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How to check if bill of materials exist

Question asked by Chris Griffith on Feb 12, 2021
Latest reply on Feb 15, 2021 by Chris Griffith

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I have a macro that we use on part drawings to create a single item bom. It works great but the only problem is that if a bom already exists on the drawing it just adds another bom over top of the one that is already there. So if someone wants to update the bom and runs the macro again they get two boms rather than it just updating. So I would like to change it so that it just looks if a Solidworks bill of materials already exists and if it does then delete it and then run the macro as normal to add a new bom in.

How would I go about having it check for an existing bom and then deleting it if there is?

I could provide my code for adding the bom but I don't know if it's really even applicable to my question.

Thanks

Zhen Wei Tee Feb 15, 2021 11:07 PM

Correct Answer

Try using ClearSelection2 to clear the selection (if any)

2018 SOLIDWORKS API Help - ClearSelection2 Method (IModelDoc2)

Sub main()
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature
Dim swBomFeat As SldWorks.BomFeature

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swFeat = swModel.FirstFeature

swModel.ClearSelection2 True

Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing
If swFeat.GetTypeName2 = "BomFeat" Then
swFeat.Select2 True, -1
swModel.EditDelete
swModel.ForceRebuild3 True
MsgBox swFeat.Name & " deleted", vbInformation
End If
Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature
Loop
End Sub

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Solid Air Feb 12, 2021 9:44 PM

Look into GetTableAnnotations API call and some of the associated examples. There are other methods you can use like traversing the feature manager tree. Also check out GetFirstTableAnnotation. Hopefully this helps?

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Mike Dekoning Feb 13, 2021 7:24 AM

Chris,

You will need to get the first view in the drawing which actually represents the sheet. You can then use the GetTableAnnotations method as mentioned.

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Omkar Deshpande Feb 15, 2021 3:40 AM

Try this

Sub main()
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature
Dim swBomFeat As SldWorks.BomFeature

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swFeat = swModel.FirstFeature

Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing
   If swFeat.GetTypeName2 = "BomFeat" Then
      swFeat.Select2 True, -1
      swModel.EditDelete
      swModel.ForceRebuild3 True
      MsgBox swFeat.Name & " deleted", vbInformation
   End If
   Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature
Loop

End Sub

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Chris Griffith @ Omkar Deshpande on Feb 15, 2021 10:55 PM

This works great if you are not clicked on anything else however if you happen to be clicked on one of the views on the drawing it deletes the bill of materials as well as the view that is selected. How would I ensure that only the bom gets deleted?

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Zhen Wei Tee @ Chris Griffith on Feb 15, 2021 11:07 PM

Try using ClearSelection2 to clear the selection (if any)

2018 SOLIDWORKS API Help - ClearSelection2 Method (IModelDoc2)

Sub main()
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature
Dim swBomFeat As SldWorks.BomFeature

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swFeat = swModel.FirstFeature

swModel.ClearSelection2 True

Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing
If swFeat.GetTypeName2 = "BomFeat" Then
swFeat.Select2 True, -1
swModel.EditDelete
swModel.ForceRebuild3 True
MsgBox swFeat.Name & " deleted", vbInformation
End If
Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature
Loop
End Sub

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Chris Griffith @ Zhen Wei Tee on Feb 15, 2021 11:08 PM

Simple enough! Thanks everyone!

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6 Replies

Solid Air Feb 12, 2021 9:44 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Look into GetTableAnnotations API call and some of the associated examples. There are other methods you can use like traversing the feature manager tree. Also check out GetFirstTableAnnotation. Hopefully this helps?
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Mike Dekoning Feb 13, 2021 7:24 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Chris,

You will need to get the first view in the drawing which actually represents the sheet. You can then use the GetTableAnnotations method as mentioned.
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Omkar Deshpande Feb 15, 2021 3:40 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Try this

Sub main()
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature
Dim swBomFeat As SldWorks.BomFeature

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swFeat = swModel.FirstFeature

Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing
   If swFeat.GetTypeName2 = "BomFeat" Then
      swFeat.Select2 True, -1
      swModel.EditDelete
      swModel.ForceRebuild3 True
      MsgBox swFeat.Name & " deleted", vbInformation
   End If
   Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature
Loop
End Sub
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- Chris Griffith @ Omkar Deshpande on Feb 15, 2021 10:55 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  This works great if you are not clicked on anything else however if you happen to be clicked on one of the views on the drawing it deletes the bill of materials as well as the view that is selected. How would I ensure that only the bom gets deleted?
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - Zhen Wei Tee @ Chris Griffith on Feb 15, 2021 11:07 PM
    Unmark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Try using ClearSelection2 to clear the selection (if any)
    2018 SOLIDWORKS API Help - ClearSelection2 Method (IModelDoc2)
    
    Sub main()
    Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
    Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
    Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature
    Dim swBomFeat As SldWorks.BomFeature
    
    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
    Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
    Set swFeat = swModel.FirstFeature
    
    swModel.ClearSelection2 True
    
    Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing
    If swFeat.GetTypeName2 = "BomFeat" Then
    swFeat.Select2 True, -1
    swModel.EditDelete
    swModel.ForceRebuild3 True
    MsgBox swFeat.Name & " deleted", vbInformation
    End If
    Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature
    Loop
    End Sub
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    - Chris Griffith @ Zhen Wei Tee on Feb 15, 2021 11:08 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Simple enough! Thanks everyone!
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
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How to check if bill of materials exist

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