Export flat patterns from SOLIDWORKS part or assembly components
This VBA macro allows to export all flat patterns to DXF/DWG from all sheet metal components in the active SOLIDWORKS assembly or an active part document.
Macro enables flexibility in specifying the name of the output file allowing to use placeholders (original file name, feature name, custom property, cut-list custom property, etc.) combined with the free text and supports specifying sub-folders.
The following message box will be displayed once the exporting is completed.
Configuration
Macro can be configured by modifying the OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE and FLAT_PATTERN_OPTIONS constants
Output name template
This constant allows to specify template for the output path of the flat pattern.
This can be either absolute or relative path. If later, result will be saved relative to the assembly directory.
Extension (either .dxf or .dwg) must be specified as the part of naming template
The following placeholders are supported
- <_FileName_> - name of the part file (without extension) where the flat pattern resides in
- <_FeatureName_> - name of the flat pattern feature
- <_ConfName_> - name of the configuration of this flat pattern (i.e. referenced configuration of the component)
- <_AssmFileName_> - name of the main assembly
- <$CLPRP:[PropertyName]> - any name of the cut-list property to read value from, e.g. <Thickness> is replaced with the value of cut-list custom property Thickness
- <$PRP:[PropertyName]> - any name of the custom property of sheet metal part to read value from, e.g. <PartNo> is replaced with the value of cut-list custom property PartNo
- <$ASSMPRP:[PropertyName]> - any name of the custom property of main assembly to read value from, e.g. <ProductId> is replaced with the value of cut-list custom property ProductId
Placeholders will be resolved for each flat pattern at runtime.
For example the following value will save flat patterns with the name of the part document in the DXFs sub-folder in the same folder as main assembly
Const OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE As String = "DXFs\<_FileName_>.dxf"
While the following name will save all of the flat patterns as DWG file into the Output folder in D drive, where the file name will be extracted from the PartNo property for each corresponding flat pattern.
Const OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE As String = "D:\Output\<$CLPRP:PartNo>.dwg"
The following setup will create sub-folder corresponding to value of the Thickness custom property in cut-lists and name files using the ProductName custom property extracted from the main assembly followed by underscore symbol and value of PartNo property from sheet metal part document.
Const OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE As String = "D:\Output\<$CLPRP:Thickness>\<$ASSMPRP:ProductName>_<$PRP:PartNo>.dwg"
Include quantity into file name
This macro does not have an explicit variable to include quantity of flat patterns into the file name. It is however possible to extract the quantity of the multi body sheet metal part by including the value of automatic QUANTITY custom property with <$CLPRP:QUANTITY> placeholder.
In order to include the component quantity in the assembly, use the Write component quantity in the SOLIDWORKS assembly to custom property macro. Run this macro before exporting to create custom property with the quantity value and then use <$CLPRP:Qty> placeholder in order to include this into the output file name.
Note, this macro will not multiple the quantity of multi-body sheet metal part and the component quantity
Flat pattern options
Options can be configured by specifying the values of FLAT_PATTERN_OPTIONS. Use + to combine options
For example to export hidden edges, library features and forming tools, use the setting below.
Const FLAT_PATTERN_OPTIONS As Integer = SheetMetalOptions_e.IncludeHiddenEdges + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportLibraryFeatures + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportFormingTools
Note, geometry option must always be specified as it is required for the flat pattern export
Skip created files
SKIP_EXISTING_FILES options allows to specify if macro should regenerate output file if it already exists.
Set this option to true to skip exporting the file if the output file (.dxf or .dwg) exists on the target location.
Const SKIP_EXISTING_FILES As Boolean = True
This option can be useful when processing large assemblies and it is required to continue the execution after SOLIDWORKS restart. Exporting flat patterns is a heavy performance operation so SOLIDWORKS may crash or hang when large job is processed. This option can help to continue the exporting after the restart.
