Starting to program NX 7.5 with VB.NET 2

[NXProf]

Hello,

I’ve been working with NX 7.5 within Teamcenter for 1.5 years and am just starting to learn VB.NET in preparation for developing VB programs to expedite many daily routines within NX’s drafting module. Currently, I’m self-training in VB with a very good step by step textbook. But can someone help me with a few questions as follows?

1. Can you please tell me if VB can communicate with NX through .exe files with dialog boxes, which allow the user to input attribute information (and not simply the VB routines generated with the record button within NX)?

2. If it is possible that VB can communicate with NX through .exe files as described above, where I can find all of NX’s variables (all of NX’s system and local settings, extracting variables from entities, groups, patterns, etc.) for coding within VB? I understand that some NX’s variables can be found simply with by generating small programs with the record button within NX, but how can I access all of the thousands or even millions of other variables?

3. Do you know of any good books, reference guides, etc. that might help me with programming VB for NX?

Thank you greatly for your help ahead of time!

 

[cowski]

For question 1, yes it is possible.

For questions 2 & 3, I'd suggest starting in the NX help file. Assuming you have the full help system installed, go to Automation -> NX Open. The NX Open Programmer's Guide has a lot of useful information; including setting up visual studio to work with NX, error handling, common NX objects, etc etc. The Open for .NET -> NX Open for .NET Reference Guide is the go to document for the NX object model, it lists all the objects, properties, and methods available.

Sometimes all you need is a code sample that is close to what you are trying to do, in that case a good place to look is the GTAC solution center (you'll need to sign up for a webkey, if you don't already have one) where they have 100's of code samples available. Also, you will find a few code samples and short tutorials at

http://www.nxjournaling.com

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[NXProf]

Thank you very much cowski for your response!

I will attempt to use your advise tomorrow at work and let you know how it goes in a couple of days since I will be in class tomorrow after work for several hours. I can't thank you enough!

Besides going to NX Open Programmer's Guide and NX Open for .NET Reference Guide as suggested, I'll sign up for a GTAC solution center webkey since that's new to me as well as going through some of the code examples and tutorials at

http://www.nxjournaling.com,

which I just started reviewing eariler today.

Thank you again!