Exploring CATIA V5 Macros RAND North America. All rights reserved. rand-na.com

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1 RAND North America Exploring CATIA V5 Macros Jason Curtis, PLM Application Engineer Professional Services Training Programs Technology Solutions 2008 RAND North America. All rights reserved. 1

2 Macros in CATIA V5 CATIA V5 on Windows Can be automated with a with any application which can connect to Windows COM Objects: VBA (Excel, Word, CATIA, etc.) VBScript JavaScript Visual Basic 6.0 Microsoft Visual Studio.NET others CATIA V5 on UNIX Emulators allow for VBScripts to be run (no interface building tools) 2

3 Introduction How do macros work? Dassault Systemes has exposed several CATIA objects so that they can be created, manipulated, and deleted by COM compliant applications Understanding this CATIA object structure is the key to being able to automate many different aspects of CATIA V5 VB/External Type libraries Dynamic Link Application (*.tlb) Libraries (*.dll) Action performed in CATIA 3

4 Introduction Rules Visual Basic (or other applications) MUST reference type library files that make the application aware of all of the CATIA functions that have been exposed. There are currently over 40 of these type libraries they are broken up by discipline (i.e. surface design, part design, etc.). Only the type library for the discipline that you are going to use should be created. The type libraries are changed with each release of CATIA V5, so the correct type libraries MUST be used with the correct version of CATIA V5. Not all CATIA V5 functions have been exposed in the type libraries. 4

5 Object Oriented Programming Definitions COM (Component Object Model) The Microsoft standard technology to share objects between applications. Object An entity (in CATIA or VB). Points, Pads, Parameters, etc. are all examples of CATIA objects. Property A characteristic of an object. For example, the name of a PartDocument is a property of that object. Method An action that an object can perform. For example PartDocument.SaveAs() is an action that the object can perform. Collection A group or list of similar objects which are put together for a specific reason. 5

6 Object Oriented Programming Declaring variables All objects that are used in VB need to be declared. Dim objpartdoc As PartDocument Setting variables Once an object is declared, it must also be Set to an instance of the object before it can be used. Set objpartdoc = CATIA.ActiveDocument To give a value to a variable that is not an object, you cannot use the Set keyword Dim intcounter As Integer intcounter = 32 Why all the dots? (.) The dot (.) character is simply a way to differentiate an object from it s properties or methods. CATIA.Documents.Item(1).Name 6

7 Developing new code Copy from existing program that already works. This is the easiest way Record a Macro in CATIA V5. Does NOT work for all functions/workbenches. Macros need to be cleaned because many times extra code is produced which is not needed. If you need Dim statements, use CATScript when you record, otherwise use MSVBScript. Use the Object Browser and other Help to develop new code. 7

8 Creating Macros In-process The script interpretation is performed using the scripting engine(s) hosted by CATIA MS VBScript CATScript VBA (intelli-sense) Out-process Performed from another application running in another process (MS Word/Excel, VB.Net, etc.) Must access CATIA through tlb s Example: CATIA Caption 8

9 Recording Macros In-process only DON T: Switch workbenches while recording a macro. DON T: Record more than is absolutely necessary. DON T: Use the UNDO button when recording a macro. DO: Be aware of CATSettings when recording. DO: Exit sketches before stopping recording. DO: Check each macro after it s recorded. Example: New Part Dialog box 9

10 Simplifying Macros Powercopies Macros can reference and use powercopies Many powercopies can be used together Dim ofact Set ofact = opart.getcustomerfactory("instancefactory") Dim ipoint As Object Dim oinstance As ShapeInstance For i = 1 to osel.count2 ofact.begininstancefactory Hole", "C:\Templates\Powercopies\Hole.CATPart" ofact.begininstantiate ofact.putinputdata "Point", ipoint ofact.putinputdata Surface, isurface Set oinstance = ofact.instantiate ofact.endinstantiate ofact.endinstancefactory opart.update() Next 10

11 Extending Capabilities Powercopies Powercopies/Reactions can run macros Knowledge advisor Rules, Reactions, Checks, etc. can be included in powercopies

12 Tips & Tricks Be sure that you understand how to do something interactively in CATIA V5 BEFORE you try to automate it through scripting Use some form of standards in naming variables, either company standards or Microsoft standards this will help greatly in debugging code and in transferring and reusing code for other applications Set up and keep a library of standard functions (i.e. starting CATIA, creating a Part Document, selecting elements, etc.) 12

13 RAND North America Thank you! Professional Services Training Programs Technology Solutions 2008 RAND North America. All rights reserved. 13