4 Replies Latest reply on Mar 6, 2015 3:14 PM by Solidworks Selim

How do you create a Macro Feature Preview

Andy Braham Mar 4, 2015 11:13 AM

Hello Everyone,

I am writing a small macro to create a Macro Feature and I was wondering if there was a way to generate a preview of the Feature? The only way that I can see of doing it was to adjust the actual feature and basically rebuild the feature for the preview and return the values to there original values if the user cancels, is this the only way to do this or is there a library to enable the use of something like Temporary Curves/Bodies?

Thanks for the help!

Andy

Re: How do you create a Macro Feature Preview

Keith Rice Mar 4, 2015 12:06 PM (in response to Andy Braham)
I assume you are using a PropertyManager page with this macro feature.

Accomplishing this task (for example, like what I show in this macro feature demonstration) is very complicated because you need to have a good understanding of these three skills first:

Creating PropertyManager pages
Creating temporary bodies
Creating macro features

Once you have those under your belt, you have to figure out how to integrate them together. Even in the simplest cases, this is a challenge and there's no easy API call that does all of it for you.

I will note that as part of the premium content on my web site, I have videos teaching those three concepts in isolation and then bringing them together in order to create a macro feature like that show in the video.

Keith
SolidWorks API Tutorials
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- Re: How do you create a Macro Feature Preview
  
  Andy Braham Mar 5, 2015 8:17 AM (in response to Keith Rice)
  
  Thanks again Keith,
  So basically there is no Library to do this, I figured as much just didn't want to go down a road I didn't have to. One other question I do have though is what about curves? For example when creating a Pattern there is the preview of the pattern along with arrows showing the directions, is there a way to do this or is this along the same lines as a Body using "Temporary Curves"?
  
  Thanks so much for the help
  Andy
  
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  - Re: How do you create a Macro Feature Preview
    
    Keith Rice Mar 5, 2015 10:21 AM (in response to Andy Braham)
    
    All previews are performed by temporary bodies as far as I know. I don't think its any different for a pattern feature.
    
    Would you kindly mark my above answer as correct if it answered your question? I appreciate it greatly.
    
    Keith
    SolidWorks API Training
    
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Re: How do you create a Macro Feature Preview

Solidworks Selim Mar 6, 2015 3:14 PM (in response to Andy Braham)

Add macro
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