C# - Can't seem to return the object type of the active object

[solid7]

I'm just starting into C#, and I'm attempting to write a little code that only works if we have a 3D Shape active.

I'm basically working through the object browser to try to figure this out, so any pro tips on making this struggle a bit easier, would be greatly appreciated.

using System;
using INFITF;
using MECMOD;
using HybridShapeTypeLib;


namespace VSTA_Applications_xxxxxx_vst00000001_A_1
{
    public sealed partial class ThisApplication : ObjectModelAgentLib.CATIAEntryPoint
    {
        public static void Macro_xxxxxxx()
        {
            Editor iEditor = CATIA.ActiveEditor;
            string iEditName = iEditor.ActiveObject.GetType().ToString();

            System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Editor name = " + iEditName);


            if (iEditName != "VPMRepReference")
            {
                 <do more stuff>
            }

        }
    }
}

With this code, the message box always returns a value of 'System.__ComObject'. I don't know if that's because I'm trying to obtain the type from the system library, instead of a Catia library...

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Hi.

You probably want to reference library that defines [tt]VPMRepReference[/tt] and use is operator instead:

if (iEditor.ActiveObject is VPMRepReference) { ... }

Anwering your question exactly you have to reference Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll and call

Microsoft.VisualBasic.Information.TypeName()

For more details see this stackoverflow thread.

 

[solid7]

So I loaded the Microsoft Visual Basic dll... But there is no 'Information.TypeName()' available.

In the code above, I hadn't yet referenced the dll for the VPMRepReference, but it's here:

using ProductStructureClientIDL;

 

[solid7]

Even so, why would I grab the visual basic dll, and not the C#? (not that it helps, because there isn't an equivalent functionality in C#, that I can see)

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Have you visited the link I provided? It has all the information you need.

 

[solid7]

Yes, I read the link you provided. Did you not read my first reply? Did you try this yourself?

If I ask you a follow-up question, you can be sure that it's because your initial advice didn't work out.

The ONLY thing available in Micrososft.VisualBasic.dll, is 'VBCodeProvider'.

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Did you not read my first reply? Did you try this yourself?

Sure, see attachement.

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...ec4f-4b92-83e7-ed8ae4c263ab&file=TypeName.png

If I ask you a follow-up question, you can be sure that it's because your initial advice didn't work out.

Ok.

The ONLY thing available in Micrososft.VisualBasic.dll, is 'VBCodeProvider'.

Where is this file located on your PC? What version does it have?

 

[solid7]

Where is this file located on your PC? What version does it have?

14.8.3761.0

C:\Windows\WinSxS

 

[solid7]

Actually, there are several different dlls of that name.

They are all either in:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly
C:\Windows\WinSxS
C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Try referencing ones from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET instead.

But there is no 'Information.TypeName()' available

You get build errors or IntelliSense just can't recognize these classes? Try building the code I provided if latter is the case.

Do you have Visual Studio installed? Does the code work fine there?

 

[solid7]

You get build errors or IntelliSense just can't recognize these classes?

Yes and yes.

Do you have Visual Studio installed? Does it the code work fine there?

Visual Studio Professional 2013, per the 3DS documentation. All prerequisites met. I have uninstalled both 3DX and Visual Studio, multiple times, and reinstalled.

I can run code just fine. Can create compiled code (self-contained) all day long. The Catia APIs are what seems to be eluding me.

 

[solid7]

Finally got this to work, but another issue...

        static AxisSystem SelectAxis(Selection cSelection)
        {
            object[] cAny = new object[] {"AxisSystem"};
            string cMessage = "Select an AxisSystem";
            CATMultiSelectionMode cSet = CATMultiSelectionMode.CATMultiSelTriggWhenUserValidatesSelection;

            Object cSelected = cSelection.SelectMultipleElements(cAny, cMessage, false, cSet, true);

            MessageBox.Show("Selection type = " + Information.TypeName(cSelected));

            return (AxisSystem)cSelected;
        }

This code always returns:

Selection type = string

Note: this is just a function that I'm calling from within my main .

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Well, that's exactly what SelectMultipleElements returns. In particular successful selection returns "Normal".
Refer to [tt]DSYAutomation.chm[/tt]

 

[solid7]

OK, I see the error of my ways.

But the example that it shows in the documentation doesn't quite seem to work the same. If I use the "item" method of selection, the only thing it ever seems to return, is "selected element". What am I missing? If I try to to return any properties of "selected element", I get "runtime object" back.

 

[solid7]

Nevermind, I resolved this. Here is what I had to do to get this to work: (I will now go back and put the handlers in place)

                static AxisSystem SelectAxis(Selection cSelection)
        {
            object[] cAny = new object[] { "AxisSystem" };
            string cMessage = "Select an AxisSystem";
            CATMultiSelectionMode cSet = CATMultiSelectionMode.CATMultiSelTriggWhenUserValidatesSelection;

            cSelection.SelectMultipleElements(cAny, cMessage, false, cSet, true);

            object cSelected = cSelection.Item(1).Value;
            bool isAxisSystem = (cSelected is AxisSystem);

            if (isAxisSystem == true) ;
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Selection type = " + Information.TypeName(cSelected));
            }

            return (AxisSystem)cSelected;
        }

Thanks for your help.

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Thanks for posting your solution.

Common template when working with Selection looks like this:

if ("Normal" != selection.SelectionMethod())
{
    return null;
}
var selectedObject = selection.Item(1).Value;
var selectedProduct = selection.Item(1).LeafProduct;

// do actual processing
...

 

[solid7]

When you say "common template"... Is this an available resource, or just an internally developed best practice?

 

[Little Cthulhu]

See Automation help on SelectElement or IndicateOrSelectElement3D methods.

 

[solid7]

Got ya. I saw the method documented in the automation document, but yours looked just a bit more abstract. I thought maybe you had access to the C# refinement of the VBA method that is documented. Yours does vary slightly, hence the question.

 

[solid7]

            while (oIndex <= oCount)
            {
                var cSelItem = cSelection.Item(oIndex);
                var cSelType = Information.TypeName(cSelItem.Value);
                
                MessageBox.Show("" + cSelType);

                oIndex = oIndex + 1; 
            }

So using this code, the test message box always returns "Document". My inputs were 2 planes, manually selected.

I'm not quite finding a method that gets me base level information. I am always at the assembly level with my selection values. I did read the documentation, but I feel that I've missed something...