Mentor Graphics Communities : Discussion List - Automation and Scripting

Need an idea how to indicate an automation script is still running

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:54:15 GMT

I'm writing a script to make modifications to components based on certain part numbers, and I'm getting all the components in one collection, so I am not traversing the hierarchy. This means the Dx window just sits there while the script is running. Is there a good way to display something (i.e. rotating hourglass) showing the user that the script is still running?

Thanks in advance!

The renamed attributes still visible in HyperLynx DRC

community_admin@mentor.com — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:56:11 GMT

Hello All.

In my VBS script for Hyperlynx DRC, I allways create a ViolationType object and define the required attributes to this object. Later, when my script detects violation, I create a Violation object and add the defined attributes to this object. For example:

Set objViolationType = Document.GetViolationType("myViolType")

Call objViolationType.DefineAttribute("Attr1", drcViolTypeAreaFill)

Call objViolationType.DefineAttribute("Attr2", drcViolTypeLayer)

.................................

' Violation is detected:

Set objViolation = objViolationType.NewViolation()

objViolation.Description = "Area is " & objAreaFill.OutlineArea

Call objViolation.AddAttribute("Attr1", objAreaFill)

Call objViolation.AddAttribute("Attr2", objAreaFill.Layer)

Thus, when I execute this script, the Attr1 and Attr2 columns are created in Violations tab. That is OK.

Now suppose I want to rename "Attr1" and "Attr2" to the meaningful words, for example "Area" and "Layer", I simply edit "Attr1" and "Attr2" in the above script.

However, when a re-execute a script, I see the four columns in Violations tab: "Attr1","Attr2","Area","Layer". So the renamed attributes still visible in Violations tab.

Suprisingly, when I delete this rule in Project Explorer and re-create it (Rules Sources > New Rule > Specify my script in Script File field in the Rule Properties), then execute my script, I still see the "Attr1" and "Attr2"columns in Violations tab.

I tried to close and open HLDPROJ file, with the same result.

I can get rid of the renamed attributes only through deleting HLDPROJ file and recreating it (using CIBD file).

Does anybody know of this situation?

Oleg

How do I change (rename) an Component name in DXdesigner?

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:18:47 GMT

hello

basicly I want the string in REFDES to replace the string in Name

I think it suppose to be simple, please some help:

Set propREFDES = oComp.FindAttribute("REFDES")

Set propName = oComp.FindAttribute("Name")

MsgBox propREFDES.Value

MsgBox oComp.GetName(SHORT_NAME)

If propName Is Nothing Then

MsgBox "No propName"

else

MsgBox "found propName"

End If

If propREFDES Is Nothing Then

'MsgBox "nothing"

Else

'MsgBox "found"

oComp.Name=propREFDES.Value ' not working

propName.Value=propREFDES.Value ' not working

End If

thanks!

Any Thoughts about How to rename Top Schematic Sheet in DxDesigner Automation? (RenameiCDBDesign ??)

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:06:49 GMT

Gents,

I want to rename Top Schematic sheet through Automation in EE 7.9.5 (Base Version).

Here is my piece of code ; Which fails to rename top sheet....

#######################################################

Option Explicit

Dim vdapp,vddoc, vddocName, CurProjDir, n_top_sheet

Set vdapp = GetObject(,"ViewDraw.Application")

Scripting.AddTypeLibrary("ViewDraw.Application")

Set vddoc = vdapp.GetProjectData

n_top_sheet = vddoc.GetiCDBDesignRootBlock(Application.GetActiveDesign())

Call vdapp.AppendOutput("Debug", "Top sheet is " & n_top_sheet)

Call vddoc.RenameiCDBDesign(n_top_sheet , "New_Name")

' To Verify..... This Is for Debug

n_top_sheet = vddoc.GetiCDBDesignRootBlock(Application.GetActiveDesign())

Call vdapp.AppendOutput("Debug", " After Rename Top sheet is " & n_top_sheet)

#######################################################

Any Alternate Thoughts?

DxDesigner AppendOutput and spaces

community_admin@mentor.com — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:13:31 GMT

I'm using EE7.9.4 update 9

In DxDesigner when I try to write information to the output window using automtation, multiple spaces in my strings are consolodated into one space. Why does it do this? This is not desireable.