Open output files
Macro can be configured to automatically open the generated flat pattern files by modifying the value of the OPEN_APP_PATH constant
Const OPEN_APP_PATH As String = "C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\eDrawings\eDrawings.exe" 'opens exported file in the eDrawings application
Troubleshooting
If macro reports an error, in some cases it might not be immediately evident what is causing an error as the error details are 'swallowed' by exception handler. In order to disable errors handling and reveal the exact line causing the error comment all On Error GoTo catch_ lines in the code by placing the apostrophe ' symbol at the beginning of the line as shown below.
Sub main() Set swApp = Application.SldWorks try_: 'On Error GoTo catch_
Sub ExportFlatPattern(part As SldWorks.PartDoc, flatPattern As SldWorks.Feature, outFilePath As String, opts As SheetMetalOptions_e, conf As String) Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2 Set swModel = part Dim error As ErrObject Dim hide As Boolean try_: 'On Error GoTo catch_
Please submit the bug report and attach snapshot of this error and model used to reproduce (if possible)
Notes
- Macro will ask to resolve lightweight components if any. Macro can generate error if components are not resolved
- Each flat pattern from the multi-body sheet metal part will be exported. Make sure to use either <_FeatureName_> or <$CLPRP:[PropertyName]> to differentiate between result files
- $PRP and $ASSMPRP values will be firstly extracted from the configuration specific properties and if empty from the general file properties
- If specified property does not exist (for $CLPRP, $PRP and $ASSMPRP) - empty string is used as the placeholder value
- Macro will process all distinct components (file path + configuration)
- Macro will automatically create folders if required
- Macro will replace all path invalid symbols with _
- Macro will only export unique bodies grouped under cut-list and skip flat patterns which belong to already exported cut-list
Enum SheetMetalOptions_e ExportFlatPatternGeometry = 1 IncludeHiddenEdges = 2 ExportBendLines = 4 IncludeSketches = 8 MergeCoplanarFaces = 16 ExportLibraryFeatures = 32 ExportFormingTools = 64 ExportBoundingBox = 2048 End Enum Const SKIP_EXISTING_FILES As Boolean = False Const OPEN_APP_PATH As String = "" 'Path to the application to open the file (e.g. eDrawings), empty string to not open the file, * to open with default application Const OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE As String = "DXFs\<_FileName_>_<_FeatureName_>_<_ConfName_>_<$CLPRP:Description>.dxf" Const FLAT_PATTERN_OPTIONS As Integer = SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportBendLines + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportFlatPatternGeometry Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks Sub main() Set swApp = Application.SldWorks try_: On Error GoTo catch_ Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2 Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc If swModel Is Nothing Then Err.Raise vbError, "", "Please open assembly or part document" End If If swModel.GetType() = swDocumentTypes_e.swDocASSEMBLY Then Dim swAssy As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc Set swAssy = swModel swAssy.ResolveAllLightWeightComponents True Dim vComps As Variant vComps = GetDistinctSheetMetalComponents(swAssy) Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(vComps) Dim swComp As SldWorks.Component2 Set swComp = vComps(i) ProcessSheetMetalModel swAssy, swComp.GetModelDoc2(), swComp.ReferencedConfiguration Next ElseIf swModel.GetType() = swDocumentTypes_e.swDocPART