KB180987790: ArtiosCAD - Understanding Geometry Macros: Types of macros

Question

Understanding Geometry Macros: Types of macros.

Answer

Table of macros

Calling context

Normal

• A Normal macro adds geometry and items to the calling workspace, but said geometry is self-contained and isolated from the calling workspace. The macro does not modify nor access any existing geometry directly in the calling workspace. The calling workspace does not directly access geometry in the macro. The macro can accept data as parameters from the calling workspace for example if the macro is parametric or needs to calculate the placement.
  • So, for example, assume the macro utilizes the expression #MANSIZEX (blank size). When the macro is added to the calling workspace, #MANSIZEX will only refer to the geometry in the macro. It will not include the geometry from the calling workspace while the macro is added to the workspace.
  • Further assume the variable D is defined in the calling workspace and also defined in the macro. The variable D from the workspace will not be used.  
• When placing the geometry in a macro, the Move lines to layers option will dictate if the geometry is added to the Main Design layer or if the layers in the macro are honored and created in the calling workspace. Setting this option honors the layers in the macro.

• Are logged with the GEOMTOOL command.

In-place

• An In-place macro can access the geometry, items and variables in the calling workspace and modify the calling workspace directly. Macros design for MFGs can access the embedded oneups directly.
• The Interact macro is a special macro that runs in-place and runs all the Black screen menu functionality. This is a special mode for forwards compatibility with Laserpoint and is not recommended for new macros.
• Variables defined in the macro can be saved to the record variable defined under Store variables in of the calling workspace as the macro is added to the calling workspace.
  
• Are logged with IGEOMTOOL command.

MFG

These are specialized macros for specific manufacturing and diemaking tooling.  

Placeholder geometry macro

Special type of macro used for Dynamic Art.

Macro placement

• Normal

  • GUI

    • Place the geometry macros utilize an ArtiosCAD builtin UI tool with many placement options to allow the user to place the macro contents within the calling workspace.

    • Once the macro is in drag mode, the placement option will be seeded according to the Placement option in the Geometry macro Catalog in Defaults.  However, the user can use a different placement option .  Repeat placement allows the user to repeatedly add the same macro.

  • No GUI

    • Placement computed by geometry macro, accepts data from the calling workspace to compute where the geometry should be placed.

• In-place

  • GUI

    • In-place geometry macro with positioning uses the same set of placement options as the Normal Place the geometry macros.

  • No GUI

    • In-place geometry macro use no GUI. Calculations and placement are done by the macro.
      

• MFG

  • Select geometry from a template macros allow a user to manually place geometry and then select only certain items from the geometry for final inclusion into the calling workspace.

    

  • The six smaller rectangles were added via a macro using this placement mode. The next state is to allow the user to select items he wishes to keep from the geometry that was added.

  • Stripping, Blanking, Steel counter etc., utilize drag placement in the respective ArtiosCAD manufacturing tools to allow the user to place the specialized component at an appropriate location.