Execute Global Rule from VBA Editor

[bsnyderACLUW]

Currently my organization has an iLogic rule set we use to streamline our work productivity.

What I am trying to do is move this from an independent Global Forms window to the Inventor ribbon. I have created a bit of iLogic code to create a new ribbon tab (with the help of some research done on this forum). I can get this code  to reference a module in VBA Editor but i can't figure out how to get VBA to run an iLogic rule. 

For instance, one of the rules used by our company is "Add_Revision_Row". I have made a button that appears on the ribbon labled Add_Revision_Row that I can click on to create a message box by using a bit of code in VBA:

Public Sub Add_Revision_Row()

    MsgBox ("test 1")

End Sub

So I know everything works on the iLogic side of the code, but I am at a loss as to what needs to be in this module within VBA to get it to run a Global Form. 

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[JelteDeJong]

i think this post answers your question:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/launch-external-ilogic-rule-with-vba/m-p/31708... 

[bsnyderACLUW]

I have seen that posting before, and just  it but there is a problem I don't know the answer too. 

it seems to error out on

Function GetiLogicAddin(oApplication As Inventor.Application) As Object

(error msgbox attached to posting)

I don't know what the problem is or how to fix it.

any help would be great.

thanks,

[JelteDeJong · Accepted solution]

I didnt see it before but the first solution in the post is not complete. did also try the 2e soulution.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/launch-external-ilogic-rule-with-vba/m-p/31779... 

It works for me.

[bsnyderACLUW]

ok, so its been a while since I have worked on this issue. I have the program fixed now, was an issue with this call out:

iLogicAuto.RunRule oDoc, Add_Revision_Row

changed to

iLogicAuto.RunExternalRule oDoc, Add_Revision_Row

 I do want to take this a step further and divide some of the functions up into there own panels. I have tried to look this up and have had no luck. all I find is how to customize standard tabs using the editor. I want to include something into the code that will not only create the tab but also panels where I can divide the functions with.

thanks,

[bsnyderACLUW]

ok so here is an update

I have figured out how to divide some of these functions into separate

Dim oRibbon As Inventor.Ribbon

Dim oDoc As Document
oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveEditDocument
If oDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kAssemblyDocumentObject Then
    oRibbon = ThisApplication.UserInterfaceManager.Ribbons.Item("Assembly")
    oType = "Assembly"
ElseIf oDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then
    oRibbon = ThisApplication.UserInterfaceManager.Ribbons.Item("Part")
    oType = "Part"
ElseIf oDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kDrawingDocumentObject Then
    oRibbon = ThisApplication.UserInterfaceManager.Ribbons.Item("Drawing")
    oType = "Drawing"
Else
    oType = "Unknown"
	Exit Sub
End If       '<-------- if, else if refrences opened file for name nomenclature 

oName = "Silent-Aire_"   '<---- name nomenclature

Try
oRibbon.RibbonTabs.Item(oName & oType).Delete     '<------finds if old tab is present and deletes it
Catch
End Try

Dim oControlDefs As ControlDefinitions
oControlDefs = ThisApplication.CommandManager.ControlDefinitions                '<----- tells inventor that comands will be executed on this file

Dim oTab As Inventor.RibbonTab
oTab = oRibbon.RibbonTabs.Add(oName & oType, oName & oType, “Silent-Aire”)      '<----- creates ribbon tab
oTab.Active = True
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Dim oPanel As RibbonPanel
sPanelName = "Tools"
oPanel = oTab.RibbonPanels.Add(sPanelName, oName & oType, oName & oType)                 '<----- creates first panel on ribbon tab
Dim aButtonsList As New ArrayList
If oType = "Drawing" Then	'<----- this section creates the clickable buttons
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Reuse_Drawing")                                 '<-----(VBA code name.button name)
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Center_Dimensions")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Missing_Balloons")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Sort_and_Hide_Partlist")	
Else If oType = "Assembly" Then
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Open_All_Drawings")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Go_To_Working_Folder")	
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Total_Weight")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Creat_Part_Drawing")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Excel_BOM_Export")	
Else If oType = "Part" Then
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Open_All_Drawings")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Go_To_Working_Folder")	
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Density")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Creat_Part_Drawing")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Copy_Design")
	aButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Copy_Design")
End If
	
Dim aMacroDef As MacroControlDefinition                                        
For Each oItem In aButtonsList
aMacroDef = oControlDefs.AddMacroControlDefinition(oItem)	                               '<----- tells inventor that these buttons will execute a command in VBA
	oPanel.CommandControls.AddMacro(aMacroDef, False)	
Next






Dim oRevisionPanel As RibbonPanel
sRevisionPanelName = "Revision Block"
oRevisionPanel= oTab.RibbonPanels.Add(sRevisionPanelName, orevName & oType, orevName & oType)    '<----- creates second panel on ribbon tab
Dim bButtonsList As New ArrayList
If oType = "Drawing" Then	                                                               '<----- this section creates the clickable buttons
	bButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Issued_For_Construction")
	bButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Add_Revision_Row")
	bButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Hide_Revision_Row")
	bButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Clear_Revisions_Batch")
	bButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Clear_Revisions_Single")
End If
	
Dim bMacroDef As MacroControlDefinition      
For Each oItem In bButtonsList
bMacroDef = oControlDefs.AddMacroControlDefinition(oItem)	                              '<----- tells inventor that these buttons will execute a command in VBA
	oRevisionPanel.CommandControls.AddMacro(bMacroDef, False)	
Next







'Dim oPDFPanel As RibbonPanel
'sPDFPanelName = "PDF Block"
'oPDFPanel= oTab.RibbonPanels.Add(sPDFPanelName, oPDFName & oType, oPDFName & oType)              '<----- creates second panel on ribbon tab
'Dim cButtonsList As New ArrayList
'If oType = "Drawing" Then	                                                               '<----- this section creates the clickable buttons
'	cButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Batch_Print_to_PDF")
'	cButtonsList.Add("Ribbon_Executables.Single_Print_to_PDF")
'End If
	
'Dim cMacroDef As MacroControlDefinition      
'For Each oItem In cButtonsList
'cMacroDef = oControlDefs.AddMacroControlDefinition(oItem)	                                '<----- tells inventor that these buttons will execute a command in VBA
'	oPDFPanel.CommandControls.AddMacro(cMacroDef, False)	
'Next

panels on the same tab but for some reason I can only create 2 panels. the moment I add the third panel the code errors out. does anyone know anything about this?