If I say

VdApp.AppendOutput("Output", "There are three spaces between each word");

the actual output in Dx is

There are three spaces between each word

I can use underscores or some other special character in place of spaces to get around the issue but then my output looks messy. I'd much rather the tool do exactly what I am telling it to do, not what it thinks it should do. Does anyone else see this issue?

update variant manager with excel

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:05:24 GMT

Hello all

I would like to update the variant manager ( place and unplace parts ) with excel.

Is there anybody who can provide a short excel example how to connect to the variant manager with excel-vba. In the moment I have no idea how to do that.

Is there any other possibility to import variant information to the variant manager either in schematic or expedition?

Thank you very much!

How to access in Expedition when creating Excel a MS Access Database?

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:12:12 GMT

Hi All,

I have extended the Export Cell-List to Excel for my needs. It works perfect.

But now "somebdy" wants to get prices for components from our SAP, which daily are exported to a Access Database.

Now I want to include this Access-Data.

I tried to to record a macro in Excel, to find out, how to get Access-Data. That works well.

But, when I tried to implement this into my Script ... it doesent work.

At First I want to get Access-Data into a new table in my excel.

Error is: Compilation Error, Error:0x800a03ee, ")" expected in Line With objSheet.ListObjects.Add(SourceType:=0, Source:=Array( _

Anybody a good idea, why my code does'nt work ?

BR Michi

Here is my code-snippet:

...

set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

objExcel.Visible = False

if Err.Number <> 0 then

Wscript.Echo "Excel application not installed."

Wscript.Quit

end if

On Error GoTo 0

' Create a new workbook.

objExcel.Workbooks.Add

' Bind to worksheet.

Set objSheet = objExcel.ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets(1)

With objSheet.ListObjects.Add(SourceType:=0, Source:=Array( _

"OLEDB;Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Password="""";User ID=Admin;Data Source=M:\XXX_Bauteilpreise\Daten_Werk_0100.mdb;Mode=Share De" _

, _

"ny Write;Extended Properties="""";Jet OLEDB:System database="""";Jet OLEDB:Registry Path="""";Jet OLEDB:Database Password="""";Jet OLEDB" _

, _

":Engine Type=4;Jet OLEDB:Database Locking Mode=0;Jet OLEDB:Global Partial Bulk Ops=2;Jet OLEDB:Global Bulk Transactions=1;Jet OL" _

, _

"EDB:New Database Password="""";Jet OLEDB:Create System Database=False;Jet OLEDB:Encrypt Database=False;Jet OLEDB:Don't Copy Locale" _

, _

" on Compact=False;Jet OLEDB:Compact Without Replica Repair=False;Jet OLEDB:SFP=False;Jet OLEDB:Support Complex Data=False;Jet OL" _

, "EDB:Bypass UserInfo Validation=False"), Destination:=Range("$A$1")). _

QueryTable

.CommandType = xlCmdTable

.CommandText = Array("DATEN_Werk_0100")

.RowNumbers = False

.FillAdjacentFormulas = False

.PreserveFormatting = True

.RefreshOnFileOpen = False

.BackgroundQuery = True

.RefreshStyle = xlInsertDeleteCells

.SavePassword = False

.SaveData = True

.AdjustColumnWidth = True

.RefreshPeriod = 0

.PreserveColumnInfo = True

.SourceDataFile = "M:\XXX_Bauteilpreise\Daten_Werk_0100.mdb"

.ListObject.DisplayName = "Tabelle_Daten_Werk_0100"

.Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False

End With

Find un Mapped Cell & Symbol

community_admin@mentor.com — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:30:16 GMT

Hi,

How to identify the cell, symbol and padstack which are not associated with any parts. Do we have any script that can give us the list.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Manikandan.

AMPLE Code for getting frequency of a net in schematics

community_admin@mentor.com — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:36:12 GMT

I need to know if there exists an in buit command that can calculate the frequency of a net of a schematic and can be used for further operations.

I have tried with this command : $extract_wfreq("V(x)", 10n, 60n, "m"); but it gives the output in an .aex file under the label m but I wish to get the value of frequency directly so that I can pass it to a variable say freq

like this:-

extern freq = $command for calculating frequency of net x

With regards,

S.Shyam Sundar

DxDatabook Configuration Automated setup

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:40:51 GMT

Is it possible to script the creation of multiple libraries in a DxDataBook configuration, including the linking to DSN data source tables and setting property annotation / mapping? We have around 200+ 'libraries' - or categories as we view them - and would like to avoid doing all that setup for the configuration by hand.

