Full chaining for selecting geometry

[acam]

Hello,

 

I am trying to use a chain manager for selecting geometry. The reason for this is that a general selection chaining [sHIFT+CLICK] is not working well enough on complex 3D parts (it stops chaining on branches).

 

For now I have been trying with some VB functions and all I could do was to save chained elements to a geometry group. From here on I can not find a way to make all the elements in this group active so I could use them in some other function (like project this geometry to a Z=100).

 

Here is my code:

 

code:

---

Call Main()

 

Sub Main()

Dim result, result1, prev_result1

 

' open the chain manager

result = AskForChain("test")

result1 = GetEntityEptr()

 

' go through all the elements in the chain and save them in the geomtry group "TEST"

' when previous EntityEptr is different than current EntityEptr

' it means that I have not reach the and of chain yet

While result1 <> prev_result1

prev_result1 = result1

result1 = AddCurrentEntToGroup("TEST")

result = MoveForwardOnChain()

result1 = GetEntityEptr()

wend

Call RunFTCommand("MASTERCAM", "SelectAllMask") ' this one is not working

End Sub

---

Has anybody tried to do something like this?

Is it even possible by using VB or would I have to use .NET or even C++?

 

Regards

[keqian]

Hi,

 

I copied and pasted your codes into my X4 and ran it. Nothing happened. I tried to find out what command "RunFTcommand" is in the VB help but I cannot find it.

 

Then I blanked above line and add a new statement: "MakeContour". It generate a chain in the Operation Manager Box. Below are the codes,

 

Call Main()

Sub Main()

Dim result, result1, prev_result1

Dim id

' open the chain manager

result = AskForChain("test")

result1 = GetEntityEptr()

' go through all the elements in the chain and save them in the geomtry group "TEST"

' when previous EntityEptr is different than current EntityEptr

' it means that I have not reach the and of chain yet

While result1 <> prev_result1

prev_result1 = result1

result1 = AddCurrentEntToGroup("TEST")

result = MoveForwardOnChain()

result1 = GetEntityEptr()

wend

'Call RunFTCommand("MASTERCAM", "SelectAllMask") ' this one is not working

id=MakeContour("",0,0,1,mctool_flat,mccutter_comp_left,mccutter_roll_none,80)'

 

End Sub

 

Try yourself and see if it is what you need.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin

[Thad]

quote:

---

Has anybody tried to do something like this?

---

Takshi Sato, from AI Solutions, has this functionality in his free AI Utility chook. I use it daily and would have a hard time getting by without it.

 

Thad

[Thad]

Sorry, I misspelled Takashi.

 

Thad