SWMD Custom Property API

[Bwaggoner]

This is an example from the Doc. Mgr API help file. We have several files with the custom property of by_date filled out as a text type. I need to change this to a date type. This code works but I am having an issue. If I run the code and check the results by RMB clicking on the file in Win Explorer and selecting properties then custom. I see the new value. If I try to change that back to a text type I get an error "changes could not be saved. The file is marked read-only or may be in use by another app". Then it blows all of the properties away. They do remain in the part file though.
I can't imagine why our users would change the Property this way but I'm guessing someone will.

Any advice would be appreciated.

'Option Explicit
Sub main()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
 ' Trap all errors that would cause the program to halt.
    Dim Classfac As SwDMClassFactory
    Dim swDocMgr As SwDMApplication
    Dim swDoc As SwDMDocument
    Dim nretval As Long
    ' Instantiate a SolidWorks Document Manager session.
    Set Classfac = CreateObject("SwDocumentMgr.SwDMClassFactory")
    Set swDocMgr = Classfac.GetApplication("DM Key") 'Specify your license key
    Set swDoc = swDocMgr.GetDocument("Path to part file", swDmDocumentPart, False, nretval)  ' Open the file as read-write.
    Debug.Print nretval ' Examine this variable to ensure there were no errors opening the file.
    Dim vnames As Variant
    vnames = swDoc.GetCustomPropertyNames
    ' Examine vnames in the debugger.
    myval = swDoc.GetCustomProperty("by_date", swDmCustomInfoText)
    swDoc.DeleteCustomProperty ("by_date")
    Debug.Print swDoc.AddCustomProperty("by_date", swDmCustomInfoDate, myval)  ' Should print out True, unless the property already exists.
    Debug.Print swDoc.GetCustomProperty("by_date", swDmCustomInfoDate) ' Should print out 3/2/1943.
    swDoc.Save ' Save the changes made to the custom properties.
    swDoc.CloseDoc  ' Close the document before exiting.
ErrorHandler:
    Debug.Print Err.Description
    If Not swDoc Is Nothing Then
        swDoc.CloseDoc
    End If
    swDoc.CloseDoc
    Set swDoc = Nothing
    Set swDocMgr = Nothing
    Set Classfac = Nothing
End Sub

 

[DesignerGuy16]

Something I've noticed with solidworks properties is once they're created they're very finicky about wanting to be changed.

IE you can't change the case sensitivity of a property without deleting it, and re-entering it how you want it. This may be an extension of that.

One thing you may try is to dump the property name & value into a VB variable, delete the property and re-enter it with the new type using the saved variables.

James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP