Putting a part number automatically into a text feature

Tess_Okkerse

Hi all,

We are trying to find a way to automatically put a part number in a text feature. We have found feature scripts where you can configure the text, but we want onshape to grab the part number from the part properties instead of manually changing it in the configured properties. Our final goal is to have every plate we draw automatically engraved with it's part number.

I have looked through basically all the discussions here on the forum website and have so far found 1 person who also asked this question: @Triton_Engineering

Does somebody have a way of doing this? Maybe someone wrote a feature script?

Let me know! Thanks

Tess

MichaelPascoe

I wasn't able to find any close examples so I worked one up. There is an issue with getting properties in FeatureScript; because they are created after the feature is finished, we have to get them in a separate part of the code called "editing logic". Because of this, the feature will not automatically update if the part numbers change. So we have to re-open the feature to manually update it if the part number ever changes.

If you are pushing the part numbers instead of getting them from the properties, it is possible to set the part number without needing any refresh button. This is a different strategy. It all depends on how you would like to set your part numbers.

CADSharp specializes in making custom features and Onshape apps. So let me know if you want to speed up your Onshape workflows and I can get you connected with the right people.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/1957f89f0e3f3d2ef6dae9b0/w/8cfa05a045d74aeaa97088d2/e/8bca73c63fa...

MichaelPascoe

Try updating the feature. Should accept text now for part numbers.

MichaelPascoe

This is possible with FS. Let me check if there is already something like it.

MichaelPascoe

I wasn't able to find any close examples so I worked one up. There is an issue with getting properties in FeatureScript; because they are created after the feature is finished, we have to get them in a separate part of the code called "editing logic". Because of this, the feature will not automatically update if the part numbers change. So we have to re-open the feature to manually update it if the part number ever changes.

If you are pushing the part numbers instead of getting them from the properties, it is possible to set the part number without needing any refresh button. This is a different strategy. It all depends on how you would like to set your part numbers.

CADSharp specializes in making custom features and Onshape apps. So let me know if you want to speed up your Onshape workflows and I can get you connected with the right people.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/1957f89f0e3f3d2ef6dae9b0/w/8cfa05a045d74aeaa97088d2/e/8bca73c63fa...

Tess_Okkerse

MichaelPascoe said:

I wasn't able to find any close examples so I worked one up. There is an issue with getting properties in FeatureScript; because they are created after the feature is finished, we have to get them in a separate part of the code called "editing logic". Because of this, the feature will not automatically update if the part numbers change. So we have to re-open the feature to manually update it if the part number ever changes.

CADSharp specializes in making custom features and Onshape apps. So let me know if you want to speed up your Onshape workflows and I can get you connected with the right people.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/1957f89f0e3f3d2ef6dae9b0/w/8cfa05a045d74aeaa97088d2/e/8bca73c63fa...

This looks very promising! Thank you for this feature script!

I have tried it with our part numbering system. We automatically generate a number that counts up and looks like "PRT-00......" something.
There is an error generating right now as you can see in the screenshot below.

Maybe the problem is that we also have letters in our part number system? 

Can you solve this error? Would be amazing!

MichaelPascoe

Try updating the feature. Should accept text now for part numbers.

Tess_Okkerse

It works perfectly! Thank you! 

Last question: Is this feature script that you wrote open source? Or not? 

I cannot seem to find the right button to upload it to our own workspaces

MichaelPascoe

Yep, completely open source. It is stored within one of the tabs in the link I shared.

You can add custom features to your toolbar by clicking the "+" button at the top of their document. 

For my official features, I suggests adding my direct feature to  your toolbar. This way you will get all the updates that get pushed out. But since this is just a quick test, I suggest copying the document, versioning it, then adding that to your toolbar from your own document. You will have to version it, then view that version in order to add your own custom features to your toolbar.