About this ebook
This book provides a comprehensive guide to automating tasks in MicroStation using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Whether you are new to programming or an experienced MicroStation user looking to enhance your workflows, this book offers a step-by-step approach to mastering VBA in the MicroStation environment.
Starting with the basics of the VBA IDE, variables, and code structure, the book guides you through fundamental programming concepts before diving into MicroStation-specific tasks. You'll learn how to create and manipulate elements, automate drawing processes, and interact with external applications like Excel for data import/export.
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Introduction to Microstation VBA - saeed murray
Book Summary
This book provides a comprehensive guide to automating tasks in MicroStation using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Whether you are new to programming or an experienced MicroStation user looking to enhance your workflows, this book offers a step-by-step approach to mastering VBA in the MicroStation environment.
Starting with the basics of the VBA IDE, variables, and code structure, the book guides you through fundamental programming concepts before diving into MicroStation-specific tasks. You’ll learn how to create and manipulate elements, automate drawing processes, and interact with external applications like Excel for data import/export.
Key topics include:
Automating Element Creation: Learn how to programmatically draw lines, circles, arcs, and text, as well as group and manipulate elements.
Advanced VBA Projects: Build practical applications such as the Geotech Cells App, an AI Shape Generator, and a Light Coverage Project, each designed to solve real-world problems.
Working with Coordinates: Import, export, and handle coordinate data with precision, automating tasks that involve complex geometry.
Interfacing with Excel & Notepad: Use Excel and notepad.txt file as a data source or destination, seamlessly exchanging information between MicroStation and Excel or Notepad for reports, analysis, or batch processing.
Creating Custom Tools and Add-ons: Design and implement your own MicroStation add-ons to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance productivity.
Through practical exercises, projects, and case studies, this book ensures that you gain hands-on experience with VBA in MicroStation. Whether you’re automating simple workflows or tackling complex design problems, this guide will equip you with the tools you need to become proficient in VBA programming for MicroStation.
By the end of the book, you will have developed a solid foundation in VBA, with the ability to create custom applications, automate design processes, and significantly improve your efficiency within MicroStation.
This book is a valuable resource for MicroStation users, CAD professionals, and engineers looking to harness the full power of VBA for automating tasks and enhancing their design workflows.
Table of Contents
Book Summary
1. Introduction to VBA in MicroStation
2. Getting Started with VBA in MicroStation
3. VBA Code Structure
4. Working with Variables
5. Creating VBA Forms
6. Adding Levels in MicroStation
7. Error Handling in VBA
8. Exercise 1: Level Creation App
9. Working with Elements
10. Manipulating Elements
11. Grouping and Ungrouping Elements Using VBA Commands
12. Retrieving Element IDs in MicroStation VBA
13. Calling Subroutines in VBA
14. Element Locking and Unlocking
15. Conditional Logic in VBA
16. Cell Renaming
17. Working with Coordinates
18. Enumeration and Scanning Elements
19. Working with Excel
20. Working From Excel to Microstation
21. Using Excel as a Database
22. Exporting and Importing Data Between MicroStation
and Notepad Using .txt Files
23. VBA Calculations in MicroStation
24. Placing Cells in 2D and 3D, and Automating with Excel Data in MicroStation
25. Recording Macro Tool
26: Advanced MicroStation UserForm with Excel Integration
27. Creating a Micro Station Add-on
Closing Summary
About the Author
1.
Introduction to VBA in MicroStation
What is VBA?
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a programming language developed by Microsoft. It is integrated into many Microsoft applications, including MicroStation, Excell Etc.
VBA allows users to automate repetitive tasks, customize workflows, and create new functionalities within MicroStation, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Benefits of Using VBA in MicroStation
Automation: Automate repetitive tasks to save time and reduce errors.
Customization: Tailor workflows to meet specific project requirements.
Enhanced Functionality: Create new tools and features that are not available out-of-the-box.
Integration: Seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft applications like Excel for data manipulation and reporting.
2.
Getting Started with VBA in MicroStation
Accessing the VBA Environment:
Open MicroStation.
Navigate to Drawing > Utilities > Macros > VBA Manager.
A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generatedFigure 1 - VBA manager
Create VBA Project and save it on you preferred folder.
Figure 2 - Create VBA Project
Select your VBA project and click on the orange pencil on the VBA project window.
Figure 3 - Show VBA IDE
This will open the VBA IDE (Integrated Development Environment) where you can write and manage your VBA code.
Understanding the VBA IDE:
The VBA IDE is a powerful tool that allows you to write, edit, and debug your VBA code. It consists of several key components:
Menus
The menu bar at the top of the IDE provides access to various commands and features. Here are some of the main menus:
File: Open, save, and manage your VBA projects.
Edit: Cut, copy, paste, and find/replace code.
View: Toggle different windows and toolbars.
Insert: Add new modules, user forms, and controls.
Format: Adjust the appearance of your code and user forms.
