Import points cloud from CSV file into sketch via SOLIDWORKS API

This macro imports the points read from the specified CSV (comma separated values) file into the active sketch using SOLIDWORKS API. Both 2D and 3D Sketches are supported.

Configuration

Macro has several configuration options which can be modified by changing the values of the constants at the beginning of the macro

Const USE_SYSTEM_UNITS As Boolean = True
Const FIRST_ROW_HEADER As Boolean = True

FIRST_ROW_HEADER specifies if the if the first row of the CSV file is considered as a header and should be ignored ignored. If CSV file doesn't contain the header set the value of the constant to False.
USE_SYSTEM_UNITS indicates if the coordinate values in the CSV file are in system units (meters). If this option is set to False, macro will use the current document units instead.
Macro can also import points relative to coordinate system. Pre-select the target coordinate system before running the macro otherwise the points will be inserted relative to global coordinate system

Input CSV file can contain 3 coordinates (X, Y, Z) or 2 coordinates (X, Y)

Sample Files

How To Run The Macro

Open the model and create 2D or 3D sketch (or edit existing sketch)
(Optional) Pre select coordinate system if points need to be imported relative to this system
Run the macro. Specify the full path to CSV file in the displayed file browse dialog
Click OK. Points are created in the active sketch

Const USE_SYSTEM_UNITS As Boolean = True
Const FIRST_ROW_HEADER As Boolean = True

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

Sub main()

try_:
    
    On Error GoTo catch_
    
    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
        
    Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
    Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
    
    If Not swModel Is Nothing Then
    
        Dim swSketch As SldWorks.Sketch
        
        Set swSketch = swModel.SketchManager.ActiveSketch
        
        If Not swSketch Is Nothing Then
            
            Dim vPoints As Variant
            Dim inputFile As String
            
            inputFile = swApp.GetOpenFileName("Specify the full path to CSV file", "", "CSV Files (*.csv)|*.csv|Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|All Files (*.*)|*.*|", -1, "", "")
            
            If inputFile <> "" Then
            
                vPoints = ReadCsvFile(inputFile, FIRST_ROW_HEADER)
                
                vPoints = ConvertPointsLocations(vPoints, swModel, USE_SYSTEM_UNITS, GetSelectedCoordinateSystemTransform(swModel))
                
                DrawPoints swModel, vPoints
            
            End If
            
        Else
            Err.Raise vbError, "", "Please open 2D or 3D Sketch"
        End If
        
    Else
        Err.Raise vbError, "", "Please open the model"
    End If
        
    GoTo finally_
    
catch_:
    swApp.SendMsgToUser2 Err.Description, swMessageBoxIcon_e.swMbStop, swMessageBoxBtn_e.swMbOk
finally_:
        
End Sub

Function GetSelectedCoordinateSystemTransform(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2) As SldWorks.mathTransform
    
    Dim swSelMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr
    
    Set swSelMgr = model.SelectionManager
    
    If swSelMgr.GetSelectedObjectType3(1, -1) = swSelectType_e.swSelCOORDSYS Then
        Dim swCoordSysFeat As SldWorks.Feature
        Set swCoordSysFeat = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject6(1, -1)
        Set GetSelectedCoordinateSystemTransform = model.Extension.GetCoordinateSystemTransformByName(swCoordSysFeat.Name)
    Else
        Set GetSelectedCoordinateSystemTransform = Nothing
    End If
    
End Function

Sub DrawPoints(model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, vPoints As Variant)
    
    model.SketchManager.AddToDB = True
    
    Dim i As Integer
    
    For i = 0 To UBound(vPoints)
        
        Dim swSkPt As SldWorks.SketchPoint
        Dim vPt As Variant
        vPt = vPoints(i)
        
        Dim x As Double
        Dim y As Double
        Dim z As Double
        
        x = CDbl(vPt(0))
        y = CDbl(vPt(1))
        z = CDbl(vPt(2))
        
        Set swSkPt = model.SketchManager.CreatePoint(x, y, z)
        
        If swSkPt Is Nothing Then
            Err.Raise vbError, "", "Failed to create point at: " & x & "; " & y & "; " & z
        End If
        
    Next
    
    model.SketchManager.AddToDB = False
    
End Sub

Function ConvertPointsLocations(points As Variant, model As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, useSystemUnits As Boolean, mathTransform As SldWorks.mathTransform) As Variant
    
    Dim swMathUtils As SldWorks.MathUtility
    
    Set swMathUtils = swApp.GetMathUtility
    
    Dim convFact As Double
    convFact = 1
    
    If Not useSystemUnits Then
        Dim swUserUnit As SldWorks.UserUnit
        Set swUserUnit = model.GetUserUnit(swUserUnitsType_e.swLengthUnit)
        convFact = 1 / swUserUnit.GetConversionFactor()
    End If
    
    Dim i As Integer
    
    For i = 0 To UBound(points)
        
        Dim vPt As Variant
        vPt = points(i)
        
        Dim dPt(2) As Double
        
        If UBound(vPt) >= 0 Then
            dPt(0) = CDbl(vPt(0)) * convFact
        Else
            dPt(0) = 0
        End If
        
        If UBound(vPt) >= 1 Then
            dPt(1) = CDbl(vPt(1)) * convFact
        Else
            dPt(1) = 0
        End If
        
        If UBound(vPt) >= 2 Then
            dPt(2) = CDbl(vPt(2)) * convFact
        Else
            dPt(2) = 0
        End If
        
        If Not mathTransform Is Nothing Then
            
            Dim swMathPt As SldWorks.MathPoint
            
            Set swMathPt = swMathUtils.CreatePoint(dPt)
            Set swMathPt = swMathPt.MultiplyTransform(mathTransform)
            
            vPt = swMathPt.ArrayData
            
        Else
            vPt = dPt
        End If
        
        points(i) = vPt
        
    Next
    
    ConvertPointsLocations = points
    
End Function

Function ReadCsvFile(filePath As String, firstRowHeader As Boolean) As Variant
    
    'rows x columns
    Dim vTable() As Variant
        
    Dim fileName As String
    Dim tableRow As String
    Dim fileNo As Integer

    fileNo = FreeFile
    
    Open filePath For Input As #fileNo
    
    Dim isFirstRow As Boolean
    Dim isTableInit As Boolean
    
    isFirstRow = True
    isTableInit = False
    
    Do While Not EOF(fileNo)
        
        Line Input #fileNo, tableRow
            
        If Not isFirstRow Or Not firstRowHeader Then
            
            Dim vCells As Variant
            vCells = Split(tableRow, ",")
            
            Dim i As Integer
            
            Dim dCells() As Double
            ReDim dCells(UBound(vCells))
            
            For i = 0 To UBound(vCells)
                dCells(i) = CDbl(vCells(i))
            Next
            
            Dim lastRowIndex As Integer
            
            If Not isTableInit Then
                lastRowIndex = 0
                isTableInit = True
                ReDim Preserve vTable(lastRowIndex)
            Else
                lastRowIndex = UBound(vTable, 1) + 1
                ReDim Preserve vTable(lastRowIndex)
            End If
            
            vTable(lastRowIndex) = dCells
            
        End If
        
        If isFirstRow Then
            isFirstRow = False
        End If
    
    Loop
    
    Close #fileNo
    
    ReadCsvFile = vTable
    
End Function