Modifying a manul dimension with a multiplier

[cadman62]

OK, so here's the deal. We are using electrical routing for our wire harnessses. In our current version of NX (V9) the software is not handling applied slack very well.... in fact it is slowing us down by 10 or 20 times. We are looking for a workaround so that we don't need to apply slack to the actual cable. Our idea is to dimension our cable and then edit the selected dimensions to multiply them by a slack multiplier (eg length X 1.012). Does anyone have an idea how this might be done with minimal effort? An automated approach would be best since we can minimize errors that way.

Appreciate any comments or ideas you might have.

Thanks,

Gordon

 

[cowski]

Generally, I'm dead set against manual dimensions. However, with that type of performance difference, I can understand why you are considering their use. First and foremost: if you have not already contacted GTAC, please do so that the root cause of this issue can be resolved.

If you are determined to override the dimension values as a workaround to this problem, at least you should have a tool to help minimize mistakes. The journal below will allow you to select a dimension, it will then multiply the computed length of the dimension by the factor that you specify and enter it as manual text. It will be rounded to the same number of decimal places as the original dimension, some attributes will be added to the dimension, and it will be colored "strong gold" so that you can visually discern which dimensions have 'slack' added (you may need to turn off monochrome drawing display to take advantage of this). If/when the wire length is modified, the dimension will NOT automatically update its value. However, subsequent runs of the journal will update the dimensions that have the attribute by checking the computed length and applying the slack factor. Because of this, if you later revert a dimension back to automatic text, be sure to delete the attributes associated with the dimension.

You are wading into dangerous waters, good luck.

'NXJournaling.com
'October 15, 2014
'
'Multiply a chosen dimension by a 'slack' factor, this changes chosen dimension to manual text.
'Dimensions modified will be changed to color 'strong gold' (color 84) to help
'distinguish them from normal dimensions (turn off monochrome drawing display to see the colors).
'  Preferences -> Visualization -> color/font -> drawing part settings -> monochrome display
'As the design changes, these dimensions will need to be updated either by running the journal
'again or changing the text value by hand.
'Two attributes will be added to the selected dimensions:
'  "SlackAdded" (boolean), to signify the dimension has been modified - dims with this attribute
'    will be updated automatically by the journal on subsequent runs
'  "LastUpdated" (date/time), timestamp when the journal last updated the dimension - can be used
'    to determine if the manual dimensions are out of sync with the latest design change.

'NX 8.5, not tested with dual dimensions

'[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=373211[/URL]


Option Strict Off
Imports System
Imports NXOpen
Imports NXOpen.UF

Module Module1

    Dim theSession As Session = Session.GetSession()
    Dim workPart As Part = theSession.Parts.Work
    Dim lw As ListingWindow = theSession.ListingWindow

    '$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
    '$ multiply the chosen dimension by the given factor
    Const dimFactor As Double = 1.012
    '$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    Sub Main()

        If IsNothing(theSession.Parts.Work) Then
            'active part required
            Return
        End If

        lw.Open()

        Const undoMarkName As String = "NXJournal"
        Dim markId1 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markId1 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Invisible, undoMarkName)

        Dim markid2 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markid2 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Update Slack Dimensions")
        UpdateSlackDims()

        Dim myDim As Annotations.Dimension

        Do While select_a_dimension("Select dimension to add slack", myDim) = Selection.Response.Ok

            AddSlack(myDim, True)
            AddAttributes(myDim)
            'color 84 = strong gold
            ColorDim(myDim, 84)

        Loop

        lw.Close()

    End Sub

    Function select_a_dimension(ByVal prompt As String, ByRef obj As Annotations.Dimension) As Selection.Response
        Dim ui As UI = ui.GetUI()
        Dim mask(0) As Selection.MaskTriple
        With mask(0)
            .Type = UFConstants.UF_dimension_type
            .Subtype = 0
            .SolidBodySubtype = 0
        End With
        Dim cursor As Point3d = Nothing

        Dim resp As Selection.Response = _
        ui.SelectionManager.SelectObject(prompt, prompt, _
            Selection.SelectionScope.AnyInAssembly, _
            Selection.SelectionAction.ClearAndEnableSpecific, _
            False, False, mask, obj, cursor)

        If resp = Selection.Response.ObjectSelected Or _
           resp = Selection.Response.ObjectSelectedByName Then
            Return Selection.Response.Ok
        Else
            Return Selection.Response.Cancel
        End If
    End Function

