topic Re: PowerMill macros with variables in PowerMill Forum

PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 21:55:41 GMT

Hello everyone 🙂

I‘m from Germany so I hope you‘ll understand me as good as you can.

I have to work with 5 models in my project which are everyday the same. Different in a small way.. But everytime the same steps. The only difference is, that the number of the 5 models is everyday another one, eg:

17171010_I. —> 18181010_I

17171010_ISh —> 18181010_ISh

17171010_IE —> 18181010_IE

17171010_IOSur —> 18181010_IOSur

17171010_ISUR —> 18181010_ISur

I can use macros for lots of operations now. But when I have to say: turn 18181010_I, 18181010_ISh (...) by 180 degrees or something like this. There is no way to use macros for me. But that would be so helpfull! I get a xsml file with my models everyday where are the filenames included. The name of the xsml file and the sequence are always the same.

So is there any way to use macros with Variables? I saw this video but I don‘t understand how to manage it...

https://youtu.be/zqtqQ37VCH4

So if there‘s anybody to help me I would be so grateful.

regards

David

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

kukelyk — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 06:42:12 GMT

Can You upload a sample xsml file?

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 08:02:25 GMT

Hey,

here you have:

David 🙂

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

kukelyk — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:17:55 GMT

And where are the numbers like 17171010_I :?

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:40:00 GMT

Sorry I'm not into XML... I don't know how to create the file correctly so that it reads out the numbers everytime automaticilly..
But do you understand my problem or my way to work with variables in macros?

The XML file is not delivered with the models but the excel as you can see in attachments (Komponententabelle)

Thank you very much!!!

David

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

kukelyk — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:23:00 GMT

So, as I understand:

You have an excel file, and have an xsml file.

The excel file contains the model names and their function.

the xsml contains the functions and some other data.

A macro can read the xsml file, but not the excel. (There is an indirect way to read the excel.)

What we need is the excel table data.

Afterall, You get the models, the excel and the xsml files. Right?

If the xsml has the same data as the excel (in different format), than please upload one of them.

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:42:30 GMT

First of all thank you at this point for your help!

I get the models and the excel table like: Komponententabelle.

Is there no way to make out an XML from excel table?

If it's not so easy, I don't know what takes longer... make this xml file for the macros or do a couple of clicks in PowerMill 😄

Nevertheless it would be so great!

David

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

kukelyk — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:23:22 GMT

OK, the excel looks like the same every time? Does only the rows between 2 and 7 contain component data in the excel file?

If yes, then a small vbs can grab the needed cells.

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:43:31 GMT

You're right!

The rows between A2 and A7 are different every time. But only the number changes!.

The ending like _I _IESur _IISur IOSur (...) are the same every time 🙂

Rows B2 to B7 are only a description to every model.

David

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

kukelyk — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:52:14 GMT

save attached files to the same directory, and run the macro (.mac)

after the macro You can reference the variable by their name, ie. $project.gravur

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:55:09 GMT

Wow! Looks very good. I don‘t exactly understand what you wrote in your files but what stands: FILESELECT "Modell beolvasása.." " for?

of course I will try this tomorrow and let you know whether it worked or not.

one more question if it‘s okay...

In which directory do I have to save your files? Once or every time in my new project folder?

Do I have to start the .vba file or just put in folder?

After clicking on your macro in PowerMill I can address every single model by only writing; $project.gravur, $project.IOSur?

a little guide would be the cherry on the cake 🙂

Thank you very much

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

5axes — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 23:18:45 GMT

Realy nice code @kukelyk I vote to elect it code of the month !

Sample code very usefull, to read directly some data in a Excel file.

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

5axes — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:02:41 GMT

Just one question : In the vbs script why do you create the initial DAT file in the C:\temp directory. And not directly in the script directory ?

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 05:07:39 GMT

Hello together,

got this error 😞 (attachment)

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

5axes — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 07:36:22 GMT

Well very strange , the error is on the first lines of the code. The exact syntax for this line should be :

STRING read_xls_vbs = macro_path(0) + "\read_xls.vbs"

but STRING read_xls_vbs = macro_path() + "\read_xls.vbs" is also correct .

I don't now when the function macro_path was introduce in the macro langage, could be the origin of your issue. What is your PowerMill release ? Is it older than a 2016 release ?

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 08:06:50 GMT

There are some more errors when I skip the first one but maybe they are caused of the first error so we will work from top to bottom.

I use PowerMill Pro 2014 R2.

Thank you

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

5axes — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 08:34:59 GMT

This is certainly the origin of your issue. If your read the Macro reference langage it's impossible to know when a new function was introduce in the software.

macro_path was available since 2016 but for 2014 ? You can try just in the Windows command to run the code :

print $macro_path(0)

Should return (null) if it's not the case then the code is not compatible with your relase. But it's not a big problem in such case just replace :

$macro_path(0) by the path to your file hardcoded "C:\Users\bahrmannd\Documents\PowerMill Makros Variable\Testumgbung\read_xls.vbs"

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 08:59:47 GMT

Works with path instead of $macro_path(0)

But then I get the next error. It reads the tempvbs.vbs file and says he can not fin the file in: row 3, character 1. (see attachment)

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

5axes — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 09:05:27 GMT

there is an error in the script \read_xls.vbs is written 2 times .. change STRING read_xls_vbs to get the correct path

Re: PowerMill macros with variables

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 09:10:48 GMT

the tempvbs.vbs is genrated new every time I click the macro. So I don't have to change the tempvbs file but which one?

There must be a command which generates the tempvbs.vbs, am I right?

I hope you understand what I mean