Sorting XML file

[sour kraut]

Before I start working on this from scratch, is there a documented or undocumented function in Mastercam's post language that will allow me to sort XML files by node names?  Thanks.

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

You wish to manipulate XML data from within a PST ?

The MP Post language does not have XML specific functions, as it never deals with XML.

Manipulation XML is fairly simple using .NET (C#) 

Maybe a NET-Hook Add-In solution would get you what you need.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Roger Martin from CNC Software

[sour kraut]

Sorry I posted this in the wrong section. It should have gone in the regular post section.  I do want to manipulate the XML from within the post.  I have always had a hard time wrapping my head around creating NEThooks even though I use VB.net recreationally.  I need to force myself to work with it I guess. Thanks for the response.

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

You can launch a NET-Hook from within a PST.

 

For manipulating XML data, .NET is the easy way to go.

 

This (C#) method reorders the <record> items within each <record_block> by the Material Thickness.

You can find examples of the data this works with in ->

C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx9\wire\Power

Those .TECH files you see there are XML data.

 

You can use the free Visual Studio Community Edition to build NET-Hooks ->

https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-community-vs.aspx

 

bool ReorderByMaterialThickness(string inFile, string outFile)
    {
        bool result = false;
        try
        {
            XDocument document = XDocument.Load(inFile);

            foreach (var rb in document.Descendants("record_block"))
            {
                // A LINQ statement to select and sort the record items in the TECH (XML) data file.
                var records = from record in rb.Elements("record")
                    let t = Convert.ToDouble(record.Element("thickness").Value)
                    orderby (t)
                    select record;

                int cnt = 1;
                foreach (XElement rec in records)
                {
                    // reset the num attribute on the record
                    rec.Attribute("num").Value = (cnt++).ToString();

                    // We've done something, so assume that it's good. 
                    result = true;
                }

                // We need the reordered data to be an Array format.
                var reordered = records.ToArray();

                // Reove the old records.
                rb.Elements("record").Remove();

                // And repalce them with the new reordered ones.
                rb.Add(reordered);
            }

            document.Save(outFile);
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "ReorderByMaterialThickness");
        }

        return result;
    }

[Watcher]

Thanks for sharing the idea Roger,

 

However, the code above falls in the 'catch (Exception ex)' section and returns  "Input string was not in a correct format." in at least two large .TECH files in that folder...

 

Makino (SP43,SP64).tech

Makino DUO-Ver6-INCH-V Guide.TECH

 

Cheers,

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

Indeed it does fail when attempting to process a Makino TECH file.

There are some thickness values in those Makino TECH files that fail this 'convert text to double' -

let t = Convert.ToDouble(record.Element("thickness").Value)

So... if wish wish to process those files, we'll need some additional logic it determine the thickness value(s).

 

Try it on one the Mitsubishi named TECH files and it works. [e.g. Mitsubishi (FA-S).tech]

*You may not see any difference the _OUT file, as most (if not all) of the TECH files are already ordered by increasing material 'thickness'.

[Watcher]

Thanks Roger!