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Get Annotations Arrays Example (VB.NET)

Before SolidWorks 2009 SP1, API programmers used IView::GetFirst<Annotation> and I<Annotation>::GetNext methods to traverse the annotations in a document view.  New methods on IView now return entire annotation arrays that programmers can iterate through to obtain all of the annotations in a document view.  

This code example does the following:

  • builds a simple part with the following annotations:  display dimensions, geometric tolerance symbol, surface finish symbol, datum tag symbol, datum target symbol

  • creates a drawing sheet with 3rd angle views of the part and its annotations

  • calls the new methods on IView to get arrays of each annotation type in the views (bold text)

  • iterates through each annotation array and pops up a message box with information about each annotation in the drawing views

'---------------------------------------

' Preconditions:

' Document templates are installed at this location:

' C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2009\templates\

'

' Postconditions:

' Several message boxes pop up containing information about each annotation

' in the drawing views

'----------------------------------------

Option Explicit On

Imports SolidWorks.Interop.sldworks

Imports SolidWorks.Interop.swconst

Imports System

Partial Class SolidWorksMacro

    Const filedir As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2009\templates\"

    Const TemplateName As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2009\templates\drawing.drwdot"

    Const TemplateSize As Long = swDwgTemplates_e.swDwgTemplateBsize

    Const PaperSize As Long = swDwgPaperSizes_e.swDwgPaperBsize

    Const ScaleNum As Double = 1.0#

    Const ScaleDenom As Double = 2.0#

    Dim swModel As ModelDoc2

    Dim swFeatMgr As FeatureManager

    Dim Response As Integer

    Dim ThirdAngle As Boolean

    Dim swDraw As DrawingDoc

    Dim swSheet As Sheet

    Dim i As Long

    Dim j As Long

    Dim retval As Boolean

    Dim swView As View

    Dim count As Long

    Dim Annotations As Object

    Dim msg As String

    Public Sub main()

        'Create a part

        Build_Part()

        'Create a drawing view of the part

        swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc

        swDraw = swApp.NewDocument(TemplateName, PaperSize, _

                0.0#, 0.0#)

        ThirdAngle = False

        swDraw.ActivateSheet("Sheet1")

        swSheet = swDraw.GetCurrentSheet

        swSheet.SetSize(PaperSize, 0.0#, 0.0#)

        swSheet.SetScale(ScaleNum, ScaleDenom, True, True)

        ' Create 3rd angle drawing views.

        ' The following method pops up a save part dialog.

        ' This macro continues only after you click Save in the dialog.

        retval = swDraw.Create3rdAngleViews2(swModel.GetPathName)

        Dim LocX As Double

        Dim LocY As Double

        LocX = 0.2635088599471

        LocY = 0.1934578136726

        ' Create isometric drawing view

        swDraw.CreateDrawViewFromModelView3(swModel.GetPathName, "*Isometric", LocX, LocY, 0)

        swDraw.ViewDisplayShaded()

        ' Insert display dimension annotations from the current model

        swDraw.InsertModelAnnotations3(0, swInsertAnnotation_e.swInsertDimensionsMarkedForDrawing, True, True, False, True)

        ' Insert datum target symbol annotations from the current model

        swDraw.InsertModelAnnotations3(0, swInsertAnnotation_e.swInsertDatumTargets, True, True, False, True)

        ' Insert geometric tolerance annotations from the current model

        swDraw.InsertModelAnnotations3(0, swInsertAnnotation_e.swInsertGTols, True, True, False, True)

        ' Insert surface finish symbol annotations from the current model

        swDraw.InsertModelAnnotations3(0, swInsertAnnotation_e.swInsertSFSymbols, True, True, False, True)

        ' Insert datum tag annotations from the current model

        swDraw.InsertModelAnnotations3(0, swInsertAnnotation_e.swInsertDatums, True, True, False, True)

        ' Insert dowel symbol on a selected arc or circle - not applicable to this model

        'swDraw.InsertDowelSymbol

        ' Insert multi-jog leader

        'swDraw.InsertMultiJogLeader3

        ' Insert datum origin

        ' Insert center line on a selected entity

        'swDraw.InsertCenterLine2

        ' Insert cosmetic thread

        'swDraw.InsertThreadCallout

        ' Insert weld symbol on the last edge selection

        'swDraw.InsertWeldSymbol

        ' Insert weld bead

        ' Insert table

        'swDraw.InsertTableAnnotation2

        swDraw.ForceRebuild3(True)

