Application Programming Interfaces

Click Help, SolidWorks and Add-Ins API Help Topics to access the SolidWorks, eDrawings®, FeatureWorks®, PDMWorks® Workgroup, PhotoWorks™, SolidWorks Document Manager, SolidWorks Routing, SolidWorks Toolbox Browser, and SolidWorks Utilities Application Programming Interface (API) Help systems. The SolidWorks Document Manager API is new in this release.

The major enhancements and changes made to the SolidWorks API in SolidWorks 2007 are:

Blocks. The SketchBlockDefinition and SketchBlockInstance interfaces replace the now obsolete and unsupported BlockDefinition and BlockInstances interfaces. The new interfaces support blocks in drawings, parts, and assemblies.

If your application creates blocks using the old interfaces, you must migrate your code to use the new interfaces. Blocks created in earlier versions of the SolidWorks software using the now obsolete interfaces are automatically converted to the new blocks.

Custom properties. For ease of use, the CustomPropertyManager interface now contains all of the methods and properties for custom properties that previously existed on other interfaces.

3D-printer interface. Use SW3DPrinter for 3D printer applications and common Print dialogs. This interface is for developing drivers for rapid-prototyping devices only.

Weldment cut-list tables. Use WeldmentCutListFeature and WeldmentCutListAnnotation for weldment cut-list features and weldment cut-list tables in drawings.

User-defined materials in parts. Access user-defined materials for part documents using MaterialVisualPropertiesData.

Multiple Undo command. Create a SolidWorks Undo command to undo multiple SolidWorks API operations using ModelDocExtension::StartRecordingUndoObject and ModelDocExtension::FinishRecordingUndoObject.

DXF/DWG files. Load DXF/DWG files using SldWorks::LoadFile4 and the ImportDxfDwgData interface.

Multi-row callouts. Create and edit multi-row callouts using SelectionMgr::CreateCallout2 and the new Callout methods and properties.

Macro features. Create and edit multibody macro features using FeatureManager::InsertMacroFeature3, MacroFeatureData::EditBodies, MacroFeatureData::GetEditBodiesCount, MacroFeatureData::IGetEditBodies, and MacroFeatureData::ISetEditBodies. Embed the macro file in the document that contains the macro feature using MacroFeature::EmbedMacroFile.

Drag arrows. Create drag arrows, which are called handles in the user-interface, using Manipulator::GetSpecificManipulator and the DragArrowManipulator interface.

Edges in drawings. Get the edges associated with the display data in a drawing using View::GetPolylines6.

Annotations and spell check. Spell check annotations using Annotation::CheckSpelling.

Splitter windows. Display ActiveX controls in splitter windows using ModelViewManager::AddControl3.

Triads. Change the labels of the SolidWorks triad using SldWorks::SetUserPreferenceStringValue swReferenceTriadXLabel, swReferenceTriadYLabel, swReferenceTriadZLabel, and SldWorks::SetUserPreferenceToggle swReferenceTriadUseAlternateLabels.

SolidWorks commands. Activate a SolidWorks command and optionally show your title for the command on the PropertyManager page using ModelDocExtension::RunCommand.

Alternate position views. Superimpose one drawing view on another using View::InsertAlternateView.

Library features. Create a library feature by creating the LibraryFeatureData object.

Section views in parts and assemblies. Create section views in parts and assemblies using ModelViewManager::CreateSectionViewData, ModelViewManager::CreateSectionView, and the SectionViewData interface.

Smart components. Create smart components using AssemblyDoc::CreateSmartComponent.

Temporary bodies. Display a temporary body in the context of a specified part or component using Body2::Display3.

Interference detection. Detect interferences in assemblies using AssemblyDoc::InterferenceDetectionManager and the InterferenceDetectionManager and Interference interfaces.

Mouse. Access the mouse using ModelView::GetMouse and the Mouse interface.

User progress bar. Create and modify a progress indicator using SldWorks::GetUserProgressBar and the UserProgressBar interface.

Updated FeatureData objects. Updated mold-related FeatureData objects are: ExtrudedFeatureData2, PartingLineFeatureData, SimpleFilletFeatureData2, SimpleHoleFeatureData2, and VariableFilletFeatureData2.

swHtmlInterface control for QuickTips. If your application has QuickTips, then you must change swHtmlInterface.14 to swHtmlInterface.15 for SolidWorks 2007.