topic Re: Batch print in numerical order in Inventor Programming Forum

Batch print in numerical order

peterjoachim — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:00:05 GMT

So I have this rule for batch printing, it checks the sheet sizes and sends different size sheets to different printers. It works great except for one thing.. It doesn't print in numerical order. Is there a way in iLogic to sort the components of an assembly and then print them in that order?

'THIS RULE WILL PRINT THE .idw OF ALL COMPONENTS IN THE ACTIVE ASSEMBLY
Dim Bldg1_Asize = "\\server3.eac.local\Design-CM"
Dim Bldg1_Bsize = "\\server3.eac.local\Design-CM"
Dim Bldg1_Dsize = "\\server3.eac.local\DESIGN-D2"
Dim Bldg2_Asize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-CM"
Dim Bldg2_Bsize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-CM"
Dim Bldg2_Dsize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-D1"

'---PICK LOCATION OF PRINTERS---
PrintLocation = InputRadioBox("Where would you like to print?", "Bldg.1", "Bldg.2", booleanParam, Title := "Printer location")

Dim Aprinter As String
	If PrintLocation = True Then 
	Aprinter = Bldg1_Asize
	Else
		Aprinter = Bldg2_Asize
	End If
Dim Bprinter As String
	If PrintLocation = True Then 
	Bprinter = Bldg1_Bsize
	Else
		Bprinter = Bldg2_Bsize
	End If
'Dim Cprinter = 
Dim Dprinter As String
	If PrintLocation = True Then 
	Dprinter = Bldg1_Dsize
	Else
		Dprinter = Bldg2_Dsize
	End If
	
Dim Asize = 9987
Dim Bsize = 9988
Dim Csize = 9989
Dim Dsize = 9990

'---CHECK THAT THE ACTIVE DOCUMENT IS AN ASSEMBLY---
If ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.DocumentType <> kAssemblyDocumentObject Then
MessageBox.Show("Please run this rule from the assembly file.", "iLogic")
Exit Sub
End If

'---DEACTIVATE VAULT---
Dim oVault As ApplicationAddIn
For Each oVault In ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns
	If oVault.DisplayName = "Inventor Vault" Then Exit For
Next
If oVault IsNot Nothing Then oVault.Deactivate

'---DEFINE THE ACTIVE DOCUMENT AS AN ASSEMBLY---
Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument
oAsmDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
oAsmName = Left(oAsmDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDoc.DisplayName) -4)

'---NOTICE REQUIRING USER INPUT---
If PrintLocation = True Then
RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _
"You will be printing to Building 1." _
& vbLf & " This could take a while. Do you want to continue? " _
& vbLf & "", "Notice", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)
Else
RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _
"You will be printing to Building 2." _
& vbLf & " This could take a while. Do you want to continue? " _
& vbLf & "", "Notice", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)
End If
	
If RUsure = vbNo Then
	oVault.Activate 
Return
Else
End If

'---DETERMINE IF PRINTS SHOULD BE IN COLOR---
    oColorAsBlack="False"
    'RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( "Do you want to print this in COLOR?"& vbLf & "", "Color or B/W Prints",MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)
    'If RUsure = vbNo Then
    'oColorAsBlack="True"
    						'Return
    'Else
    'End If

    Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator
    oRefDocs = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments
    Dim oRefDoc As Document
    numFiles = 0

'---COMPONENT DRAWINGS---
For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs
        idwPathName = Left(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName, Len(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName) - 3) & "idw"
        If (System.IO.File.Exists(idwPathName)) Then
            numFiles = numFiles + 1
            'If numFiles = 10 Then Exit Sub
        Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument
            oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(idwPathName, True)
            oDrawDoc.Activate
            oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
			oDrgPrintMgr = oDrawDoc.PrintManager
            oDrgPrintMgr.AllColorsAsBlack = oColorAsBlack
			If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Asize Then
				oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Bsize Then
				oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Bprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize11x17
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			'Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Csize Then
			'	oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Cprinter
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize17x22
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Dsize Then
				oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Dprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize22x34
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else 
				MessageBox.Show("Sheet size not supported. Print will be scaled to fit on A size.", "Error")
				oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintBestFitScale
			End If

			oDrgPrintMgr.PrintRange = kPrintAllSheets'Prints all sheets in the idw.
            oDrgPrintMgr.NumberOfCopies = 1 ' Set to print one copies.
            oDrgPrintMgr.SubmitPrint ' Submit the print.
            oDrawDoc.Close (True)
        End If
        
 Next
        'MsgBox ("There are " & numFiles & " sent to printer.")

