Search found 60 matches

by gerard
Thu May 04, 2023 7:59 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Tips for Going off Subscription?
Replies: 58
Views: 9708

Re: Tips for Going off Subscription?

Wow. That's awesome. Just another nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned.

I'm retiring at the end the month and the gravy train of my employer covering the cost of subscription to my personal seat of SolidWorks will end as well.

So, come February, I'll be off of subscription as well.
by gerard
Mon Apr 24, 2023 11:54 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: STEP AP 242
Replies: 8
Views: 1885

Re: STEP AP 242

Isn't that special....
by gerard
Wed Apr 19, 2023 9:22 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Advanced Hole callout format file
Replies: 1
Views: 388

Advanced Hole callout format file

So,

I thought I had brought the right files over to the new location for the Advanced Hole callout format file from c:\solidworks\lang\english....

But Swx is spitting back at me telling me the file was not found.

Does anyone know the filename for this thing?

Thanks
by gerard
Wed Apr 19, 2023 8:35 am
Forum: How To Questions
Topic: 3d PDF generation issues
Replies: 1
Views: 529

Re: 3d PDF generation issues

Sigh Interesting. I've had a couple of times when the 3DPDF thing would spit at me. Perhaps this is why. For those of us that live in protected enclaves though, this is a real challenge. I've tried for years to get our "friends" at Dassault to come to the realization that most users don't ...
by gerard
Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:11 pm
Forum: 2D Drawings
Topic: Multi-pass Weld Symbol
Replies: 7
Views: 3575

Re: Multi-pass Weld Symbol

So, putting my welding hat on, would it make more sense to call out a specific weld procedure, which accurately defined these processes instead of this nomenclature?

I ask as I've never seen a multi-pass weld symbol on a drawing.
by gerard
Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:46 pm
Forum: SolidWorks PDM
Topic: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM
Replies: 13
Views: 5977

Re: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM

A bit. I need to study it to see if it's a viable solution.

thanks
by gerard
Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:14 pm
Forum: SolidWorks PDM
Topic: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM
Replies: 13
Views: 5977

Re: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM

hey Ben, Mostly what I write now is VBA for use in SolidWorks. Prolly not directly applicable in this specific instance. If I was to go down this path, I would leverage as much existing code and capability as I could. The innerweb spelunking I've done indicates that SVN is the "preferred" ...
by gerard
Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:45 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Adventures in administrative image land
Replies: 5
Views: 795

Re: Adventures in administrative image land

We (my IT goober and I) have gone through this twice now. First time was for v2021. All seemed to be per the documentation and went smoothly. Second time was for v2022. Much had changed, little/none of it documented, lot's of trial and error to get it going. Things we had cleaned up (like the hell b...
by gerard
Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Kitty Dump
Topic: Disney ruined my childhood
Replies: 29
Views: 5460

Re: Disney ruined my childhood

Frederick_Law wrote: Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:23 am But it didn't follow Disney's stories.
Need a happy ending.
And didn't proselytize about whichever social issue Disney was fond of that day.
by gerard
Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:23 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Interesting (?) behavior of design tables
Replies: 3
Views: 1001

Re: Interesting (?) behavior of design tables

josh wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:23 pm Format the cells. Change to "general".
Thank you very much.

UU
by gerard
Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:02 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Interesting (?) behavior of design tables
Replies: 3
Views: 1001

Interesting (?) behavior of design tables

So, I've been playing a lot with design tables of late. Build a couple of configurations, create a design table, open it in Excel and then create the remaining configurations. Typically I add a column for a Custom Property named Description which looks (of course) looks like $PRP@'Description'. (Or ...
by gerard
Wed Mar 15, 2023 1:14 pm
Forum: SolidWorks PDM
Topic: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM
Replies: 13
Views: 5977

Re: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM

If only you are are using SW, why would you need PDM? Just save a copy of the old "rev". Or copy whole assembly to another folder. That might be good advice if SW weren't so good at searching your hard drive for "missing" files. All of a sudden your "archived" files ar...
by gerard
Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:32 pm
Forum: SolidWorks PDM
Topic: Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM
Replies: 13
Views: 5977

