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Link "PART NUMBER" to a Configuration specific custom property?

Question asked by Sherdz Buckland on Sep 16, 2010
Latest reply on May 23, 2011 by John Layne

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Is there a way to link a Configuration specific custom property to the "PART NUMBER" property that is displayed in a BOM?

We are using a third party CAM program that reads a SWX configuration specific custom property value to use for the machine file name.

I can create a configuration specific property called "PartNo" and edit it manually for each configuration, but it would save a lot of time if I

could link it to the "Part number displayed when used in a BOM" property, which is already set up via the configuration property tab.

(right click on a configuration & select properties, Bill of materials options.)

Tom Helsley Sep 16, 2010 4:48 PM

Correct Answer

Here's the nuts & bolts of it stripped out of my code, but you need to do more. The bold text are the methods and properties that you should look up in the API help. Just copy the text below and paste it into a macro to begin:

Dim Part As Object

Dim strConfig, strPartNo as String

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")

Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc

Set config = Part.GetConfigurationByName(strConfig)

'To assign / change the configuration properties:

config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks

config.AlternateName = strPartNo 'VB assign

config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks

Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo 'strConfig = configuration name; 'PartNo = name of the custom property

'To read the configuration properties:

strPartNo = config.AlternateName 'read the config part number

strPartNo = Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo")

Message was edited by: Tom Helsley Oops, I had to change one thing... Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo was Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strProperty

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Deepak Gupta Sep 16, 2010 7:02 AM

Click on BOM column, then click on column property icon. Set the required property and change the column heading.

I have set the part number to display the material property which is in the config tab in the part.

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Custom_BOM.PNG23.1 KB

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Samu Niveri @ Deepak Gupta on Sep 16, 2010 1:43 PM

Actually this is not about linking some property in BOM. The question was how to copy configuration partnumber to config specific property. In SPN-Tools this is default function when adding properties to models (both values are filled). I would like to someday see if part number could be used straight in notes embedded in drawings/sheet formats, or have SW already implemented this?

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Tom Helsley Sep 16, 2010 2:04 PM

I don't know of a way to link the configuration's part number, but you can use the API to maintain a synchronized part number between the two.

Or, better yet, instead of using the API, use design tables and a formula to make the two values equal. One column in the design table would have the heading, "$PARTNUMBER", and the other column would have the heading, "$PRP@PartNo" (exactly what's inside the quotes). For non-programmers, this is the best way.

Cheers!

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Samu Niveri @ Tom Helsley on Sep 16, 2010 2:13 PM

I agree, Design Tables are best choice if there is no API-programming skills or 3rdparty softwares in use.

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Sherdz Buckland @ Samu Niveri on Sep 16, 2010 4:07 PM

Thanks for that, I have not played with design tables as yet, but I have done quite a bit with SWX VBA.

How would you go about syncing them with VBA?

Should I re-ask the Q in the API section?

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Tom Helsley @ Sherdz Buckland on Sep 16, 2010 4:48 PM

Dim Part As Object

Dim strConfig, strPartNo as String

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")

Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc

Set config = Part.GetConfigurationByName(strConfig)

'To assign / change the configuration properties:

config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks

config.AlternateName = strPartNo 'VB assign

config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks

Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo 'strConfig = configuration name; 'PartNo = name of the custom property

'To read the configuration properties:

strPartNo = config.AlternateName 'read the config part number

strPartNo = Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo")

Message was edited by: Tom Helsley Oops, I had to change one thing... Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo was Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strProperty

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Sherdz Buckland @ Tom Helsley on Sep 17, 2010 1:24 AM

Thanks Tom, I'll have a look down that path I think...

We tried doing it using a design table, but the values don't seem to update

until the table is opened for editing?

As I say, I think I'd be more at home with the API solution.

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Tom Helsley @ Sherdz Buckland on Sep 17, 2010 2:22 PM

I've noticed in the past that configuration part numbers (when shown in the configuration manager) don't update until you do something to update the view (i.e. change active configuration, rename a configuration, etc.), but the information is updated. Very deceiving.

