Batch PDF Export from assembly not working

[JoshuaNAM]

Hi Inventor users,

I've copied several ilogic codes from different forums and edited them a bit to increase our productivity.when exporting to different file formats.

When using the rule to batch export a pdf from an inventor dwg we get the following error message:

Failed to publish DWF file

When running the rule from a standalone laptop (where the code was created) the illogic rule works correctly. When running the rule on a workstation and the rules saved on a sever the export fails.

We’ve reset the autodesk userprofile but that didn’t help.

We’ve reinstalled DWG trueview and Design Review but that didn’t make a diffenrence either.

Enclosed you’ll find the illogic code that we’re talking about.

Can anyone help me out? 

'define the active document as an assembly file
Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument
oAsmDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
oAsmName = Left(oAsmDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDoc.DisplayName) -4)
oRevNum = iProperties.Value("Project", "Revision Number")

'check that the active document is an assembly file
If ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.DocumentType <> kAssemblyDocumentObject Then
MessageBox.Show("Please run this rule from the assembly file.", "iLogic")
Exit Sub
End If

'get user input
RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _
"This will create a PDF file for all of the assembly components that have drawing (dwg) files." _
& vbLf & "This rule expects that the drawing file shares the same name and location as the component." _
& vbLf & " " _
& vbLf & "Are you sure you want to create PDF Drawings for all of the assembly components?" _
& vbLf & " " _
& vbLf & "This could take a while.", "iLogic  - Batch Output PDFs ",MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)

If RUsure = vbNo Then
Return
Else
End If

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -PDF setup - - - - - - - - - - - -
oPath = ThisDoc.Path
oPDFAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{0AC6FD96-2F4D-42CE-8BE0-8AEA580399E4}")
oContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext
oContext.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kFileBrowseIOMechanism
oOptions = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
oDataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium

oOptions.Value("All_Color_AS_Black") = 0
oOptions.Value("Remove_Line_Weights") = 0
oOptions.Value("Vector_Resolution") = 400
oOptions.Value("Sheet_Range") = Inventor.PrintRangeEnum.kPrintAllSheets
oOptions.Value("Custom_Begin_Sheet") = 1
oOptions.Value("Custom_End_Sheet") = 1

'get PDF target folder path
oFolder = oPath & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PF" & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PDF"

'Check for the PDF folder and create it if it does not exist
If Not System.IO.Directory.Exists(oFolder) Then
    System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(oFolder)
End If
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Component Drawings - - - - - - - - - - - -'look at the files referenced by the assembly
Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator
oRefDocs = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments
Dim oRefDoc As Document

'work the the drawing files for the referenced models'this expects that the model has a drawing of the same path and name
For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs
dwgPathName = Left(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName, Len(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName) - 3) & "dwg"
'check to see that the model has a drawing of the same path and name
If(System.IO.File.Exists(dwgPathName)) Then
                        Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument
                oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(dwgPathName, True)
            oFileName = Left(oRefDoc.DisplayName, Len(oRefDoc.DisplayName) -3)

            On Error Resume Next ' if PDF exists and is open or read only, resume next
                 'Set the PDF target file name
                oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oFileName & "pdf"
                'Write out the PDF
                Call oPDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oDrawDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
            'close the file
                oDrawDoc.Close
Else
'If the model has no drawing of the same path and name - do nothing
End If
Next
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Top Level Drawing - - - - - - - - - - - -
oAsmDrawing = ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".dwg")
oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
oAsmDrawingName = Left(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName) -3)
'write out the PDF for the Top Level Assembly Drawing file
On Error Resume Next ' if PDF exists and is open or read only, resume next
 'Set the PDF target file name
oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oAsmDrawingName & "pdf"
'Write out the PDF
Call oPDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oAsmDrawingDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
'Close the top level drawing
oAsmDrawingDoc.Close
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

MessageBox.Show("New Files Created in: " & vbLf & oFolder, "iLogic")
'open the folder where the new ffiles are saved
Shell("explorer.exe " & oFolder,vbNormalFocus)

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Why are you dong this:

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Top Level Drawing - - - - - - - - - - - -
oAsmDrawing = ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".dwg")
oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
oAsmDrawingName = Left(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName) -3)
'write out the PDF for the Top Level Assembly Drawing file
On Error Resume Next ' if PDF exists and is open or read only, resume next
 'Set the PDF target file name
oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oAsmDrawingName & "pdf"
'Write out the PDF
Call oPDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oAsmDrawingDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
'Close the top level drawing
oAsmDrawingDoc.Close
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

MessageBox.Show("New Files Created in: " & vbLf & oFolder, "iLogic")
'open the folder where the new ffiles are saved
Shell("explorer.exe " & oFolder,vbNormalFocus)

[JoshuaNAM]

This last part is meant to open the dwg of the top level assembly where the code is being run from.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Why than change extension???