Cheap/free alternatives to SolidWorks PDM

Greetings all, I'm about 6 weeks away from retiring from my "day" job. I've had a seat of SolidWorks standard for as long as I can remember, and have used it casually over the years. With more time on my hands after the big "R", there are a number of ideas I want to develop in pa...
by gerard
Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Broken solidworks website
Replies: 15
Views: 2007

Re: Broken solidworks website

I had this problem in September 2022. About a month later, the workaround (logging in to the portal first) stopped working. I had to get my VAR involved and eventually the issue was resolved by the 'passport team' at SW. This is 100% a problem on SOLIDWORKS' end. Get your VAR involved. If they want...
by gerard
Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:16 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Have anyone successful get power in charge to decide to leave SW ?
Replies: 203
Views: 99539

Re: Have anyone successful get power in charge to decide to leave SW ?

@gerard It's been suggested to him several times over. It just goes in one ear and out the other. He wants us users to figure out what he doesn't know and then show him how it's done in SW to which he then decides that SW still sucks because it's not SE. It's way past beyond boring or productive at...
by gerard
Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:42 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Have anyone successful get power in charge to decide to leave SW ?
Replies: 203
Views: 99539

Re: Have anyone successful get power in charge to decide to leave SW ?

When we now are into views. Is there a way to get "view orientation" (using space) to default to isometric? Current it default to some "dirotatometric". When I press the isometric it will stick for a while but later default to the old behavior. Did some search but... will try ag...
by gerard
Tue Mar 14, 2023 1:02 pm
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

Yay! The answer: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/excel-automation-fails-second-time-code-runs-6647c4b4-da5c-ee1f-cc6f-58815d47702d All my references were changed to specifically call out the sheet object: e.g. column("A2") became xlsheet.column("A2") :cry: This is a fun...
by gerard
Tue Mar 14, 2023 11:05 am
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

Unfortunately, no. Protected enclave. More digging indicates that a linkage to an add-in com object is happening, which remains active after killing Excel in VBA. Microsoft's solution is not just to de-activate the COM add-in, but completely remove it. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubl...
by gerard
Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:19 am
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

Sigh. No change. I refactored the set up routine, so instead of: xlSheet.Columns("A:A").Select Selection.ColumnWidth = 25 Its: xlSheet.Columns("A:A").ColumnWidth = 25 ===> Which is where it purps. Some innerweb spelunking hints that it is a duplicate worksheet hiding somewhere. W...
by gerard
Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:37 am
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

It's a little strange to pass these three objects to the subroutine and then initialize them. Why not simply Dim the three variables in your module and then just initialize them in the setup routine? ... You did everything except tell Excel to actually stop. Add a call to xlApp.Quit <()> That makes...
by gerard
Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:08 pm
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

Ok, I use a subroutine to do all the setup before writing. sub template_setup(xlApp as Excel.Application, xlBook as Excel.Workbook, xlSheet as Excel.Worksheet) set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application") xlApp.Visible = True Set xlBook = xlApp.Workbooks.Add Set xlSheet = xlBook.ActiveShe...
by gerard
Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:42 am
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

More "goodness". The tool works fine, but.... I'm running it multiple times to select folders to write these "catalog" files in. Every other time I run the thing Excel opens with a new file and then burps with "run-time error 1004 Method "ThisWorkbook' of object '_Globa...
by gerard
Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:44 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Solidworks 2023 SP0.1 is available
Replies: 41
Views: 8657

Re: Solidworks 2023 SP0.1 is available

Even if you keep it local, I would add them to a different single folder local. SolidWorks like them scattered to the winds....some in the c:\Program data, some under c:\program files\SolidWorks corp\ in various sub folders. Oh man this. We're in a corporate networked environment without the benefi...
by gerard
Mon Mar 06, 2023 2:45 pm
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

Ok. Thanks so far. The macro works fine....... But it's slow, and as it trudges through folders gets slower. Currently I use GetPreviewBitmap to create an stdole.stdpicture object Then use stdole.savePicture to save a physical image on the drive. Then use sheet.shape.addpicture to inset the image in...
by gerard
Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:56 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Onshape's downsides from a SolidWorks user perspective?
Replies: 54
Views: 9173

Re: Onshape's downsides from a SolidWorks user perspective?

KQuigley wrote: Sun Feb 26, 2023 7:24 pm :lol: Love how this forum autocorrected d*** …. As in Richard Sowar.
Wouldn't want to offend anyone, now would we?
by gerard
Wed Feb 22, 2023 2:11 pm
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

So,

I flipped it around and wrote the thing in the Swx IDE. Writing to an excel file is easy.

