Solidworks C# Addin - Sending a string to a macro

How to Send a String to a Macro in Solidworks C# Addin 🛠️

Are you struggling to send strings to your macros in Solidworks C# Addin? 😰 Don't worry, we have some easy solutions for you! 💡

Here's a common problem faced by Solidworks developers:

"I'm currently working on a new Solidworks task-pane and I want to include user input via text boxes in my macros. However, I cannot find a way to write a scratch file or import these strings into my macros. Is there another way to send these strings to my macros? My addin is written in C# and I'm using the Solidworks RunMacro2 method."

Now, let's dive into the solutions! 🏊‍♀️

Solution 1: Use a Shared File 💾

One way to send strings to your macros is by using a shared file. Here's how you can do it:

1. Create a text file that will serve as the shared file. For example, keyStoneAddinScratch.txt.

2. Write your strings to this file from your task-pane code:

   StreamWriter writeText = new StreamWriter("C:\\keyStoneAddinScratch.txt"); foreach (var textBox in this.Controls.OfType<TextBox>()) { writeText.WriteLine(textBox.Text); } writeText.Close();

3. Call your macro using the RunMacro2 method and pass the file path as an argument:

   iSwApp.RunMacro2(macroPath + "Efficiency Interface.swp", "hitButton", procName, 0, out runMacroError);

4. In your macro code, read the strings from the shared file:

   Dim fileContent As String fileContent = ReadFromFile("C:\\keyStoneAddinScratch.txt")

   You can then process the strings as needed.

Solution 2: Use Custom Properties 📋

Another option is to use custom properties to send your strings to the macros. Here's how:

1. Set the custom properties in your task-pane code:

   boolstatus = custPropMgr.Set("CustomPropertyName", textBox.Text);

2. Access the custom properties in your macro code:

   Dim customProperty As String customProperty = ReadCustomProperty("CustomPropertyName")

   You can then use the customProperty string in your macro.

And there you have it! Two easy solutions to send strings to your macros in Solidworks C# Addin. Feel free to try them out and see which one works best for your specific requirements. 🚀

If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to share it with your fellow Solidworks developers! Let's spread the knowledge and make everyone's lives easier. 😄

Have any other Solidworks-related questions or need further assistance? Don't hesitate to leave a comment below! We're always here to help. 👇