File - Configuration - Files (page), check that the "Include bitmap in file when saving" is checked. If it is and you're still not getting the file preview, check this "Lost thumbnails" thread over @ mastercam.com -> http://forum.mastercam.com/Topic14663.aspx

In X9 you click on the "Groups" item in the status bar to bring up the Groups Manager dialog. Click NEW and create your Name Group(s). In 2017 you would select the View tab on the Ribbon and select the "Groups" item to display the Groups Manager dialog

Here is what Help ('?' on the Groups dialog) says about "Select". Select Temporarily minimizes the Group dialog box and positions the cursor in the graphics window where you can select one or more entities that are assigned to one or more groups. In the Groups dialog box, the groups assigned to the selected entities appear highlighted. If you want to "select" the entities in a Named Group, you use "QM Named Group" (QM = Quick Mask) Now the geometry entities (of the name Group you picked) are in the selection set and when you go into XForm you're ready to go.

Thanks! Check your mail...

Hmmm... I do not recall that C-Hook. Here is a NET-Hook Add-In that does -> I want to separate the solids in this file, place each one on a separate level MoveToSeparateLevels [2017].zip *Full source for the project is included. *Even though it is ID'd as "2017", it will also run in X9.

AH! Then certainty not want I was thinking. And no, the Level Visibility utility does not do anything close to this. Though it has certainly became a popular download, even though I expect the audience who would use it is fairly small.

Samuel, What version of Mastercam are you running? X9 or 2017 You you like to do some beta testing? -> // Specify the insert (drop) location by an OpID of an operation in the tree, // and move the list of operations (specified by their OpIDs) relative to the target. DragAndDrop.AtOperation(targetOpId, moveOpIDs, DragAndDrop.Position.Before); // Specify the insert (drop) location by a tree index position, // and move the list of operations (specified by their OpIDs) relative to the target. DragAndDrop.AtTreeIndex(ragetTreeIndex, moveOpIDs, DragAndDrop.Position.After); If so, email me at SDK <at> mastercam <dot> com

You want to "break down" the active file and write out multiple files, each one containing only the data from a single level? If so, that does sound familiar... Which version of Mastercam?

>>Can we pass a Mastercam.Database.Operation entity for sourceOperation? There currently is no support for “rearranging the order” (programmable drag ‘n drop) of the Operations in the Toolpath Manager tree using a NET-Hook. I’ll add this to the wish list. You’re not really talking about “sorting” here -> (e.g. The “Sorting Options” available on Toolpath Manager’s right-click menu.) I don’t see InsertAt or InsertSelectedAt as viable options. You would need to specify; before or after. >>Perhaps: >>InsertAt(operation, targetIndex) >>InsertBefore(operation, targetOperation) >>InsertAfter(operation, targetOperation) >> If that isn't possible, then perhaps move all ops with selected flag set: >>insertSelectedAt(targetIndex) >>If SearchManager.GetOperations always returns in same order as the toolpath manager list, that would be good in itself. The list returned from SearchManager.GetOperations is not guaranteed to be in “Tree Order”. >>Otherwise a way to get a list of operations in that order would be useful. Yes, this would be required, and I’ll also add this capability to the NET-Hook API wish list.

Thad, The item you pointed to is semi-related. (R-08285) It’s when dealing with importing (non-Mastercam) files. I know that issue has been logged. I don't know if the changes made for that issue# affects when we're talking about opening MCAM files. I can check on that tomorrow with the people who kn​ow. (aka. not me ) There were changes in 2017 in regards to File-New. When you open a file you’re essentially doing a File-New and then the file is opened. File-New in this case no longer “forces” a Machine on you. It sounds to me if you’re looking for... If you open any file and it doesn’t already have a Machine (group), it should add the default one of the type you have specified in Config – Startup Product. Only if the Startup Product is set to ‘Design’ would no Machine (group) get added. Correct?

Check under the dropdown of the gear icon in the Level Mamager's toolbar.

