Create a Ribbon Button to run iLogic

[InventorMan1]

Hi,

I'm not too familiar with VBA but I have been using iLogic in order to set up some basic data on some part/assembly-files. I cannot create myself a different template, as my company restricts this.

Thing I need:
 - New custom iProperties. I've been using iProperties.Value-snippet.

 - New parameters, with certain formatting. For this i have used iLogic, shown below:

doc = ThisDoc.Document 'Defining document and providing access to parameters on different levels.

Dim oPartCompDef As PartComponentDefinition = doc.ComponentDefinition

Dim oParams As Parameters = oPartCompDef.Parameters

Dim oUserParams As UserParameters = oParams.UserParameters

oUserParams.AddByValue(“XXX_LENGTH”, 0, “mm”) 'Creating needed XXX-parameters.

oLength = Parameter.Param("XXX_LENGTH") 'Defining Custom Properties for parameter

oLength.ExposedAsProperty = True

oFormat=oLength.CustomPropertyFormat

oFormat.PropertyType=Inventor.CustomPropertyTypeEnum.kTextPropertyType

oFormat.Precision=Inventor.CustomPropertyPrecisionEnum.kZeroDecimalPlacePrecision

My question is, how could I create a button to my Inventor ribbon, that could run these kind of iLogic codes?

-Ossi

[JamieVJohnson2]

iLogic's only easy method is the iLogic browser which is not ribbon based, but it is a nifty dockable palette.  However, iLogic editor allows you to write VB.Net code, from there you can write a command that can edit the ribbon, and add one or many CommandControls.  If your going that far, you could write a complete add-in using straight up vb.net and visual studio, that autoloads every time Inventor opens (next level stuff = learning curve).

[Jesper_S]

Hi.

If the iLogic rules are placed in the documents, use this VBA code.

Add it to a Module in the VBA editor.

Public Sub LaunchMyRule1   '<--- This is what you would tie to a button in a toolbar.
  RuniLogic "MyRule1"      '<--- Name of your iLogic rule
End sub
 
Public Sub LaunchMyRule2   '<--- This is what you would tie to a button in a toolbar.
  RuniLogic "MyRule2"      '<--- Name of your iLogic rule
End sub

Public Sub RuniLogic(ByVal RuleName As String)
  Dim iLogicAuto As Object
  Dim oDoc As Document
  Set oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
  If oDoc Is Nothing Then
    MsgBox "Missing Inventor Document"
    Exit Sub
  End If
  Set iLogicAuto = GetiLogicAddin(ThisApplication)
  If (iLogicAuto Is Nothing) Then Exit Sub
  iLogicAuto.RunRule oDoc, RuleName
End Sub
 
Public Function GetiLogicAddin(oApplication As Inventor.Application) As Object
Set addIns = oApplication.ApplicationAddIns
'Find the add-in you are looking for
Dim addIn As ApplicationAddIn
On Error GoTo NotFound
Set addIn = oApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{3bdd8d79-2179-4b11-8a5a-257b1c0263ac}")
If (addIn Is Nothing) Then Exit Function
addIn.Activate
Set GetiLogicAddin = addIn.Automation
Exit Function
NotFound:
End Function

Then just add it to your ribbon.

[InventorMan1]

Is it possible to do a iLogic Browser rule, that is always in the application, no matter what part-file is open?

So, that when I'm creating a new file, I could just run the rule and get the properties updated?

-Ossi

[InventorMan1]

Hi,

Thanks for the code. Unfortunately, when I create a new file, the rule is not in place in the file. That is the root problem.

Currently I just create a new rule, copy-paste the code from word-file and run the rule. Code itself includes line, that removes the rule. So situation is quite decent, but it's always nice, when you can reduce the amount of clicks.

-Ossi

[Jesper_S · Accepted solution]

Hi.

Either you place the Rule in your Templates so it's always there.

Or you place your Rule as an External Rule in Inventor.

Why do you remove the code?

Can't you add the parameters and iProperty to your Templates?

[InventorMan1]

Hi,

That's the problem, I cannot modify the templates as our company overviews them. I delete the rule as later on the model will be used by people, who are not familiar with iLogic and it is not necessary. Kind of cleaning the model.

But the idea of external rule is perfect! I don't know why I didn't figure it out by myself 😄 But this will work on my case, thanks !

-Ossi

[Jesper_S]

Create an External rule.

Then add this to VBA instead.

Public Sub LaunchMyRule1()
RuniLogic ("MyRule1")
End Sub

Public Sub LaunchMyRule2()
RuniLogic ("MyRule2")
End Sub

Public Sub RuniLogic(ByVal RuleName As String)
Dim iLogicAuto As Object
Dim oDoc As Document
Set oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveEditDocument
If oDoc Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Missing Inventor Document"
Exit Sub
End If
Set iLogicAuto = GetiLogicAddin(ThisApplication)
If (iLogicAuto Is Nothing) Then Exit Sub
iLogicAuto.RunExternalRule oDoc, RuleName
End Sub
Public Function GetiLogicAddin(oApplication As Inventor.Application) As Object
Dim addIn As ApplicationAddIn
On Error GoTo NotFound
Set addIn = oApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{3bdd8d79-2179-4b11-8a5a-257b1c0263ac}")
If (addIn Is Nothing) Then Exit Function
addIn.Activate
Set GetiLogicAddin = addIn.Automation
Exit Function
NotFound:
End Function

Same thing but this works with External rules.

[Anonymous]

Works fantastic! I just had to change the module name, and presto!

Thank you.