Writing macro for CATIA if CATIA is not installed on computer 1

[Azzazil]

I am curious is it possible to write macro for CATIA if I have installed Visual Sutdio but don't have installed CATIA, also is possible to have IntelliSense with CATIA references when I am writing macro? When I have access for CATIA in my company I will test macro there.

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Yes.

You can do it without any references by using late binding (dynamic keyword in c#).

If you want intellisense then copy all .tlb files from CATIA's code/vin directory to your computer and use them as references.

 

[Azzazil]

Thanks Little Cthulhu will try to use .tlb files as reference, if I stuck will as for help on this .

 

[Azzazil]

Hm I get .tlb files for 3D Experience and I manage to import some of the files as reference some not. For one that I couldn't get references I got error message "Please make sure that the file is accessible and that it is a valid assembly or COM component". This is strange because it looks to me that one that are referenced to CATIA V5 I manage to import the ones that are referenced to 3DExperince I couldn't import.

 

[Little Cthulhu]

Run tlbimp.exe utility on a computer that have CATIA installed and copy output interop dlls to yours

 

[Azzazil]

Thanks I manage to convert them all, but somewhere I got message

TlbImp : warning TI3008 : Type 'StrReference' is invalid and may only be partially converted.
TlbImp : warning TI3008 : Type 'StrRefOffset' is invalid and may only be partially converted.
TlbImp : warning TI3008 : Type 'StrService' is invalid and may only be partially converted.
TlbImp : Type library imported to StrTypeLib.dll

Should I be concerned with this message that type is invalid and only partially converted? Will try know is my script working on 3DX, and see if there will be any issues.

 

[Azzazil]

Little Cthulhu thanks a million I test it and it works smoothly . Also have one question more, since I have now my script as exe file can I import exe file and connect it somehow to CATIA and have it like icon in toolbar?

 

[Little Cthulhu]

CATIA tlbs have dependecies from each other so you should run tlbimp in correct order and provide path to already generated dlls with /reference argument.

Also provide /asmversion argument and then check that all of resulting dlls have version specified. If any have 0.0.0.0 version then you've missed a dependency and .net has generated dll overwriting one of yours.

Connecting .exe to CATIA is a subject for a separate thread although I'm sure this question has been answered numerous times.

 

[Azzazil]

Thanks I will try to check with argument /asmversion this week when I have time but for now I manage to import them and so far I didn't notice any issues.