    Sub UpdateSlackDims()

        For Each tempDim As Annotations.Dimension In workPart.Dimensions

            If tempDim.HasUserAttribute("SlackAdded", NXObject.AttributeType.Boolean, -1) Then
                AddSlack(tempDim, False)
                AddAttributes(tempDim)
                ColorDim(tempDim, 84)
            End If

        Next

    End Sub

    Sub AddSlack(ByRef theDim As Annotations.Dimension, ByVal addUndo As Boolean)

        Dim markId1 As Session.UndoMarkId
        If addUndo Then
            markId1 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Add Dimension Slack")
        End If

        Dim decPlaces As Integer = theDim.NominalDecimalPlaces
        Dim newText(0) As String
        Dim calcDim As Double = theDim.ComputedSize * dimFactor
        calcDim = Math.Round(calcDim, decPlaces, MidpointRounding.ToEven)
        newText(0) = calcDim.ToString

        theDim.SetDimensionText(newText)
        theDim.RedisplayObject()

    End Sub

    Sub AddAttributes(ByVal theDim As Annotations.Dimension)

        Dim objects1(0) As NXObject
        objects1(0) = theDim

        'add "SlackAdded" attribute
        Dim attributePropertiesBuilder1 As AttributePropertiesBuilder
        attributePropertiesBuilder1 = theSession.AttributeManager.CreateAttributePropertiesBuilder(workPart, objects1, AttributePropertiesBuilder.OperationType.None)

        With attributePropertiesBuilder1
            .IsArray = False
            .SetAttributeObjects(objects1)
            .Category = "SlackDim"
            .Title = "SlackAdded"
            .DataType = AttributePropertiesBaseBuilder.DataTypeOptions.Boolean
            .BooleanValue = AttributePropertiesBaseBuilder.BooleanValueOptions.True
            Dim nXObject1 As NXObject
            nXObject1 = .Commit()
            .Destroy()
        End With

        'add time attribute
        Dim myDateTime As DateTime = Now

        Dim attributePropertiesBuilder2 As AttributePropertiesBuilder
        attributePropertiesBuilder2 = theSession.AttributeManager.CreateAttributePropertiesBuilder(workPart, objects1, AttributePropertiesBuilder.OperationType.None)
        With attributePropertiesBuilder2
            .IsArray = False
            .DataType = AttributePropertiesBaseBuilder.DataTypeOptions.Date
            .Category = "SlackDim"
            .Title = "LastUpdated"
            .DateValue.DateItem.Day = myDateTime.Day - 1
            .DateValue.DateItem.Month = myDateTime.Month - 1
            .DateValue.DateItem.Year = myDateTime.Year.ToString
            .DateValue.DateItem.Time = myDateTime.ToString("HH:mm:ss")
            Dim nXObject7 As NXObject
            nXObject7 = .Commit()
            .Destroy()
        End With


    End Sub

    Sub ColorDim(ByRef theDim As Annotations.Dimension, ByVal theColor As Integer)

        Dim objects1(0) As DisplayableObject
        objects1(0) = theDim

        Dim displayModification1 As DisplayModification
        displayModification1 = theSession.DisplayManager.NewDisplayModification()

        With displayModification1
            .ApplyToAllFaces = True
            .ApplyToOwningParts = False
            .NewColor = theColor
            .Apply(objects1)
            .Dispose()
        End With

    End Sub

    Public Function GetUnloadOption(ByVal dummy As String) As Integer

        'Unloads the image when the NX session terminates
        GetUnloadOption = NXOpen.Session.LibraryUnloadOption.AtTermination

        '----Other unload options-------
        'Unloads the image immediately after execution within NX
        'GetUnloadOption = NXOpen.Session.LibraryUnloadOption.Immediately

        'Unloads the image explicitly, via an unload dialog
        'GetUnloadOption = NXOpen.Session.LibraryUnloadOption.Explicitly
        '-------------------------------

    End Function

End Module

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[cadman62]

Cowski,

Thank you very much for the journal file. It is just what we were looking for.

I am with you and generally would rather be beaten with a shovel than allow manual text but sometimes circumstances dictate some questionable directions. I have filed PR's with GTAC and we are pounding on them often for some resolution. Thank you again.... I wish I could return the favor. Maybe sometime.