topic Re: new_entity_name in PowerShape and PowerMill API Forum

new_entity_name

5axes — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 17:37:41 GMT

Via the macro language we can have the next name that will be generated for the given entity type via the function new_entity_name

Does a similar function or method exists in the current API ?

Re: new_entity_name

rafael.sansao — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 18:00:14 GMT

The code below should solve your problem, however, there may be a way to get this value through the API.
For all cases where the API does not have the desired function, use the code below as the base (alternative method):

C#:

string new_boundary = powerMILL.ExecuteEx(@"STRING $temp = new_entity_name('boundary')
                                            PRINT $temp
					    RESET LOCALVARS").ToString();

Re: new_entity_name

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 06:19:34 GMT

Hi!

If you don't want to use Execute commands (we usually try to avoid them) the next code should do what you want (example for a pattern):

string newname = session.Patterns.CreateEmptyPattern().Name;
session.Patterns.ActiveItem.Delete();

If you are working with other entity type (toolpath, boundary,...) just change Patterns to Toolpath or Boundary or whatever, following the Powermill API commands.

Hope it helps!

Re: new_entity_name

luke.edwards.autodesk — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 12:44:33 GMT

Both good solutions to the question. But I just wondered why you want this functionality? I'm interested in the context of the problem that 5axes is trying to solve.

Re: new_entity_name

5axes — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:31:33 GMT

luke.edwards.autodesk a écrit :

Both good solutions to the question. But I just wondered why you want this functionality? I'm interested in the context of the problem that 5axes is trying to solve.

Thanks @Anonymous.edwards.Autodesk for your answer and your interest in our problem.

Well for the same situation as in the Macro language.

In Vb.net if I need to copy a tool , it's easy to get the New_entity_name :

Dim new_entity_name As String = Newtool.Duplicate().Name

But if I want to create a new tool and if a tool wih the same name already exists in the project, I need to get a non existing name. Ie :

Dim Newtool As PMTool = List_Tool.CreateBallNosedTool

Newtool.Name = "BN-1/2"

Newtool = List_Tool.CreateBallNosedTool

Newtool.Name = "BN-1/2"

In this case the second tool will keep is original name -> 1 and I don't have any message or error concerning the success of the "rename" operation.

I can of course test if a tool already exists :

If IsNothing(List_Tool.GetByName("BN-1/2")) Then

Newtool.Name = "BN-1/2"

Else

Dim new_entity_name As String = List_Tool.GetByName("BN-1/2").Duplicate().Name

List_Tool.GetByName(new_entity_name).Delete()

Newtool.Name = new_entity_name

End If

But a function like new_entity_name would be usefull to get directly the new free name.

Re: new_entity_name

luke.edwards.autodesk — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:20:07 GMT

I admit I haven't made use of this feature before in macros.

In the example you show at the end of your post, the tool you create will already use the next available name. i.e. "1". So I am confused as to exactly what this function will give you.

Sorry for not understanding!

Re: new_entity_name

5axes — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:54:19 GMT

luke.edwards.autodesk a écrit :

In the example you show at the end of your post, the tool you create will already use the next available name. i.e. "1". So I am confused as to exactly what this function will give you.

Sorry for not understanding!

As English is not a mother tongue, it may be difficult for me to explain my needs in some cases

So we will try via a common langage. How to translate this MACRO code into an API code :

DIALOGS MESSAGE OFF
DIALOGS ERROR OFF

STRING New_Name='BN-1/2'

IF ENTITY_EXISTS('Tool',$New_Name) {
	$New_Name=NEW_ENTITY_NAME('Tool','BN-1/2')
}

CREATE TOOL $New_Name BALLNOSED

where

$New_Name=NEW_ENTITY_NAME('Tool','BN-1/2')

Will be as simple as possible. If you run several times this macro the result will be :

etc. etc ..

Re: new_entity_name

luke.edwards.autodesk — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 15:03:10 GMT

Excellent! Now I understand perfectly!

Dim baseName = "BN-1/2"
Dim newName = baseName
Dim counter = 1
While activeProject.Tools.GetByName(newName) IsNot Nothing
  newName = baseName & "_" & counter
  counter = counter + 1
End While
' Now create the tool

This should do what you need. But yes, it is cumbersome. I will look to get the API updated.

Re: new_entity_name

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 06:44:50 GMT

Even though Luke's solution is perfect, I've thought another way to do what you want. Instead of looping over all the tools that may have the same root name, it could be interesting take advantage of the Duplicate function, that acually does exactly what you want. If you have two tools called "BN-25" and "BN-25_1" and you duplicate the tool BN-25, PowerMill automatically check if the names BN-25_1, BN-25_2,... are already being used and it creates the tool copy with the first available name. Therefore, the next code might be interesting:

string toolname = "BN-25";
if (session.Tools.GetByName(toolname) != null)
{
//Create the new tool called BN-25_i ( i being 1,2,3,... the first number available) and saved its name in a string 
string new_tool_name = session.Tools.GetByName(toolname).Duplicate().Name;
} else
{
//Create the new tool and automatically changes it name to "BN-25"
session.Tools.CreateBallNosedTool().Name = toolname;
}

Hope it helps!