Function InsertChainDimensions( _
   ByVal Entities As System.Object _
) As System.Object

Dim instance As IModelDocExtension
Dim Entities As System.Object
Dim value As System.Object
 
value = instance.InsertChainDimensions(Entities)

System.object InsertChainDimensions( 
   System.object Entities
)

System.Object^ InsertChainDimensions( 
&   System.Object^ Entities
) 

Parameters

Entities

Array of entities, e.g., edges, vertices, circles, and midpoints with which to chain dimensions (see Remarks)

Return Value

'VBA

' Preconditions:

' 1. Open install_dir\samples\tutorial\advdrawings\foodprocessor.slddrw.
' 2. Select the Sheet2 tab at the bottom.
' 3. Open the Immediate window.
'
' Postconditions:
' 1. Observe the chained dimensions in Drawing View3.
' 2. Inspect the display dimensions in the Immediate window.

Option Explicit

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim modDocExt As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension
Dim Part As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim selectMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr
Dim dimArray As Variant
Dim entityArray(3) As Object
Dim varArray As Variant
Dim myDisplayDim As SldWorks.DisplayDimension
Dim swDim As SldWorks.Dimension
Dim dimText As String
Dim k As Integer
Dim boolstatus As Boolean

Sub main()

    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
    Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
    Set selectMgr = Part.SelectionManager
    Set modDocExt = Part.Extension
   
    Part.ClearSelection2 True
    boolstatus = Part.ActivateView("Drawing View3")
    boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByRay(0.107406727925462, 0.259964392021715, 375.00575, 0, 0, -1, 1.93314752083778E-03, 1, False, 0, 0)
    Set entityArray(0) = selectMgr.GetSelectedObject6(1, -1)
   
    boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByRay(0.135835367937783, 0.281001585630832, 375.00575, 0, 0, -1, 1.93314752083778E-03, 1, False, 0, 0)
    Set entityArray(1) = selectMgr.GetSelectedObject6(2, -1)
   
    boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByRay(0.140383950339754, 0.25598438241999, 375.00575, 0, 0, -1, 1.93314752083778E-03, 1, False, 0, 0)
    Set entityArray(2) = selectMgr.GetSelectedObject6(3, -1)

    boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByRay(0.176772609555524, 0.221301441604959, 375.00275, 0, 0, -1, 1.93314752083778E-03, 1, False, 0, 0)
    Set entityArray(3) = selectMgr.GetSelectedObject6(4, -1)
   
    varArray = entityArray
  
    dimArray = modDocExt.InsertChainDimensions(varArray)

    If Not IsEmpty(dimArray) Then
        For k = 0 To UBound(dimArray)
            Set myDisplayDim = dimArray(k)
            Set swDim = myDisplayDim.GetDimension2(0)
            dimText = swDim.Value
            Debug.Print dimText
        Next k
    End If
 
End Sub

The first element in Entities is the starting entity which is used to dimension the second element. The second element is used to dimension the third element, and so on. If Entities is Nothing or null, then pre-selected entities are used to create the chain dimensions.

The array of chain dimensions returned contains one fewer element than the array of Entities.

For more information, see the SOLIDWORKS help > Detailing and Drawings > Drawings > Dimensions in Drawings > Chain Dimensions topic.