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Exploring CATIA V5 MacrosJason Curtis, PLM Application EngineerJason Curtis, PLM Application Engineer

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Macros in CATIA V5

• CATIA V5 on Windows• CATIA V5 on Windows• Can be automated with a with any application which can connect to

Windows COM Objects:

• VBA (Excel Word CATIA etc )VBA (Excel, Word, CATIA, etc.)• VBScript• JavaScript

Vi l B i 6 0• Visual Basic 6.0• Microsoft Visual Studio.NET• others

• CATIA V5 on UNIX• Emulators allow for VBScripts to be run (no interface building tools)

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Introduction

• How do macros work?• Dassault Systemes has “exposed” several CATIA objects so that

they can be created, manipulated, and deleted by COM compliant applications

• Understanding this CATIA object structure is the key to being• Understanding this CATIA object structure is the key to being able to automate many different aspects of CATIA V5

VB/External Application

Type libraries (* tlb)

Dynamic Link Libraries (* dll)

Action performed in Application (*.tlb) Libraries (*.dll) p

CATIA

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Introduction

• Rules• Visual Basic (or other applications) MUST• Visual Basic (or other applications) MUST

reference type library files that make the application “aware” of all of the CATIA functions that have been exposed.Th tl 40 f th t• There are currently over 40 of these type libraries – they are broken up by discipline (i.e. surface design, part design, etc.).

• Only the type library for the discipline that you are going to use should be created.

• The type libraries are changed with each release of CATIA V5, so the correct type libraries MUST be used with the correct version of CATIA V5.

• Not all CATIA V5 functions have been exposed in the type libraries.

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Object Oriented Programming

• Definitions• COM (Component Object Model) – The Microsoft standardCOM (Component Object Model) The Microsoft standard

technology to share objects between applications.• Object – An entity (in CATIA or VB). Points, Pads, Parameters,

etc. are all examples of CATIA objects.• Property – A characteristic of an object. For example, the name

of a PartDocument is a property of that object.• Method – An action that an object can perform. For example

PartDocument.SaveAs() is an action that the object can perform.• Collection – A group or list of similar objects which are put

together for a specific reason.

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Object Oriented Programming

• Declaring variables• All objects that are used in VB need to be “declared”• All objects that are used in VB need to be declared .• “Dim objPartDoc As PartDocument”

• Setting variables• Once an object is declared, it must also be “Set” to an instance of

the object before it can be used.• “Set objPartDoc = CATIA.ActiveDocument”• To give a value to a variable that is not an “object”, you cannot

use the “Set” keywordDim intCounter As IntegerintCounter = 32

• Why all the dots? (.)• The dot (.) character is simply a way to differentiate an object

from it’s properties or methodsfrom it s properties or methods.• CATIA.Documents.Item(1).Name

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Developing new code

• Copy from existing program that already works. This is the easiest wayThis is the easiest way…

• Record a Macro in CATIA V5.• Does NOT work for all functions/workbenches.• Macros need to be “cleaned” because many times extra

code is produced which is not needed.• If you need “Dim” statements, use CATScript when youIf you need Dim statements, use CATScript when you

record, otherwise use MSVBScript.

• Use the Object Browser and other Help to develop new codenew code.

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Creating Macros

• In-process• The script interpretation is performed using the

scripting engine(s) hosted by CATIA• MS VBScriptMS VBScript• CATScript• VBA (intelli-sense)

• Out-process• Performed from another application running in

th (MS W d/E l VB N t t )another process (MS Word/Excel, VB.Net, etc.)• Must access CATIA through tlb’s

• Example: CATIA Caption• Example: CATIA Caption

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Recording Macros

• In-process only• DON’T: Switch workbenches while recording a

macro.• DON’T: Record more than is absolutely necessary.DON T: Record more than is absolutely necessary.• DON’T: Use the UNDO button when recording a

macro.DO B f CATS tti h di• DO: Be aware of CATSettings when recording.

• DO: Exit sketches before stopping recording.• DO: Check each macro after it’s recorded.O C ec eac ac o a te t s eco ded

• Example: “New Part” Dialog box

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Simplifying Macros

• Powercopies• Macros can reference and use powercopies• Many powercopies can be used together

Dim oFactSet oFact = oPart.GetCustomerFactory("InstanceFactory")

Dim iPoint As ObjectDim oInstance As ShapeInstanceF i 1 t S l C t2For i = 1 to oSel.Count2

oFact.BeginInstanceFactory “Hole", "C:\Templates\Powercopies\Hole.CATPart"oFact.BeginInstantiateoFact.PutInputData "Point", iPointoFact.PutInputData “Surface”, iSurfacep ,Set oInstance = oFact.InstantiateoFact.EndInstantiateoFact.EndInstanceFactoryoPart.Update()

N tNext

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Extending Capabilities

• Powercopies• Powercopies/Reactions can run macros• Knowledge advisor Rules, Reactions, Checks,

etc can be included in powercopiesetc. can be included in powercopies

Tips & Tricks

• Be sure that you understand how to do something interactively in CATIA V5 BEFORE you try tointeractively in CATIA V5 BEFORE you try to automate it through scripting

• Use some form of “standards” in naming variables, geither company standards or Microsoft standards –this will help greatly in debugging code and in transferring and reusing code for other applicationstransferring and reusing code for other applications

• Set up and keep a “library” of standard functions (i.e. starting CATIA, creating a Part Document, selecting elements, etc.)

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Thank you!

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