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing to find display dimensions

        swView = swDraw.GetFirstView

        Do While Not swView Is Nothing

            count = swView.GetDisplayDimensionCount

            Dim DisplayDimension As DisplayDimension

            Dim swDim As Dimension

            ' Iterate through all the display dimension annotations in each drawing view that has them

            If count > 0 Then

                Annotations = swView.GetDisplayDimensions

                For j = 0 To UBound(Annotations)

                    DisplayDimension = Annotations(j)

                    swDim = DisplayDimension.GetDimension

                    ' For each annotation in each drawing view, pop up a message box with the

                    ' view:annotation name and corresponding dimension

                    msg = "Display dimension found: " & swView.GetName2 & ":" & DisplayDimension.GetAnnotation.GetName & " = " _

                    & swDim.GetSystemValue2("") & " meters"

                    swApp.SendMsgToUser2(msg, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk)

                Next j

            End If

            swView = swView.GetNextView

        Loop

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing to find datum target symbols

        swView = swDraw.GetFirstView

        Do While Not swView Is Nothing

            count = swView.GetDatumTargetSymCount

            Dim dtsymbol As DatumTargetSym

            ' Iterate through all the datum target symbol annotations in each drawing view that has them

            If count > 0 Then

                Annotations = swView.GetDatumTargetSyms

                For j = 0 To UBound(Annotations)

                    dtsymbol = Annotations(j)

                    ' For each annotation in each drawing view, pop up a message box with the

                    ' view:annotation name and name of each datum target symbol found

                    msg = "Datum target symbol found: " & swView.GetName2 & ":" & dtsymbol.GetAnnotation.GetName

                    swApp.SendMsgToUser2(msg, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk)

                Next j

            End If

            swView = swView.GetNextView

        Loop

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing to find surface finish symbols

        swView = swDraw.GetFirstView

        Do While Not swView Is Nothing

            count = swView.GetSFSymbolCount

            Dim sfsymbol As SFSymbol

            ' Iterate through all the surface finish symbol annotations in each drawing view that has them

            If count > 0 Then

                Annotations = swView.GetSFSymbols

                For j = 0 To UBound(Annotations)

                    SFSymbol = Annotations(j)

                    ' For each annotation in each drawing view, pop up a message box with the

                    ' view:annotation name and name of each surface finish symbol found

                    msg = "Surface finish symbol found: " & swView.GetName2 & ":" & SFSymbol.GetAnnotation.GetName

                    swApp.SendMsgToUser2(msg, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk)

                Next j

            End If

            swView = swView.GetNextView

        Loop

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing to find datum tags

        swView = swDraw.GetFirstView

        Do While Not swView Is Nothing

            count = swView.GetDatumTagCount

            Dim dTag As DatumTag

            ' Iterate through all the datum tags in each drawing view that has them

            If count > 0 Then

                Annotations = swView.GetDatumTags

                For j = 0 To UBound(Annotations)

                    dTag = Annotations(j)

                    ' For each annotation in each drawing view, pop up a message box with the

                    ' view:annotation name and name of each datum tag found

                    msg = "Datum tag found: " & swView.GetName2 & ":" & dTag.GetAnnotation.GetName

                    swApp.SendMsgToUser2(msg, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk)

                Next j

            End If

            swView = swView.GetNextView

        Loop

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing to find geometric tolerances

        swView = swDraw.GetFirstView

        Do While Not swView Is Nothing

            count = swView.GetGTolCount

            Dim gtol As Gtol

            ' Iterate through all the geometric tolerance symbols in each drawing view that has them

            If count > 0 Then

                Annotations = swView.GetGTols

                For j = 0 To UBound(Annotations)

                    Gtol = Annotations(j)

                    ' For each annotation in each drawing view, pop up a message box with the

                    ' view:annotation name and name of each geometric tolerance found

                    msg = "Geometric tolerance symbol found: " & swView.GetName2 & ":" & Gtol.GetAnnotation.GetName

                    swApp.SendMsgToUser2(msg, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk)

                Next j

            End If

            swView = swView.GetNextView

        Loop

        ' In a similar fashion:

        ' Get other annotations on the drawing, if they exist.

        ' Iterate through all the views on the drawing.

