Custom Properties Question 3

• Mar 28, 2007

3
• #2

TheTick

Mechanical

Mar 5, 2003

10,194

<alt>0013

Honesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #3

TheTick

Mechanical

Mar 5, 2003

10,194

correction!
<alt>0010

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• Thread starter
• #4

deltadog

Mechanical

Mar 28, 2007

6

Thanks Tick. It's not exactly what I was looking for but it works.

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #5

fcsuper

Mechanical

Apr 20, 2006

2,204

I'm not clear about what you are asking if Tick's response isn't the answer. Do you have more details?



Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• Thread starter
• #6

deltadog

Mechanical

Mar 28, 2007

6

I'll try-

Tics method produces the same result, which is to add text directly below original text. However when viewing the text in the custom property cell, I don't see both lines. If I click in the cell, then I can toggle back and forth and see the two lines of text.

The method I was looking for is one that keeps both lines of text on the same line in the custom property cell but they are separated by a symbol that looks just like a small box. Both lines of text are visable in the cell, and you're not required to toggle to see both of them.

It's possible that it is not a solidworks function, maybe a microsoft macro or something.

Does any of that make sense?

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #7

SolidAir

Mechanical

Jan 30, 2006

224

deltadog,

I believe the same box you are talking about went away with Windows XP.

SA

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #8

dgowans

Mechanical

Oct 12, 2004

680

I assume you're linking to the custom property in a note on your drawing. If you use a text box for the drawing note there is no need for the hard return in the custom property.

When placing a note on the drawing, window a text box rather than picking the location for your note. Then you can link to the custom property as you normally do. Resizing the text box will then wrap the text automatically. I have seen situations where I can't make this work the way I want (center-justified text where I want the lines separated in a particular place). It may have been possible, but I didn't spend a lot of time on it.

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• Thread starter
• #9

deltadog

Mechanical

Mar 28, 2007

6

Yes this is linked to a macro.

What I'm trying to find, is the way to enter this macro. Notice the small box between the text lines in the property cell.


When I have this in the property cell:

I get this on the drawing:

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #10

TheTick

Mechanical

Mar 5, 2003

10,194

Another way to get multiple lines is to have configuration-specific properties controlled in a design table. The design table is in Excel, and you can use <alt> + <return> to create line breaks within an Excel cell.

The downside is that this only works for configuration-specific properties.

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #11

SolidAir

Mechanical

Jan 30, 2006

224

deltadog,

Guess I was wrong, it still shows up. I know it disappeared somewhere after the upgrade to XP years ago.

But that is besides the point. Here is something for you to try. Start a part model. Next create a custom property in a the custom tab called BOX (use uppercase letters as shown) and give it the value x. Then run the following macro:

Code:

Sub main()
    
    Dim swApp As Object
    Dim swDoc As Object
    
    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
    Set swDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc
    
    swDoc.CustomInfo2("", "BOX") = "First Line" & vbLf & "Second Line"
    
End Sub

Now look at the custom property. You should see First Line but when you click on the value in the Value/Text Expression column you should see First Line[]Second Line.

Is this what you want to do?

SA

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• Thread starter
• #12

deltadog

Mechanical

Mar 28, 2007

6

Thanks Tick (and others)
The consensus around the office here is to use the method that Tick described (<ALT> 0010).
The only problem I see is that it is limited to two lines, and we usually use three for descriptions.
Thanks again.

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #13

ShaggyPE

Mechanical

Sep 8, 2003

1,127

Since SolidWorks now allows (as of 2005) the user to resize a text box, you can just make the text box the size of your title block enty and the text will automatically wrap. If you want it to wrap after a specific word, that may be more of an issue. You may be able to simply add spaces in your custom property entry.

-Shaggy

 

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• Mar 28, 2007

• #14

fcsuper

Mechanical

Apr 20, 2006

2,204

Don't use the two-line method for description field at all! Seriously. Shaggy's solution is correct. If you don't have 2006 or 2007, there is still a much better method. If I had known that's what you where trying to do, I woulda mentioned this sooner:

Use this macro to make a word wrapped annotation note:

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php?name=UpDownload&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=10

Original (german) version is here:

http://swtools.cad.de/

Don't even try to control how the lines breaks. Not worth the effort. Just let the word land where they may. Just leave your annotation note wide enough to handle most scenarios.


Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

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• Mar 29, 2007

• #15

dogarila

Mechanical

Oct 28, 2001

594

deltadog, the title block you show in your picture above looks very familiar.

 

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• Mar 29, 2007

• #16

dgowans

Mechanical

Oct 12, 2004

680

deltadog,

One other thing that you can do is use the comments field on the summary tab of your part/assembly properties form. You can link to this field in the same manner you link to a custom property. This field allows multiple lines and you can insert line breaks where ever you'd like with a simple return.

The downside is that there's only one field like this, but if you only need this to populate your drawing title this will work.

 

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• Mar 29, 2007

• #17

SBaugh

Mechanical

Mar 6, 2001

6,686

Your <alt> + <enter> is great even after taking level 3 excel not one ever showed me that little trick. Thanks! Star for you!

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

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• Mar 29, 2007

• #18

CorBlimeyLimey

Mechanical

Nov 5, 2003

15,292

... and a

from me too, also, as well.


SW07-SP3

 

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