topic Re: setting up API in Visual Basic using C# in Inventor Programming Forum

setting up API in Visual Basic using C#

cstephens58F4Q — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:31:36 GMT

I have previously had a multiple successful Add-ins created using VB.net. I was told I need to start writing them in C# so our IT department can better assist. The build is successful, it opens inventor, shows in the Add-in manager, however it won't populate the button in any ribbon. I have all functions called out same as in the VB.net Add-ins just translated to C# language. Below is the full 'StandardAddInServer.cs" file any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

using Inventor; using Microsoft.Win32; using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Drawing; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; namespace Furnace { /// <summary> /// This is the primary AddIn Server class that implements the ApplicationAddInServer interface /// that all Inventor AddIns are required to implement. The communication between Inventor and /// the AddIn is via the methods on this interface. /// </summary> [GuidAttribute("431205c6-c088-422e-82de-9bf8b0801f0c")] public class StandardAddInServer : Inventor.ApplicationAddInServer { // Inventor application object. private Inventor.Application m_inventorApplication; private UserInterfaceEvents m_uiEvents; private Inventor.ButtonDefinition buttonDefinition; private object AddClientID; public StandardAddInServer() { } #region ApplicationAddInServer Members public void Activate(Inventor.ApplicationAddInSite addInSiteObject, bool firstTime) { // This method is called by Inventor when it loads the addin. // The AddInSiteObject provides access to the Inventor Application object. // The FirstTime flag indicates if the addin is loaded for the first time. // Initialize AddIn members. m_inventorApplication = addInSiteObject.Application; m_uiEvents = m_inventorApplication.UserInterfaceManager.UserInterfaceEvents; ControlDefinitions controlDefs = m_inventorApplication.CommandManager.ControlDefinitions; //IPictureDisp smallimage = var commandManager = m_inventorApplication.CommandManager; buttonDefinition = commandManager.ControlDefinitions.AddButtonDefinition("Furnace Automation", "Automation", CommandTypesEnum.kQueryOnlyCmdType, AddClientID); // Connect to the user-interface events to handle a ribbon reset. buttonDefinition.OnExecute += ButtonDefinition_OnExecute; buttonDefinition.AutoAddToGUI(); if (firstTime) { AddToUserInterface(); } } private void ButtonDefinition_OnExecute(NameValueMap Context) { throw new NotImplementedException(); } public void Deactivate() { // This method is called by Inventor when the AddIn is unloaded. // The AddIn will be unloaded either manually by the user or // when the Inventor session is terminated // TODO: Add ApplicationAddInServer.Deactivate implementation // Release objects. m_inventorApplication = null; m_uiEvents = null; buttonDefinition = null; buttonDefinition.OnExecute -= ButtonDefinition_OnExecute; GC.Collect(); GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers(); } public object Automation { // This property is provided to allow the AddIn to expose an API // of its own to other programs. Typically, this would be done by // implementing the AddIn's API interface in a class and returning // that class object through this property. get { // TODO: Add ApplicationAddInServer.Automation getter implementation return null; } } #endregion #region User interface definition private void AddToUserInterface() { Ribbon ZeroLoc = m_inventorApplication.UserInterfaceManager.Ribbons["ZeroDoc"]; RibbonTab ToolLoc = ZeroLoc.RibbonTabs["id_TabTools"]; string ClientID = null; RibbonPanel FinalLoc = ToolLoc.RibbonPanels.Add("Furnace Automation", "Automation2", ClientID); FinalLoc.CommandControls.AddButton(buttonDefinition); } public void ExecuteCommand(int CommandID) { throw new NotImplementedException(); } #endregion } }

Re: setting up API in Visual Basic using C#

Michael.Navara — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:01:40 GMT

Avoid to use ClientId = null. Here is modified version

using Inventor; using Microsoft.Win32; using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Drawing; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; namespace Furnace { /// <summary> /// This is the primary AddIn Server class that implements the ApplicationAddInServer interface /// that all Inventor AddIns are required to implement. The communication between Inventor and /// the AddIn is via the methods on this interface. /// </summary> [GuidAttribute("3d2d5718-2cc0-4563-8275-cb8d02ab983a")] public class StandardAddInServer : ApplicationAddInServer { private /*object*/ const string AddClientID = "{3d2d5718-2cc0-4563-8275-cb8d02ab983a}"; private ButtonDefinition buttonDefinition; // Inventor application object. private Application m_inventorApplication; private UserInterfaceEvents m_uiEvents; public StandardAddInServer() { } #region ApplicationAddInServer Members public void Activate(ApplicationAddInSite addInSiteObject, bool firstTime) { // This method is called by Inventor when it loads the addin. // The AddInSiteObject provides access to the Inventor Application object. // The FirstTime flag indicates if the addin is loaded for the first time. // Initialize AddIn members. m_inventorApplication = addInSiteObject.Application; m_uiEvents = m_inventorApplication.UserInterfaceManager.UserInterfaceEvents; var controlDefs = m_inventorApplication.CommandManager.ControlDefinitions; //IPictureDisp smallimage = var commandManager = m_inventorApplication.CommandManager; buttonDefinition = commandManager.ControlDefinitions.AddButtonDefinition( "Furnace Automation", "Automation", CommandTypesEnum.kQueryOnlyCmdType, AddClientID); // Connect to the user-interface events to handle a ribbon reset. buttonDefinition.OnExecute += ButtonDefinition_OnExecute; buttonDefinition.AutoAddToGUI(); if (firstTime) AddToUserInterface(); } private void ButtonDefinition_OnExecute(NameValueMap Context) { throw new NotImplementedException(); } public void Deactivate() { // This method is called by Inventor when the AddIn is unloaded. // The AddIn will be unloaded either manually by the user or // when the Inventor session is terminated // TODO: Add ApplicationAddInServer.Deactivate implementation // Release objects. m_inventorApplication = null; m_uiEvents = null; buttonDefinition = null; buttonDefinition.OnExecute -= ButtonDefinition_OnExecute; GC.Collect(); GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers(); } public object Automation => // This property is provided to allow the AddIn to expose an API // of its own to other programs. Typically, this would be done by // implementing the AddIn's API interface in a class and returning // that class object through this property. // TODO: Add ApplicationAddInServer.Automation getter implementation null; #endregion #region User interface definition private void AddToUserInterface() { var ZeroLoc = m_inventorApplication.UserInterfaceManager.Ribbons["ZeroDoc"]; var ToolLoc = ZeroLoc.RibbonTabs["id_TabTools"]; string ClientID = AddClientID; var FinalLoc = ToolLoc.RibbonPanels.Add("Furnace Automation", "Automation2", ClientID); FinalLoc.CommandControls.AddButton(buttonDefinition); } public void ExecuteCommand(int CommandID) { throw new NotImplementedException(); } #endregion } }

Re: setting up API in Visual Basic using C#

cstephens58F4Q — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:55:08 GMT

I figured out the issue was I was calling an old .dll file so all the changes I had done were not being updated in the active file in Inventor.

Re: setting up API in Visual Basic using C#

cstephens58F4Q — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:56:03 GMT

Thanks for the pointer on that item. I am learning C# on the fly currently with this change.