[JoshuaNAM]

What is a better way to open the dwg of the active assembly?

For retrieving the filename I've seen that this should be better...correct?:

ThisDoc.FileName(False) 'without extension

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Where are the files saved/exported.
Maybe you have no rights to do that....

[JoshuaNAM]

on the C-drive, shouldn't cause any problems.

Working with Vault Pro 2018 & INV Pro 2018.

Export location = vault folder on c-drive

iLogicrule location = on a network drive

[bradeneuropeArthur]

of course this can be a problem.
Check this first...

[JoshuaNAM]

Everyone has full rights to write on their C-drive. Do you mean the PDFAdInn might not have these writes?

If so how should that be organised?

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Hi,

So try this:
Put some messageboxes in your code like;

msgbox ("1")

msgbox ("2")

after each sub step in your code.

than take a look how far your code is working.

Plaese let me know what the resultm is...

[JoshuaNAM]

The error occurs on this line:

                'Write out the PDF
                Call PDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oDrawDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)

[bradeneuropeArthur]

on what part of the code

[JoshuaNAM]

See the line in red. I believe it's oContext that's giving the problem:

'define the active document as an assembly file
Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument
oAsmDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
oAsmName = Left(oAsmDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDoc.DisplayName) -4)
oRevNum = iProperties.Value("Project", "Revision Number")

'check that the active document is an assembly file
If ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.DocumentType <> kAssemblyDocumentObject Then
MessageBox.Show("Please run this rule from the assembly file.", "iLogic")
Exit Sub
End If

'get user input
RUsure = MessageBox.Show ( _
"This will create a PDF file for all of the assembly components that have drawing (dwg) files." _
& vbLf & "This rule expects that the drawing file shares the same name and location as the component." _
& vbLf & " " _
& vbLf & "Are you sure you want to create PDF Drawings for all of the assembly components?" _
& vbLf & " " _
& vbLf & "This could take a while.", "iLogic  - Batch Output PDFs ",MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)

If RUsure = vbNo Then
Return
Else
End If

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -PDF setup - - - - - - - - - - - -
oPath = ThisDoc.Path
PDFAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{0AC6FD96-2F4D-42CE-8BE0-8AEA580399E4}")
oContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext
oContext.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kFileBrowseIOMechanism
oOptions = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
oDataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium

oOptions.Value("All_Color_AS_Black") = 0
oOptions.Value("Remove_Line_Weights") = 0
oOptions.Value("Vector_Resolution") = 400
oOptions.Value("Sheet_Range") = Inventor.PrintRangeEnum.kPrintAllSheets
oOptions.Value("Custom_Begin_Sheet") = 1
oOptions.Value("Custom_End_Sheet") = 1

'get PDF target folder path
oFolder = oPath & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PF" & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PDF"

'Check for the PDF folder and create it if it does not exist
If Not System.IO.Directory.Exists(oFolder) Then
    System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(oFolder)
End If
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Component Drawings - - - - - - - - - - - -'look at the files referenced by the assembly
Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator
oRefDocs = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments
Dim oRefDoc As Document

'work the the drawing files for the referenced models'this expects that the model has a drawing of the same path and name
For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs
dwgPathName = Left(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName, Len(oRefDoc.FullDocumentName) - 3) & "dwg"
'check to see that the model has a drawing of the same path and name
If(System.IO.File.Exists(dwgPathName)) Then
                        Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument
                oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(dwgPathName, True)
            oFileName = Left(oRefDoc.DisplayName, Len(oRefDoc.DisplayName) -3)

            On Error Resume Next ' if PDF exists and is open or read only, resume next
                 'Set the PDF target file name
                oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oFileName & "pdf"

