Can you attach a macro button to a drawing?

[MrMiller]

I would like to attach a macro button to a drawing template? Does anyone know if this can be done?

 

[meintsi]

The only way I know would be to compile the macro into an .exe file and insert the existing object into your template.

Do not link the file and display as an icon.
Change the icon properties to a button shape with no label.

Clicking the inserted file will cause the .exe to run.

One drawback, I haven't gotten around:
I can't remove the Outline box that surrounds my inserted file on the drawing, but at least it doesn't print if left on the drawing.



Remember...
"If you don't use your head,
your going to have to use your feet."

 

[MrMiller]

Can you compile to .exe with the SW VB program or do you need a full blown VB program?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

OK ... my curiosity has got the better of me ... why would you want or need to have a macro on a drawing template? Why would it be better than a regular macro button in the SW GUI?

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

 

[MrMiller]

I knew this couldn't go a few days without someone wanting to know that...

I have a couple reasons....

1) The macro button wouldn't have to be set up on all the workstations because it would come in on the drawing template.

2) An obtrusive macro button would stare the user right in the face and pretty much force them to use the macro which will standardize the way our title blocks are filled out.

 

[Standing]

Mr. Miller
People just do not liked to be force into standards. Mostly when all they have to do is edit the template and double click the value to change the title. I struggled with our engineers to get them to use macros to fill in the title block, with some to no avail. Then I made the macro easier to use than typing it in manually. For example: finish was a tough one to type in,
ANODIZE PER
MIL-A-8625, TYPE II,
CLASS 2. COLOR BLACK.
(NO CERT REQ)
now we click the material we want and our standard finish radio button is set. We have 12 items to enter on our title block. The engineer only has to type the description and everything else is entered automatically. What I hated besides the typing was the description would always be type by me in lower case. I would have to retype it. Now visual basic makes it all upper case. We put all our macros out on the network, with everyone pointing to that location. No need to put macros on everyone’s hard drive anymore.
Bottom line: Make your macros easier to use than doing it manually. If they do not use the macros it is there loss and time wasted.


Bradley

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

All that sort of information could/should be stored with the part, in a parts properties & automatically inserted onto the drawing via linked notes.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

 

[Standing]

Barrie,
Your right we do store that information in the part.

Bradley

 

[meintsi]

And to answer your question MrMiller, ...

Yes, you will need access to a full version of VB somewhere in order to compile the macro.



Remember...
"If you don't use your head,
your going to have to use your feet."

 

[MrMiller]

Thank you meintsi and everyone else. You've been a big help.