topic Macro question in PowerMill Forum

Macro question

dames123 — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:08:13 GMT

Is there a way to treat a Setup entity as a folder in a macro?

When you use INPUT ENTITY MULTIPLE toolpath and your toolpath are in a folder under the toolpath tree, the dropdown shows the folder and the toolpath under it. If the toolpath are in a setup, all you get are the toolpaths in a random order with no reference to a setup.

If you use INPUT ENTITY MULTIPLE setup you just get a list of setups with no toolpath shown.

Is there a command to show a setup and the toolpaths under it in a dropdown?

Thanks.

Re: Macro question

kevin.hammond3WX4X — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 13:39:26 GMT

Try this

Entity list $Set = INPUT ENTITY Setup "pick"
Activate Setup $Set.name
STRING LIST n = extract(components(entity('setup','')), 'name')
STRING LIST TP = INPUT ENTITY MULTIPLE TOOLPATH "pick Toolpaths" "" $n

Re: Macro question

dames123 — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:31:50 GMT

Thanks Kevin.

That certainly selects the toolpaths but it doesn't correspond to the correct selection. For example, if I select "Rough" toolpath in the dropdown, it performs the macro function (collision check in this case) on an entirely different toolpath under that setup. Setups are tied to the Toolpaths tree folder somehow but they don't act the same. And the ordering is random when selected by a macro.

What I'm really looking for is the way ENTITY LIST $ents = INPUT ENTITY MULTIPLE toolpath "Select Toolpaths" behaves when toolpaths are under the Toolpaths tree folder. You can select the folder in the dropdown and all toolpaths are selected under it.

I wish Setups acted this same way but perhaps there is no API for this function.

In any case I appreciate the help.

David

Re: Macro question

kevin.hammond3WX4X — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:26:34 GMT

I agree, that Setups seem to behave differently, I have no further answers for this.

Perhaps raise it as a helpdesk ticket, you might some help from someone more advanced than myself