Reading properties from Solid Edge ST4 parts

[Chronik]

Hi,

I've searched around a bit and could not find what i am looking for. (ref :

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=218229&tmac=fav&val=1,218229)

On the long run I want to create a database with all the properties of the files on our server. To do so, i would like to write a program that reads the parts and send the data to the database.

I think i can handle the database part of the project, but I do not know how to link Visual Basic to the SE properties. I've searched over the web and either the version of Solid Edge (ST4) is not working the with code i found that were written over 5 years ago, or i can't figure out how to link VB and SE together. I consider myself an OK programmer (let's just say i'm good for a mech eng.), but when it comes to use stuff such as #include in a VB code it's not my cup of tea.

I would really appreciate if you could point out how to link VB and SE together (libraries, SDK, etc..) in details or with a quick exemple that would read for instance the Material property from a part located in C:\PART.par for exemple.

Thank you,

 

[Chronik]

Update:
I just checked all the SE references I could find (maybe i skipped a couple) and manage to run the following code. It does crash at some point :
Run-time error '-2147467259 (80004005)':
Method 'Value' of object 'IJProperty' failed

The code allows me to get
SummaryInformation : Title, Subject, Author, Keywords, Comments, Template, Last Author, Revision Number and crashes at Total Editing Time.

I would like to read an exposed variable that is in the "Custom" tab of the File Properties, and most importantly, the Material in the Material Table. I can't find out how to get those two properties.

Thanks

Sub GetFileProps()
Dim objPropSets As PropertySets
Dim objProps As Properties
Dim objProp As Property
Dim x As Integer
x = 1

Set objPropSets = CreateObject("SolidEdge.FileProperties")
Call objPropSets.Open("C:\PU-B015.par")

Debug.Print "Test"

For Each objProps In objPropSets
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A" & x).Value = objProps.Name
    'For Each objProp In objProps
    '    Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A" & x).Value = objProps.Name
    '    Sheets("Sheet1").Range("B" & x).Value = objProp.Name
     '   Sheets("Sheet1").Range("C" & x).Value = objProp.Value
     '   x = x + 1
     'Debug.Print objProps.Name & ": " & objProp.Name & " = " & objProp.Value
   ' Next
   x = x + 1
Next

End Sub

 

[HDS]

http://www.jasonnewell.net

 

[beachcomber]

Look in Help for the .Net programmers guide, there is a lot of code in there and it shows how to connect VB.Net to Solid Edge.
There is also a chapter on File Properties - how to access them without having to open the file in Solid Edge, what the properties are and how to get/change the values.
There are also references to the 'old' VB6 type of connection - which is what you appear to have.

I will try to post some of my code later.

bc.
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