Create a new assembly file with Apprentice

[planglais75]

Hi,

I use VB.NET and Apprentice to create a new assembly file from a template.

Is it possible to add part file to assembly?

This code works good without apprentice (and some changes) but the ComponentDefinition.Occurrences.Add method give me an NotImplementedException with Apprentice

Private _ApprenticeServerComp As New Inventor.ApprenticeServerComponent

Private _ApprenticeDoc As Inventor.ApprenticeServerDocument

Private _TemplateAssemblyFile As String = "C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2011\Templates\Standard.iam"

Private Sub butApprenticeCreateDoc_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _

 Handles butApprenticeCreateDoc.Click

  Dim filename As String = "C:\apprenticeDoc.iam"

        'Delete old file

 If IO.File.Exists(filename) Then IO.File.Delete(filename)

        'Copy template

        IO.File.Copy(Me._TemplateAssemblyFile, filename)

        'Open assembly file

        Me._ApprenticeDoc = Me._ApprenticeServerComp.Open(filename)

End Sub

Private Sub butApprenticeAddPart_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _

 Handles butApprenticeAddPart.Click

 'Select a part file

        Dim fileDialog As New Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog

        fileDialog.ShowDialog(Me)

 'Add part file to assembly file

 if fileDialog.FileName <> "" Then

         Dim matrix As Matrix = Me._ApprenticeServerComp.TransientGeometry.CreateMatrix

         Me._ApprenticeDoc.ComponentDefinition.Occurrences.Add(fileDialog.FileName, matrix)

         matrix = Nothing

 End If

End Sub

Thanks for help.

Pascal

[Gruff · Accepted solution]

Unless something has changed dramatically with 2012, Apprentice will not do what you want to do.

Apprentice has the ability to manipulate a very small sub set of the full Inventor API.

Adding parts to assemblies is not one of them.

Apprentice is limited to simple things like Printing Drawings, Manipulating iProperties or repointing existing assembly references to new locations.  Not sure there is much beyond that.

[planglais75]

Hi Gruff,

Thanks for the answer.

Pascal

[planglais75]

Hi Gruff, 

Is it possible to create an assembly file without opening Inventor?

Pascal

[Gruff]

Not to my knowledge.

Typically if I want to maniplate inventor parts I write an application in Inventor VBA or as an Inventor Addin dll.

You can automate Inventor from VB.NET but it is:  a) Slow and b) you are removed from environment.  That is you have not control over or even know if a user changes something or shuts down inventor. 

If you are familiar wth automation in VB.NET you know you must also deal with Marshalling and manual garbage collection.

[planglais75]

Thanks again.

Pascal