Connecting an Inventor AddIn from an external application (VB.NET)

By Philippe Leefsma

This posts illustrates how to connect an Inventor addin from an external executable and invoke a method through the COM server that will be performed in-process by the addin.

The Addin must return the AddinServer class intance through the Automation property:

    Public ReadOnly Property Automation() As Object _

        Implements Inventor.ApplicationAddInServer.Automation

 

        Get

            Return Me

        End Get

 

    End Property

–

It should also provides and implement an Interface, in this case we use a simple interface with a single method to implement:

 

    Public Interface DemoInterface

        Sub DemoMethod(str As String)

    End Interface

 

    <ProgIdAttribute("DemoVbAddIn.StandardAddInServer"), _

    GuidAttribute("7ce7b998-b41b-4ff5-b62b-19e73fc5ec7b")> _

    Public Class StandardAddInServer

        Implements Inventor.ApplicationAddInServer

        Implements DemoInterface

 

        ‘ ApplicationAddInServer implementation here…

 

        Public Sub demoMethod(Str As String) _

            Implements DemoInterface.DemoMethod

 

            MsgBox(Str)

 

        End Sub

 

    End Class

 

On the exe side, you need to access the addin, using the GUID is the most reliable way, then obtain this interface:

 

    Private Sub Form1_Load(

        ByVal sender As Object,

        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _

            Handles Me.Load

 

        Try

            Dim InvApp As Inventor.Application =

                System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject( _

                    "Inventor.Application")

 

            Try

 

                Dim addIn As Inventor.ApplicationAddIn =

                    InvApp.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById( _

                        "{7ce7b998-b41b-4ff5-b62b-19e73fc5ec7b}")

 

                _addInInterface = addIn.Automation

 

     &#1
60;      Catch ex As Exception

 

                System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show( _

                    "Error: AddIn not found…")

                Button1.Enabled = False

                Exit Sub

 

            End Try

 

        Catch ex As Exception

 

            System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show( _

                "Error: Inventor must be running…")

            Button1.Enabled = False

            Exit Sub

 

        End Try

    End Sub