topic Re: Assign Layers to Materials in Inventor Programming Forum

Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:35:42 GMT

Is there a way to associate layers to materials so when they are placed in a drawing they are automatically placed on the proper layer. I have line weights set for each individual layer and would like each material component to have its own line weight.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:52:53 GMT

It might be possible. It would be easier in Inventor 2011. Are you running 2011?

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:40:36 GMT

The closest thing I can find was from Brian Ekins "modthemachine"

http://modthemachine.typepad.com/

Can someone further explain what Mr. Ekins was discussing when you wrote "It also uses the Sheet.ChangeLayer method which is a new method in Inventor 2011 that changes the layer of a group of objects"

I basically would like to have Inventor see a part in the idw enviroment and assign it to the proper layer. This way all my line weights will be correct.

I would appreciate any feed back, Thank you all

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:09:06 GMT

Here's an iLogic rule to change layers according to the material. It's based on Brian's code (in his Changing Drawing Curves to Match Assembly Color post).

There's no way to make this rule run when you place a new view, but you can make it run every time you save the drawing. Start the Event Triggers command, and add this rule to the Before Save Document event.

Sub Main
    drawDoc = TryCast(ThisDoc.Document, DrawingDocument)
    If (drawDoc Is Nothing) Then
       MessageBox.Show("This rule can only be run in a drawing,", "iLogic")
       Return
    End If
    ChangeLayerOfOccurrenceCurves()
End Sub

Private drawDoc As DrawingDocument

Public Sub ChangeLayerOfOccurrenceCurves()
	' Process the occurrences, wrapping it in a transaction so the 
	' entire process can be undone with a single undo operation. 
	Dim trans As Transaction
	trans = ThisApplication.TransactionManager.StartTransaction(drawDoc, "Drawing Layers by Materials")
	Try

		For Each dSheet As Sheet In drawDoc.Sheets
			For Each drawView As DrawingView In dSheet.DrawingViews
				' Call the recursive function that does all the work. 
				Dim docDesc As DocumentDescriptor
				docDesc = drawView.ReferencedDocumentDescriptor
				If (docDesc Is Nothing) Then Continue For
				If (docDesc.ReferencedDocumentType <> DocumentTypeEnum.kAssemblyDocumentObject) Then Continue For
				Dim asmDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition
				asmDef = docDesc.ReferencedDocument.ComponentDefinition
				Call ProcessOccurrences(drawView, asmDef.Occurrences)
			Next
		Next
	Catch ex As Exception
		trans.Abort()
		Throw ex
	End Try
	trans.End()
End Sub


Private Sub ProcessOccurrences(ByVal drawView As DrawingView, _
   ByVal Occurrences As ComponentOccurrences)
	' Iterate through the current collection of occurrences. 
	Dim occ As ComponentOccurrence
	For Each occ In Occurrences
		If (occ.Suppressed) Then Continue For
		If (occ.Definition Is Nothing) Then Continue For
		' Check to see if this occurrence is a part or assembly. 
		If occ.DefinitionDocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then
			' ** It's a part so get the material
			Dim subDoc As Document = occ.Definition.Document
			If (subDoc Is Nothing) Then Continue For
			Dim partDoc As PartDocument = subDoc
			Dim materialName = partDoc.ComponentDefinition.Material.Name

			' Get the TransientsObjects object to use later. 
			Dim transObjs As TransientObjects
			transObjs = ThisApplication.TransientObjects

			' Verify that a layer exists for this material. 
			Dim layers As LayersEnumerator
			layers = drawDoc.StylesManager.Layers

			On Error Resume Next
			Dim newLayer As Layer
			newLayer = layers.Item(materialName)

			If Err.Number <> 0 Then
				On Error Goto 0

				' Copy an arbitrary layer giving it the name 
				' of the material. 
				newLayer = layers.Item(1).Copy(materialName)

				' Set the attributes of the layer to use the color, 
				' have a solid line type, and a specific width. 
				'					newLayer.Color = newColor
				newLayer.LineType = LineTypeEnum.kContinuousLineType
				'newLayer.LineWeight = 0.02
			End If
			On Error Goto 0

			' Get all of the curves associated with this occurrence. 
			On Error Resume Next
			Dim drawcurves As DrawingCurvesEnumerator
			drawcurves = drawView.DrawingCurves(occ)
			If Err.Number = 0 Then
				On Error Goto 0

				' Create an empty collection. 
				Dim objColl As ObjectCollection
				objColl = transObjs.CreateObjectCollection()

				' Add the curve segments to the collection. 
				Dim drawCurve As DrawingCurve
				For Each drawCurve In drawcurves
					Dim segment As DrawingCurveSegment
					For Each segment In drawCurve.Segments
						objColl.Add(segment)
					Next
				Next

				' Change the layer of all of the segments. 
				Call drawView.Parent.ChangeLayer(objColl, newLayer)
			End If
			On Error Goto 0
		Else
			' It's an assembly so process its contents. 
			Call ProcessOccurrences(drawView, occ.SubOccurrences)
		End If
	Next
End Sub

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:44:29 GMT

MjDeck,

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

When I copy and paste the code into a rule, I am receiving

Line 16 : End of statement expected

    trans = ThisApplication.TransactionManager.StartTransactio?n(drawDoc, "Drawing Layers by Materials")

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:20:44 GMT

Take out the ? in StartTransactio?n.

