Thanks for you fast reply.
I haven't ever used macros in Catia.
And I am not required to use at work.
I am just curious and willing to learn something new.
The main reason of my quest was to identify if macros could make me more efficient and useful for my employer!
Well, I can assure you that using and creating macros is really useful for companies.
Think of a repetitive task for which you are spending few good minutes...and then think of just few seconds to accomplish same with a macro...then see how much you can cut from the cost of the design\check hour even if the company should pay with a higher rate the programmers.
Think also of the quality. To use macros is not the problem if you follow the instructions given by their originator, the real problem is to understand what users need and how you can make them life easier in design and check process.
This is one of the reasons why I start to create macros, I'm to lazy to do boring repetitive tasks manually.
I would really want to hear some other opinions, now I'm stopping here because I don't have more time to stay on line.
Give us a (very) simply example, when you've created a useful macro. (concrete use of that particular macro).
Add also, please, another way to get the same result using traditional methods.....
Thanks
A good example of a useful macro is one for drawings Titleblocks:
Without a macro, you could add/change the desired drawing border, and then add Text to fill in the titleblock areas. Of course, you want to carefully type the correct PN, title, revison, EC number, scale, sheets, toleranaces, etc., making sure everything is in the correct view, correct font, size, layer, and position, and then verify that what you typed matches the information that is in the PDM system for that particular drawing. Of course, if you have to change the drawing size, you probably have to modify some of this data accordingly. How many drawings do you work on every day?
A macro could be written to automate most of this work for you. Some data still needs to be entered (maybe on a simple form), but lots of data could be pulled from the drawing properties or directly from the PDM system. No typos, and everything in the correct position, size, etc. More time to spend on design. Less time required to check the drawing.
This is a little bit complicated...depending on éach companies procedures, you can develop macros. But jackk's example is very good.
In the company where I'm now, we developed an external toolbar for CATIA which includes a lot of macros, related to mecahnical or electrical design, used for design itself or check, doing different tasks. We have a lot of users (over 350) using them so you can imagine the benefit, quality of deliveries was improved and also the time of deliveries.
Is difficult to give you an example but you can think of what you are doing now and think of a scenario to automate. Lets say that you have to create 100 new drawing done with New From and fill title block (again) with different data which you already have stored in txt file....it took me 1-2 hours to programm (I cann't remember exactly) and just few minutes to run the macro...I can give some other examples but I don't think is relevant since they are very specific....