'---TOP LEVEL DRAWING---
oAsmDrawing = ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".idw")
If (System.IO.File.Exists(oAsmDrawing)) Then
oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
oAsmDrawingName = Left(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName) -3)
            
            oAsmDrawDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
            oAsmDrawDoc.Activate
            oDrgPrintMgr = oAsmDrawDoc.PrintManager
            oDrgPrintMgr.AllColorsAsBlack = oColorAsBlack
			If oAsmDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Asize Then
				oAsmDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else If oAsmDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Bsize Then
				oAsmDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Bprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize11x17
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			'Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Csize Then
			'	oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Cprinter
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize17x22
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
			'	oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else If oAsmDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Dsize Then
				oAsmDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Dprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize22x34
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale
			Else 
				MessageBox.Show("Sheet size not supported. Print will be scaled to fit on A size.", "Error")
				oAsmDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter
				oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter
				oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation
				oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintBestFitScale
			End If

			oDrgPrintMgr.PrintRange = kPrintAllSheets'Prints all sheets in the idw.
            oDrgPrintMgr.NumberOfCopies = 1 ' Set to print one copies.
            oDrgPrintMgr.SubmitPrint ' Submit the print.
            oAsmDrawDoc.Close (True)
  numFiles = numFiles + 1
  
  Else
      MessageBox.Show (" No IDW of the Top level file found!" _
    & vbLf & " " _
    & vbLf & "There were " & numFiles & " files sent to the printer."," Job Complete ")
  Return
  End If

'---REACTIVATE VAULT---
oVault.Activate 
MessageBox.Show ("There were " & numFiles & " files sent to the printer."," Job Complete ")

'MessageBox.Show("New Files Created in: " & vbLf & idwpathname, "iLogic")'open the folder where the new ffiles are saved'Shell("explorer.exe " & oFolder,vbNormalFocus)

Re: Batch print in numerical order

omartin — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:23:43 GMT

A couple of options, instead of looping and printing at the same time, You can create a list of the dwgs first, sort this list and then run the script from this sorted list. creates two loops but the first loop to generate the list I dont think will be noticeable. Other wise you will have to create a sorting algorithm on the fly maybe need some sort que object and check current dwg with the dwg next up to see which one should be printed leaving the other in the que.

Your folder structure; is it possible to have dwgs not related to the top assembly in there (dwgs yo dont want printed)? You can get the dwg list from the folder structure may be quicker than going through inventor.

Re: Batch print in numerical order

peterjoachim — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 13:05:53 GMT

Unfortunately yes, there may be drawings I don't want to print, that aren't in the top level assembly, but are still in the folder.

I think your first suggestion sounds the simplest. (create list, sort list, run script from sorted list). I suppose you wouldn't have some sample code of this list creation? I did a quick search in the forums but didn't come up with much. I'm just getting into iLogic so my skills are limited but I'm learning quick thanks to the support here.

Re: Batch print in numerical order

omartin — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 14:30:47 GMT

There are some handy snippets off to the side of the ilogic editor, you will find a variable section you can try out the arraylist

Dim MyArrayList As New ArrayList MyArrayList.Add("c") MyArrayList.Add("b") MyArrayList.Add("a") MyArrayList.Sort()

Re: Batch print in numerical order

peterjoachim — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 13:59:25 GMT

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I have it working now and added a few more enhancements as well.

