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)