Adding a Custom Toolbar as an Add-in in CATIA

[siddhu2310]

Hi everyone,

I’ve developed a custom toolbar for CATIA using VB.NET, and I’m currently able to run the executable directly. However, I’d like to integrate it into CATIA as an Add-in, so users can launch the tool directly from within CATIA.

I’ve considered a few approaches but encountered some challenges:

1. Using a Macro to Launch the Executable:
   I can create a macro (CATVBA) to launch my MyApp.exe and then add the macro as a command in a custom toolbar. However, this requires distributing the macro file to each user's system manually, which adds extra steps for users.
2. Setting Up a Toolbar Icon and Sharing CATSettings:
   Another idea is to set up the toolbar with the necessary icons and commands on my system, then share my CATSettings and the macro file with users. However, this could overwrite or collide with users' custom CATSettings, which is not ideal.
3. Adding the Toolbar as a Proper Add-in:
   Ideally, I’d like to implement the toolbar as a proper Add-in that integrates seamlessly with CATIA, avoiding the manual steps and potential conflicts mentioned above.

Does anyone have experience or suggestions for implementing this kind of Add-in in CATIA? Are there specific APIs, tools, or best practices I should follow to achieve this?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ferdo]

Add-in (option 3) only with CAA license. Otherwise, option 1 or 2. If you have exe file, why not put a shortcut on taskbar?

 

[Little Cthulhu]

We've got customizable CAA toolbars where each button runs catscript or catvba. I consider this to be the best way to go.

A "toolbar" displayed by VB.NET is cumbersome to use since it requires extra action to be displayed and struggles in ergonomics when there're plenty of commands.

Consider a context menu instead invoked with custom keyboard shortcut.

 

[siddhu2310]

We've got customizable CAA toolbars where each button runs catscript or catvba. I consider this to be the best way to go.

A "toolbar" displayed by VB.NET is cumbersome to use since it requires extra action to be displayed and struggles in ergonomics when there're plenty of commands.

Consider a context menu instead invoked with custom keyboard shortcut.

Could you help to have CAA toolbar with run the CATVBA Script ?

 

[siddhu2310]

Add-in (option 3) only with CAA license. Otherwise, option 1 or 2. If you have exe file, why not put a shortcut on taskbar?

I don't want to run the toolbar from externally.

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Could you help to have CAA toolbar with run the CATVBA Script ?

I'm afraid I'm not allowed to share our solution.
You have to purchase CAA licens (costs A LOT) and then use sample code in CAA Encyclopedia as a reference to develop your own solution (requires middle-level C++ knowledge).