Explode

Creating Exploded View

Tutorial Written using a Discussion Posting by Rajiv Agrawal

On the Pro/DESKTOP CD there are many included VB applications that are not really documented. This tutorial will explore the use of the ExplodeAssembly.bas application which can be used to quickly create exploed views in Pro/DESKTOP. (You can find this apps under misc/api/utilities)

1. Download the ExplodeAssembly.base (right click chose Save as) and save it in Program Files>PTC>Pro/DESKTOP

2. Run Pro/DESKTOP

3. Open up any assembly file (it must contain some assembly constraints: mate, align etc..)

4. Browse out to the ExplodeAssembly.bas file with Windows File Explorer. Drag-n-Drop ExplodeAssembly.bas into Pro/DESKTOP. When you drop ExplodeAssembly.bas into Pro/DESKTOP the Visual Basic Editor will automatically run.

5. In the VB Editor look in the object browser under Modules and you will find the ExplodeAssembly module list there. Double click it to display the VBA code.

6. In the VB Editor click File>Close & Return to Pro/Desktop

7. In Pro/DEKSTOP click Tools>Macros

8. Make sure you are looking for Macros in ProDESKTOP6, then select the ExplodeAssembly Macro.

9. RUN

Remember you must have an assembly load into Pro/D for this macro to do anything.

Prior to running the Macro

After running the macro

The ExplodeAssembly macro creates a new file called orig filename_assmExplode.des. This file will be displayed after the macro is run. Note that the macro does not affect the original file at all.

Warning: This macro will give an error if a file called orig filename_assmExplode.des already exists. If you ran the macro on an assembly and want to run it again on the same assembly you must delete the created file

Are you a VBA Developer!! This could easily be turned into a great application that offered the user a windows interface! COME ON! Someone out there has the SKILL!