Thanks-

-j

DxDatabook highlight components?

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:36:47 GMT

Another random DxDatabook question for ya'll. Does anyone know if there's a way to highlight (or just set the background color) of components listed in DxDatabook? In our use case, we usually color code some component libraries based on status: GREEN for preferred parts, RED for obsolete, ORANGE for restricted, etc. Not very friendly to the Red/Green colorblind, but it does help the rest of us.

-John

drawing line/rectange script

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:19:28 GMT

Hi ,

is there any way to draw line or rectangle with script on a specific layer with PADS Layout 2007 ?

Regards

Resetting certain component properties on copy.

community_admin@mentor.com — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:44:16 GMT

I had a user ask me this question yesterday. I told him I didn't have a good answer so I thought I'd ask here.

We have several properties for component derating which must be set on a per instance basis in order to show that analysis has been done. Given that copying an existing component from one spot to another is the easiest/fastest way to add more of the same part, that's what we usually do. However, when a component is copied, its derating properties may no longer be valid. The new component's derating properties should be reset to force the analysis in the new location to be done, Is there any paste component hook that can be used to automatically reset/delete such location specific properties?

Is there an event in the DxDesigner automation that will allow us to do this?

Thanks,

Tony

DxDesigner: How to get the full Symbol Name e.g. Resi.1 via Automation and the "Forward To PCB" Attribute

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:58:15 GMT

Hi,

is there a possibility to get the full symbol name with the version via automation ?

CompObj.SymbolBlock.GetName(LONG_NAME) returns only the name without the version.. Also there is no attribute where this name is stored. ( CompObj.GetBatchAttributes() shows all attributes of the component)

The background:

I want to know the orientation of the symbol after placement in the DxDesinger via the DxDatabook. We have e.g. a Resi.1 which is oriented horizontal and a Resi.2 which is rotated 90° but by the drawing, not by rotation command.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Thomas

Expedition layout backups...

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:38:27 GMT

Guys,

Is there a way to keep three different backups of layout data?

In BS we were able to keep three different copies of layout data. It will roll the copies on each saves.

This allowed us to recover layout and lose very little work.

Can same be achieved in Expedition thru API?

We recently migrated a design in EE7.9.4 and lost 4 hours’ worth of work in layout.

Expedition Script to Get NetclassClearance from 2 Nets

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:19:17 GMT

Hi All!

I'm looking for a script, that in best case ... should do the following:

- With Left-Mous-Click select a net

- with next click select 2nd net

then I would see in epcbStatusField3 the names of netclass and the clearance of the 2 different netclasses.

Something like : "-UG <> +UG 5.7mm".

I look into Inside-Outside script for Mouse-Handling, but at the Moment I haven't enough time .... I can read out netclass from a net with "net.NetClass"

Did have anyone a script, where I can look into it ? And, is it possible to bind this script to a "Hotkey", always available in pcb?

BR Michi

Expedition - run keyin: How to pass parameters?

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:24:55 GMT

Hi!

I've got a vbscript (x.vbs) that's supposed to be run from the expedition keyin toolbar:

But how do I access the command line parameters (1 2 3 in this case) from within the script?

Lots of Greetings!

Volker

How can I delete trace segment with Automation

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:28:04 GMT

I want to delete several tracesegments with my script.

I try

For i = Trace.TraceSegments.Count To 1 Step -1

Trace.TraceSegments.Remove(i)

next

But it does nothing in my design.

Border Label Not "Setting"

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:22:09 GMT

I recently wrote a discussion about writing a script to automatically label borders. The same script is supposed to updat the border label if there are changes. It apepars to be happening in some schematics, but not in others. My diagnostics code shows that I do reach the step for updating the label, but nothing changes.

1    Set objCompBorderLabel = objCompBorder.Label
2    If Not objCompBorderLabel Is Nothing Then
3      objCompBorderLabel.TextString = strSheet
4    Else
5      Set objCompBorderLabel = objCompBorder.AddLabel(strSheet,longBorderLabelXLoc,longBorderLabelYLoc)
6    End If

Again, I see that this code works in one database, but not in another. I could see about deleting an existing label, then adding the label new, but I'd like get to the root cause of my problem.