Then Dim swPart As SldWorks.PartDoc Set swPart = swApp.ActiveDoc ProcessSheetMetalModel swPart, swPart, swPart.ConfigurationManager.ActiveConfiguration.Name Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "Only assembly and part documents are supported" End If swApp.SendMsgToUser2 "Operation completed", swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbInformation, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk GoTo finally_ catch_: swApp.SendMsgToUser2 Err.Description, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbStop, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk finally_: End Sub Function GetDistinctSheetMetalComponents(assy As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc) As Variant Dim vComps As Variant vComps = assy.GetComponents(False) Dim i As Integer Dim swSheetMetalComps() As SldWorks.Component2 For i = 0 To UBound(vComps) Dim swComp As SldWorks.Component2 Set swComp = vComps(i) If False = swComp.IsSuppressed() Then If Not ContainsComponent(swSheetMetalComps, swComp) Then If IsSheetMetalComponent(swComp) Then If (Not swSheetMetalComps) = -1 Then ReDim swSheetMetalComps(0) Else ReDim Preserve swSheetMetalComps(UBound(swSheetMetalComps) + 1) End If Set swSheetMetalComps(UBound(swSheetMetalComps)) = swComp End If End If End If Next If (Not swSheetMetalComps) = -1 Then GetDistinctSheetMetalComponents = Empty Else GetDistinctSheetMetalComponents = swSheetMetalComps End If End Function Function IsSheetMetalComponent(comp As SldWorks.Component2) As Boolean Dim vBodies As Variant vBodies = comp.GetBodies3(swBodyType_e.swSolidBody, Empty) If Not IsEmpty(vBodies) Then Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(vBodies) Dim swBody As SldWorks.Body2 Set swBody = vBodies(i) If False <> swBody.IsSheetMetal() Then IsSheetMetalComponent = True Exit Function End If Next End If IsSheetMetalComponent = False End Function Function ContainsComponent(comps As Variant, swComp As SldWorks.Component2) As Boolean Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(comps) Dim swThisComp As SldWorks.Component2 Set swThisComp = comps(i) If swThisComp.GetPathName() = swComp.GetPathName() And swThisComp.ReferencedConfiguration = swComp.ReferencedConfiguration Then ContainsComponent = True Exit Function End If Next ContainsComponent = False End Function Function ComposeOutFileName(template As String, rootModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, sheetMetalModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, conf As String, flatPatternFeat As SldWorks.Feature, cutListFeat As SldWorks.Feature) As String Dim regEx As Object Set regEx = CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp") regEx.Global = True regEx.IgnoreCase = True regEx.Pattern = "<[^>]*>" Dim regExMatches As Object Set regExMatches = regEx.Execute(template) Dim i As Integer Dim outFileName As String outFileName = template For i = regExMatches.Count - 1 To 0 Step -1 Dim regExMatch As Object Set regExMatch = regExMatches.Item(i) Dim tokenName As String tokenName = Mid(regExMatch.Value, 2, Len(regExMatch.Value) - 2) outFileName = Left(outFileName, regExMatch.FirstIndex) & ResolveToken(tokenName, rootModel, sheetMetalModel, conf, flatPatternFeat, cutListFeat) & Right(outFileName, Len(outFileName) - (regExMatch.FirstIndex + regExMatch.Length)) Next ComposeOutFileName = ReplaceInvalidPathSymbols(GetFullPath(rootModel, outFileName)) End Function Function ReplaceInvalidPathSymbols(path As String) As String Const REPLACE_SYMB As String = "_" Dim res As String res = Right(path, Len(path) - Len("X:\")) Dim drive As String drive = Left(path, Len("X:\")) Dim invalidSymbols As Variant