VB.NET Form help

[snappyjazz]

Hello,

I am trying to make my first addin. My addin will open an assembly model that has a form in it. This form is what drives all of the changes to the assy. The assembly changes size and shape, then it will "saveas" itself and all parts and sub assemblies. My trouble is how to address the form, whether to keep it in inventor or recreate it in visual studio.

If I keep the form in inventor:

1. How do I access the from the addin. I've read a couple of other posts about it in the forums but I don't understand them.
2. If I open a previously created assembly and update the form. How do I pass the changes to the addin to run the code again?

If I recreate the form in visual studio:

1. If I open a previously created assembly, how do I open the form?

What do you think?

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Could you show what you mean with some sketches or screenshots etc.

[snappyjazz]

@bradeneuropeArthur 

Sure. Do these help?

[WCrihfield]

Although iLogic forms are the easiest and simplest to create, they have the lease amount of tools available for their creation and functionality.  And they are the least interactive, when compared to the alternatives.  VBA UserForm's are a step up from the iLogic form.  Not only do you have tools available to help you create the visible aspects of the form, but you also have the ability to include a UserForm Module, which is a collection of code intended to set all the specifications of the form, its contents/source data, and how you want it to react to user interaction with it.  Then there is the direct Windows.Forms.Form, which can be fully created, set-up, shown, and used, entirely by a single block of vb.net code, if needed.

A while back, I created a contribution post, in which I demonstrate how you can completely create and use a fairly simple Windows form, from scratch, launch it, and provide feedback to your user interactions with it, all from a single iLogic rule (because iLogic uses vb.net).  Here is the link to it, in case it may provide you with some ideas on how to coordinate your project.

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[snappyjazz]

NICE! I wouldn't have thought to make a windows form in iLogic. That helps narrow my decision down to keeping the form in the model. I just have one question. How do I access that form from the addin?

[WCrihfield]

I might not be able to help much there.  The place I'm working doesn't allow anyone to have 'administrator's rights' to on their own computers, so I'm not currently able to create or install add-ins.  However, know there are ways to deal with this situation.  One thing you could do is simply include the code for the Windows form somewhere within your add-in's code/resources.  Another option is to sort of 'capture' the form when it gets launched, but this method may only give you the ability to interact with it, rather than the ability to change its design or functionality.