It looks like some data corruption happened in copying and pasting the rule. Here's a fresh copy of the rule attached as a text file.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:57:08 GMT

It only works on drawing views that show an assembly. Do you need it to work on drawings that have views of parts? I can change it to support views of parts if required.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:26:39 GMT

I will need it to be able to do both, once my assembly is completed and the client approves the drawing. Then I will have to break down each part and generate fabrication drawings.

I just add colors and assigned them to each material. I named the color the same name as my material and layer.

Assignment: "I think, correct me if I am wrong"

Color > Material > Run Rule > Layer

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:45:41 GMT

Do you want the rule to take the color from the material and apply it to the drawing layer? It won't do that now. It doesn't change the layer at all (if the layer already exists). The way it is now, it's up to you to set the layer color.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:12:21 GMT

The way you have it working now will be great. Just need it to work with a part file, Thank you again

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:37:34 GMT

Here's a new version that works with views of parts or assemblies.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:30:04 GMT

Just tested it and it look really great, I really appreciate all your help.

Looking one step further, I realize that it is making the hidden lines (Linetype) continues. That is due to the fact that the layer it is assigned is set for continues line type. Would you have any suggestions dealing in regards to the hidden line appearance?

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:33:08 GMT

I see what you mean. That's not good. Do you want to leave all the hidden lines on the Hidden layer, or do you want to create a new hidden layer for each material?

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:36:13 GMT

Yes, it will be able to move the hidden lines to the particular hidden line layer for that material. It could also create the layer automatically. It would copy the solid-line material layer, and change the line type to dashed.

I should have a new version of the rule posted soon.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:12:49 GMT

Mike,

When I utilize the rule for the first time everything work properly. The layers change according as planned, however I am noticing after I assign dimensions and leaders and have all the drawing views completed the rule stops working. When I manual run the rule I receive errors. I have listed those errors below, please let me know what you think. Thank you

Rule Compile Errors in Assign Layers, in Laundry Room.dwg

Error on Line 3 : Class 'LmiRuleScript' must implement 'Sub Main()' for interface 'Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.IRuleInterface'.

Error on Line 25 : 'Public Sub Main()' has multiple definitions with identical signatures.

Error on Line 36 : 'Public Sub ChangeLayerOfOccurrenceCurves()' has multiple definitions with identical signatures.

Error on Line 49 : Statement cannot appear within a method body. End of method assumed.

Error on Line 49 : 'Public Sub Main()' has multiple definitions with identical signatures.

Error on Line 10 : 'drawDoc' is already declared as 'Private drawDoc As Inventor.DrawingDocument' in this class.

Error on Line 12 : 'Public Sub ChangeLayerOfOccurrenceCurves()' has multiple definitions with identical signatures.

Error on Line 25 : Statement cannot appear within a method body. End of method assumed.

Error on Line 34 : 'drawDoc' is already declared as 'Private drawDoc As Inventor.DrawingDocument' in this class.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:18:59 GMT

Based on those error messages, I think you might have two copies of the same rule in the file. Did you copy and paste twice into the same rule? Please delete the rule, and then add a new rule and copy and paste the text from DrawingLayersByMaterials.txt above into it.

I am working on a new version of the rule to support hidden lines.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:12:33 GMT

Ok, that did the trick

Thank you

I also have two layers: one called (Stone-Cyan & another Stone-Magenta)

In a drawing view I would like the stone material to be Stone-Cyan but in a section view we would like it to be Stone-Magenta. Would this be possible? Due to the fact that in section the line weight should be slightly darker according to basic standards.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:08:44 GMT

Do you need two layers for every material, or just for Stone?

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

MjDeck — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:53:03 GMT

Maybe you need 4 layers for each material?

00-Stone-Cyan
00-Stone-Magenta
00-Stone-Cyan-Hidden

00-Stone-Magenta-Hidden

Otherwise, the dashed lines will show up in a different color than the solid lines.

You only want to use 00-Stone-Magenta (and maybe 00-Stone-Magenta-Hidden) in the section views, right?

I might have to include a table in the rule, where you can list the names of layers to be used in the projected and section views.

Re: Assign Layers to Materials

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:02:47 GMT

You only want to use 00-Stone-Magenta (and maybe 00-Stone-Magenta-Hidden) in the section views, right?

Correct

I might have to include a table in the rule, where you can list the names of layers to be used in the projected and section views.

Projected views would be 00-Stone-Cyan & 00-Stone-Cyan-Hidden

Section, Auxiliary & Detail views would be 00-Stone-Magenta & 00-Stone-Magenta-Hidden