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Sheet Metal Extents Add-In Update

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by

Adam Nagy
in

See the latest update for this posted on March 20, 2015.

Several years ago I wrote an add-in that creates parameters and iProperties whose values are the length and width of the sheet metal flat pattern.  If the model is updated, the values are also automatically updated to reflect the change.  I haven’t touched the add-in for a few years but a problem was recently reported that was the result of a change in the API to handle the new Text and Yes/No types of parameters.  Since the source code was delivered with the add-in, several of you had already found the problem and fixed it.  I’ve made the change now to fix this and have also updated it to take advantage of some new add-in functionality.

This version of the add-in is specific to Inventor 2013 and later because I’m taking advantage of a feature that was introduced with Inventor 2013.  I’ve also upgraded the project to Visual Studio 2010 and .Net 4, which is what is recommended for Inventor 2013.  One of the biggest changes was to change this from a registered add-in to registry-free.  This makes it simpler to deploy and is the recommended way of deploying an add-in since Inventor 2012. 

Below are three different zips.  The first two contain the runtime for the add-in but provide two different ways of deploying it.  You can pick whichever will work the best in your situation.  The third zip is the source code for the add-in.

 

Installer – This zip file contains an installer that when run will install the add-in.  You can uninstall the add-in using the Windows Control Panel.  Installation of the add-in no longer requires Administrator rights.

zip[9] SheetMetalExtentsInstall.zip (433 Kb)

 

 

Drag & Drop Deployment – This zip file contains a directory containing the add-in dll, a .addin file and the readme file.  Because the add-in is now registry-free, you can install the add-in by simply copying these files into the correct location on your computer (Drag & Drop Deployment).  Uninstall is just a matter of deleting the directory.  To “install” the add-in using these files copy the “SheetMetalExtents” directory from the zip file into:

   %APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

The “%APPDATA%” portion of the path uses an environment variable that will resolve to your Roaming directory.  On my machine it ends up using the path of:

   C:\Users\ekinsb\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

zip[10] SheetMetalExtents.zip (8 Kb)

 

 

Source Code – This zip file contains the source code for the add-in.

zip[11] SheetMetalExtentsSource.zip (9 Kb)

 

Please let me know if you find any issues with the program or have suggestions to improve it.

-Brian

Comments

12 responses to “Sheet Metal Extents Add-In Update”

  1. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    Hi Brian,
    It’s great to see that you’ve taken the time to update this add in. I use it extensively, it’s a very useful tool.
    My only bug bear is that It occasionally gives an error, but it doesn’t tell me which part the error was in.
    There is also no way to turn the error off. This can be very frustrating if the error crops up a lot of times in a large assembly – lots of button clicks to clear the errors before you can go looking for the cause.
    In the meantime, keep up the good work with ‘Mod the machine’.
    Paul.

    Reply
  2. Denis Avatar
    Denis

    Hello,
    I have some questions:
    •Can I load an Inventor File with C#?
    •Can I load an Inventor File with C# without Inventor Installled in my computer?
    I have an Inventor File with a mechanical piece that move in his 3 axes, can I make a C# application where I insert some values and the application modify the inventor file and then view this “modified” mechanical piece on C#?( All this without Inventor installed on my computer)
    (I Post a comment here because I don’t know where I can ask you about this)
    Thank you very much.

    Reply
  3. Brian Ekins Avatar
    Brian Ekins

    Hi Paul,
    If you run into things like this please let me know. I did add some more error handling with this release where it should gracefully fail without any dialogs. There may be some room for improvement there in the future.
    -Brian

    Reply
  4. Brian Ekins Avatar
    Brian Ekins

    It’s not possible to manipulate an Inventor model without having Inventor. The Inventor API can be used from C# but without Inventor you don’t have access to the API.

    Reply
  5. Fulvio Avatar
    Fulvio

    Hi Brian,
    it’s a very useful tool and all my colleagues like it.
    I created a sheetmetal iPartFactory with 3 rows for example. When i put it with the different MemberName in an assembly, i realized that the relative drawing with the partlist was not update. Please can you help iProperties in each file generated from the iPart to be update?
    Thank you very much.

    Reply
  6. Brendan H Avatar
    Brendan H

    Brian, I’m using your original add-in with 2012. Occasionally (usually when changing the part sketch) I get the following error “Unexpected error while updating the property values with the sheet metal extents. The results should not ne used.” Any idea’s as to how this can be overcome? I’ll be upgrading to 2013 in the first quarter of next year so your updated version might fix this). I have only seen this error since upgrading from 2011 to 2012 PDS.

    Reply
  7. Carlos Avatar
    Carlos

    Hi Brian,
    I assume this even if this is a registry-free version, it will still add an entry in the Add-ins dialog box (Tools > Options > Add-Ins)?
    I cant seem to get it to work, as no entry appears in my Add-In (even after clicking Show hidden members), either through the installer, or drag and drop method.
    I’m using Inventor 2013 from Factory Design Suite.
    Any other checks I can do to make sure it loads? Any re-registration needed?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  8. omar Avatar
    omar

    Hi, I cant get it to work either I am on 2013, never tried the 2012 version…probaly user error not sure of the steps to get it to work:
    I just ran the installer, checked the %app% all the files got copied there.
    but there is no entry in my add-ins manager.
    I tried to add the variables manually and they are blank.
    Any help is appreciated
    Thanks

    Reply
  9. Rob Veer Avatar
    Rob Veer

    Hi Brian,
    Use your addin all the time – still on 2011. I know why I sometimes get an error and it has to do with some code in some legacy parts or a hole in a sheetmetal part. The only additional thing I would add to the error handling is some indication of what part the error is referring to if possible: “Unexpected error while updating the property values with the sheet metal extents. The results should not ne used for part XYZ.ipt”
    Thanks,
    Rob

    Reply
  10. Carlo Avatar
    Carlo

    What I eventually ended up doing was to use Mike’s install_64.bat found in his post # 61 here:
    http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-Inventor-Customization/Sheet-Metal-Extents/td-p/1885434/page/7
    Its inside the zip file. I placed this in the same folder where the SheetMetalExtents.dll is located, ran it, and now it appears in the Add-in Manager

    Reply
  11. Kirk Avatar
    Kirk

    I also tried to use the “SheetMetalExtentsInstall” thats posted above. The program shows up on my “Programs and features” as version 3.0, but it is not listed under Inventor 2013 Add-ins and it doesnt work in 2013. I also tried adding the code in the second zip to the %appdata% folder, but that didnt work either.

    Reply
  12. Kirk Avatar
    Kirk

    I am also seeing the “Unexpected Error while updating the property values….”. This happens if I edit the sketch of my part. When I exit the sketch and the model updates, it gives me this error and the parameters do not update. I am using Inventor 2013, SP1.1

    Reply

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