Add dimensions to bend lines using SOLIDWORKS API

This example demonstrates how to add dimensions to bend lines in the drawing view of sheet metal flat pattern using SOLIDWORKS API.

Dimension between bend lines in the sheet metal flat pattern drawing

It is required to select the sketch lines using the select data object with the view assigned, otherwise the dimensions creating will fail.

IModelDoc2::AddDimension2 SOLIDWORKS API is used to add the dimension. Dimension is positioned at (0, 0, 0) coordinate. Refer the Dimension Visible Entities example for code snippet for calculating the optimal dimension position.

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swSelMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr
Dim swView As SldWorks.View

Sub main()

    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

    Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
    
    If Not swModel Is Nothing Then
    
        Set swSelMgr = swModel.SelectionManager
        
        Set swView = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject6(1, -1)
        
        If Not swView Is Nothing Then
        
            Dim vBendLines As Variant
            vBendLines = swView.GetBendLines
            
            If UBound(vBendLines) >= 1 Then
            
                Dim swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData
                Set swSelData = swSelMgr.CreateSelectData
                swSelData.View = swView 'must be set
                
                swModel.ClearSelection2 True
                
                Dim i As Integer
                
                For i = 0 To 1
                    
                    Dim swSkSeg As SldWorks.SketchSegment
                                        
                    Set swSkSeg = vBendLines(i)
                    
                    swSkSeg.Select4 True, swSelData
                    
                Next
                
                swModel.AddDimension2 0, 0, 0
                
            Else
                MsgBox "There should be at least 2 bend lines in the drawing view"
            End If
            
        Else
            MsgBox "Please select drawing view with flat pattern"
        End If
    
    Else
        MsgBox "Please open drawing"
    End If
End Sub