How to call iLogic function from VB.NET addin?

[liminma8458]

Hi, to who can help,

In iLogic, there are a lot of wonderful functions which can be used, such as: ht=GoExcel.CellValue("tank_data.xls", "General", "in_tank_ht") . I wonder whether this GoExcel.CellValue function can be used directly from VB.NET addin. If yes, how?

In my trial, I added "Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.dll" into references of my vb.net project. We can notice there is "Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.IGoExcel.CellValue(...) in Object Browser, as shown in screen shot of attached file. Then I created a VB.NET snippet to test (also attached in the file), but it fails.

So, does anyone know how to call this kind of iLogic functions from VB.NET addin?  It will save a lot of time to create the same function in VB.NET again.

Thank you very much!

[Vladimir.Ananyev]

Hope the following links would be useful:

Run iLogic rule from external application

http://adndevblog.typepad.com/manufacturing/2013/09/run-ilogic-rule-from-external-application.html
 

Call iLogic from .NET

http://adndevblog.typepad.com/manufacturing/2013/04/call-ilogic-from-net.html
 

Call iLogic rule from add-in

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/call-ilogic-rule-from-add-in/td-p/3075414

cheers,

[liminma8458]

Vladimir,
 
Thank you so much for your information.
 
Actually, I can call iLogic "Rule" without any problem, as described in your attached links. What I ask is whether I can directly call or utilize the functions that the iLogic rule is using such as GoExcel.CellValue(....) in VB.NET Addin? and how?
 
As my attached file in this mail, this GoExcel.CellValue(....) function is in Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.IGoExcel as shown in Object Browser in VB.NET. They are not in the same Interface as IiLogicAutomation. So do these functions in Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.IGoExcel can be called directly from Addin? or It is not exposed for Addin usage yet.
 
Thanks
 
Limin

[awatt]

I'd like to see a response to this too.  I'm trying to accomplish the same thing.  My efforts took me into ADO land, and didn't get me any farther.  I tend to blame my unfamiliarity with interface classes.

Any help anyone can offer would be, um, helpful?

[MechMachineMan]

From following in the 2nd link, it looks like interfaces is the wrong addin to use. Is there a Autodesk.iLogic.Automation. path that exsists that you can work with?

I know I've done some things with iLogic and it always invloved .Automation or something similiar

[awatt]

Ok, I found the GoExcel definition in the {iLogic} namespace in the autodesk.ilogic.core dll.

Trying to create one, I discovered it needs three parameters to use the NEW keyword.

It needs the Inventor Document, the Inventor server object, and an excel cache object.

So at the moment, I'm fuzzy on what exactly the inventor server object is, and what the excel cache object is, and how to use it.

[MechMachineMan]

There should be a autodesk.ilogic.automation though, not?

[awatt]

Haven't needed the Automation functions yet.  I'm not trying to access or manipulate rules.  I'm trying to work exclusively in vb.net, but hijacking the functionality of the GoExcel function.

I've found the InventorServerObject as a property of Autodesk.iLogic.Core.iLogicCentral object.

[awatt]

So here's what I've been doing the last couple of hours:

I know that InventorServerObject is needed to create a new GoExcel object. But where to get one?

The Autodesk.iLogic.Core.iLogicCentral object has the InventorServer object as one of its properties.

But how to use this object?  I don't know.

While trying to find out, I found that InventorServerObject is also a property of the Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.ILowLevelSupport object.

But where do I get an object that can use this interface?

Ah, the Autodesk.iLogic.Interfaces.IRulesHost has a GetLowLevelSupport function.

But where do I get an object that can use the IRules Host interface?

<Dead End>

What I could really use now is a few more hoops to jump through.*Sarcasm* *Sigh*

[liminma8458]

Hi, everyone,

There is no solution for my question as in post 1 and 3 yet.

I hope someone can send some code snippet if you can call iLogic functions (no the rule) FROM VB.NET, such as GoExcel.CellValue(....) .

Thanks
 
Limin

[adam.nagy · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I've written a blog post about this based on the information I got from engineering:

http://adndevblog.typepad.com/manufacturing/2015/05/use-goexcel-outside-a-rule.html

Cheers,

[awatt · Accepted solution]

Good stuff.  Thanks.

In my application, I finally decided to use the excel interop.  I was trying to avoid creating a running excel process, even a background one.  But then I wondered if perhaps that's what goexcel was doing anyway.

[adam.nagy · Accepted solution]

Yes, that's what iLogic is using too. Have updated the blog post to point this out.

[liminma8458]

Thank all of you! terrific!