invalidSymbols = Array("/", ":", "*", "?", """", "<", ">", "|") Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(invalidSymbols) Dim invalidSymb As String invalidSymb = CStr(invalidSymbols(i)) res = Replace(res, invalidSymb, REPLACE_SYMB) Next ReplaceInvalidPathSymbols = drive + res End Function Function ResolveToken(token As String, rootModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, sheetMetalModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, conf As String, flatPatternFeat As SldWorks.Feature, cutListFeat As SldWorks.Feature) As String Const FILE_NAME_TOKEN As String = "_FileName_" Const ASSM_FILE_NAME_TOKEN As String = "_AssmFileName_" Const FEAT_NAME_TOKEN As String = "_FeatureName_" Const CONF_NAME_TOKEN As String = "_ConfName_" Const PRP_TOKEN As String = "$PRP:" Const CUT_LIST_PRP_TOKEN As String = "$CLPRP:" Const ASM_PRP_TOKEN As String = "$ASSMPRP:" Select Case LCase(token) Case LCase(FILE_NAME_TOKEN) ResolveToken = GetFileNameWithoutExtension(sheetMetalModel.GetPathName) Case LCase(FEAT_NAME_TOKEN) ResolveToken = flatPatternFeat.Name Case LCase(CONF_NAME_TOKEN) ResolveToken = conf Case LCase(ASSM_FILE_NAME_TOKEN) If rootModel.GetPathName() = "" Then Err.Raise vbError, "", "Assembly must be saved to use " & ASSM_FILE_NAME_TOKEN End If ResolveToken = GetFileNameWithoutExtension(rootModel.GetPathName()) Case Else Dim prpName As String If Left(token, Len(PRP_TOKEN)) = PRP_TOKEN Then prpName = Right(token, Len(token) - Len(PRP_TOKEN)) ResolveToken = GetModelPropertyValue(sheetMetalModel, conf, prpName) ElseIf Left(token, Len(ASM_PRP_TOKEN)) = ASM_PRP_TOKEN Then prpName = Right(token, Len(token) - Len(ASM_PRP_TOKEN)) ResolveToken = GetModelPropertyValue(rootModel, rootModel.ConfigurationManager.ActiveConfiguration.Name, prpName) ElseIf Left(token, Len(CUT_LIST_PRP_TOKEN)) = CUT_LIST_PRP_TOKEN Then prpName = Right(token, Len(token) - Len(CUT_LIST_PRP_TOKEN)) ResolveToken = GetPropertyValue(cutListFeat.CustomPropertyManager, prpName) Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "Unrecognized token: " & token End If End Select End Function Function GetModelPropertyValue(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, confName As String, prpName As String) As String Dim prpVal As String Dim swCustPrpMgr As SldWorks.CustomPropertyManager Set swCustPrpMgr = model.Extension.CustomPropertyManager(confName) prpVal = GetPropertyValue(swCustPrpMgr, prpName) If prpVal = "" Then Set swCustPrpMgr = model.Extension.CustomPropertyManager("") prpVal = GetPropertyValue(swCustPrpMgr, prpName) End If GetModelPropertyValue = prpVal End Function Function GetPropertyValue(custPrpMgr As SldWorks.CustomPropertyManager, prpName As String) As String Dim resVal As String custPrpMgr.Get2 prpName, "", resVal GetPropertyValue = resVal End Function Function GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path As String) As String GetFileNameWithoutExtension = Mid(path, InStrRev(path, "\") + 1, InStrRev(path, ".") - InStrRev(path, "\") - 1) End Function Function GetCutListFeatures(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2) As Variant GetCutListFeatures = GetFeaturesByType(model, "CutListFolder") End Function Function GetFlatPatternFeatures(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2) As Variant GetFlatPatternFeatures = GetFeaturesByType(model, "FlatPattern") End Function Sub ProcessSheetMetalModel(rootModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, sheetMetalModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, conf As String) Dim vCutListFeats As Variant vCutListFeats = GetCutListFeatures(sheetMetalModel) If Not IsEmpty(vCutListFeats) Then Dim vFlatPatternFeats