How do I add a new Physical Property in the Materials DB?

I have written a .Net application to centrally manage our Company's
Materials Database. This application writes out a replacement
"solidworks materials.sldmat" file containing all of our approved
Materials. This works great so far, with all users pointed to this main
database.

I would like to utilize the Physical Properties section to show a
reference to the Material ID in the SQL database used by the .Net
application. This will allow us to write an add-in that accesses data
in our Agile CM system.

The problem is that I can't seem to find a unused "physicalproperties"
element (in the sldmaterials.xsd) where SW doesn't convert the value.
Both the Poissons (NUXY) and Thermal Expansion (ALPX) elements are
presented in the Physical Properties window without conversion. I have
tried all of the unused elements, but all end up as converted values.

Example: <NUXZ displayname="Material ID" value="53" />
Becomes: Material ID 0.0341935 N/in^2
Instead of: Material ID 53

I have also created a new complextype in the .xsd, and assigned the
Material ID value to this type. Same result! SW seems to want to
convert everything but Poissons and Thermal Expansion!

I have searched high and low trying to find where SW "maps" which
values to perform conversions on - no dice. So, I am asking for your
help - how can I make this program behave?!?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Eric

 

You might want to contact SW API help for something like that. I don't
think you have to go through the VAR for it.