Run: Execute your code and manage breakpoints.
Tools: Access additional tools and options.
Debug: Step through your code and troubleshoot errors.
Help: Access VBA documentation and help resources.
Toolbars
Toolbars provide quick access to commonly used commands. You can customize the toolbars to include the buttons you use most frequently. Some standard toolbars include:
Standard: Basic file and editing commands.
Debug: Tools for running and debugging your code.
UserForm: Controls for designing user forms.
Windows
The IDE contains several windows that help you manage your projects and code:
Project Explorer: Displays all the projects and modules in your VBA environment.
Properties Window: Shows the properties of the selected object, such as a form or control.
Code Window: Where you write and edit your VBA code.
Immediate Window: Allows you to execute VBA commands directly and see the results immediately.
Toolbars and Menus: Provide quick access to various commands and features.
Figure 4 - VBA IDE
Creating Your First Macro:
Go to Insert > Module to create a new module.
Write your first VBA code in the code window. For example:
VBA Code 1
Sub HelloWorld()
MsgBox Hello, World!
End Sub
Run the macro by pressing F5 or using the Run menu .
3. VBA Code Structure
Code, Modules and Procedures
Code: A typical code has 4 parts.
Modules: Containers for your VBA code. There are two types of modules:
1. Standard Modules:
Store general procedures and functions.
Used for code that can be called from anywhere in the project.
2. Class Modules:
Define objects and their associated procedures.
Used to create new objects and define their properties, methods, and events.
Procedures: Blocks of code that perform specific tasks. There are two types:
1. Subroutines (Sub):
Perform actions but don’t return values.
Used for tasks like manipulating objects, displaying messages, or performing calculations without returning a result.
2. Functions:
Perform actions and return a value.
Used for calculations or operations that need to return a result to the calling code.
Subroutines and Functions
Subroutines: Defined using the Sub keyword, they do not return a value.
VBA Code 2
Sub CreateCircle()
' Code to create a circle in MicroStation
End Sub
––––––––
Functions: Defined using the Function keyword, they return a value. Below is example that include both a function and a sub routine:
VBA Code 3
Function AddNumbers(a As Integer, b As Integer) As Integer
AddNumbers = a + b
End Function
Sub DisplaySum()
Dim a As Integer
Dim b As Integer
Dim result As Integer
' Assign values to a and b
a = 2
b = 5
' Call the AddNumbers function
result = AddNumbers(a, b)
' Print the result to the Immediate Window
Debug.Print The sum of
& a & and
& b & is:
& result
End Sub
––––––––
In this example, the AddNumbers function takes two integers as arguments and returns their sum.
The DisplaySum subroutine assigns values to a and b, calls the AddNumbers function, and prints the result as shown below.
A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generatedFigure 5 - VBA Code in Microstation
Organizing Your Code
Use modules to logically separate different tasks or functionalities:
If you are developing a VBA project for a financial application, you might have separate modules for different functionalities such as data input, calculations, and reporting.
DataInputModule: Contains procedures for handling user inputs and data validation.
CalculationModule: Contains functions and subroutines for performing financial calculations.
ReportingModule: Contains procedures for generating and formatting reports.
VBA Code 4
' DataInputModule
Sub GetUserData()
' Code to get user data
End Sub
' CalculationModule
Function CalculateInterest(principal As Double, rate As Double, time As Double) As Double
CalculateInterest = principal * rate * time
End Function
' ReportingModule
Sub GenerateReport(principal , rate, time)
' Code to generate report
End Sub
Always comment your code for clarity, especially in larger projects:
Adding comments to explain the purpose of procedures, the logic behind complex calculations, or the reason for specific coding decisions. This practice makes your code easier to understand and maintain, especially for others who might work on the project in the future.
VBA Code 5
' This subroutine gets user data from the input form
Sub GetUserData()
' Code to get user data
End Sub
' This function calculates the interest based on principal, rate, and time
Function CalculateInterest(principal As Double, rate As Double, time As Double) As Double
' Formula: Interest = Principal * Rate * Time
CalculateInterest = principal * rate * time
End Function
' This subroutine generates a report based on the calculated data
Sub GenerateReport()
' Code to generate report
End Sub
4.
Working with Variables
Declaring Variables
Purpose: Variables are used to store data that your program will use. They can hold different types of data such as numbers, text, or objects.
Syntax: Declare variables using the Dim keyword followed by the variable name and data type.
VBA Code 6
Dim radius As Double
radius = 5.5
Data Types and Scope
Common Data Types in VBA:
Integer: For whole numbers.
VBA Code 7
Dim count As Integer
count = 10
Double: For decimal numbers.
VBA Code 8
Dim price As Double
price = 19.99
String: For text.
VBA Code 9
Dim message As String
message = Hello, World!
Boolean: For True/False values.
VBA Code 10
Dim isActive As Boolean
isActive = True
Scope: Determines