PCI System Variables

Note that the real number PCI system variables (for example &XSTART and &SYSTOL) are evaluated in PCIs to 9 significant figures.

General

$!textFileName

The path and filename of the open part. This is only accurate if you have opened a saved part, and have not used 'Save As' to save to a new file name.

&BASEENT

This system variable is set to the last entity number in a new worksession or loaded part. This allows the creation of new entities to be generated and referenced to the variable, instead of to an actual entity number which could be different between worksessions and loaded parts.

For further details on the following system variables refer to the %ASKDIG directive.

&COLOUR

Colour number

&CPL

Active CPL Name

&DIAMETRAL

0 = Radial 1 = Diametral

&DIGSTAT

>=0 position given.

-1 abort ([#ABORT] read only variable)

-2 escape ([#ESCAPE] read only variable)

-3 finish ([#fFINISH] read only variable)

&DIRFLAG

0=start of entity, 1=end of entity

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&DRAWING

Holds the text sting in the selected language for the drawing CPL

&DRAWTOL

Drawing tolerance

&EDGEMASTER &EDGELOCAL

String value containing the path to the local or master EdgeCAM folder, e.g. c:\Program Files\EdgeCAM\Cam.

 The master and local are set to the same value on standalone installations.

&EDGETOOLDIR

String value containing the path for the tool library.

&ENAME

Returns the entity name.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&ENTNO

Returns the entity number.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&ENVIRONMENT

1 = Milling/Wire 2 = Turn

&ETYPE

Returns the entity type.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&GRID

0 = OFF 1 = ON

&LAYER

Name of active Layer

&NEXTENT

This system variable is set to the next entity number available in the current part. See &NEXTENT for details

&NUMBEROFSOLIDS

Returns number of solids in part file.

&PORT

Port in which digitise was made.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&RADIUS

Arc radius

&STYLE

Style number

&SYSTOL

System tolerance

&TOP &FRONT &LEFT &RIGHT &BOTTOM &BACK

Holds the text string in the selected language for the standard milling CPLs

&TURN &INV_TURN &RADIAL &AXIAL &WRAP

Holds the text string in the selected language for the standard turning CPLs

&UNITS

Returns the current part units, either [#IMPERIAL] or [#METRIC].

&VERSION

Returns the current EdgeCAM version number (as reported in the About box) as a string, e.g. in EdgeCAM version 7.0 it will return "7.0" but in the "a" patch it would return "7.0a".

&XCENTRE &YCENTRE &ZCENTRE

Arc centre co-ordinates

&XDIG &YDIG &ZDIG

XYZ cursor position.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&XEND &YEND &ZEND

Arc or line end co-ordinates

&XSNAP &YSNAP &ZSNAP

XYZ snapped location.

Used in conjunction with %ASKDIG, %ASKDIGINFO, %QUERYDIGINFO

&XSTART &YSTART &ZSTART

Arc or line start co-ordinates

 
Manufacture Only

&3AXMILL

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool is a mill.

&4AXIS

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool has 4 axis capability

&AT_TOOLCHANGE

Tool is at the tool change position (#TRUE / #FALSE).

&AT_TOOLHOME

Tool is at the tool home position (#TRUE / #FALSE).

&BAXIS

0 = No B Axis.

1 = Positional Only (machine can index to B angles but not simultaneously drive the B axis).

2 = Simultaneous (machine can drive the B axis simultaneously).

&COOLANT

Current coolant status (assumes coolant is Macro 104). The values returned are 1-based lists, as defined by the Code Wizard templates. A value of 0 is returned if the macro has not been used and -1 is returned if the macro is not found for the current machine.

&CSS

CSS selected (#TRUE / #FALSE).

&CYAXIS

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool has C/Y Axis capability.

&FEED

Current planar feed rate.

&FEEDTYPE

Feed/Min (0) Feed/Rev (1).

&GEAR

Current Gear Status (Assumes Gear is Macro 110). The values returned are 1 based lists, as defined by the Code Wizard templates. A value of 0 is returned if the macro has not been used and -1 is returned if the macro is not found for the current machine.

&LATHE

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool is a lathe.

&MILLMODE

0 = Fixed 1 = Driven

&PLUNGEFEED

Current plunge feed rate.

&POSTNAME

Returns the name of the current code generator.

Example:
%messagebox=The current code generator is [&POSTNAME]

&ROTARY

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool has rotary capability.

&SPEED

Current spindle speed.

&SPINDLE

Current spindle status (assumes spindle is Macro 101). The values returned are 1 based lists, as defined by the Code Wizard templates. A value of 0 is returned if the macro has not been used and -1 is returned if the macro is not found for the current machine.

&TOOLPOSITION

Current turret position.

&TOOLRADIUS

Current tool radius.

&TOOLTYPE

Current tool type (corresponds to EdgeCAM tooltypes).

&WIRE

Defined as #TRUE or #FALSE. If #TRUE, the machine tool is a wire eroder.

&XHOME &YHOME &ZHOME

Home position (xyz).

&XPOS &YPOS &ZPOS

Current tool position (xyz).

&XTOOL &YTOOL &ZTOOL

Tool Change position (xyz).