It's trudging away as we speak....
by gerard
Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:50 pm
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Re: Using Document Manager API from Excel

This is almost certainly the issue. It's a similar error I get when I forget to un-check "Prefer 32-bit" when I use Document Manager in Visual Studio. Thanks. Yea, a bit of digging indicates that the dll is 64 bit. There do seem to be some ways around it, but I'll have to get my IT folks ...
by gerard
Thu Feb 16, 2023 8:47 am
Forum: API
Topic: Using Document Manager API from Excel
Replies: 14
Views: 2946

Using Document Manager API from Excel

So, I've got a Document Manager Key, and have created a vba macro in SolidWorks which verifies all is fine and good in Document Manager land. So, I want to do some custom property stuff from within Excel, so I look at this wonderful source https://www.codestack.net/solidworks-document-manager-api/do...
by gerard
Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: API
Topic: DeleteScene Method (IModelDocExtension)
Replies: 3
Views: 679

Re: DeleteScene Method (IModelDocExtension)

It pretty much works as advertised. Here's a before: image.png Here's some code: Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks Dim mDoc As ModelDoc2 Dim mExt As ModelDocExtension Sub main() Set swApp = Application.SldWorks Set mDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc Set mExt = mDoc.Extension mExt.DeleteScene End Sub And here's th...
by gerard
Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:35 am
Forum: API
Topic: DeleteScene Method (IModelDocExtension)
Replies: 3
Views: 679

DeleteScene Method (IModelDocExtension)

All, I'm tweaking my clean up utility to be able to unfiy the scene settings in my parts/assemblies. Doing some spelunking I've come across the DelecteScene function: https://help.solidworks.com/2017/English/api/sldworksapi/SolidWorks.Interop.sldworks~SolidWorks.Interop.sldworks.IModelDocExtension~D...
by gerard
Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Forum: Macro Library
Topic: Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks
Replies: 8
Views: 3352

Re: Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks

Unfortunately I've been less than diligent about cleaning up bits and pieces in my macro folder. You know record some things, use some of the recording, never delete the recorded file. I wound up opening every swp file, some 40+ of them, and whittled them down to about 10 which are actually useful. ...
by gerard
Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:20 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Tips for Going off Subscription?
Replies: 58
Views: 9708

Re: Tips for Going off Subscription?

I honestly couldn't say. What I can say is that I have made it quite clear to them that they would need to pull a miracle outa there a$$es before I would ever agree to part with another penny for them. I guess that is close to a miracle as I'm gonna get from them. I have been VERY vocal with them a...
by gerard
Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:46 am
Forum: API
Topic: SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide
Replies: 3
Views: 1270

Re: SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide

I was able to download a copy.

Thank you Dave.
by gerard
Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:46 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Tips for Going off Subscription?
Replies: 58
Views: 9708

Re: Tips for Going off Subscription?

I was fully prepared to never be on subs again. But, as sometimes happens in life, the unexpected can indeed occur. I am now back on subs until December 2025. Our VAR eventually offered a deal that amounted to almost half price subs, for the next 3 yrs and backdating fees virtually waived entirely....
by gerard
Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:37 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: How is SW 2022 SP 5.0 running for you?
Replies: 48
Views: 7919

Re: How is SW 2022 SP 5.0 running for you?

Yeah, that's what I'm going to have to do. I've got a FireGL card, and it's just not cutting it.
by gerard
Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:13 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: How is SW 2022 SP 5.0 running for you?
Replies: 48
Views: 7919

Re: How is SW 2022 SP 5.0 running for you?