As Variant vFlatPatternFeats = GetFlatPatternFeatures(sheetMetalModel) If Not IsEmpty(vFlatPatternFeats) Then Dim swProcessedCutListsFeats() As SldWorks.Feature Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(vFlatPatternFeats) Dim swFlatPatternFeat As SldWorks.Feature Dim swFlatPattern As SldWorks.FlatPatternFeatureData Set swFlatPatternFeat = vFlatPatternFeats(i) Set swFlatPattern = swFlatPatternFeat.GetDefinition Dim swFixedEnt As SldWorks.Entity Set swFixedEnt = swFlatPattern.FixedFace2 Dim swBody As SldWorks.Body2 If TypeOf swFixedEnt Is SldWorks.Face2 Then Dim swFixedFace As SldWorks.Face2 Set swFixedFace = swFixedEnt Set swBody = swFixedFace.GetBody ElseIf TypeOf swFixedEnt Is SldWorks.Edge Then Dim swFixedEdge As SldWorks.Edge Set swFixedEdge = swFixedEnt Set swBody = swFixedEdge.GetBody ElseIf TypeOf swFixedEnt Is SldWorks.Vertex Then Dim swFixedVert As SldWorks.Vertex Set swFixedVert = swFixedEnt Set swBody = swFixedVert.GetBody End If Dim swCutListFeat As SldWorks.Feature Set swCutListFeat = FindCutListFeature(vCutListFeats, swBody) If Not swCutListFeat Is Nothing Then Dim isUnique As Boolean If (Not swProcessedCutListsFeats) = -1 Then isUnique = True ElseIf Not ContainsSwObject(swProcessedCutListsFeats, swCutListFeat) Then isUnique = True Else isUnique = False End If If isUnique Then If (Not swProcessedCutListsFeats) = -1 Then ReDim swProcessedCutListsFeats(0) Else ReDim Preserve swProcessedCutListsFeats(UBound(swProcessedCutListsFeats) + 1) End If Set swProcessedCutListsFeats(UBound(swProcessedCutListsFeats)) = swCutListFeat Dim outFileName As String outFileName = ComposeOutFileName(OUT_NAME_TEMPLATE, rootModel, sheetMetalModel, conf, swFlatPatternFeat, swCutListFeat) If Not SKIP_EXISTING_FILES Or Not FileExists(outFileName) Then ExportFlatPattern sheetMetalModel, swFlatPatternFeat, outFileName, FLAT_PATTERN_OPTIONS, conf If OPEN_APP_PATH <> "" Then OpenFile outFileName End If End If End If Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "Failed to find cut-list for flat pattern " & swFlatPatternFeat.Name End If Next Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "No flat pattern features found" End If Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "No cut-list items found" End If End Sub Function FileExists(filePath As String) As Boolean FileExists = Dir(filePath) <> "" End Function Function FindCutListFeature(vCutListFeats As Variant, body As SldWorks.Body2) As SldWorks.Feature Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(vCutListFeats) Dim swCutListFeat As SldWorks.Feature Set swCutListFeat = vCutListFeats(i) Dim swBodyFolder As SldWorks.BodyFolder Set swBodyFolder = swCutListFeat.GetSpecificFeature2 Dim vBodies As Variant vBodies = swBodyFolder.GetBodies If ContainsSwObject(vBodies, body) Then Set FindCutListFeature = swCutListFeat End If Next End Function Function ContainsSwObject(vArr As Variant, obj As Object) As Boolean If Not IsEmpty(vArr) Then Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(vArr) Dim swObj As Object Set swObj = vArr(i) If swApp.IsSame(swObj, obj) = swObjectEquality.swObjectSame Then ContainsSwObject = True Exit Function End If Next End If ContainsSwObject = False End Function Function GetFeaturesByType(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, typeName As String) As Variant Dim swFeats() As SldWorks.Feature Dim swFeat As SldWorks.Feature Set swFeat = model.FirstFeature Do While Not swFeat Is Nothing If typeName = "CutListFolder" And swFeat.GetTypeName2() = "SolidBodyFolder" Then Dim swBodyFolder As SldWorks.BodyFolder Set swBodyFolder = swFeat.GetSpecificFeature2 swBodyFolder.UpdateCutList End If ProcessFeature