Create .ipt file from .dwg

[george1985]

Hello,
I have a 3D .dwg file. I would like to create an Inventor part file (.ipt) from it with the use of Inventor API. Any language would help (VBA, VB.NET, C#...).

The 3D .dwg file contains only a single autocad solid, not lines or curves.

Is there such an API example?
I would be grateful for any kind of help.

[A.Acheson]

Hi @george1985

This sounds like a difficult task to do with API especially working with geometry not created in inventor. Any reason why your not doing this manually? Can you attach a sample file to work with and an image of the part in question?

[george1985]

Hi @A.Acheson 
Thank you for replying.
I have tens and tens of .dwg 3D models created in Autocad by external party. I have to "import" all of them to particular Inventor assemblies as single parts. What I am doing right now is opening each .dwg file in Inventor, and saving it as an .ipt. And then inserting it into appropriate assembly.
It would save me hours of work, if I could run a VBA/VB.NET/C# code, which will create .ipt files from all those .dwg files. Then I can easily open particular assembly file and just "Place" the needed .ipt.

I attached a 3D model of one such .dwg file.

[Michael.Navara]

I try to import DWG model, but with controversial result.

Here is my code for import single DWG model

Sub ImportSingleDwg()

    Dim dwgFile = "C:\DWG\autocad_3D.dwg"

    Dim dwgTranslatorId = "{C24E3AC2-122E-11D5-8E91-0010B541CD80}"

    Dim dwgTranslator As TranslatorAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById(dwgTranslatorId)
    Dim dataMedium As DataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium()
    dataMedium.FileName = dwgFile

    Dim context As TranslationContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext()
    context.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kDataDropIOMechanism


    Dim options As NameValueMap = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap()

    '*** NOTES / WARNINGS ***
    '1) HasOpenOptions returns always FALSE
    '2) Without this call the export doesn't work for me
    '3) Variable 'options' contains one value named 'Import_Acad_IniFile' but when I try to change them, export doesn't work
    Dim hasOpenOptions As Boolean = dwgTranslator.HasOpenOptions(dataMedium, context, options)

    Logger.Debug("OpenOpts: {0}", hasOpenOptions)
    Logger.Debug(options.Count)
    Logger.Debug(options.Name(1))
    Logger.Debug(options.Item(1))

    Dim targetObject As Object
    dwgTranslator.Open(dataMedium, context, options, targetObject)
    Logger.Debug("Done")
End Sub

• I try to enclose this code to loop for multiple files. It works, but I'm not able to get 3D parts during import process.
• I'm not able to set INI file for import. When I try it, import doesn't work. Parts is not imported.
• There is one strange call on line 21. False is always returned, but without this call the export doesn't work.

Tested on Win 10 CZ + Inventor 2024 CZ 

I hope it helps.

[george1985]

Thank you very much @Michael.Navara !
I have Inventor 2022. The translator addin id should be the same as on your Iventor 2024?

"{C24E3AC2-122E-11D5-8E91-0010B541CD80}"

[Michael.Navara · Accepted solution]

Yes, this is constant value for Addin

Here is fixed code to import multiple DWG model, but with previously mentioned obscurities.

Sub ImportMultipleDwgModels()
    Dim iniFileName As String = "C:\DWG\importDwg.ini"
    Dim dwgFileNames As String() = {
"C:\DWG\autocad_3D_1.dwg",
"C:\DWG\autocad_3D_2.dwg",
"C:\DWG\autocad_3D_3.dwg",
"C:\DWG\autocad_3D_4.dwg"
                                   }
    For Each dwgFileName As String In dwgFileNames
        Dim partDocument As PartDocument = ImportDwgModel(dwgFileName, iniFileName)
        If partDocument Is Nothing Then Continue For

        Dim iptFileName = System.IO.Path.ChangeExtension(dwgFileName, ".ipt")
        'Dim iptFileName = dwgFileName & ".ipt"
        partDocument.SaveAs(iptFileName, False)
        partDocument.Close()
    Next
End Sub

Function ImportDwgModel(dwgFileName As String, iniFileName As String) As PartDocument

    'Get DWG Translator
    Dim dwgTranslatorId = "{C24E3AC2-122E-11D5-8E91-0010B541CD80}"
    Dim dwgTranslator As TranslatorAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById(dwgTranslatorId)

    'Create DataMedium
    Dim dataMedium As DataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium()
    dataMedium.FileName = dwgFileName

    'Create translation context
    Dim context As TranslationContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext()
    context.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kDataDropIOMechanism

    'Create options
    Dim options As NameValueMap = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap()
    Dim hasOpenOptions As Boolean = dwgTranslator.HasOpenOptions(dataMedium, context, options)
    'options.Value("Import_Acad_IniFile") = iniFileName

    'Import DWG
    Dim targetObject As Object
    dwgTranslator.Open(dataMedium, context, options, targetObject)

    '3D model is imported as side effect not as primary output
    Dim primaryOutputDoc = TryCast(targetObject, Document)
    If Not primaryOutputDoc Is Nothing Then primaryOutputDoc.Close(True)

    'Get imported model document from opened documents by it's DisplayName
    Dim displayName As String = System.IO.Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(dwgFileName)
    Dim dwg3dPart As PartDocument = Nothing
    For Each document As Document In ThisApplication.Documents
        If document.DisplayName.StartsWith(displayName) Then
            dwg3dPart = TryCast(document, PartDocument)
            If not dwg3dPart Is Nothing Then Exit For
        End If
    Next
 

    If Not dwg3dPart Is Nothing Then Return dwg3dPart

    Logger.Error("Import failed: {0}", dwgFileName)
    Return Nothing

End Function

[george1985]

@Michael.Navara Thank you very much for the new version as well!

Would you mind if I ask how to run this VBA code?
So in Inventor: Tools->VBA Editor.
Then once VBA Editor window appears, I should choose: File->New Project. Then inside the 'Module' of that new project, I should paste your VBA code.
I commented out the 'Dim iniFileName' and adapted the 'dwgFileNames' paths to my PC.
Then I hit 'Run' button.

When I do this, I get message:

"Compile error:
Syntax error"

I apologize for disturbing you with such trivialities, even though you made the programming code I needed.

[Michael.Navara]

This is not a VBA code but iLogic code. You need to create new external iLogic rule, copy code into and you need to add 

Sub Main()
   ImportMultipleDwgModels()
End Sub

at the top of the rule

[george1985]

Thank you very much for the invaluable help @Michael.Navara .
I owe you a beer for this. If you have some online Patreon-like account, please let me know.

Can I try to be annoying with only one more question?

In the mean time, I tried to call your code externally from SharpDevelop (Visual Studio-like editor).
On the line:

    dwgTranslator.Open(dataMedium, context, options, targetObject)

the following error is raised:
"Message: Catastrophic failure (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8000FFFF (E_UNEXPECTED))

Do you have suggestion what could be the issue?
Some Inventor.Interop methods can only be called internally through iRule or VBA Editor, but not "outside" from Inventor with the use of Autodesk.Inventor.Interop.dll?

--------------------

EDIT: I didn't have one line included:
context.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kDataDropIOMechanism

This cause the error message. Now that included it, it works.
Thank you very much for the help Michael!