PDMWorks API

[flatwire]

Ok, so I don't know if I'm completely missing the boat here, but...I'm trying to write a VB program to change the descriptions of a few hundred parts in my PDM system. I can log into the vault, take ownership of a document, and access the description of the part, but I can't change the value of the description. In addition, I also have several other custom parameters that I want to change, but have been unsuccessful in doing so. I've tried using the syntax described in the API help, but it just doesn't seem to work: PDMWProperty.Value = pVal

So, if anyone could post a line of code that will simply change the description of a part (in the vault) to the string "NEW DESCRIPTION", I'd be very grateful (this could all be related to the fact that I'm very new to VB). Thanks

 

[Standing]

flatwire,
Do you have PDM Advanced Server?

Bradley

 

[flatwire]

Bradley, I don't have advanced server. I am running 2005, which gives me access to API, but not triggers (i believe).

 

[Standing]

flatwire,
I am not running Advanced Server either. To my understanding you cannot change anything inside the vault through standard API. If you figure this one out let us know. I am sure I could find some use for a tool that would change things inside the vault.


Bradley

 

[engAlright]

If you have the description as a custom property of the document I believe you have to access that custom property to change it, i.e.

[get and set the document you want]

PDMWDocument.Properties("Description") = "New Description"

 

[Standing]

engAlright,
How does one link up to the PDM vault to change a property without running Advanced Server?

I looked at the SolidWorks Task Scheduler and I do not see anyway there of updating properties within the vault.


Bradley

 

[PDMAdmin]

According to the SW website, API comes with Advanced Server, not the standard package.

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/products/solutions/pdmworks_as.html?pid=89

 

[flatwire]

PDMAdmin,

It may say that on the website, but API is now included with PDMWorks 2005. I'm running it right now, and I don't have a license for advanced server.

 

[Standing]

flatwire & engAlright,
Sounds like to me that flatwire would have to check-out the drawings and part models and change the properties using VB then check them back-in. He could have an admin do a bulk check-in.


Bradley

 

[flatwire]

Here is the solution! I'm going to get a document called "test.SLDPRT" and change the description to "SAMPLE DESCRIPTION" (assume I've already connected to the vault as the pdmwadmin with a connection variable called "conn").

Dim part As PDMWDocument
Dim propertiestlist As PDMWProperties
Dim errorcode As Long

Set part = conn.GetSpecificDocument("test.SLDPRT")
part.ChangeOwner ("pdmwadmin")
Set propertieslist = part.Properties
part.Propertiest("Description") = "SAMPLE DESCRIPTION"

errorcode = propertieslist.Update()

part.ReleaseOwnership



So basically, I took ownership of the part, put all of the properties into a variable, changed the description, and then updated the vault to reflect changes I made. The key was updating the propertieslist variable. If you've got any questions, let me know.

 

[EvanBasalik]

The problem is that PDMWorks does not expose the names of the properties very well. I have used an approach similar to Flatwire's with success in the past. However, I don't think I took ownership of the document to modify stuff.



Evan T. Basalik, MCSD
--------------------------------
It's all about prioritization...

 

[flatwire]

Evan is right, you don't need to take ownership of the document in order to change the properties.

 

[mlhall]

I have problems getting this API to asign value to a selected properties. I tried to follow the above example, but no luck. Anyone else having anyone luck with this macro. I have written a macro the retrieve the custom properties with no problem.