Call external ilogic rule that returns value

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

What is best practice to call an external rule that returns a value that can be processed by the calling rule?

For example: the external rules iterates through all occs in the assembly

all occs are collected in a collection object

The collection object will then be returned to the calling rule

the calling rule will execute logic on the returned collection

I would like to know if an external rule can return values to the calling rule (without using shared variable)

thanks in advance

br martijn

[MechMachineMan]

Hi, I dont think so.

iLogic is set-up to be more of a macro feature - code that can be run, but doesn't return a value.

A better bet would to be to set up your program to include multiple subs/functions including the 2nd one you want to use as when you use a function you can return results.

ie;

Sub Main() 'Required name and line

     oNewValue = YourFunction(args,,,) 'Function call line

    'Additional functionality here or above

End Sub

Function YourFunction(arg1 as type, arg2 as type, ....) ' requires args

        'Rule Functionality here

End Function

[j3scat]

I know this is old, but seeing as this was a prominent answer in my search I felt I needed to supply an answer.

Yes you can.

Search how to send values to an ExternalRule using a NameValueMap.

Dim Map As Inventor.NameValueMap = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap()

You send the value by the following;

Map.Add("NameofValue", Value)

Map.Add("NameofValue2", Value2), etc.

Call your external Rule via

ilogicVb.RunExternalRule("ExternalRuleName",Map)

In the external Rule you access the Map values from

NameofValue = RuleArguments("NameofValue")

To return a new value to the original Rule use the following;

RuleArguments.Arguments.Value("NameofValue") = NewValue

When you return to the Calling Rule, use the following;

NewValue =Map.Value("NameofValue")

Please exercise caution with copy paste of my code. I typed this in a hurry and nothing was a copy paste from working code. But I hope this will help someone out someday. (Most likely myself if I'm honest)