It definitely doesn't like the cheap a$$ video card in my machine at the house. Lot's of drawing sheets with views not displayed. Yes, I updated the drivers, but the board is several (5?) years old and has never been on the "approved" list. I'll prolly have to bite the bullet and buy a rea...
by gerard
Tue Jan 10, 2023 12:13 pm
Forum: API
Topic: SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide
Replies: 3
Views: 1270

Re: SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide

Thank you!
by gerard
Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:49 am
Forum: API
Topic: SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide
Replies: 3
Views: 1270

SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide

Was anyone able to grab a copy of the SolidWorks API Best Practices Guide? https://www.cadsharp.com/blog/new-solidworks-api-best-practices-guide/ I ask as it's now gone with the demise of the solidworks customer portal. Wouldn't mind seeing a copy if anyone has managed to grab one. thanks gerard
by gerard
Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:14 am
Forum: Macro Library
Topic: Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks
Replies: 8
Views: 3352

Re: Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks

Microsoft Visual Studio should do the trick. Edit: forgot to mention, if those SWP are for SolidWorks macros, then most likely you will require a SolidWorks licence or the person who uses the macros to open them in vB so that they can load the SolidWorks references. image.png Thanks. I'll look into...
by gerard
Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:35 am
Forum: Macro Library
Topic: Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks
Replies: 8
Views: 3352

Viewing swp files without opening them in SolidWorks

Hey all,

I'm retiring in the 2nd quarter and want to document all my macros for future usage.

Is there a way to view the contents of a swp file without opening it in SolidWorks?

That would make the process a lot more efficient.

Thanks!
by gerard
Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:41 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Life after subscription
Replies: 3
Views: 595

Life after subscription

So, I'm in a kinda odd situation where my employer has been reimbursing me for subscription costs for my personal seat of SolidWorks. We're a consulting company, and in the customer office that I'm ensconced in, I'm the SolidWorks guru (weenie). Access to the VAR who actually sold the seats we use i...
by gerard
Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:28 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Perpetual License or Annual Cloud Subscription.
Replies: 12
Views: 1706

Re: Perpetual License or Annual Cloud Subscription.

... I've been informed that as of Jan. 2023 perpetual licensing subscriptions will be only available in 4yr increments..!? ... Whisky Tango Foxtrot? You have to buy a 4 year subscription? Wow. That's ballsy. As it turns out, I'm going to renew in January, and that will be it for me. My employer has...
by gerard
Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:19 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Smallest Feature Size
Replies: 3
Views: 781

Re: Smallest Feature Size

I know there is a maximum. Don't remember what it is, but I often get a notice when importing models that were designed in millimeters and imported as inches.
by gerard
Thu Nov 17, 2022 2:20 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Custom thread design - need assistance
Replies: 16
Views: 2859

Re: Custom thread design - need assistance

For the case above. Makes complete sense. Files sizes might be the same, but the CPU load is not. Far different. Load up an assembly with a couple of hundred nuts and bolts with threads. Might be a good opportunity to take lunch. McMaster-Carr is the worst for this. Every fastener you download from ...
by gerard
Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:16 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Custom thread design - need assistance
Replies: 16
Views: 2859

Re: Custom thread design - need assistance

/rant on/ Why, oh why are you cutting threads in 3D models? Do you hate your co-workers? Once, upon a time, when I was a VAR, that was the first thing we covered in training classes. Here is how you cut threads. And then, here's why we don't. Seriously. Nothing to gain here other than consuming vast...
by gerard
Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:16 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Blank Part numbers in Design Table
Replies: 11
Views: 1101

Re: Blank Part numbers in Design Table

So,

Much ado about nothing. I deleted the excel design table and recreated it with a space in the part number and all is well.

Sorry for the distraction.
by gerard
Thu Oct 27, 2022 8:43 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Blank Part numbers in Design Table
Replies: 11
Views: 1101

Re: Blank Part numbers in Design Table

Do you have a screenshot? Words are pretty much up to interpretation. Are we talking part properties or body properties? Unfortunately, my SWX machine is on a protected enclave not attached to the innerwebs. Network cross pollination is verboten... I'm pretty sure at this stage that it is a buggere...
by gerard
Wed Oct 26, 2022 2:42 pm
Forum: SW General
Topic: Blank Part numbers in Design Table
Replies: 11
Views: 1101

Re: Blank Part numbers in Design Table

I'm guessing at this stage is that it's a file issue. Other, similar files, don't do this.

I'll have to figure it out....
by gerard
Wed Oct 26, 2022 10:50 am
Forum: SW General
Topic: Blank Part numbers in Design Table
Replies: 11
Views: 1101

Re: Blank Part numbers in Design Table

Here's the weird part.

Doing some playing around, this seems to be part specific.

My flat washer part wont let me use a space for the part number, but my lock washer part will.

My head hurts.....