Add-on Tools

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Adding Add-on Tools

Editing Add-on Tools

You can expand the product by incorporating add-on software tools.  The typical add-on tool is a Visual Basic application written by an IRONCAD user or a third party vendor.  For example, you might write a VB program to make multiple copies of a shape or part and then incorporate it into the product as an add-on tool.  

You are not restricted to Visual Basic, of course.  You can incorporate any of the following:

• An executable program.

• An OLE object.

• A function in a Dynamic Link Library (DLL)

Adding Add-on Tools

The following instructions demonstrate how to add a new option to the Tools menu corresponding to an executable program, an OLE object, or a function in a DLL library.

To add a new tool option to the Tools menu:

1. From the Tools menu, select Add-on Tool to display the Tools properties sheet on the Customize dialog box.

2. On the properties sheet, select Add and then specify a tool using one of the following methods:

   • To add an executable program, select the Executable button.  Enter the program’s command line in the Command field.  Alternately, click the button next to the Browse field, select a program using the file selection dialog box, and choose OK.  

   • To add an OLE object, check the OLE Object box and then enter the name of the object in the Object field.  In the Method field, enter one of the methods associated with the object.  

   • To add a function from a DLL library, check the Function Exported from DLL button.  Enter the name of the library in the Name of DLL field.  Alternately, click the Browse button, select a library using the file selection dialog box, and choose OK.  Finally, enter the function itself, along with any parameters, in the Name of Function field.

3. Choose OK.

   You return to the Tools properties sheet.

4. If necessary, enter additional information to customize the new tool.

   • Command.

   • Executable.  In this field, enter the directory path and file name of the executable program, as it will appear on the command line.

   • Arguments.  In this field, enter any arguments that will appear on the command line after the name of the program.

   • User Interface.

   • Menu text.  In this field, enter the desired name of the new tool as it will appear on the Tools menu.

   • Tooltip.  In this field, enter the desired text to be displayed when the cursor is placed over the tool on a toolbar.

   • Status Bar.  In this field, enter the desired text to be displayed on the status bar when the cursor is placed over the tool on a toolbar.

5. Select Close.

   The new tool name appears as an option on the Tools menu.

6. To run the new tool, select its option on the Tools menu.

Editing Add-on Tools

From time to time, you may want to edit the behavior of an add-on tool or modify it in some other way.  Several methods are available for editing add-on tools.

To edit add-on tools:

1. From the Tools menu, select Add-on Tools.

   The Tools properties sheet on the Customize dialog box appears with a list of the current tools.

2. Select one of the tools in the list for editing.

3. Choose one of the following methods to edit the selected tool.

   • To edit the tool’s menu text or command line options, edit the contents of the four fields at the bottom of the dialog box.  See the previous section for details.

   • To delete the tool from the Tools menu, select Remove.

   • To reposition the tool on the Tools menu list, select Move Up or Move Down.

4. When you’re finished with tool management, choose Close.