Read variables from CSV, export STEP to folder

[Anonymous]

I have to make about 300 variations on a single part. I can define that part fully with variables, and feed Fusion a 300 line CSV file.

How do I go about reading variables from the CSV file line by line and exporting a STEP file for each part?

Thanks

Luke

[prainsberry]

THere are a couple of examples I would look at.  Under file/scripts look at ImportSplineCSV.  THis will show you the basic tools to read in a csv file from disc and do some parsing of the text.  I did a similar importer and used the logic from this script for the text parsing.  Also look at the help article for Programming INterface->Fusion API Reference Manual->Objects->Export Manager, at the bottom of that page there is a sample code that show hows to use the export functions.

Also check out the Bolt and Spur gear examples to see how to create geometry based on some inputs.

Taking from these places you should be able to get there I think.

[Anonymous]

Hi Prainsbury, I appreciate it. So it sounds like this is totally doable, I just have to set aside some time to create the script.

Luke

[Anonymous]

Hi prainsbury,

Both of those add model parameters, I can't seem to find any examples of editing existing user parameters.

The idea is you draw the part with the user parameters, and then "apply" a CSV file which will make the changes on each line and export a STEP file for each one.

[Anonymous]

Also I'm not seeing any examples for UserParameters.

I tried "UserParameters.add("ID","7") to modify a user parameter named "ID" to value "7" but it just gives me this error.

I know python requires you to make objects and then "use" them but it's been so long, I have no idea (based on the API documentation) what kind of object I should be creating.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there no "SetParameter("ID","7") command?

I'm feeling pretty defeated right now. I can pull the data in just fine but I'm having such a hard time with the documentation (very very light on examples!!) that I cannot figure out how to simple change an existing parameter

[Anonymous]

i'm getting more info from Spyder than the documentation. What is the object hierarchy here? Where is parameters?

I'm just typing random stuff in with a . after it and getting a LOT more information from spyder than the documentation online

[Anonymous]

So I'm seeing that we can do:

adsk.fusion.Parameter._set_value() but it doesn't give me enough arguments to choose which parameter I'm changing the value for

[Anonymous]

It looks like I'm going to have to snag all of the parameters as a hash and then run a check on each entry to see if it matches my target parameter name and then change it? there's got to be an easier way

[prainsberry]

You need use parameterlist to get the list of parameters first I believe.  Let me put together a little example and see if I can get it working for you.  

I'd highly recomend reading a couple of the articles in the the API user manual.  Specifically the basic concepts one that talks about the object model and lists.

[Anonymous]

OK so I've figured out how to find a parameter's index, but I can't seem to create a parameter object using that index. So I have no idea how to actually change a parameter value

[Anonymous]

parameter = adsk.fusion.ParameterList.itemByName("ID")

parameter._set_value("7")

Am I getting closer? 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hmm... I dont think it needs two arguments?

[Anonymous]

Tried adding the (self,) arugment but got this error

[ekinsb · Accepted solution]

Here's a script that I believe does what you want. 

import adsk.core, adsk.fusion, traceback

def main():
    ui = None
    try:
        app = adsk.core.Application.get()
        design = app.activeProduct
        
        # Read the csv file.
        cnt = 0
        file = open('C://Temp//values.csv')
        for line in file:
            # Get the values from the csv file.
            pieces = line.split(',')
            
            length = pieces[0]
            width = pieces[1]
            height = pieces[2]
            
            # Set the parameters.
            lengthParam = design.userParameters.itemByName('Length')
            lengthParam.expression = length
            
            widthParam = design.userParameters.itemByName('Width')
            widthParam.expression = width

            heightParam = design.userParameters.itemByName('Height')
            heightParam.expression = height
            
            #Export the STEP file.
            exportMgr = design.exportManager
            stepOptions = exportMgr.createSTEPExportOptions('C:\\Temp\\test_box' + str(cnt) + '.stp')
            cnt += 1
            res = exportMgr.execute(stepOptions)
                        
        ui  = app.userInterface
        ui.messageBox('Finished')
    except:
        if ui:
            ui.messageBox('Failed:\n{}'.format(traceback.format_exc()))


main()

It's using the expression property of the Parameter object you can use any valid expression just like you would type in the parmaters dialog.  For my test I had a box with the parameters Length, Width, and Height.  Here's the contents of my csv to demonstrate the various options.

4 in, 3 in, 1 in
3, 2, 1
3 cm, 2 cm, Length/2
5, 5, 4,

[Anonymous]

Jesus, I kind of wanted to figure it out but you probably just saved me 20 hours of work LOL. This is why I'm not in software!

I'll try it out, thanks!

[prainsberry]

Haha yah me too, I was about 10% of the way there.  Thanks Brian!!

[Anonymous]

prainsberry, did you happen to try it out?

I replicated his setup as best as I could and when I run the script nothing appears to happen. No errors, no change in values, no STEP files.

Thanks!

Luke

[Anonymous]

Woop, it did this! Very strange. Any ideas?

edit: nevermind, this wasn't from the script

[ekinsb]

I think the parameter names are case sensitive.  I had the names starting with upper case and you have lower case.  Doesn't matter which but they need to be the same.