'This will print all the associated idws of an assembly. Dim Bldg1_Asize = "\\server3.eac.local\Design-CM" Dim Bldg1_Bsize = "\\server3.eac.local\Design-CM" Dim Bldg1_Dsize = "\\server3.eac.local\DESIGN-D2" Dim Bldg2_Asize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-CM" Dim Bldg2_Bsize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-CM" Dim Bldg2_Dsize = "\\server3.eac.local\BUILDING2-D1" Dim Asize = 9987 Dim Bsize = 9988 Dim Csize = 9989 Dim Dsize = 9990 '---CHECK THAT THE ACTIVE DOCUMENT IS AN ASSEMBLY--- If ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.DocumentType <> kAssemblyDocumentObject Then MessageBox.Show("Please run this rule from the assembly file.", "iLogic") Exit Sub End If '---PICK LOCATION OF PRINTERS--- PrintLocation = InputRadioBox("Where would you like to print?", "Bldg.1", "Bldg.2", booleanParam, Title := "Printer location") Dim Aprinter As String If PrintLocation = True Then Aprinter = Bldg1_Asize Else Aprinter = Bldg2_Asize End If Dim Bprinter As String If PrintLocation = True Then Bprinter = Bldg1_Bsize Else Bprinter = Bldg2_Bsize End If 'Dim Cprinter = Dim Dprinter As String If PrintLocation = True Then Dprinter = Bldg1_Dsize Else Dprinter = Bldg2_Dsize End If '---NOTICE REQUIRING USER INPUT--- If PrintLocation = True Then RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _ "You will be printing to Building 1." _ & vbLf & " This could take a while. Continue? " _ & vbLf & "", "Notice", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo) Else RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _ "You will be printing to Building 2." _ & vbLf & " This could take a while. Continue? " _ & vbLf & "", "Notice", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo) End If If RUsure = vbNo Then Return Else End If '---DEFINE THE ACTIVE DOCUMENT--- Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument oAsmName = Left(oAsmDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDoc.DisplayName) -4) Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments Dim oRefDoc As Document Dim oJobNum As String = Left(oAsmName, 6) Dim AsmPrefix As String = oJobNum & "-A" '---CREATE LIST OF IDWs & MISSING IDWs--- Dim idwList As New ArrayList Dim MissingList As New ArrayList numFiles = 0 For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs idwPathName = Left(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName, Len(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName) -3) & "idw" idwName = oRefDoc.DisplayName pJobNum = Left(idwName, 6) Prefix = Left(idwName, 8) If (System.IO.File.Exists(idwPathName)) Then If Prefix <> AsmPrefix Then numFiles = numFiles + 1 idwList.Add(idwPathName) End If Else If pJobNum = oJobNum MissingList.Add(idwName) End If End If Next idwList.Sort MissingList.Sort '---CONVERT MISSING IDW LIST TO STRING--- Dim oText As String For i As Integer = 0 To MissingList.Count - 1 If i = 0 Then oText = MissingList(i) Else oText = oText & vbLf & MissingList(i) End If Next '---SHOW MISSING IDW LIST--- If oText = "" Then Else RUsure = MessageBox.Show( _ "No .idw found for.." _ & vbLf & "" _ & vbLf & oText _ & vbLf & "" _ & vbLf & "Continue?", "Notice", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo) If RUsure = vbNo Then Return Else End If End If '---DEACTIVATE VAULT--- Dim oVault As ApplicationAddIn For Each oVault In ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns If oVault.DisplayName = "Inventor Vault" Then Exit For Next If oVault IsNot Nothing Then oVault.Deactivate '---PRINT IDWs FROM LIST--- For Each xVal In idwList Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(xVal, True) oDrawDoc.Activate oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument oDrgPrintMgr = oDrawDoc.PrintManager oDrgPrintMgr.AllColorsAsBlack = oColorAsBlack If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Asize Then oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Bsize Then oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Bprinter oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize11x17 oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale 'Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Csize Then ' oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Cprinter ' oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize17x22 ' oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation ' oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale Else If oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.Size = Dsize Then oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Dprinter oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSize22x34 oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintFullScale Else MessageBox.Show("Sheet size not supported. Print will be scaled to fit on A size.", "Error") oDrawDoc.PrintManager.Printer = Aprinter oDrgPrintMgr.PaperSize = kPaperSizeLetter oDrgPrintMgr.Orientation = kLandscapeOrientation oDrgPrintMgr.ScaleMode = kPrintBestFitScale End If oDrgPrintMgr.PrintRange = kPrintAllSheets'Prints all sheets in the idw. oDrgPrintMgr.NumberOfCopies = 1 ' Set to print one copies. oDrgPrintMgr.SubmitPrint ' Submit the print. oDrawDoc.Close (True) Next '---REACTIVATE VAULT--- oVault.Activate MessageBox.Show ("There were " & numFiles & " files sent to the printer."," Job Complete ")

Re: Batch print in numerical order

omartin — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 14:16:06 GMT

Sound Great glad it worked out!