Get the pointer to component from name using SOLIDWORKS API

This example demonstrates how to retrieve the pointer to the IComponent2 SOLIDWORKS API method on any level of the assembly from its full name hierarchy.

Name of the component is defined as a path where each level is separated by / symbol. Component instance id is specified with a - symbol (e.g. FirstLevelComp-1/SecondLevelComp-2/TargetComp-1)

Component name can be found in the following dialog in SOLIDWORKS User Interface:

Refer Select Component By Name example for an alternative way of selecting the component by name.

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

Sub main()

    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
    
    Dim swAssy As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc
    
    Set swAssy = swApp.ActiveDoc

    Dim swComp As SldWorks.Component2
    Set swComp = GetComponentByName(swAssy, "E-1/F^E-1/I-1")
    
    If Not swComp Is Nothing Then
        Debug.Print "Component Found: " & swComp.Name2
        swComp.Select4 False, Nothing, False
    Else
        Debug.Print "Component Not Found"
    End If
    
End Sub

Function GetComponentByName(assy As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc, name As String) As SldWorks.Component2
    
    Dim vNameParts As Variant
    vNameParts = Split(name, "/")
    
    Dim swComp As SldWorks.Component2
    
    Dim i As Integer
    
    For i = 0 To UBound(vNameParts)
        
        Dim swCompFeat As SldWorks.Feature
        
        If i = 0 Then
            Set swCompFeat = assy.FeatureByName(vNameParts(i))
        Else
            Set swCompFeat = swComp.FeatureByName(vNameParts(i))
        End If
        
        If swCompFeat Is Nothing Then
            Set GetComponentByName = Nothing
            Exit Function
        End If
        
        Set swComp = swCompFeat.GetSpecificFeature2
        
    Next
    
    Set GetComponentByName = swComp
    
End Function