This readme contains information about the VBA samples which show functionality for Mechanical Structure in AutoCAD Mechanical.

To Use the Samples

The samples are AutoCAD VBA project (DVB) files. See the "Description of the Samples" section below for any specific information about the samples.

To use a VBA sample or view its code

1. Start AutoCAD Mechanical, drag and drop the VBA sample into AutoCAD Mechanical.
2. On the AutoCAD Mechanical Assist menu, click Macro > Macros.
3. In the Macros dialog box, in the Macro list, select a macro to use or view.
4. Do one of the following:

1. To use the selected macro, click Run.
2. To view the code of the selected macro in the VBA Integrated Development Environment (VBA IDE), click Edit.

Descriptions of the Samples

• PickStructure.dvb
• structure_mgr.dvb
• CreateStructure.dvb
• XrefStructure.dvb
• RestructureView.dvb
• ComponentAttribute.dvb
• FormulaEvaluator.dvb
• AMSHide2D.dvb

PickStructure.dvb

This sample demonstrates how to pick on folder and component view in model space, and get the properties of the folder, component view, and folder and component view definitions.

Before using this sample, open the PickStructure.dwg sample drawing file.

To use the sample for component views and folders, run the macros named Views_Folders.

To use the sample for component view and folder definitions, run the macros named ViewsDefs_FolderDefs.

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structure_mgr.dvb

This sample provides the following general functionality of mechanical structure:

• update structure
• get and pick edit target
• get structure from entity
• highlight views
• get selected component views and folders
• restructure
• get external databases
• import component definition and folder definition
• create new component view and folder instance

To use the sample, run the macro named StructureMgr.

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CreateStructure.dvb

This sample provides the following AMSNEW functionality:

• create new component and view definition
• add or create a view for a new or existing component instance
• create annotation view
• add views to an existing annotation view

To use the sample, run the macro named CreateStructure.

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XrefStructure.dvb

This sample lists external component and component view definition in xref drawing, xref components and component views inserted in structure, and provides the following xref functionality:

• attach and insert xref
• localize component and folder definition (AMSLOCALIZE)
• externalize component and folder definition (AMSEXTERNALIZE)
• copy definition of component or component view (AMSCOPYDEF)
• replace definition of folder or component view with another external definition (AMSREPLACEDEF)

To use the sample, run the macro named XrefStructure.

As this sample references to “Microsoft Windows Common Controls 6.0”, you must ensure that this Common Control is installed and “mscomctl.ocx” exists in “WINDOWS\system32” or “WINDOWS\SysWOW64\” (for 64-bit Windows OS).

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RestructureView.dvb

This sample provides the following restructure functionality for component views and folders:

• -         restructure
• -         edit contents for adding, removing and copying component views/folders and entities (AMSEDIT)
• -         set and get scale
• -         set and get base point (AMSBASE)
• -         preview of entities contained in component views and folders

To use the sample, run the macro named RestructureView.

As this sample references to “Microsoft Windows Common Controls 6.0”, you must ensure that this Common Control is installed and “mscomctl.ocx” exists in “WINDOWS\system32” or “WINDOWS\SysWOW64\” (for 64-bit Windows OS).

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ComponentAttribute.dvb

This sample provides the following functionality to attach, query and manage attribute associated with a component definition:

• -         add system attribute which is the attributes of the part reference
• -         add attribute class with attribute fields
• -         get attributes and attributes' value of a component definition
• -         delete attribute from a component definition

To use the sample, run the macro named ComponentAttribute.

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FormulaEvaluator.dvb

This sample provides the following data provider functionality for standard part:

• -         add data provider
• -         show all data provider attributes
• -         edit attribute
• -         evaluate formula

To use the sample, run the macro named FormulaEvaluator.

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AMSHide2D.dvb

This sample demonstrates how to create and edit simple and complex hide situations.

To use the sample, run the macros named CreateAndEditSimpleHide and CreateAndEditComplexHide.

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