Change the object from one layer to another

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 06:44:51 GMT

Hi All,

Do we have script to change the iteams in one layer to another layer in a cell for entire Central library or can we rename the existing layer?

Thanks in advance

Manikandan.

"Unable to write read-only property" Problem

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:34:31 GMT

I have written a script to put titles on pages by way of labeling borders. Currently, I get an error when trying to add the label (if it doesn't exist).Even though I get the error, the label is added.

The code in question:

1    If Not objCompBorder.Label is Nothing Then
2      objCompBorder.Label.TextString = strSheet
3    Else
4      Set objCompBorder.Label = objCompBorder.AddLabel(strSheet,longBorderLabelXLoc,longBorderLabelYLoc)
5    End If
6    objCompBorder.Label.Font = VDFONT_ROMAN
7    objCompBorder.Label.Origin = VDALIGN_MC
8    objCompBorder.Label.Size = 75

The code at line 4 is what seems to trigger the error. The label is added, but the font, alignment, and size are not changed. On schematic sheets where the border is already labeled, the code proceeds without a problem.

Any thoughts on what the problem might be?

How to open two LibraryManager databases at the same time?

community_admin@mentor.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:33:19 GMT

Hello!

How to open two LibraryManager databases at the same time?

I need to compare two LibraryManager databases and copy some data from one to another. I can open one, save some data into collection, close, open another and compare collection with another. Is there way without an additional collection?

I do the next:

jobSource = "/home/al1/pub/projects/al1-2163/Central_Library_2/Central_Library_2.lmc"

jobDestination = "/home/al1/pub/projects/xxx/Central_Library_2/Central_Library_2.lmc"

' Opening base 1

Set appObjSrc = CreateObject("MGCPCBLibraries.PartsEditorDlg")

Scripting.AddTypeLibrary("MGCPCBLibraries.PartsEditorDlg")

Set libObjSrc = appObjSrc.OpenDatabaseEx(jobSource,False)

' Opening base 2

Set appObjDst = CreateObject ("MGCPCBLibraries.PartsEditorDlg")

Set libObjDst = appObjDst.OpenDatabaseEx(jobDestination,False)

' ...

After I open the base 2, libObjSrc destroyed and I can't read it. If I comment opening the base 2 - libObjSrc can be read.

Is there any solution?

Thanks!

Problem with IsPointInside in Windows 7 / 64bit Expedition 7.9.4

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:18:54 GMT

Hi All,

I have a little script, that check, if is a via inside a pad. On Windows XP (32Bit) my script works well:

Code Snippet:

Set pads = pcbDoc.PadstackObjects(epcbPadstackObjectPin,epcbSelectPlaced)

Set Vias = pcbDoc.Vias(epcbSelectAll)

i = 0

'lege Grösse des Arrays fest

ReDim viaarray(3, Vias.Count)

'collect Via Coordinates and drillsizes

For Each via In Vias

x = FormatNumber(via.PositionX,PRECISION)

y = FormatNumber(via.PositionX,PRECISION)

viaarray(0, i) = x

viaarray(1, i) = y

viaarray(2, i) = via.holes(1).DrillSize

viaarray(3, i) = via.Name

i = i + 1

i = 0

For Each pad In pads

i = i + 1

If pad.holes.Count = 0 Then 'pcbPinClassSMD kein Loch = SMD ?

For j = 0 To UBound(viaarray, 1)

x = viaarray(0, j)

y = viaarray(1, j)

d = viaarray(2, j)

ViaName = viaarray(3, j)

If pad.IsPointInside(x, y) Then

...

Now it seems, that IsPointInside doesn't works anymore. Has anyone the same problem ?

BR Michi

Rename Net in Schematic

community_admin@mentor.com — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:44:33 GMT

How do I rename a net in DxDesigner programatically? Is it currently possible?

Expedition PCB: Script to generate custom Pick and Place File in Excel with custom properties?

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:29:46 GMT

Hi,

I am quite new to automation and scripting and started writing a script based on examples from the installation files.

