Accessing the Post through VB script.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

Is there anyway to access the post or the nci file through VB script?

[Bullines]

I guess it depends on what you mean by "access". As far as posts go, you can use the GetPostName(), SetPostName() and RunPost() functions to retrieve the name of the current post, set the current post and run the current post, respectively.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

I guess what I meant to say is, how do I access the operations manager so I can put an operation there for the post to make an nc file of. I am trying to say simplify the drill operation and I am using a dll with forms and I want to take the information and put it in the operations manager.

[Bullines]

There are a few drill operations in Toolpath generation functions section in the help file, but I don't see any way to access the op manager directly in a way similar to the C-Hooks. Perhaps VBS would have the answer.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

I am emailing them now. Maybe by using the drill functions that will input into the ops manager. CNC doesn’t give full definitions of these functions.

[Mick from CNC Software Inc.]

David H,

 

I am not sure if this is what you are after but it may help. Basically I have a drawing with a number of operations, one of them is a drilling operation with a comment of Drilling. This comment is important because this is the name the script function used in the example below assigns.

 

Let me know of this helps.

 

' ==== Begin Code Sample ======

' -- Start Script

Call Main()

 

' ////////////////////

' Sub Declaration

' ////////////////////

Sub Main()

 

Dim intCount

Dim i

Dim strOpName

Dim blnOpFound

 

' -- Clear screen

Call NewMC(False)

 

' -- Refresh

RepaintScreen True

 

' -- Flag

blnOpFound = False

 

' -- Open my test drawing, you will need to edit path to suit.

If OpenMC("C:Mcam9RouterMC9OPS TEST.MC9") Then

 

' -- Set the post, edit path to suit.

SetPostName "C:Mcam9RouterPOSTSMPROUTER.pst"

 

' -- Get a count of all operations in this drawing

intCount = GetOperationCount("C:Mcam9RouterMC9OPS TEST.MC9")

 

' -- Iterate all operations

For i = 1 To intCount

' -- Get an operation name.

' -- NOTE: This Name Is derived from the comment field when adding an operation

' -- for my example I added a drilling operation with a comment of Drilling

strOpName = GetOperationNameFromID("C:Mcam9RouterMC9OPS TEST.MC9", i)

' -- Look for our operation name (comment field)

If StrComp("Drilling", strOpName) = 0 Then

' -- Set flag

blnOpFound = True

' -- Ok we have it so output the drilling operation only.

If Not RunPost(i, "C:DrillTest.nc", True) Then

ShowString "Could not post operation"

Exit Sub

End If

End If

Next

 

' -- Did we find the operation we were looking for?

If Not blnOpFound Then

ShowString "Operation 'Drilling' not found"

End If

 

 

Else

ShowString "Could not open drawing"

End If

 

 

End Sub

 

====== End Code Sample =====

 

[ 04-17-2003, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: VBS ]

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

Wow! This looks like it will do the job. I will have to study it for a bit. I don't work for CNC you know.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

This script is pulling operations that already were created through normal means. I want to be able to assign values to the variables that are used to put the operation in ops manager. Basically bypassing the parameter pages that normally come up for a...lets say drilling cycle.

[Mick from CNC Software Inc.]

Hello David H,

 

I see what you need to do. You will need to use the following function. This definition was taken from the VBScript html file accessable from the editors help menu.

 

// import an operation by name and apply it to the currently selected points or chains

// this function returns an operation ID # or mcOPERATION_INVALID

Integer MakeOperationFromName (

String, (Input: name of external MC9 or OP9 file containing toolpath operations

or “” for the currently open MC9 file)

String (Input: operationName)

String (Input: new operation comment)

)

 

I assume you will need to use an existing drilling operation from your *.OP9 file and then apply it to the selected points in the open drawing. To select points in a current drawing you can use the following code as a guide.

 

 

' -- Start Script

Call GetPoints()

 

 

' ////////////////////

' Sub Declaration

' ////////////////////

Sub GetPoints()

 

Dim intCount

Dim bRet

 

' -- Refresh

RepaintScreen True

 

' -- See if we can find a point

bRet = StartDBSearch(mc_alive, mc_pointtype)

 

' -- Found one?

If bRet Then

' -- Change its colour

SetEntityColor mcCOLOR_RED

 

' -- See if there are anymore

Do

' -- Get the next point

bRet = NextDBSearch()

' -- Keep a running total

intCount = intCount + 1

' -- Change this points colour

SetEntityColor mcCOLOR_RED

 

' -- Keep going until there are no more points found

Loop While bRet

 

Else

ShowString "No points found in drawing"

End If

 

' -- Refresh

RepaintScreen True

 

' -- How many points selected?

If intCount > 0 Then

ShowString intCount & " points selected"

End If

 

' -- unselect all selected points

Call UnselectAll

 

End Sub

 

Also take a look at the example script ops test.vbs on how to build a list of all available operations in your op9 file(s).

 

[ 04-18-2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: VBS ]

[Mick from CNC Software Inc.]

David H,

 

There is another script example called Drill KCDw DXF File.VBS that shows how to create a drilling operation on the fly, this may well be what you are after.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

Now we're talking! I think this is it and I will look at the following file that you suggested.

[David Helm Eastech Inc.]

Your not Mick George are you?

[Mick from CNC Software Inc.]

David H,

 

Yes, but don't tell anyone

[Paul Decelles]

Oh man, their goes the secret identity.... No more Clark Kent / Superman ....