VBA to rename sheets? DXF just flat pattern?

I'm considering SolidWorks as a replacement for my tired old
Mechanical Desktop, and I have a question about two things I'd like to
be able to do. Namely:

I anticipate my drawings having multiple sheets, possibly up to 60
sheets. Finding a part on a specific sheet would be difficult without
some sort of reference. Could a VBA program be written that would
rename each sheet to the name of the part that's on it (or something
along those lines)? That would be a huge benefit to me.

I'll frequently need to send out DXF files of flat patterns. The flat
pattern is always on the same sheet with the folded model. Is there a
way to DXF out JUST the flat pattern? I don't need any other views,
borders, notes, etc.--I want the pattern only so it can go right to
the machine.

Any help with the above questions would be appreciated. Also, if any
of you have dealt with situations like I describe, I'd like to know
how you handle them. Thanks!

Brian

 

Yes, SolidWorks VBA is rich in capabilities. Renaming sheets shouldn't be
too difficult especially if you are already familiar with VBA. (In
SolidWorks you can record a macro and use it as a basis for your VBA
project) I know that someone here has already written an application to DXF
flat patterns. They may be willing to share or you could work out some
agreement. I don't think that SW handles multiple sheet drawings all that
well though I think it bogs down especially if you get up to 60 sheets. We
rarely use more that 2 or 3. I don't know if 2004 handles sheets better
though.

Corey Scheich

 

yes you can make a vba program to do this. but if your drawings are
not changing often. id would say that making pdfs of your sheets would
be faster.

i have a question for you. what kind of api does mechanical desktop
provide. or better yet inventor.

 

If I understand the second part of your question, we do this often, though
we specifically put the flat pattern on a second sheet called FLAT (and
sometimes title blocked like sheet 1b or 2 of 2, depending on the client's
requirements). This allows us to do just what you suggest - dxf/dwg just
the flat pattern for cnc.

- Eddy

 

Renaming a drawing sheet to have the same name as the model contained in its
views would be easily accomplished through the API.

I have done several variations of programs to automate creation of DXF files
for flat patterns with varying degrees of interaction from the user. In
short, there is no problem in creating a DXF file from a single flat pattern
view even if there are other views on the sheet. This could be as simple as
a clipboard-type copy/paste of a selected view to a new blank 1:1 scale
drawing. This could be done manually or automated (removing the annotations
in any case might be worth making a macro for).

Regards,
Brenda

 

This could be as simple as

If you parse the geometry out of the drawing view yourself, you dont
have to worry out annotations or scale. The lines/arcs parse out to
true size, there are no datum points/dims to worry about, and you have
the option of including/excluding bend lines.