Error when getting Python to attach to ETABS

Question

Error when getting Python to attach to ETABS

fracture_point (Structural)

(OP)

22 Dec 20 21:15

Hi, I'm using the following code:

import sys
import comtypes.client

try:
myETABSObject = comtypes.client.GetActiveObject("CSI.ETABS.API.ETABSObject")
except (OSError, comtypes.COMError):
print("No running instance of the program found or failed to attach.")
sys.exit(-1)
SapModel = myETABSObject.SapModel

I'm getting an attribute error:

AttributeError: module 'comtypes.gen.CSiAPIv1' has no attribute 'cOAPI'

Does anyone know how to fix this?

I'm using Pycharm, ETABS v18.

sticksandtriangles (Structural) · Answer 1 · 2020-12-22 21:58:45

Check out this thread, not sure if your answer lies in there.

https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=455667

S&T

fracture_point (Structural) · Answer 2 · 2020-12-23 00:55:53

Hi. Thanks for the reply! I actually saw this thread before posting but I don't really understand what the __init__ file is doing. Are you able to provide any context? Do I need to have that at the beginning of my code? It seems Bjorn managed to fix his issue but didn't explain why.

rscassar (Structural) · Answer 3 · 2020-12-23 02:39:42

I can't say I completely understand the usage of an __init__.py file for python packages.

What comtypes version are you using. When I first started using the etabs API with python early in 2019 I was using comtypes version 1.1.2, that was giving me some trouble and I had to change a little bit of the __init__.py file to get it working, I remember it being something like a try block with no exception catch. However, many of my colleagues started using my scritps and they where using comtypes 1.1.7 (still current release). Now, I think there are still some bugs with this version of comtypes, I still get errors when trying to get modal output. Will try and did into it a bit further. But what version of comtypes are you using.

fracture_point (Structural) · Answer 4 · 2020-12-23 15:19:38

I am working in comtypes 1.1.7. I actually switched to Anaconda instead of Pycharm and it seemed to fix the issue, I have no clue why.

rscassar (Structural) · Answer 5 · 2020-12-24 00:13:34

Same here, one of my colleagues also had the same issue and I can't work it out but think it has something to do with the file that get's generated in the comtypes.gen folder. Best fix I found is uninstall and re-install.

How are the scripts going, I see by some of your other posts that you are looking to write a few custom functions to automate your workflow?

fracture_point (Structural) · Answer 6 · 2020-12-24 01:06:35

Quote (rscassar)
How are the scripts going, I see by some of your other posts that you are looking to write a few custom functions to automate your workflow?

First code I'm going to write it to take raw coordinate data from Revit (using a dynamo script) and then develop a python code that will build a model with the geometric data in ETABS. I think it will be a good project to develop an understanding of the API. Then I'm not sure which direction I will go, I feel like understanding ETABS API will open a lot of doors for automation!

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Error when getting Python to attach to ETABS