Skip to main content

Add dimensions to bend lines using SOLIDWORKS API

This example demonstrates how to add dimensions to bend lines in the drawing view of sheet metal flat pattern using SOLIDWORKS API.

Dimension between bend lines in the sheet metal flat pattern drawing{ width=400 height=150 }

It is required to select the sketch lines using the select data object with the view assigned, otherwise the dimensions creating will fail.

IModelDoc2::AddDimension2 SOLIDWORKS API is used to add the dimension. Dimension is positioned at (0, 0, 0) coordinate. Refer the Dimension Visible Entities example for code snippet for calculating the optimal dimension position.

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swSelMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr
Dim swView As SldWorks.View

Sub main()

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc

If Not swModel Is Nothing Then

Set swSelMgr = swModel.SelectionManager

Set swView = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject6(1, -1)

If Not swView Is Nothing Then

Dim vBendLines As Variant
vBendLines = swView.GetBendLines

If UBound(vBendLines) >= 1 Then

Dim swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData
Set swSelData = swSelMgr.CreateSelectData
swSelData.View = swView 'must be set

swModel.ClearSelection2 True

Dim i As Integer

For i = 0 To 1

Dim swSkSeg As SldWorks.SketchSegment

Set swSkSeg = vBendLines(i)

swSkSeg.Select4 True, swSelData

Next

swModel.AddDimension2 0, 0, 0

Else
MsgBox "There should be at least 2 bend lines in the drawing view"
End If

Else
MsgBox "Please select drawing view with flat pattern"
End If

Else
MsgBox "Please open drawing"
End If
End Sub