API Question for opening Excel

[krywarick6]

In my feable attempts to open Excel from SolidWorks, I have tried to mirror some previous code and it works to an extent.

This code was written from Excel to open SolidWorks. It opens SolidWorks and then a given document. Assume variables have been named and defined.


‘Opens SolidWorks
Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
swApp.Visible = True
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc

‘ Load model and expand window
Set Part = swApp.OpenDoc("folder location\file.SLDPRT", 1)
Set Part = swApp.ActivateDoc("Pulley.SLDPRT")
swApp.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameLeft = 0
swApp.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameTop = 0
swApp.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameState = 1
swApp.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameState = 1

========

What I want to achieve is the same things, but from the reverse direction. I want to open Excel from SolidWorks.

Set ExSheet = CreateObject("Excel.Sheet")
ExSheet.Application.Visible = True
Set exDoc = ExSheet.ActiveDoc

' Load Excel and expand window
Set exDoc = ExSheet.OpenDoc("folder location\file.xls", 1)
Set exDoc = ExSheet.ActivateDoc("Pulley.SLDPRT")
ExSheet.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameLeft = 0
ExSheet.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameTop = 0
ExSheet.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameState = 1
ExSheet.ActiveDoc.ActiveView.FrameState = 1

I’m getting lost at the point where Excel opens. It opens Excel and a sheet, but stops at the bold text line. The debugger message box opens and displays “Object doesn’t support this method or property”. I believe that I’m using the wrong syntax to keep going in Excel so I can’t even tell if the rest would be correct.

Any suggestions? My API experience is very basic. I’m a cutter and paster from examples and try to get them to work. So anything would help.


Christopher Zona - Senior CAD Designer
Concord, Ontario

 

[SolidAir]

See my reply in the SolidWorks forumn.

SA

 

[cummings54]

Your variable "ExSheet" is actually an excel application. So only properties and methods available in excel can can be called using the dot operator. There is no ActiveDoc object or method in Excel. Instead try

ExSheet.ActiveWindow.Left=0
ExSheet.ActiveWindow.Top=0

Better still, during development of your Solidworks project, establish a reference to Excel and then declare ExSheet as an Excel Application. For example

Dim ExSheet as New Excel.Applciation


You do not need the CreateObject function if the excel application variable is created this way. Now all methods,events and objects will be automatically exposed using the dot operator. After you have developed your project you can remove the ExSheet declaration and return to using the CreateObject function if desired.

 

[johnwm]

Dim ExSheet as New Excel.Applciation

Be careful of using the Dim as New construct in VB or VBA. In VB6, the As New syntax creates an "auto-instancing" object variable, so every time the application references the Exsheet object, it has to check and see if Exsheet is Nothing and if so to create an instance of Exsheet.

The preferred technique is

Dim Exsheet as Excel.Application
Set Exsheet = New Excel.Application

Good Luck
johnwm
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