        ' Get the annotation count, and if greater than zero, get the annotation array.

        ' Iterate on each array, and Set an annotation object to each array member:

        ' Annotations = swView.GetDowelSymbols

        ' Annotations = swView.GetMultiJogLeaders

        ' Annotations = swView.GetDatumOrigins

        ' Annotations = swView.GetCenterLines

        ' Annotations = swView.GetCThreads

        ' Annotations = swView.GetWeldSymbols

        ' Annotations = swView.GetWeldBeads

        ' Annotations = swView.GetTableAnnotations

        swApp.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swInputDimValOnCreate, True)

        swModel.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayAnnotations, False)

    End Sub

    Private Sub Build_Part()

        'Builds a simple part with the following annotations:

        'display dimensions, geometric tolerance symbol, surface finish symbol, datum tag symbol, datum target symbol

        swModel = swApp.NewDocument(filedir + _

                            "part.prtdot", 0, 0.0#, 0.0#)

        swModel.SetUserPreferenceIntegerValue(swUserPreferenceIntegerValue_e.swUnitsLinear, swLengthUnit_e.swMETER)

        swModel.SetUserPreferenceDoubleValue( _

                    swUserPreferenceDoubleValue_e.swMaterialPropertyDensity, 7800)

        swModel.SetUserPreferenceStringValue( _

                    swUserPreferenceStringValue_e.swMaterialPropertyCrosshatchPattern, "ISO (Steel)")

        swModel.SketchManager.InsertSketch(False)

        Dim Height As Double

        Dim Width As Double

        Height = 0.05

        Width = 0.05

        swApp.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swInputDimValOnCreate, False)

        swModel.SketchManager.CreateLine(0.01, 0.01, 0, 0.01, _

                                        0.01 + Height, 0)

        swModel.ViewZoomtofit2()

        ' Add display dimension to line

        swModel.AddDimension2(0, 0.01 + Height / 2, 0)

        ' Add geometric tolerance to line

        swModel.InsertGtol()

        swModel.SketchManager.CreateLine(0.01, 0.01, 0, 0.01 + Width, _

                                        0.01, 0)

        swModel.ViewZoomtofit2()

        ' Add display dimension

        swModel.AddDimension2(0.01 + Width / 2, 0, 0)

        ' Add surface finish symbol to line

        swModel.Extension.InsertSurfaceFinishSymbol3(swSFSymType_e.swSFBasic, swLeaderStyle_e.swSTRAIGHT, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, swSFLaySym_e.swSFCircular, swArrowStyle_e.swDOT_ARROWHEAD, "", "", "", "", "", "", "")

        swModel.SketchManager.CreateLine(0, 0, 0, 0, 0.01, 0). _

            ConstructionGeometry = True

        swModel.ClearSelection2(True)

        swModel.ViewZoomtofit2()

        Dim Thick As Double

        Thick = 0.05

        Dim Depth As Double

        Depth = 0.05

        swFeatMgr = swModel.FeatureManager

        swFeatMgr.FeatureExtrusionThin2(True, False, True, 0, 0, _

                    Depth, 0, False, False, False, False, 0, 0, False, _

                    False, False, False, False, Thick, 0, 0, 0, 0, False, _

                    False, False, False, swStartConditions_e.swStartSketchPlane, 0.0#, False)

        swModel.ViewZoomtofit2()

        swModel.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayAnnotations, True)

        swModel.ShowNamedView2("Isometric", 7)

        swModel.ViewZoomtofit2()

        ' Add datum tag to line

        retval = swModel.Extension.SelectByID2("", "EDGE", 0.06001738353251, -0.01284975502705, -0.05001738353241, False, 0, Nothing, 0)

        Dim dTag As DatumTag

        dTag = swModel.InsertDatumTag2

        ' Add datum target symbol to line

        retval = swModel.Extension.SelectByID2("", "EDGE", 0.06001738353251, -0.01284975502705, -0.05001738353241, False, 0, Nothing, 0)

        Dim myDatumTarget As Object

        myDatumTarget = swModel.Extension.InsertDatumTargetSymbol2("", "", "", 0, False, 0.03, 0.03, "", "", True, 12, 0, False, True, True)

    End Sub

    ''' <summary>

    ''' The SldWorks swApp variable is pre-assigned for you.

    ''' </summary>

    Public swApp As SldWorks

End Class



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