When you have many configurations, the design table is the fastest way to go, even if your VB code iterates through all the configs for you. I prefer the API method for files with only a few configurations, but for files like rivets, I prefer using design tables to manage the part numbers and all other custom properties.

Anyway, at least you have choices.

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Sherdz Buckland @ Tom Helsley on Sep 19, 2010 8:55 AM

Thanks for the help... much appreciated.

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John Layne @ Sherdz Buckland on May 23, 2011 1:02 AM

Did you ever create this macro, if so could you share?

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10 Replies

Deepak Gupta Sep 16, 2010 7:02 AM
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Correct Answer
Click on BOM column, then click on column property icon. Set the required property and change the column heading.

I have set the part number to display the material property which is in the config tab in the part.
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- Custom_BOM.PNG23.1 KB
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- Samu Niveri @ Deepak Gupta on Sep 16, 2010 1:43 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Actually this is not about linking some property in BOM. The question was how to copy configuration partnumber to config specific property. In SPN-Tools this is default function when adding properties to models (both values are filled). I would like to someday see if part number could be used straight in notes embedded in drawings/sheet formats, or have SW already implemented this?
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions
Tom Helsley Sep 16, 2010 2:04 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I don't know of a way to link the configuration's part number, but you can use the API to maintain a synchronized part number between the two.

Or, better yet, instead of using the API, use design tables and a formula to make the two values equal. One column in the design table would have the heading, "$PARTNUMBER", and the other column would have the heading, "$PRP@PartNo" (exactly what's inside the quotes). For non-programmers, this is the best way.

Cheers!
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- Samu Niveri @ Tom Helsley on Sep 16, 2010 2:13 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I agree, Design Tables are best choice if there is no API-programming skills or 3rdparty softwares in use.
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  - Sherdz Buckland @ Samu Niveri on Sep 16, 2010 4:07 PM
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    Correct Answer
    Thanks for that, I have not played with design tables as yet, but I have done quite a bit with SWX VBA.
    How would you go about syncing them with VBA?
    Should I re-ask the Q in the API section?
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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    - Tom Helsley @ Sherdz Buckland on Sep 16, 2010 4:48 PM
      Unmark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Here's the nuts & bolts of it stripped out of my code, but you need to do more. The bold text are the methods and properties that you should look up in the API help. Just copy the text below and paste it into a macro to begin:
      
      Dim Part As Object
      Dim strConfig, strPartNo as String
      
      Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
      Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
      Set config = Part.GetConfigurationByName(strConfig)
      
      'To assign / change the configuration properties:
      config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks
      config.AlternateName = strPartNo 'VB assign
      config.UseAlternateNameInBOM = True 'VB Set property for BOM use in SolidWorks
      Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo 'strConfig = configuration name; 'PartNo = name of the custom property
      
      'To read the configuration properties:
      strPartNo = config.AlternateName 'read the config part number
      strPartNo = Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo")
      
      Message was edited by: Tom Helsley Oops, I had to change one thing... Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strPartNo was Part.CustomInfo2(strConfig, "PartNo") = strProperty
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      - Sherdz Buckland @ Tom Helsley on Sep 17, 2010 1:24 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Thanks Tom, I'll have a look down that path I think...
        
        We tried doing it using a design table, but the values don't seem to update
        until the table is opened for editing?
        As I say, I think I'd be more at home with the API solution.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        Tom Helsley @ Sherdz Buckland on Sep 17, 2010 2:22 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        I've noticed in the past that configuration part numbers (when shown in the configuration manager) don't update until you do something to update the view (i.e. change active configuration, rename a configuration, etc.), but the information is updated. Very deceiving.
        
        When you have many configurations, the design table is the fastest way to go, even if your VB code iterates through all the configs for you. I prefer the API method for files with only a few configurations, but for files like rivets, I prefer using design tables to manage the part numbers and all other custom properties.
        
        Anyway, at least you have choices.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        Sherdz Buckland @ Tom Helsley on Sep 19, 2010 8:55 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Thanks for the help... much appreciated.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        John Layne @ Sherdz Buckland on May 23, 2011 1:02 AM
        Mark Correct
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        Did you ever create this macro, if so could you share?
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Link "PART NUMBER" to a Configuration specific custom property?

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