SW API Macro Programmers--SW World 2005 Presentation posted

Those of you who dabble in the SolidWorks API may be interested in
this. I just posted the presentation I did at SW World last week for
download. The topic may appeal to a somewhat narrow segment of the
SolidWorks community, but I figured this is the place to find that
segment. It's really not targeted at those just beginning to play with
the API, but more for those who have been doing it a while and want to
take it to the next level. It's posted without guarantees, tech
support, etc., etc. But go ahead and download if you think it will be
useful to you.

Thanks to those of you who came to the presentation. You may also want
to download, since the version that will be coming out on the
conference CD is missing some of the tweaks and additions that came
after the submission deadline. (Just couldn't resist!)

The presentation is on http://www.customsolids.com/Products.html and is
accessible via the "Download" button next to "SolidWorks World 2005
Presentation".

The description of the content is as follows: Shows how to take
SolidWorks Macro programming beyond the beginner stage with some
powerful programming techniques not often taught in beginning
programming references. Topics include using the FileSystemObject to
move and copy files along with the SW API to properly Re-reference
them. The presentation also shows how to add Common dialogs through
the Windows Shell and Windows API, since Common Dialogs are not
included in the SW VBA toolbox. Finally, an introduction to Regular
Expressions provides some ultra-powerful string matching capabilities
that will make your code compact and efficient. Download includes
Powerpoint presentation with extensive notes, as well as screen-capture
movie segments to illustrate.

Thanks again to those of you who came and offered your own
contributions to the discussion!

Brenda D. Bosley
CustomSolids

 

I appreciate it Brenda
Downloading now
Thank you for sharing with those of us who couldn't make it.

Corey

 

The evidence of your knowledge on the subject is quite well expressed
in your Propa-Gator product. Thanks for your contribution.

Kent

 

Got it. I did a bit more reading on the Regular Expressions, and now will
try to remember to use them next time. Thanks.

WT

 

You're welcome! Hope it's helpful.

--Brenda

 

After a slow, but not entirely unprofitable, start on Monday your
session was a big plus.

 

How to open the swf files?

 

OK Brenda I already had use for the Regular Expressions. It works great
opens up a whole new world.

Corey

 

The html/swf files should have unzipped into a sub-folder named
"Supporting Files". If they are there, the hyper-links on the
Powerpoint slides should launch them. (I haven't tested it on a non-IE
browser, tho.) The .swf files are flash files and should load
automatically in the .html files of the identical name.

B.

 

Pretty useful once you know about 'em! Funny-looking, but powerful.

-Brenda

 

Brenda could you help me out. I have run into a bit of a problem and was
wondering if you could help me around it.

The situation
Creating a VBA program for AutoCAD 2000.
All I really want to do is use the Split function but it isn't available in
the version of VBA that AutoCAD 2000 attaches to it's Macros. I tried to
switch the reference to a current version of VBA but it won't allow me to
remove the reference.
So I decided to try Regular Expressions.
I include the vbscript.dll and it comes up as Microsoft VBScript Global.
and dosen't seem to have a reference to Regular Expressions.
Though it does have a call to Split but I can't instantiate the GlobalObj to
get to it.
I tried using New and Createobject but can't figure out what the class name
is to do this.

Please help.

Corey

 

Corey,

Sorry...didn't see your question right away.

I'm actually not all that familiar with working in the AutoCAD VBA
development environment, although I've done some things with the ACad
API from an external application.

VBScript Global is NOT the reference you want, even tho both may be in
the same file. You do want one that says "Regular Expressions" in the
name. Seems strange that it wouldn't show up in the available
references. As I remember there were some non-standard quirks in the
Acad API calls as well.

If all you're really after is a split function, can you do a
work-around with a function that parses off each segment and returns an
array or collection of the segments? (Let me know if this needs
further explanation)

Good Luck!
Brenda

 

Thanks Brenda I could figure that out I was just being lazy. In my own
wierd way.

Corey