                'Write out the PDF
                Call PDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oDrawDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
            'close the file
                oDrawDoc.Close
Else
'If the model has no drawing of the same path and name - do nothing
End If
Next
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Top Level Drawing - - - - - - - - - - - -
oAsmDrawing = ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".dwg")
oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
oAsmDrawingName = Left(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName) -3)
'write out the PDF for the Top Level Assembly Drawing file
On Error Resume Next ' if PDF exists and is open or read only, resume next
 'Set the PDF target file name
oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oAsmDrawingName & "pdf"
'Write out the PDF
Call PDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oAsmDrawingDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
'Close the top level drawing
oAsmDrawingDoc.Close
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

MessageBox.Show("New Files Created in: " & vbLf & oFolder, "iLogic")
'open the folder where the new ffiles are saved
Shell("explorer.exe " & oFolder, vbNormalFocus)

[MechMachineMan]

@JoshuaNAM

With the original code, go back to the machine that it doesn't work on.

Go into your Windows settings and CHANGE the setting from "Hide known file extensions" to whatever it isn't currently. After doing that, go back and try to run the rule.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

That is a good one....

[MechMachineMan · Accepted solution]

Please see my 'test section' of code below for notes, the fix, & some background.

I have confirmed it is the file extension setting & the lack of handling of that in the code.

oPath = ThisDoc.Path
oPDFAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{0AC6FD96-2F4D-42CE-8BE0-8AEA580399E4}")
oContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext
oContext.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kFileBrowseIOMechanism
oOptions = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
oDataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium

oOptions.Value("All_Color_AS_Black") = 0
oOptions.Value("Remove_Line_Weights") = 0
oOptions.Value("Vector_Resolution") = 400
oOptions.Value("Sheet_Range") = Inventor.PrintRangeEnum.kPrintAllSheets
oOptions.Value("Custom_Begin_Sheet") = 1
oOptions.Value("Custom_End_Sheet") = 1

oASMName = "ha"
oRevNum = "01"

oFolder = oPath & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PF" & "\" & oAsmName & "-Rev_" & oRevNum & "-PDF"

If Not System.IO.Directory.Exists(oFolder) Then
    System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(oFolder)
End If
'- - - - - - - - - - - - -

'- - - - - - - - - - - - -Top Level Drawing - - - - - - - - - - - -
oAsmDrawing = ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".dwg")
'oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.Documents.Open(oAsmDrawing, True)
oAsmDrawingDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

'NEW SECTION TO HANDLE ALL CASES
If RIGHT(oAsmDrawingDoc.FullFileName, 4) <> ".idw" Then
	oAsmDrawingName = oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName & "."
Else
	oAsmDrawingName = Left(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName, Len(oAsmDrawingDoc.DisplayName) -3)	 
End If
'END OF NEW SECTION TO HANDLE ALL CASES

oDataMedium.FileName = oFolder & "\" & oAsmDrawingName & "pdf"


 MsgBox(oAsmDrawingName & vbLf & oDataMedium.FileName)
 'if windows is set to hide file extensions, oAsmDrawing name becomes a shorted version of the display name
 'If it is set to show, it becomes the display name with a "." following it.
 
 'The common practice I have seen is to shorten the display name by 4 to remove the "." and then to change the oDataMedium.Filename to have ".pdf"
 'This isn't necessary. And it will still produce drawings of the wrong name if the file extension setting is not correct.
 
 'You could always modify the code to check whether or not it has a file extension and change the name accordingly before export to make the code work
 ' in all situations without having to change computer settings.

Call oPDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oAsmDrawingDoc, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)

[bradeneuropeArthur]

This problem very of ten occurs. But is always forgotten. How often I saw that. But still always forgotten. Really good one.....

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Tip.
You need to have good error handling in your code.
Implement that ASAP to prevent you for huge problems in future.

This is one of the disadvantages of copy and past.

You better try to reproduce the coding you are copying.

This is only meant as remark and a helping hand...

[JoshuaNAM]

Hi MechMachine,

Thank you feedback! I've changed the windows settings of all the computers using Inventor and the code is up and running!

In the future I'll edit the code that it doesn't matter what the windows settings are. I gave it a try last night but due to time issues I'll have to pick it up another time.

Also thank you for the explanatory.

Kind regards,

Joshua

[JoshuaNAM]

Hi Bradeneurope,

Thanks for your effort! You already pointed out a few things and helped me on my way. Learnt alot...thanks!

Kind regards,

Joshua