I need to output a Pick and Place file from a Expedition PCB Board in Excel format containing the following information:

Ref Des, Mount Type (SMD / Through Hole), X Coordinate, Y coordinate, Rotation, Side (Top / Bottom), Custom Property.

Now I managed to get all the info except for the Custom Property. The Components in the PCB Design containsa custom property callled "Store_Number".

I need to extract this value for each component and add to the Pick and Place.

I have attached what I ahve done so far.

Any help wouold be much appreciated.

Regards,

Charl.

Get Schematic Components in Variant Manger Mode

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:02:21 GMT

Hello Community,

I like to query a Schematic handled in the DxDesigner, for "active" components.

With active components, I mean the Parts which are not crossed out (see my attachment).

The Red Cross in the attached file, is made by the Variant Manager.

I know that I can pull a complete BOM, with the on Board Tools from DxDesigner, but

what I want, is a BOM of the Crossed Out parts.

I have a tool/script running which gets all components listed on a sheet, a selection, or ...

but I am not able to judge with code, if it is a red crossed part or not.

In/With the Variants manager I have the option, to delete those red crossed components.

Then my tool/script will work, but that's not what I want.

So, If you have any help for me regarding scripting around the variant manager, or how to

get the "Crossed Out" parts, I am very happy.

Thanks in advance.

Stefan

Using a script to track our vias (blind and buried)

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:10:14 GMT

Mentor is cleaning up vias on our powers and ground that we do not want deleted (even fixed ones). I have written a script to extract all vias with layer, xy location, and netname. I am trying to track the vias through excel. I found in the Mentor manuals that each via has a unique ID property. "Object.UniqueID"

I am not sure how to extract that along with the other information. Has anyone used this before and if so could you give me a sample code to help me add to my existing vbs script?

Thanks.

Find and replace text on all layers in Expedition

community_admin@mentor.com — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:08:40 GMT

In Expedition we have text strings on a number of layers including user layers containing e.g. revision indices. When we create a new revision, all those revision related texts have to be changed manually.

Is there an easy way of doing this with an automation script?

Cheers,

Volkmar

OnPreComponentPlace Event wont work with VB.NET

community_admin@mentor.com — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:21:35 GMT

Hello Community,

I tried two ways to get the Event OnPreComponentPlace from Expedition, but it doesn´t seem to work in VB.NET (VBS and TCL worked).

The Function appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace wont get triggered from the Event

First one, WithEvents and Handle to Function:

Public WithEvents appdoc As MGCPCB.Document

' Test with "WithEvents"

Public Function appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace2(ByVal comp As Object, ByVal x As Double, ByVal y As Double, ByVal layer As Integer, ByVal rot As Double, ByVal mirr As Boolean) As Boolean Handles appdoc.OnPreComponentPlace

Debug.WriteLine("appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace2")

End Function

Second one, with AddHandler

Sub New()

appdoc = UserStandardLib.GetActiveDoc()

AddHandler appdoc.OnPreComponentPlace, AddressOf appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace

End Sub

'Test with "AddHandler"

Public Function appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace(comp As MGCPCB.IMGCPCBComponent, x As Double, y As Double, layer As Integer, rot As Double, mirr As Boolean) As Boolean

Debug.WriteLine("appdoc_OnPreComponentPlace")

Return True

End Function

This Event works with AddHandler and WithEvents:

Private Sub appdoc_OnNotitfy(notify As MGCPCB.EPcbOnNotifyType)

Debug.WriteLine("OnNotify: " & notify.ToString)

End Sub

Perhaps anyone can help to find the problem or the failure of my lines

Thanks,

Florian

Script to draw a line and then assign it to a net (instead of Net0)

community_admin@mentor.com — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:51:10 GMT

If I create a script to draw lines is there then a way to assign a net to it within the script itself?

DxD: Execute Tools>Update Other Objects without raising the dialog

community_admin@mentor.com — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:39:51 GMT

I would like to programatically run the Tools>Update Other Objects command with the Annotations switch on and Range set to project.

Does anyone know how to do this?

Using app.CommandsManager.ExecuteMenuCommand("ToolsUpdateOtherObjects") does it with the dialog raised, but I'd like to do the same thing without the user having to push the OK button in the dialog.

Thanks in advance,

Patrick