topic Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python in Robot Structural Analysis Forum

Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 13:26:40 GMT

Hello, I am trying to use the Robot API and dynamo in order to create a structure and design/optimize for all of the members. Everything has been going well, but I am struggling to figure out how to properly set the optimization parameters for the design. When I attempt to set the limit or option status for an optimization parameter (using SetLimit and SetOption), the commands change the value for both the limit and the option. So if I set the limit to 2, then the option changes to 2 as well. Also, the SetLimit command seems to round the limit value to the nearest integer, which is not very useful for smaller numbers since it rounds them to zero (and sets the Option to zero which deactivates the parameter) such as for minimum and maximum flange widths. If anyone has an idea as to why this is occurring any help is appreciated. Another issue I've been having is that I cannot seem to use the Solve command of the design module. When I input Nothing (None in python) to the function, it does not accept it and gives the error "ValueError: Could not convert argument 0 for call to solve", and then refuses to calculate. I've noticed that the function will accept other inputs, but still does not calculate the design. If anyone knows why this is happening, or if something has changed with the function it would be great if I could figure this out. Code is attached below, the problems are occurring the last few lines. Sorry if it is not well formatted, I am new to writing code. Thanks

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Artur.Kosakowski — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:47:15 GMT

Is it for Steel Design? It seems that you missed the attachment (try to zip it).

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 17:09:59 GMT

Sorry about that, I was having trouble posting earlier. Yes it's for steel design, here's the code and dynamo file:

import clr
clr.AddReferenceToFileAndPath(r"C:\Program Files\Dynamo1.0.0\Dynamo\Dynamo Core\1.0\ProtoGeometry.dll")
from Autodesk.DesignScript.Geometry import *
#The inputs to this node will be stored as a list in the IN variables.
dataEnteringNode = IN[0]
Span=IN[1]
NSpans=IN[2]
h=IN[3]
DefaultSection=IN[4]
Releases=IN[5]
LiveLoad=IN[6]
NPoints=NSpans*2+1
Lx=NSpans+1
x1=[i*(Span/NSpans) for i in range(Lx)]
x2_=x1[0:NSpans]
x2=[i+(Span/(2*NSpans)) for i in x2_]
z1=[]
lll=NSpans+1
z1=[0 for i in range(lll)]
z2=[]
z2=[h for i in range(NSpans)]
x1.extend(x2)
z1.extend(z2)
XCoords=x1
ZCoords=z1
# add Robot Structural Analysis API reference
from System import Environment
# get the current user folder i.e C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming
user = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData)
# add the reference to the interop file shipped with the package
clr.AddReferenceToFileAndPath(r"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2016\System\Exe\Interop1.RobotOM.dll")

# add needed import to be able to use Robot Structural Analysis objects
from RobotOM import *
from System import Object

application=RobotApplicationClass()
project=application.Project
structure=project.Structure
prefs=project.Preferences
labels=structure.Labels
application=RobotApplicationClass()

project=application.Project
close=project.Close()
new=project.New(7)
active=prefs.SectionsActive
data=active.GetDatabase(1)
all=data.GetAll()
count=all.Count
sectionlist=[]
for i in range(1,count):
name=all.Get(i)
if "W 200x15" in name:
  if labels.Exist(3,name)==0:
   if "F" not in name:
    if "T" not in name:
     sectionlist=labels.Create(3,name)
     labels.Store(sectionlist)
materials=prefs.Materials.SetDefault(1,"STEEL 350W")

view=project.ViewMngr
view1=view.GetView(1)
view1.Projection=3
view1.Redraw(True)
project=application.Project
point=RobotGeoPoint3DClass()
j=range(3*NSpans)
structure=project.Structure
nodes=structure.Nodes
bars=structure.Bars
#create nodes
for i in j[0:NPoints]:
     nodes.Create(i+1,XCoords[i],0,ZCoords[i])
#create bars
#bottom
for i in j[1:NSpans+1]:
     bars.Create(i,i,i+1)
#top
for i in j[NSpans+1:NPoints-1]:
bars.Create(i,i+1,i+2)
#diagonals
for i in j[2*NSpans:3*NSpans]:
bars.Create(i,i-2*NSpans+1,i-NSpans+2)
bars.Create(i+NSpans,i-2*NSpans+2,i-NSpans+2)

#create supports
labels=structure.Labels
pin1=labels.Create(0,"Roller X")
pin1.Data.UX=0
pin1.Data.UY=1
pin1.Data.UZ=1
pin1.Data.RX=1
pin1.Data.RY=0
pin1.Data.RZ=1

labels.Store(pin1)

nodes.Get(1).SetLabel(0,"Pinned")
nodes.Get(NSpans+1).SetLabel(0,"Roller X")

NBars=bars.GetAll().Count
j=range(NBars)
for i in j:
bar=bars.Get(i+1)
bar.SetLabel(3,DefaultSection)
bar.SetLabel(4,Releases)

labels=structure.Labels
cases=structure.Cases
#delete existing load cases
simple=structure.Selections.CreatePredefined(2)
combo=structure.Selections.CreatePredefined(3)
code=structure.Selections.CreatePredefined(4)
cases.DeleteMany(simple)
cases.DeleteMany(combo)
cases.DeleteMany(code)
#selfweight load case
SW1=cases.CreateSimple(1,"SelfWeight",0,1)
SWRecord=SW1.Records.New(7)
SWGetRecord=SW1.Records.Get(1)
SWGetRecord.SetValue(2,-1)
SWGetRecord.SetValue(15, 1)
#live load case
LL1=cases.CreateSimple(2,"LiveLoad1",1,1)
LL1Record=LL1.Records.New(0)
LL1GetRecord=LL1.Records.Get(1)
LL1GetRecord.SetValue(2,LiveLoad*-1000)
LL1GetRecord.Objects.FromText(3)
#load combinations
combogen=cases.CodeCmbEngine
combogen.Params.GenType=2
gen=combogen.Generate()
application.Preferences.multiprocessing=1
calca=project.CalcEngine
anaparams=calca.AnalysisParams
anaparams.IgnoreWarnings=1
anaparams.EquationSolvingMethod=7
calcproject=calca.Calculate()