Anyone who is registered should be able to see that page. Send me your login name (not your password) to SDK <at> mastercam <dot> come and I'll have our Web Site Admin check your permissions.

If you are programmatically messing with data that would affect the Level Manager, (as this is happening "behind its back") you need to tell it to update it's data display. Mastercam.IO.LevelsManager.RefreshLevelsManager();

Full NET-Hook example projects can be found here ->. http://www.mastercam.com/en-us/Communities/3rd-Party-Developers/NET-Hook-Downloads

An Add-In (C-Hook or NET-Hook) must have an associated FT (Function Table) file the "tells" Mastercam about the Add-In. The FT file must be placed in the \chooks folder, as that's where Mastercam looks for them on startup. The info in the FT tells the location/name of the DLL for your Add-In and what should appear in Customize.

Here is the Level Sets Visibility Add-In redone as a NET-Hook for Mastercam 2017. *This is an unsupported item, so don't ask our Tech Support about it, as they won't know what you're talking about. (There is nothing in this that is 2017 "specific" , so you can also use this in X9.) The full source of the project is included in the ZIP. Direct download link to LevelSetsVisibility [2017].zip If you find bugs, you can certainly let me know, If you are looking for additional functionality, we'll be happy to teach you how to do it (if possible), as you will have the full source for the add-in. If you wish to build the project, you'll need Microsoft Visual Studio. If you don't already have it you can use the free "community" version of Visual studio - https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-community-vs.aspx

NET-Hook API in Mastercam 2017 -> Added: Ability to get/set the "toolpath directory" in Machine Groups - GetToolpathOutputFolder and SetToolpathOutputFolder The What’s new in 2017 (under Version History) is here -> https://nethookdocs.mastercam.com

There are currently no additional Adds-On to download for 2017. Those that were available for X8/X9 have been.... Either included in the Product install (i.e. ArcMultiEdit, vHelix, zSprial, SortCircles, pts2Arcs, MD_CD_PST Rename) or their functionality has been put into Mastercam 2017 (i.e. PrmDef, Grid), or they've "been retired" (i.e. Repaint Toolpath).

OK... It looks like that can be done with a C-Hook. How are you planning on selecting the sourceOperation and targetIndex ? You can email me -> SDK <at> mastercam <dot> com

I can dig deeper into this. Which version of Mastercam? What is your sort criteria? All operations, or just the selected operations? What types of operations? Are you doing any XForm'd operations and/or Stock type ops? I'm assume those types of dependencies make it bit more involved.

Though I'm not really familiar with these (2) functions, I do see that they are exported (MCCore.LIB) in the Mastercam 2017 C-Hook SDK. WriteOperationImage(); WriteMillToolImage(); Shoot me an email -> SDK <at> mastercam <dot> com There is a way to run the "reports" style SetupSheet without displaying the dialog.

Creating a User Interface is going to be more work for a C-Hook as you’re using C++ (MFC), where for a NET-Hook you have Windows Forms to do the job. Unless you’re very familiar doing dialogs and such with MFC, you’re in for a steeper learning curve. There aren’t any sample C-Hooks projects on the site, but I can certainly supply some. To get you something that may actually be useful to you… >>create either holes or bulges (user's choice) at a user-specified depth on one of the object's surfaces… Exactly what geometry are you trying to create? Are you projecting the points onto existing surfaces, and...? The more detail I have the better we can support you. Contact me here : SDK <at> mastercam <dot> com

It depends… really on what your add-in needs to do. You cannot do everything with a NET-Hook that can be done with a C-Hook. So creating a C-Hook is a more involved task than a NET-Hook. I’d say what’s in the details of this would determine if you need to go the C-Hook route-> "...will manipulate the way the coordinates are used."

There is nothing "built-in" for doing Setup Sheet using a C-Hook. You'd have to roll you own and that would not be a simple task. You an't use an Active Reports or a .SET (post type ) setup sheet generator?

Can you supply an example of this behavior? A part file and your code. Send 'em to SDK <at> mastercam <dot> com and we'll investigate for you...