iLogic - Expand Structured Parts List based on Keyword

One of my drafting processes is to create basic engineering drawings for the client.

Depending on the task, the model may contain certain components to be used in the final design.

The Engineering drawing GA will contain a Member Schedule, with associated member marks, these marks are more of a broad stroke, e.g. C1 for a column. The final workshop model may contain numerous C1 columns, each with a unique identifier. e.g. C1-1 and C1-2 (But they are still all C1.) These member marks are accessed via a custom Balloon.

When I create my BOM, I will create 2 member mark fields, ENG1 and ENG2. ENG2 is generally used for Engineering Drawing member marks. e.g. ENG1=C1-1; and ENG2=C1

On occasion these can be nested deeper into the BOM. I then create a small text entry in the BOM called 'EXP' (In other words, Expand Me) this will indicate that when I place a parts list on the drawing, in order for the Balloon to access the correct member mark, the Parts list needs to be formatted correctly. This may entail expanding or collapsing certain levels/rows of the Parts List.

Exploding the parts list has always been a manual process and can sometimes take quite a long time when dealing with a large Parts list.

The following code, will process the Parts List, and for each row containing the work 'EXP' in the Description field, it will expand this row. This will continue until the entire Parts list has been processed.

Its quick and it works well for my requirements.  

Below is quick view of the final model (This is not a final drawing, just an indication of the balloons in place)

Note:
There is a link to the text file at the bottom of the post.

----- Start Of Code -----

Sub Main()

'Title: Parts List Row Expand

'Date: 04/02/2019

'Reg Hasell

'This rule checks the Parts List sequence number

'Looks for the words "EXP" or "exp"

'If found, it will expand the Parts list row

'This will continue untill the entire parts list has been exposed.

'Caveat:

'I am unable to collapse the parts list. This must be done manually.

'--oOo--

'Get the Parts list Sequence Number

oPRTL = InputBox("Choose the Parts List", "Parts List Filter", "1")

'Once done, call the sort and pass the Parts List number through.

Call oQTY(oPRTL)

End Sub

'--------------------------------

Sub oQTY(oPRTL)

        'On Error Resume Next

        ' Set a reference to the drawing document.

        ' This assumes a drawing document is active.

        Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument

        oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

        Dim oPartList As PartsList

        '''---------------------

        ' Set a reference to the first parts list on the active sheet.

        'Dim oPartList As PartsList

        'expand the parts list

        oPartList = oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.PartsLists.Item(oPRTL)

        ' Iterate through the contents of the parts list.

        Dim i As Long

        Dim oRow As PartsListRow

        'Start counting the parts list rows

        'as the parts list grows due to expansion, the row counter will increase.

        Dim FirstRowCount As Integer = oPartList.PartsListRows.Count

        Dim LastRowCount As Integer = 0

        '

        Do Until FirstRowCount = LastRowCount

               FirstRowCount = oPartList.PartsListRows.Count ' Included in the loop.

               For i = 1 To oPartList.PartsListRows.Count

                       'look for the cell titled "Description"      

                       oCell = oPartList.PartsListRows.Item(i).Item("DESCRIPTION")

                       'oCell2  = oPartList.PartsListRows.Item(i).Item("LENGTH") ' left this for possible later use.

                       Try

                               If oCell.Value = "EXP" Or oCell.Value = "exp" Then

                                      oPartList.PartsListRows.Item(i).Expanded = True

                                      'oCell.Value = "EXP"

                               End If

                       Catch ex As Exception

                       End Try

               Next

               'Count the new size of the Parts List

               LastRowCount = oPartList.PartsListRows.Count

        Loop

        MessageBox.Show("All Done", "BOM QTY")

        'End Sub 'Added the repeat for multiple parts lists

        oAgain = MessageBox.Show("Again", "Rinse and Repeat", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Question, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2) 'Added rev2

        If oAgain = vbYes

               AGAIN

        End If

End Sub

Sub AGAIN

        Main

End Sub

---End Code ---


Link to text file 

iLogic to sort Parts List

A few years ago I posted some iLogic code to update and sort the BOM.

This proved rather troublesome, and never really worked for me, so I decided to do it via the detail drawing.  This works MUCH better.

The following is for my environment only, but I am sure you can adapt this for your own needs.

I have a few extra fields in my parts and assemblies, one of which is a custom parameter named "TYPE"

Notes on the iProperty fields: 

"STOCK NUMBER" = Area and/or size of component, E.G "100 x 50 x 5 x 6000 RHS"
"COST CENTER" = Broad based item type E.G. 'TUBE' or 'PLATE'
"TYPE" = More precise item type E.G. 'SHS' or 'RHS' or 'Cleat' etc

Prerequisites: 

1: In order for the code to function correctly, the Parts list must contain the fields in question.

Note how the column width has been set to "1" this "hides" the column from view.



2: There is a Radiobox, true false check. This is applicable for the times you have more than one parts list present on your drawing. Once again this is due to my environment, where my marking plan will have a Structured parts list for item making via balloons as well as the itemised parts list. I will sometimes have a third parts list containing fasteners only.

This section can be removed. Comment out the fist section of the sort. (From the "If True" up to and including the "else" statement, don't forget to comment out the "End if" as well )

TIPS and Caveats

1: I have found the best way to maintain the GA partslist/BOM is to have a separate drawing containing the GA and UNFILTERED Partslist. This one becomes god, and any other GA drawings containing the partlist get sorted via item number only.

2: Sub Assemblies work well with this code, and you don't need to have a separate drawing for management. you will find that the drawings become more consistent and predictable.

3: I have labeled my Fasteners with a 'z'. this forces them to the bottom of my parts list.

This process also forces you to manage and maintain a healthy BOM.
Don't forget, this writes back and updates the Assembly.

The Code:

'start of iLogic code----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'sort parts list
oBOM = InputRadioBox("Parts List QTY", "2", "1", oBOM, Title := "PartsList Value")

If oBOM=True Then
On Error Resume Next
Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument
oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

Dim oPartsList1 As PartsList
oPartsList1 = oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.PartsLists.Item(2)
oPartsList1.Sort("COST CENTER",1,"TYPE", 1, "STOCK NUMBER", 1)
oPartsList1.Renumber
oPartsList1.SaveItemOverridesToBOM

Else

On Error Resume Next
Dim oDrawDoc As DrawingDocument
oDrawDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

Dim oPartsList1 As PartsList
oPartsList1 = oDrawDoc.ActiveSheet.PartsLists.Item(1)
oPartsList1.Sort("COST CENTER",1,"TYPE", 1, "STOCK NUMBER", 1)
oPartsList1.Renumber
oPartsList1.SaveItemOverridesToBOM
End If

'End  of iLogic code.

The result: 

Place Two Different Parts Lists on one Drawing

A question was raised on the Autodesk forum the other day on how to place the two different types of "Parts List" on one drawing

I thought I would make a quick video of the process.

Link to the original post:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/Parts-list-BOM-views/m-p/4984744#M506048

Hope this helps :-)