topic Re: (API) External parameters in Robot Structural Analysis Forum

(API) External parameters

Romanich — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 05:13:48 GMT

Hi,

I'm trying to play with external parameters. According to the Robot API manual, it is possible to define arbitrary external parameters and assign them to individual structure elements. Unfortunately, my attempts were not successful. It seems that the UniqueId from RobotParamDef is not working properly. Please check my code below:

Sub TestExtParam()

Dim RobApp As RobotApplication
Set RobApp = New RobotApplication

If Not RobApp.Visible Then
    Set RobApp = Nothing
    MsgBox "Open Robot and load Model", vbOKOnly, "ERROR"
    Exit Sub
End If
    
    Dim RSelection As RobotSelection
    Set RSelection = RobApp.Project.Structure.Selections.Get(I_OT_NODE)
    
    Dim AllNodes As RobotNodeCollection
    Set AllNodes = RobApp.Project.Structure.Nodes.GetMany(RSelection)
    
    Dim RNode As RobotNode
    Set RNode = AllNodes.Get(1)
    
    Dim ID As Long
    ID = RNode.UniqueId

    Dim CmpFact As RobotComponentFactory
    Set CmpFact = RobApp.CmpntFactory

    Dim RPD As RobotParamDef
    Set RPD = CmpFact.Create(I_CT_PARAM_DEF)
    
    RPD.ValueType = I_PVT_TEXT
    RPD.GuiVisible = True
    RPD.Name = "Node Name"
    RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Node Name"
    RPD.DefaultValue = "Pier 1"

    
    Dim Scheme As RobotParamSchema
    
    RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.Clear
    RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.Create "My Test Scheme"
    Set Scheme = RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.GetByName("My Test Scheme")
    Scheme.RemoveAllParams ID
    Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue


    RPD.ValueType = I_PVT_INTEGER
    RPD.GuiVisible = True
    RPD.Name = "Radius"
    RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Radius"
    RPD.DefaultValue = 69
    Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue

End Sub

Re: (API) External parameters

marcinrakus — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 10:37:07 GMT

Hi,

Frankly, I didn't play with ExternalParams, but I would start with changing (for the first call)

Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue

with

Scheme.Def.AddParam RPD

That should create guid for further usage.

Regards,

Marcin

Re: (API) External parameters

Romanich — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 12:03:53 GMT

Hi @marcinrakus,

Great, I've got UniqueId for the created external parameter. My next question is how selected part of code should work:

RPD.GuiVisible = True
RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Node Name"

I assume that external parameters should be visible in GUI.

Re: (API) External parameters

marcinrakus — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 14:28:13 GMT

Hi,

I guess the display of arbitrary external data is not supported in the current version.

Regards,

Marcin

Re: (API) External parameters

TimoKet — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:02:40 GMT

Hello, Bumping an old topic. Was there eventually any success on displaying external parameters in the Robot user interface? I've managed to create the parameters but can't find them anywhere from the GUI. Documentation indicates they should show up in "parameter browser".

Re: (API) External parameters

Romanich — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 06:05:11 GMT

Hi @TimoKet ,

This extremely useful feature still not implemented properly.

Re: (API) External parameters

TimoKet — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 06:41:47 GMT

Hi @Romanich ,

Thank you for your fast reply. I created a idea request (couldn't find where to report bugs, as it is clearly stated in the documentation that this should be implemented) for this topic, although most likely this is a thing only for minority of users.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis-ideas/implement-showing-external-parameters-in-robot-ui/idi-p/9665785

Let's see if we can gather some votes for this aswell. I find this to have quite a lot potential for integrated workflows and task automation.

Since Revit-Robot workflow is on the roadmap, could perhaps @Rafal.Gaweda enlighten us if this is something that could be implemented correctly in the future? 🙂