swFeat, swFeats, typeName Set swFeat = swFeat.GetNextFeature Loop If (Not swFeats) = -1 Then GetFeaturesByType = Empty Else GetFeaturesByType = swFeats End If End Function Sub ProcessFeature(thisFeat As SldWorks.Feature, featsArr() As SldWorks.Feature, typeName As String) If thisFeat.GetTypeName2() = typeName Then If (Not featsArr) = -1 Then ReDim featsArr(0) Set featsArr(0) = thisFeat Else Dim i As Integer For i = 0 To UBound(featsArr) If swApp.IsSame(featsArr(i), thisFeat) = swObjectEquality.swObjectSame Then Exit Sub End If Next ReDim Preserve featsArr(UBound(featsArr) + 1) Set featsArr(UBound(featsArr)) = thisFeat End If End If Dim swSubFeat As SldWorks.Feature Set swSubFeat = thisFeat.GetFirstSubFeature While Not swSubFeat Is Nothing ProcessFeature swSubFeat, featsArr, typeName Set swSubFeat = swSubFeat.GetNextSubFeature Wend End Sub Sub ExportFlatPattern(part As SldWorks.PartDoc, flatPattern As SldWorks.Feature, outFilePath As String, opts As SheetMetalOptions_e, conf As String) Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2 Set swModel = part Dim error As ErrObject Dim hide As Boolean try_: On Error GoTo catch_ If False = swModel.Visible Then hide = True swModel.Visible = True End If swApp.ActivateDoc3 swModel.GetPathName(), False, swRebuildOnActivation_e.swDontRebuildActiveDoc, 0 swModel.FeatureManager.EnableFeatureTree = False swModel.FeatureManager.EnableFeatureTreeWindow = False swModel.ActiveView.EnableGraphicsUpdate = False Dim curConf As String curConf = swModel.ConfigurationManager.ActiveConfiguration.Name If curConf <> conf Then If False = swModel.ShowConfiguration2(conf) Then Err.Raise vbError, "", "Failed to activate configuration" End If End If Dim outDir As String outDir = Left(outFilePath, InStrRev(outFilePath, "\")) CreateDirectories outDir Dim modelPath As String modelPath = part.GetPathName If modelPath = "" Then Err.Raise vbError, "", "Part document must be saved" End If If False <> flatPattern.Select2(False, -1) Then If False = part.ExportToDWG2(outFilePath, modelPath, swExportToDWG_e.swExportToDWG_ExportSheetMetal, True, Empty, False, False, opts, Empty) Then Err.Raise vbError, "", "Failed to export flat pattern" End If Else Err.Raise vbError, "", "Failed to select flat-pattern" End If swModel.ShowConfiguration2 curConf GoTo finally_ catch_: Set error = Err finally_: swModel.FeatureManager.EnableFeatureTree = True swModel.FeatureManager.EnableFeatureTreeWindow = True swModel.ActiveView.EnableGraphicsUpdate = True If hide Then swApp.CloseDoc swModel.GetTitle End If If Not error Is Nothing Then Err.Raise error.Number, error.Source, error.Description, error.HelpFile, error.HelpContext End If End Sub Sub OpenFile(filePath As String) If OPEN_APP_PATH = "*" Then Shell """" & filePath & """" Else Shell """" & OPEN_APP_PATH & """" & " " & """" & filePath & """" End If End Sub Sub CreateDirectories(path As String) Dim fso As Object Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") If fso.FolderExists(path) Then Exit Sub End If CreateDirectories fso.GetParentFolderName(path) fso.CreateFolder path End Sub Function GetFullPath(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, path As String) GetFullPath = path If IsPathRelative(path) Then If Left(path, 1) <> "\" Then path = "\" & path End If Dim modelPath As String Dim modelDir As String modelPath = model.GetPathName modelDir = Left(modelPath, InStrRev(modelPath, "\") - 1) GetFullPath = modelDir & path End If End Function Function IsPathRelative(path As String) IsPathRelative = Mid(path, 2, 1) <> ":" And Not IsPathUnc(path) End Function Function IsPathUnc(path As String) IsPathUnc = Left(path, 2) = "\\" End Function