×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

VB Editor

VB Editor

VB Editor

(OP)
I'm going to start trying to learn how to create macros, and was wondering if any of you use an external editor, or if you simply use the one in SW.  Micro$oft has a free one, "Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition".  http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/

They also have a free Visual C++ Express Edition as well, but I think I read that VB is used more in SW.  What are you're opinions or preferences on this.  

Flores
SW06 SP3.0

RE: VB Editor

If you use the SolidWorks macro editor you have to run the macro thru SolidWorks and edit it in SolidWorks. If you create a MS Visual Basic program you can run it as an executable. I use both, depending on what I am doing.

Bradley

RE: VB Editor

The only difference between the editors are the REFERENCES which are preloaded when you start a new project.

But, in your case, I would stick with the native editor within SolidWorks until you become familiar with the workings of VB.

Also, its takes a bit of tinkering to get a native .swp macro to open in another editor.

Remember...
       "If you don't use your head,            
                   your going to have to use your feet."

RE: VB Editor

If you're not going to compile EXEs or create addins, you can stick with the macro editor.

There are some other advantages to having full VB.  Most notably, you will have license to implement things like Common Dialog without resorting to Windows API dark magic.

I could be the world's greatest underachiever, if I could just learn to apply myself.
http://www.EsoxRepublic.com-SolidWorks API VB programming help

RE: VB Editor

(OP)
Thanks for the advice...  M$ said it's a 35-70 Mb. download, but after I downloaded the 16 Mb. installer, it wanted to download another 248mb. worth of "stuff" so I gave up on it.  

Whenever I record a macro in SW, many times it will only work with the model that I recorded it in.  I am going to have to play with it to see what code I have to strip so it will work in all models.  

Flores
SW06 SP3.0

RE: VB Editor

Redording macros has limited value.  SW often fails to record steps, or recors to VB using methods that do not translate well to more generic cases.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources