Advanced Feature Validation option

[JohnKHouston]

Hello all,

I'd like to request some help and I was directed here to see if someone would be able to create some code that would turn off the "Advanded Feature Validation" option. I've attached a screenshot to illustrate.

For whatever reason, this option is selected in all of our assembly files and it slows down the performace of those assemblies. I've manually been deselecting the option on every assembly that I've been working on but it's a tedious task that I would love to automate.

Ultimately it would be great to 'flip the switch' globally but whatever anyone can suggest would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any help/ suggestions!

Best regards,

John

[adam.nagy · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

You could add a code like this to the VBA module:

Sub SwitchOffAFV()
  Dim d As Document
  Set d = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
  
  If d.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation Then
    d.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation = False
    d.Rebuild
  End If
End Sub

.. and a button for that command could be added onto the Ribbon from "Customize User Commands..."

That could save you a couple of clicks.

It could also be enhanced so that it's done for everyone document you open, or there could be a function that goes throgh all files in a specific folder and changes this setting for them.

Cheers,

[JohnKHouston]

Hi Adam,

Thanks very much for the code. I'll have a go at adding it in.

Cheers!

John

[JohnKHouston]

I've tried to add this code myself but I haven't had any success. I don't really know how to add the code and I don't have the time to teach myself for this one task. I've also asked our reseller to see if they could assist us but they haven't responded to my request, so I'm forced to request some help here once again.

Would anyone be able to help in writing the necessary code to select an assembly and have all of the parts and assemblies modified to deselect the Advanced Feature Option?

I can't offer anything other than our eternal gratitude!

Thanks in advance for any help.

Best regards,

John

[adam.nagy · Accepted solution]

This simply boils down to iterating through all the subcomponents of an assembly.

Have a look at "All Referenced Documents" section of this post: http://modthemachine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/accessing-assembly-components.html

You just have to modify it to change the setting you want. Something like this:

Public Sub ShowReferences() 
    ' Get the active assembly. 
    Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument 
    Set oAsmDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    ' Get all of the referenced documents. 
    Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator 
    Set oRefDocs = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments 

    ' Iterate through the list of documents. 
    Dim oRefDoc As Document 
    For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs 
        Debug.Print oRefDoc.DisplayName   
        If oRefDoc.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation Then
            oRefDoc.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation = False
            oRefDoc.Rebuild ' Not sure if this is needed in this scenario
        End If  
    Next 
End Sub  

[Owner2229]

Hi,

if you dont know how to add the code then here is how:

1) In Inventor pres Alt + F11

Window named "Microsoft Visual Basic For Application" should pop up

On left there should be "Application Project (Default.ivb)"

2) Expand it.

3) Right-click on "Modules" > "Insert" > "Module"

4) Paste the code adam.nagy posted.

5) Save and close "Microsoft Visual Basic For Application" window.

6) In Inventor in opened assembly go to "Tools" > "Customize"

7) In left tab expand the dropbox and select "Macros".

8) In right tab expand the dropbox and select "Assembly | Assembly"

9) In left tab select "ShowReferences".

10) Click on the arrows leading to right.

11) Click "Apply" and "Close".

12) In assembly go to "Assembly" tab and you should see there "User Commands". (On the right side of Ribbon)

13) The button should be there. Use it to run the code.

14) Give Kudos to Adam.

[JohnKHouston]

Thanks, Mike, for helping to add a button to run Adam's code, I really appreciate it!

[JohnKHouston]

Hi Adam,

This routine works well but it does stop when it comes up against iParts and content center parts. Would it be possible to modify the code to ignore those components?

I'm guessing it's mostly because they're read only type parts but it's only a guess. Thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards,

John

[Owner2229 · Accepted solution]

Hi, you should look for the document's subtype:

If oRefDoc.SubType = "{4D29B490-49B2-11D0-93C3-7E0706000000}" _     ' Part proxy
Or oRefDoc.SubType = "{9C464203-9BAE-11D3-8BAD-0060B0CE6BB4}" Then  ' SheetMetal proxy
    ' Run the code
End If

So...

Public Sub ShowReferences() 
    ' Get the active assembly. 
    Dim oAsmDoc As AssemblyDocument 
    Set oAsmDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

    ' Get all of the referenced documents. 
    Dim oRefDocs As DocumentsEnumerator 
    Set oRefDocs = oAsmDoc.AllReferencedDocuments 

    ' Iterate through the list of documents. 
    Dim oRefDoc As Document 
    For Each oRefDoc In oRefDocs 
        Debug.Print oRefDoc.DisplayName
        If oRefDoc.SubType = "{4D29B490-49B2-11D0-93C3-7E0706000000}" _     ' Part proxy
        Or oRefDoc.SubType = "{9C464203-9BAE-11D3-8BAD-0060B0CE6BB4}" Then  ' SheetMetal proxy
            If oRefDoc.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation Then
                oRefDoc.ModelingSettings.AdvancedFeatureValidation = False
                oRefDoc.Rebuild ' Not sure if this is needed in this scenario
            End If
        End If
    Next
End Sub

Or you can place this at the start of the code (in the Sub Routine):

On Error Resume Next

[JohnKHouston]

The code, 'on error resume', worked. That's awesome, thank you very much!  😄