Visual Basic Shell

[Underspec]

I've posted before on about a VB shell program to launch other programs. I'm working on mine at the moment but am currently stuck. (Object errors).

Keep in mind this is an external independent program, not a script inserted into a PCDMIS program.

The reason I use VB to make an external shell is because it's easier to design and offers help when you need it. I'm using VB 2005 express edition (free from microsoft) and it doesn't import VB 6.0 programs well. (Allgui from the wilcox site won't convert over).

Anyone have a working external independent shell sample that I can use to build on? Gimme a very basic working template and I can go from there. Not asking for handouts, besides I want to customize my own. Any out there that is willing to share a cut/paste template?

[cmmguy]

I got the majority of the core from the Wilcox site. Not sure what vb2005 express is, but you can buy vb 6 for around $100. Compared to 15K+ for pcdmis, it seems like a bargain...

This example below may contain some code you don't need since I borrowed from one of my apps, but it will generally give you the idea

******************First you need to start PCDMIS.....

Sub StartPCDMIS(Optional NotHidden As Boolean = False)

On Error GoTo PCDMISStartError
Set PCDMISApp = CreateObject("PCDLRN.Application")
PCDMISApp.WaitUntilReady 30
If NotHidden = True Then
PCDMISApp.SetActive
PCDMISApp.Maximize
PCDMISApp.Visible = True
Else
PCDMISApp.Visible = False
End If

On Error GoTo 0
Exit Sub

PCDMISStartError:

MsgBox "No PCDMIS Hasp or software found", vbOKOnly, "PCDMIS Error"

Shutdown

End Sub

*****************Then you need to launch your programs.....

Public Function StartPCDMISProgram(sDMISProgram As String) As Boolean

Dim Parts As Object
Set Parts = PCDMISApp.PartPrograms
Dim Prog As String
Dim a As Integer
Dim v As Integer
Dim Tmp As String
Dim iFileNum As Integer

If Not bCMMSoftwareOFF Then
On Error GoTo ErrHandler
Set Part = Parts.Open(sDMISProgram, "CMM1")
PCDMISApp.Visible = 0
PCDMISApp.SetActive
PCDMISApp.Maximize
Part.EXECUTE
StartPCDMISProgram = True
PCDMISApp.Visible = False
Part.Close
Set Part = Nothing
End If

Exit Function
ErrHandler:
StartPCDMISProgram = False
On Error GoTo 0
CMMLog "Error loading PCDMIS Program: " & sDMISProgram
MsgBox "Error during CMM program load" & vbCrLf & _
"CMM program: " & sDMISProgram & vbCrLf & _
"Possible Causes:" & vbCrLf & _
"Program file is missing." & vbCrLf & _
"Program file is mislocated." & vbCrLf & _
"CMMMaster.ini file has the wrong program or path." & vbCrLf, _
vbOKOnly, "PCDMIS ERROR"


End Function

[Don Ruggieri]

VB Execute PC-DMIS

Here is an example of a program I was working with. It opens up a "named" PC-DMIS program and then executes it from one specific command to another. These are all fixed in the VB program (PC-DMIS program name, start command, end command) but it is just an example. You can substitute variables for any or all of these to make it behave the way you want. If you leave out the Start CMD and End CMD stufff, it will exsecute the entire program.

Obviously, to make it real pretty, you would add a GUI to have the operator pick a program from a list.

******************************************

Private Sub Command1_Click()
' Create Object Variable to point to application
Dim app As Object
' Create Object Variable to point to partprograms
Dim Parts As Object
' Create Object Variable to point to the partprogram
Dim part As Object

Open "f:\pcdmisw_v36\AutomationStartupOptions.txt" For Output As #1
Print #1, "/f"
Close #1


' Launch PC-Dmis by creating the app object
Set app = CreateObject("PCDLRN.Application")
' Ask the App object for the partprograms object
Set Parts = app.PartPrograms
' Ask the Partprograms object to display the file
' open dialog and return the opened part program object
Set part = Parts.Open("dn3.prg", "OFFLINE")

app.Visible = True

Dim cmds As PCDLRN.Commands
Set cmds = part.Commands

Dim cmd As PCDLRN.Command
Dim cmd_stt As PCDLRN.Command
Dim cmd_end As PCDLRN.Command

For Each cmd In cmds

If cmd.ID = "Cir4" Then
MsgBox cmd.Type & " - " & cmd.TypeDescription
Set cmd_stt = cmd
End If

If cmd.ID = "Cir6" Then
MsgBox cmd.Type & " - " & cmd.TypeDescription
Set cmd_end = cmd
End If

Next cmd



Dim test As Boolean
test = part.SetExecutionBlock(cmd_stt, cmd_end)


' Execute the opened part program
part.EXECUTE
' Close the part program
part.Close
' Quit the Application (shut down PC-Dmis)
app.Quit
End
End Sub

**********************************************

[ag162]

Good Morning,
I hate to sound stupid,,,,,,but what is the purpose of this application and what are the advantages?????????

A.Gore

[cmmguy]

Don,
It looks like that will execute between cir4 and cir6 - correct? I have not played with executing particular commands in a program.

Have you tried this much with any success?

Have you tried or found a way to turn certain marked sets on?


Just a comment about my first post.
When you start PCDMIS that way, it is silent. No visible interface except for the run control box or what ever you call it.
When the program is finished PCDMIS is invisible but still running. Also, don't start PCDMIS every time you run a program, only at the beginning of the your vb app. It take up to a minute to initialize PCDMIS each time

[cmmguy]

AG162,
Purpose?
To start pcdmis programs independent of the normal frontend.
To control the CMM as part of an automated cell.
For fun...