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Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications Requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

SOLIDWORKS VB.NET and C# macros are recorded, created, edited, and run using Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA), which is installed with the SOLIDWORKS software. VSTA has a software dependency on Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. Because of this dependency, VSTA might or might not be installed by default when you install SOLIDWORKS.

Operating System

SOLIDWORKS installs VSTA and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 by default?

Windows Vista

Yes

Windows 7

Yes

Windows 8

No

You must select the Visual Studio Tools option during SOLIDWORKS installation. If you select Visual Studio Tools, during the installation, Windows 8 prompts you with:

An app on your PC needs the following Windows feature:

.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

  • Download and install this feature
    Windows will get the files that it needs from Windows Update and complete the installation.
     
  • Skip this installation
    Your apps might not work correctly without this feature.

 
  NOTE: You need internet access if you select Visual Studio Tools during SOLIDWORKS installation. If you do not have internet access, you need your Windows 8 installation DVDs.

When VSTA and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 are installed, the SOLIDWORKS Tools > Macro > Edit > Open > File name dropdown contains:

  • SW VBA Macros (*.swp)
  • SW VSTA VB Macro (*.vbproj)
  • SW VSTA C# Macro (*.csproj)
  • SW Macros (*.swp, *.swb, *.csproj, *.vbproj)

and the SOLIDWORKS Tools > Macro > New > Save As > Save as type dropdown contains:

  • SW VBA Macros (*.swp)
  • SW VSTA VB Macro (*.vbproj)
  • SW VSTA C# Macro (*.csproj)

 

VSTA and Windows 8

If you do not select the Visual Studio Tools option during SOLIDWORKS installation on Windows 8:

  • You cannot modify the installation to add it. You must uninstall SOLIDWORKS, re-install SOLIDWORKS, and select the Visual Studio Tools option during installation.
  • VSTA is not installed, you cannot record, create, edit, or run VB.NET or C# macros, and all of the SOLIDWORKS macro dialog dropdowns contain only:

SW VBA Macros (*.swp)

 

 



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