[API][python] only one solidworks instance

Hello,

I start my script convert.py simultaneously in any dos-shells several
times. But I get every time the same solidworks instance.
I see in the proccess (task) manager only one solidworks.exe
Therefore I get for all simultaneous conversions the same output file.

I tested the same code with excel (test_excel.py) and I get many
instances of excel in proccess (task) manager.
How can I get many instances of solidworks?

Is it a problem of python?
Or is it a problem of the Solidworks-COM-Implemention and I get the
same problem with an C++ client implementation?

Thanks for your help, Thomas

convert.py
import pythoncom
pythoncom.CoInitializeEx(pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED)

sldworks = gencache.EnsureModule('{83A33D31-27C5-11CE-
BFD4-00400513BB57}', 0x0, 13, 0)
sw = sldworks.ISldWorks(DispatchEx('SldWorks.Application'))
swmodel, errors, warnings = sw.OpenDoc6(sourceName,
constants.swDocPART, constants.swOpenDocOptions_Silent, "")
activeDoc = sw.ActiveDoc
retval, errors, warnings = swmodel.SaveAs4(targetName,
constants.swSaveAsCurrentVersion ,
constants.swOpenDocOptions_Silent )

pythoncom.CoUninitialize()

test_excel.py

import pythoncom
pythoncom.CoInitializeEx(pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED)

myExcel = win32com.client.DispatchEx('Excel.Application')
myExcel.Visible = 1
Excel = myExcel.Workbooks.Open(excelfile, 0, False, 2)
Excel.Saved = 1
Excel.Close()
myExcel.Quit()
del myExcel
del Excel

pythoncom.CoUninitialize()

 

I found this:

Hello Thomas,

excel registers its COM objects with REGCLS_SINGLEUSE that means one
COM
object is created
per process. In Solidworks it seems that that they register with
REGCLS_MULTIPLEUSE, which means
on process can serve more than one COM object. Hence you have no
chance
to get multiple instances
running in any COM client.

Stefan

Which leads to this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q169321/

We know that SW can be started multiple times from the desktop. This
is usually not a good thing unless you are running a dual core
machine. SW has a much larger footprint than excel. With multiple
instances you would quickly run out of resources. And since SW
rewrites the registry all the time during use, running multiple
instances would seem to be a recipe for disaster.

I have to wonder why you would want to run multiple instances?

TOP

 

Hello Stefan,
thanks for your answer.

I want to run my script convert.py in batch processes parallel.
I started following 3 tests parallel:
test 1:
sourceName = test1.sldprt
targetName = test1.step
test 2:
sourceName = test2.sldprt
targetName = test2.step
test 3:
sourceName = test3.sldprt
targetName = test3.step

I got for every test the right taget file (test<n>.step). But the
(model) content of all files was the content of the third file.
Thomas