for your advice!
      The Document Manager Api needs a diffenrnt license key for new version of solidworks.
      but I want to create a application that can works well with future version of solidworks
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
  - Artem Taturevych @ Xiao Cake on Aug 17, 2018 1:42 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Ok, got it, thanks for the clarification. You need to use GetPreviewPNGBitmapBytes/GetPreviewBitmapBytes so it can be extracted for out-of-process application for any file version. Here is example in C#: Extract PNG Preview Image From The Active Configuration
    
    This works for out-of-process console application and extract the good quality image:
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Oct 19, 2019 7:44 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Thanks for your Help!
      These 2 mdthods (GetPreviewPNGBitmapBytes/GetPreviewBitmapBytes ) belong to Document Managet Api.
      The Document Manager Api needs a different license key for new version of solidworks.
      I had created a application in vb6 that can works well with future version of solidworks(I had tested it with the version of solidworks from 2007 to 2017,and works well.)
      And now,I want to add a function to preview solidworks models.
      I find a api PreviewDoc, syntax: swApp.PreviewDoc(HWnd, FullName)
      but i don't know how to use it,
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
      - Artem Taturevych @ Xiao Cake on Aug 19, 2018 9:27 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        This method has the same constraint:
        HWnd Window handle where you want the preview bitmap to display; this pointer is not valid across processes; therefore, this method only works if your application is implemented as a DLL
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 19, 2018 10:11 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        It seems that there is no good solution about this issue.
        But thank you all the same!
        
        Now I have to do like this:
        Click one row in the table,then open the model in that row with solidworks automatically.
        this action may take a lot of time if the computer has a week performance.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Xiao Cake @ Artem Taturevych on Aug 23, 2018 4:47 AM
        Unmark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Today I Solved this problem by myself !
        I create a vba macro to export all preview BMP files of an assembly model and its sub models to a folder,
        after open an assembly model in Solidworks, in my standalone app,use swapp.runmacro(...) to run this macro in solidworks,
        and then the BMP files of all models (include sub models) is ready for me!
        When I need a preview of a model,just find its BMP file and show it !
        and before my standalone app exit ,delete all the BMP files.
        This is a perfect solution!
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions

[API]about GetPreviewBitmapFile method

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