Welcome
Collapse Getting StartedGetting Started
Overview
SOLIDWORKS Partner Program
Expand Types of SOLIDWORKS API ApplicationsTypes of SOLIDWORKS API Applications
Expand SOLIDWORKS API Object Model and Class HierarchySOLIDWORKS API Object Model and Class Hierarchy
Collapse Programming with the SOLIDWORKS APIProgramming with the SOLIDWORKS API
Expand Add-insAdd-ins
API Dependent on SOLIDWORKS Being Visible
Arrays
Attributes Imported from ACIS SAT Files
Bitmasks
Block Definitions and Block Instances
Bodies in Body Folders
BOOL and VARIANT_BOOL
Bounding Box and Note Text
COM vs. Dispatch
CommandManager and CommandGroups
Components, Configurations, and Suppression States
Compound Note
ComVisibleAttribute in VB.NET and C# Macros and Add-ins
Controls, Visual Basic 6.0, and Windows XP
Default Paths
Drawing Views and Model Entities
Early and Late Binding
Expand EventsEvents
Features of Components
Helper Functions
Hole Wizard Features and Objects
IDispatch Object Arrays as Input in .NET
Implementation Guidelines
Import and Export File Options
In-process Methods
Instantiate ActiveX Controls as Tabs
Interface Pointers
ISafeArrayUtility Interface Overview
Keystrokes and Accelerator Keys
Library Features and Objects
Lightweight Components
Line Attributes for View::GetPolyLinesAndCurves
Line Weights
Long vs. Integer
Expand Macro FeaturesMacro Features
Manipulators
Mass Properties
Expand Multibody PartsMultibody Parts
Option Explicit Statement
Expand Packing and Unpacking Double Arrays and Integer PairsPacking and Unpacking Double Arrays and Integer Pairs
Partition Rollback and API Handles
Pattern Features and their Feature Data Objects
Persistent Reference IDs
Presentation Transforms
Expand PropertyManager PagesPropertyManager Pages
.NET Interop Assemblies
Quick Tips and Bubble ToolTips
Return Values
Expand SafeArraysSafeArrays
Selection Criteria
Selection Lists
Selections that Define Features
Setup Project to Distribute SOLIDWORKS Add-in
Smart Pointers
SOLIDWORKS Add-ins
SOLIDWORKS Connected
SOLIDWORKS Objects
Sorting Tables
Splines
SQLite
STL Container Classes and Smart Pointers
Suspend Automatic Rebuilds
Sweep Features and SweepFeatureData Objects
System Options and Document Properties
Tessellation and Edges
Third-party Data in SOLIDWORKS Files
Thread Features and ThreadFeatureData Objects
Tracking IDs
Expand Type LibrariesType Libraries
Units
Unmanaged C++ and C++/CLI Code
VBA and SOLIDWORKS x64
Examples and Projects
Expand SOLIDWORKS API HelpSOLIDWORKS API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Electrical API HelpSOLIDWORKS Electrical API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional API HelpSOLIDWORKS PDM Professional API Help
Expand FeatureWorks API HelpFeatureWorks API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Costing API HelpSOLIDWORKS Costing API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Document Manager API HelpSOLIDWORKS Document Manager API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Routing API HelpSOLIDWORKS Routing API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Simulation API HelpSOLIDWORKS Simulation API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Sustainability API HelpSOLIDWORKS Sustainability API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Toolbox API HelpSOLIDWORKS Toolbox API Help
Expand SOLIDWORKS Utilities API HelpSOLIDWORKS Utilities API Help
Expand eDrawings API HelpeDrawings API Help
Expand DraftSight API HelpDraftSight API Help
Expand Lisp Programming BasicsLisp Programming Basics
Expand Lisp Functions OverviewLisp Functions Overview
Expand Lisp Functions ReferenceLisp Functions Reference
Expand Visual Lisp Compatible FunctionsVisual Lisp Compatible Functions
Hide Table of Contents

Early and Late Binding

Variable declarations fall into two categories of binding:

  • Early binding occurs when an object assigned to a variable is declared to be of a specific object type.

  • Late binding occurs when an object assigned to a variable is declared to be of type Object.

Early binding improves the performance of your program, increases type checking, and assists in detecting errors in your code.

To implement early binding in the SOLIDWORKS software, you must reference two type libraries:

  • SldWorks version Type Library (sldworks.tlb)

  • SOLIDWORKS version Constant type library (swconst.tlb)

(Substitute the actual SOLIDWORKS version number for version.)

These type libraries:

  • Provide descriptions of all of the available SOLIDWORKS API objects, properties, methods, events, and constants.

  • Are automatically referenced when you record a SOLIDWORKS macro.

To early bind SOLIDWORKS object variables, prefix the variable's object type with SldWorks., which tells Visual Basic to look in the SldWorks type library.

For example:

Change late binding...

To early binding...

Dim swApp As Object

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

Dim swModel As Object

Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

Dim swEntity As Object

Dim swEntity As SldWorks.Entity

 

 



Provide feedback on this topic

SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Click here for information about technical support.

* Required

 
*Email:  
Subject:   Feedback on Help Topics
Page:   Early and Late Binding
*Comment:  
*   I acknowledge I have read and I hereby accept the privacy policy under which my Personal Data will be used by Dassault Systèmes

Print Topic

Select the scope of content to print:




x

We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer.

 Never show this message again
x

Web Help Content Version: API Help (English only) 2021 SP05

To disable Web help from within SOLIDWORKS and use local help instead, click Help > Use SOLIDWORKS Web Help.

To report problems encountered with the Web help interface and search, contact your local support representative. To provide feedback on individual help topics, use the “Feedback on this topic” link on the individual topic page.