topic Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet in Inventor Programming Forum

Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:05:43 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to compare values which I import from a spreadsheet to the values in my user parameters, i need to compare all the possible values as opposed to the ones which are currently set, for example: If one parameter has imported from the spreadsheet as "Blue" (for a multi value parameter called colour), I want to check that blue is a value in the list for colour.

Is there a way to do this?

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

WCrihfield — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:08:03 GMT

So...you have an Inventor model file that already has some parameters in it, and you have a separate, external Excel spreadsheet file that contains data/specifications for a set of parameters, right?

We would need to know exactly how the Excel spreadsheet is set-up/laid-out. Specifically where to find each bit of data we are looking for.

If you could create a simplified example model file and Excel file (with no personal/proprietary data in them) for us to test with, it might make the process of one of us developing a solution for you a bit faster.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 08:38:28 GMT

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply. Apparently I didn't recieve any emails telling me there was a response.

Actually what I am after isn't related to a spreadsheet. I want to put all the values in a set of multi-value parameters into a single ArrayList, but I cant seem to do that.

I cant create a loop because of the speechmark requirement

For example:

If I have multi value parameters, A, B, C, and D. Each parameter containing a few options.

How do I put all the options represented in side these paramaters into a single array?

I can't seem to create a loop.

There's this snippet:

p = MultiValue.List("A")

But it won't work for my application because I want to loop through a list of multi-value parameters and place the set of values contained in each of them into one Array.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:49:31 GMT

Hello,

Using the iLogic shortcut, I'm not sure there is a way to loop through all parameters. You have to access them by name.

If you want to loop through all parameters, you need to use the API to access the UserParameters and loop through those. Then you check if the parameter is a multivalue and at that point, you can get the parameter list:

For Each oParameter As UserParameter In ThisDoc.Document.ComponentDefinition.Parameters.UserParameters If oParameter.ExpressionList.Count <> 0 Then Dim ParameterList() As String = oParameter.ExpressionList.GetExpressionList() 'Do something with ParameterList End If Next

This should get you closer to what you need.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:21:17 GMT

Thanks for this, I want to compare the values in ParameterList() with another arraylist further down the rule, but it throws up ParameterList not defined error

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:03:15 GMT

It's my mistake. If you define ParameterList inside the loop it will only exist in the loop.

Dim ParameterList() As String For Each oParameter As UserParameter In ThisDoc.Document.ComponentDefinition.Parameters.UserParameters If oParameter.ExpressionList.Count <> 0 Then ParameterList = oParameter.ExpressionList.GetExpressionList() 'Do something with ParameterList End If Next

After the loop is finished, you only have the parameter list from the last parameter. If you want all of them you need to modify the code a bit. But the easier would be to handle each list inside the loop.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:06:15 GMT

I Tried that previously and got an Object reference not set to an instance of an object error

Dim ParameterList() As String
For Each oParameter As UserParameter In ThisDoc.Document.ComponentDefinition.Parameters.UserParameters
	If oParameter.ExpressionList.Count <> 0 Then
		ParameterList = oParameter.ExpressionList.GetExpressionList()
        'Do something with ParameterList
	End If
Next

For Each Value In ParameterList
	MsgBox(Value)
	Next

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:23:59 GMT

This code you posted works for me if I copy paste it in a rule.

I think something else is preventing your second loop to access the ParameterList. Is it in a separate loop or If condition?

Move the ParameterList variable definition to the top of your rule to prevent issue. At least make sure it is not "hidden" inside a loop or If condition.

Dim ParameterList() As String

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:27:24 GMT

I'm just trying it in a Dummy rule, there is nothing else in the rule, and it is formatted as shown above

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:32:38 GMT

Is there a MultieValue parameter in the document from this rule?

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:34:24 GMT

yes, there are many of them, it is an assembly file

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:39:53 GMT

Does this list their name in message boxes?

Dim ParameterList() As String For Each oParameter As UserParameter In ThisDoc.Document.ComponentDefinition.Parameters.UserParameters If oParameter.ExpressionList.Count <> 0 Then MsgBox(oParameter.Name) ParameterList = oParameter.ExpressionList.GetExpressionList() 'Do something with ParameterList End If Next

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:45:41 GMT

It does, but then it throws up this error:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:51:27 GMT

Try running the test rule in the attached ipt

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:53:53 GMT

strange, that one runs with no errors. Is it a parameter that is messing it up?

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

WCrihfield — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:07:55 GMT

Try it this way. I'm showing multiple different options within this rule. I usually prefer to work with a List over an Array, because they are usually much easier to deal with. And you can easily convert between both types.

You can have a List that contains other Lists, and you can also have multi-dimensional arrays (like an array of arrays), so if you wanted to keep each list seperate, yet all stored in one variable, either of those would be an option. However, if you really just want them all in one long list, that is easily done with a simple 3-line loop.

Here's the code:

Dim oDocType As DocumentTypeEnum = ThisApplication.ActiveDocumentType Dim oParams As Parameters If oDocType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Or _ oDocType = DocumentTypeEnum.kAssemblyDocumentObject Then oParams = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.ComponentDefinition.Parameters ElseIf oDocType = DocumentTypeEnum.kDrawingDocumentObject Then oParams = ThisDrawing.Document.Parameters End If Dim oParam As Inventor.Parameter Dim oAllOptions As New List(Of List(Of String)) Dim oOptions As New List(Of String) For Each oParam In oParams If oParam.ExpressionList.Count > 0 Then oOptions = oParam.ExpressionList.GetExpressionList.ToList oAllOptions.Add(oOptions) End If Next 'now you have a Lisf of all the Lists in one object reference (oAllOptions) 'Lists are usually easier to work with than Arrays 'For Each oSList As List(Of String) In oAllOptions ' InputListBox(" ", oSList) 'just shows you that it worked 'Next 'but if you want just one long list of all the options, we can do this Dim oAll As New List(Of String) For Each oList As List(Of String) In oAllOptions oAll.AddRange(oList) Next 'InputListBox(" ", oAll) 'just to show that it worked 'convert the List back into an Array Dim oAllArray() As String = oAll.ToArray InputListBox(" ", oAllArray) 'just to show that it worked

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Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:16:00 GMT

I found the issue. In the case of a boolean parameter, ExpressionList does not exist and will trigger an error.

You need to check the following to properly identify Multivalue parameter:

If oParameter.ExpressionList IsNot Nothing AndAlso oParameter.ExpressionList.Count <> 0 Then

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:23:04 GMT

It didn't crash when i substituted it in the original. But it is only printing 2 items, i'm guessing it is overriding at each step of the loop?

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

j.haggenjos — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:25:55 GMT

Yes, with the code I gave you, you will only keep the parameter values from the last loop.

Check @WCrihfield reply for a more detailed and complete code. I agree with him that a list will be more flexible for you to work with.

Re: Export all multi-value parameters to spreadsheet

ahmed.hagi — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:50:42 GMT

This doesn't seem to work for me? I'm getting a not set to an instance of an object error.