Catscripts can be a powerful tool when
needing to automate processes in CATIA V5. One common process which is
helpful to automate is when you want to take a screenshot of a .catpart
or .catproduct with a white background (to put into a powerpoint or Excelfile). This sounds like a daunting task if you are new to VB programming.
I find the best thing to do is to break down this large, challenging project
into smaller, more manageable tasks. Let's think about each stage we want
the macro to complete:
1. Reframe on the part
2. Hide the specification tree
3. Change the background color to white
4. Take a screenshot and save it as
a JPEG file
5. Change the background display color
back to what it was
6. Unhide the specification tree
Now, if we take each of those steps
one at a time it's not so big of a problem. I'll be explaining each of
these steps in the next couple of posts starting with step one today- how
to automatically reframe (or fit all in) on the part in CATIA. We'll create
each step individually then combine them all into one CATScript at the
end.
This tutorial will also help you learn visual basic programming and will help you write your own CATScripts.
First, go to Tools>Macro>Macros. Click
"Create" and change the Macro language to CATScript. Enter a
name for your macro. Copy and paste the following code.
Language="VBSCRIPT"
Sub CATMain()
Dim specsAndGeomWindow1 As Window
Set specsAndGeomWindow1 = CATIA.ActiveWindow
Dim viewer3D1 As Viewer
Set viewer3D1 = specsAndGeomWindow1.ActiveViewer
viewer3D1.Reframe
Dim viewpoint3D1 As Viewpoint3D
Set viewpoint3D1 = viewer3D1.Viewpoint3D
End Sub
What does all of the above actually mean? A CATIA VBA program or “macro” consists of a
“Subroutine” named CATMain(), called out with the line Sub CATMain(). Variables are “dimmed” (declared) and then “set” (given a value). Variables are “dimmed” as a type. A type is either a “primitive” type (single, double, integer, string, etc.) or an object type (more complex).
Stay tuned to learn more in our next article...
