Formulas in comments

[[Pa...]]

I noticed you can add formulas into comments, for instance in a feature comment. I'm curious if anyone has used this and if so, what was the use case?

also is there a way via this formula or another method to add a photo to a comment? so, if someone is manually taking a measurement you could show them a photo of what they're supposed to be measuring exactly?

[[Ky...]]

Hello Paul,

So strictly speaking, no. The comment line is always a string.

However, we can use the "systemCall" method to run batch files to open up programs inside of the comment line of features. I would be a bit careful with that, though, since it will pop up every time you look at the comment (or the program runs) and can quickly become annoying. Perhaps the measurement run info or a batch file in the program might be more what you are trying to do if you want to give instructions for running the part

If you are talking about reports, then this wouldn't work, though. You can, however, add CAD presentations to the report.

Hope you find that helpful.

[[Wo...]]

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If you want a photo to pop up during measurement telling the operator what to do - there is an option when you add a Programmable stop to a strategy to upload a file. You can then select an image or PDF or whatever and it will appear when the program pauses.

[[Pa...]]

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oh, that's an interesting, I'll have to play around with that. thanks!

[[Da...]]

Is 'Plan > User-definable measurement run info for CNC start > Select' what you are looking for?

[[Pa...]]

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no, not in this context. that allows for adding info or photo the user can access before starting a program. but I was more curious about showing a photo during the measurement run so the user can see exactly what they're meant to measure.

it doesn't come up very often, but occasionally we have some complicated feature that needs checked manually during a run and having a reference photo would make it easier on the operator to decern what they're checking.

[[Cr...]]

I use formulas in comments for when I have a large number of pockets around a part that I need to take space points in. If you pattern a series of points in a pocket, it will measure the first point in each pocket before moving to the next point which is not efficient on large parts with many pockets. I create a group of points in one pocket in the reverse order I want them to run, add a formula in the comment that is dependent on the next point until I reach the last one and I leave that one with no formula. This will run all the points in the first pocket before moving to the next pocket all using a pattern.

[[Pa...]]

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oh, that's interesting! would you have an example of what that kind of formula would look like?
I could see some scenarios where that might be useful for us.

[[Cr...]]

I just use something like getActual("Point2").minDev in my Point1 feature.

[[Pa...]]

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oh, I gotcha I think. basically, just telling it "Hey what's the value of point 2?" within point 1 and since it hasn't taken point 2 it goes and takes it first, rinse and repeat before it moves on to the next pocket. that's simple yet clever.