New Custom Feature: Rename Beams

SethF

This is mostly just recycled code from the beams feature. In our case, it's really nice to have the beams named accurately, including the length, which obviously changes with move faces or what have you. So the idea is that you put this feature after all of your manipulation to the beams, it remeasures the length, and sets a new name.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6d2b1edc58ecf1f27385a36d/v/8a838befd9737ddf11bfe069/e/26552c6e3aabd627ba52bf99

Here's an example:

1) Make some beams


2) Mess up their lengths


3) Rename them:



As you can see in the example, you have the option for a second unit in case you would like to show the length in both inches and mm, for example. As you can also see in the example, it has the short coming of not being able to change your naming options for individual Beam features. Initially I had made my own copy of the Beams feature, added some new attributes for me to use, and then grabbed those in rename. That way I could add to the name that was already selected (minus the incorrect length). But I didn't want to have to add in code every time the Beam feature is updated. So for now, using this feature, if you want the Standard listed for one beam, you get the Standard listed for ALL the beams..

I'm a programming nooob. So. Sorry if the code is ugly.

MichaelPascoe

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Welcome to featurescripting!

Something that would have helped me a lot when I started are some simple JavaScript tutorials. If you don't already know JS, learning some basics will really help you with FeatureScript.

SethF

@MichaelPascoe Thanks! I'll have go through a few. I've only ever done the very basics in python.

matthew_stacy

@SethF, nice work.  That is a very useful feature script.

What happens if you manually rename a part after running the RB script?  Is there a way to re-apply the feature script ... or have I severed the link permanently?

In this linked document I manually edited the name of the first beam element.  Now the feature script only acts on the second part.

chadstoltzfus

@matthew_stacy If you right click on the part, click "Properties," then click the "Reset All" button at the bottom left of the pop up, that will remove the manual link and allow the custom feature to take control again. 

MichaelPascoe

@chadstoltzfus
That is a neat trick. Now I can use Part Name!

Did you know about this trick @Evan_Reese?

matthew_stacy

Thank you @chadstoltzfus.  Your suggestion worked!

Is there away to reset the part NAME only, so that you don't lose previously entered property attributes (description, part number, etc.)?

EvanReese

MichaelPascoe said:

@chadstoltzfus
That is a neat trick. Now I can use Part Name!

Did you know about this trick @Evan_Reese?

I did. I guess I should add a note about that to the Part Name and Part Color documents. I've even considered doing a check in the feature to see if it's applied the property as intended and sending up a warning with instructions if it didn't work, but that's for another day.

chadstoltzfus

@matthew_stacy To my knowledge there is currently not a way to reset a specific property. It's currently an all or nothing button. Could make for a good improvement request.