(API) External parameters

[Romanich]

Hi,

I'm trying to play with external parameters. According to the Robot API manual, it is possible to define arbitrary external parameters and assign them to individual structure elements. Unfortunately, my attempts were not successful. It seems that the UniqueId  from RobotParamDef is not working properly. Please check my code below:

Sub TestExtParam()

Dim RobApp As RobotApplication
Set RobApp = New RobotApplication

If Not RobApp.Visible Then
    Set RobApp = Nothing
    MsgBox "Open Robot and load Model", vbOKOnly, "ERROR"
    Exit Sub
End If
    
    Dim RSelection As RobotSelection
    Set RSelection = RobApp.Project.Structure.Selections.Get(I_OT_NODE)
    
    Dim AllNodes As RobotNodeCollection
    Set AllNodes = RobApp.Project.Structure.Nodes.GetMany(RSelection)
    
    Dim RNode As RobotNode
    Set RNode = AllNodes.Get(1)
    
    Dim ID As Long
    ID = RNode.UniqueId

    Dim CmpFact As RobotComponentFactory
    Set CmpFact = RobApp.CmpntFactory

    Dim RPD As RobotParamDef
    Set RPD = CmpFact.Create(I_CT_PARAM_DEF)
    
    RPD.ValueType = I_PVT_TEXT
    RPD.GuiVisible = True
    RPD.Name = "Node Name"
    RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Node Name"
    RPD.DefaultValue = "Pier 1"

    
    Dim Scheme As RobotParamSchema
    
    RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.Clear
    RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.Create "My Test Scheme"
    Set Scheme = RobApp.Project.Structure.ExtParams.Schemas.GetByName("My Test Scheme")
    Scheme.RemoveAllParams ID
    Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue


    RPD.ValueType = I_PVT_INTEGER
    RPD.GuiVisible = True
    RPD.Name = "Radius"
    RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Radius"
    RPD.DefaultValue = 69
    Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue

End Sub

[marcinrakus]

Hi,

Frankly, I didn't play with ExternalParams, but I would start with changing (for the first call)

Scheme.SetParam ID, RPD.UniqueId, RPD.DefaultValue

with

Scheme.Def.AddParam RPD

That should create guid for further usage.

Regards,

Marcin

[Romanich]

Hi @marcinrakus,

Great, I've got UniqueId for the created external parameter. My next question is how selected part of code should work:

RPD.GuiVisible = True
RPD.GuiSetName 1, "Node Name"

I assume that external parameters should be visible in GUI.  

[marcinrakus]

Hi,

I guess the display of arbitrary external data is not supported in the current version.

Regards,

Marcin

[TimoKet]

Hello, Bumping an old topic. Was there eventually any success on displaying external parameters in the Robot user interface? I've managed to create the parameters but can't find them anywhere from the GUI. Documentation indicates they should show up in "parameter browser".

[Romanich]

Hi @TimoKet , 

This extremely useful feature still not implemented properly.

[TimoKet]

Hi @Romanich ,

Thank you for your fast reply. I created a idea request (couldn't find where to report bugs, as it is clearly stated in the documentation that this should be implemented) for this topic, although most likely this is a thing only for minority of users.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis-ideas/implement-showing-external-parameters...

Let's see if we can gather some votes for this aswell. I find this to have quite a lot potential for integrated workflows and task automation.

Since Revit-Robot workflow is on the roadmap, could perhaps @Rafal.Gaweda enlighten us if this is something that could be implemented correctly in the future? 🙂