dim=project.DimServer
allbars=bars.GetAll()
members=dim.MembersService
gen=members.Generate(allbars)

connect=dim.Connection
#define groups
groups=dim.GroupsService
g1=groups.New(0,1)
g1.Name="Chords"
g1.Material="STEEL 350W"
strm=connect.GetStream()
strm.Clear()
strm.WriteText("1 2 3 4 5 6 7")
g1.SetMembList(strm)
grpprof=connect.GetGrpProfs()
grpprof.Clear()
strm.Clear()
strm.WriteText("W")
grpprof.SetFamilies("CISC",strm)
g1.SetProfs(grpprof)
groups.Save(g1)

g2=groups.New(0,1)
g2.Name="Diagonals"
g2.Material="STEEL 350W"
clrstrm=strm.Clear()
strm.WriteText("8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15")
g2.SetMembList(strm)
g2.SetProfs(grpprof)
groups.Save(g2)

calc=dim.CalculEngine
calcpars=calc.GetCalcParam()
calcconfs=calc.GetCalcConf()
strm.Clear()
calcconfs.SetParamValue(3,0.9)
strm.WriteText("1 2")

#for memeber verification calcpars.SetObjsList(1,strm)
#for group verification calcpars.SetObjsList(2,strm)
calcpars.SetObjsList(3,strm)
calcpars.SetLimitState(1,1) #ULS on
calcpars.SetLimitState(2,0) #SLS off
strm.Clear()
calcpars.SetLoadsList(strm)
optpars=calcpars.GetOptimParam()

optpars.Optimization=1
optpars.SetOption(1,1)

optpars.SetOption(2,1)
optpars.SetLimit(2,0.5)

optpars.SetOption(3,1)
optpars.SetLimit(3,0.1)
optpars.SetOption(4,1)
optpars.SetLimit(4,0.01)
optpars.SetOption(5,0)
optpars.SetLimit(5,0.01)
optpars.SetOption(6,0)
optpars.SetOption(7,0)

calcpars.SetOptimParam(optpars)
calc.SetCalcParam(calcpars)
calc.SetCalcConf(calcconfs)

calc.Solve(None)

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 12:48:22 GMT

Hi Artur,

Any idea about how to solve these problems specifically?

Optimization parameters problem:

Calculate/solve problem:

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Artur.Kosakowski — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:09:50 GMT

This is not something I'll be able to solve myself but I'm trying to find somebody who could be of help for you. This means that it may take me a bit of time.

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Artur.Kosakowski — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 13:23:17 GMT

Try to rename the original and copy the attached dll to the System\exe folder of Robot 2017 (applies to this version only). Let me know if this allows you to run your code.

If you find your post answered press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solutions much faster. Thank you.

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 17:22:38 GMT

This fixed the problem with the optimization parameters, but I am still unable to calculate run the design calculations (member/group verification, group design, optimization). Any idea why the Solve function is not accepting None as an input, or whether there is something else I'm doing wrong?

Thanks

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Artur.Kosakowski — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:38:00 GMT

'The Solve function is implemented in C++ as STDMETHOD(Solve)(IDispatch* observer) but at the moment observer doesn’t impact on any functionality and in simply words it isn’t used inside function Solve. This stuff was defined for future use. So your previous thought to use project interface as parameter to this function was quite fine because doing so the IDispatch inteface is passing to the function and the problem why the Solve function is not accepting None as an input becomes insignificant. To check results of performing Calcul function please rewrite and modify proper part of VB code from attached file into your Phyton project. Results receiving examples are placed at points 5 to 9.'

If you find your post answered press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solutions much faster. Thank you.

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:30:54 GMT

It is working now, thank you very much!

Re: Robot API Optimization Parameters - dynamo/python

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 17:13:09 GMT

Hi everyone,unfortunately I need to solve the same problem that you seem to have solved.

I was not able to translate the vba code and in particular the "null" argument into Solve.

I am attaching some photos to be clearer

..
...
app = RobotApplicationClass()
project = app.Project
dim = project.DimServer
calc = dim.CalculEngine
calcpars = calc.GetCalcParam()
calcconfs = calc.GetCalcConf()

strm.Clear()
calcconfs.SetParamValue(3,0.9)
strm.WriteText("1 2 3 4")
calcpars.SetObjsList(3,strm)
calcpars.SetLimitState(1,1) #ULS on
calcpars.SetLimitState(2,0) #SLS off
strm.Clear()
calcpars.SetLoadsList(strm)
optpars = calcpars.GetOptimParam()
optpars.Optimization=1
optpars.SetOption(1,1)
optpars.SetOption(2,0)
optpars.SetLimit(2,0.5)
optpars.SetOption(3,0)
optpars.SetLimit(3,0.1)
optpars.SetOption(4,0)
optpars.SetLimit(4,0.01)
optpars.SetOption(5,0)
optpars.SetLimit(5,0.01)
optpars.SetOption(6,0)
optpars.SetOption(7,0)
calcpars.SetOptimParam(optpars)
calc.SetCalcParam(calcpars)
calc.SetCalcConf(calcconfs)
calc.Solve(null)