Solidworks VBA Macro - Add Width Mate

Objective

In this article we create and understand VBA macro of adding Width Mate in Assembly document of SOLIDWORKS CAD Software.

This method is most updated method, so use this method if you want to add Width Mate quickly.

Results We Can Get

After running our macro, we successfully add Width Mate a Component in our Assembly as a result.

Below image shows the result we get.

We add Width Mate in following steps in general.

1. loop through each component in current assembly.
2. Loop through each face.
3. Get desired face from user confirmation.
4. Select required faces for mate.
5. Add Width Mate.
6. Final Work

To get the correct result please follow the steps correctly.

Macro Video

Below 🎬 video shows Adding Width Mate from SOLIDWORKS VBA Macros.

Above video is just for visualization and there are no explanation.

I have explained each and every line in this article.

It is advisable to watch video, since it help you to better understand the process.

VBA Macro

Below is the VBA macro for Width Mate.

Option Explicit

' Variable for Solidworks Application
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

' Variable for Solidworks document
Dim swDoc As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

' Variable for Solidworks Assembly
Dim swAssembly As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc

' Variable for Solidworks Component
Dim swComponent As SldWorks.Component2

' Variable for Solidworks Body
Dim swBody As SldWorks.Body2

' Variable for Solidworks Mate Feature
Dim swMateFeature As SldWorks.Feature

' Variable for Solidworks Face
Dim swFace As SldWorks.Face2

' Variable for Solidworks Tab Face List
Dim vTabFaces(1 To 2) As SldWorks.Face2

' Variable for Solidworks Width Face List
Dim vWidthFaces(1 To 2) As SldWorks.Face2

' Variable for Solidworks Mate Feature Data
Dim swMateData As SldWorks.MateFeatureData

' Variable for Solidworks Width Mate Feature Data
Dim swWidthMateData As SldWorks.WidthMateFeatureData

' Program to add Width Mate
Sub main()
  
  ' Set Solidworks Application variable to current application
  Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
  
  ' Set Solidworks document variable to currently opened document
  Set swDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc
  
  ' Check if Solidworks document is opened or not
  If swDoc Is Nothing Then
    MsgBox "Solidworks document is not opened."
    Exit Sub
  End If
  
  ' Set Solidworks Assembly document
  Set swAssembly = swDoc
    
  ' Create Assembly Mate Data
  Set swMateData = swAssembly.CreateMateData(swMateType_e.swMateWIDTH)
  
  ' Set Width Mate data to Assembly Mate Data
  Set swWidthMateData = swMateData
  
  ' Set Mate Type
  swWidthMateData.ConstraintType = swMateWidthOptions_e.swMateWidth_Centered
    
  ' Variable for List of elements
  Dim vArray As Variant
  
  ' Get Components list in opened assembly
  vArray = swAssembly.GetComponents(True)
  
  ' Variable for component Index
  Dim componentIndex As Integer
  
  ' Loop Components List
  For componentIndex = 0 To UBound(vArray)
    
    ' Set Solidworks Component variable
    Set swComponent = vArray(componentIndex)
    
    ' Calling this function
    GetFaces swComponent, componentIndex
    
  Next
  
  ' Select Faces for Width Mate
  If SelectFaces() = False Then
    ' On failed select, return from here.
    Exit Sub
  End If
  
  ' Set Width Mate Tab faces
  swWidthMateData.TabSelection = vTabFaces
  
  ' Set Width Mate Width faces
  swWidthMateData.WidthSelection = vWidthFaces
  
  ' Add Width Mate
  Set swMateFeature = swAssembly.CreateMate(swWidthMateData)

  ' Check if Mate is added or not
  If swMateFeature Is Nothing Then
    MsgBox "Failed to Add Mate."
    swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
    Exit Sub
  End If
  
  ' Clear all selection
  swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
  
  ' Zoom view to fit
  swDoc.ViewZoomtofit2
  
  ' Rebuild assembly
  swDoc.ForceRebuild3 True
  
End Sub

' Function to get required face for Width mate
Function GetFaces(component As SldWorks.Component2, componentIndex As Integer)
  
  ' Get body of current component
  Set swBody = component.GetBody
  
  ' Get First face
  Set swFace = swBody.GetFirstFace
  
  ' Variable to store Message Box result
  Dim resp As VbMsgBoxResult
  
  ' Variable to count added faces
  Dim faceNumber As Integer: faceNumber = 0
  
  ' Loop through all Faces
  Do While Not swFace Is Nothing
    
    ' Clear selection
    swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
    
    ' Select current face
    swFace.Select True
    
    ' Ask user to confirm this selection
    resp = MsgBox("Is this correct Face?", vbYesNo, "Select Face")
    
    ' Check if user response if Yes
    If resp = vbYes Then
    
      ' Calling function for adding faces
      AddFaces faceNumber, componentIndex
      
      ' Increment face count
      faceNumber = faceNumber + 1
    End If
    
    ' When both faces are added
    If faceNumber = 2 Then
      Exit Function
    End If
    
    ' Get next face
    Set swFace = swFace.GetNextFace
    
  Loop
  
End Function

' Function to add Faces for Width mate
Function AddFaces(faceNumber As Integer, componentIndex As Integer)
  
  If componentIndex = 1 Then
    ' Add current face to List of Faces
    Set vWidthFaces(faceNumber + 1) = swFace
    Exit Function
  End If
  
  ' Add current face to List of Faces
  Set vTabFaces(faceNumber + 1) = swFace
    
End Function

' Function to select faces for Width mate
Function SelectFaces() As Boolean

  ' Clear any previous selection
  swDoc.ClearSelection2 True

  ' Variable for Solidworks Select Data
  Dim swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData
  
  ' Set value of Solidworks Select Data variable
  Set swSelData = swDoc.SelectionManager.CreateSelectData
  
  ' Variable to hold return value of SelectFaceArrays function
  Dim returnValue As Boolean
  
  ' Calling function to select Tab faces
  returnValue = SelectFaceArrays(swSelData, 1)
  
  ' Calling function to select Width faces
  returnValue = SelectFaceArrays(swSelData, 16)
  
  ' Send this return value
  SelectFaces = returnValue
  
End Function

' Function to Select Required Face Arrays
Function SelectFaceArrays(swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData, selectMark As Integer) As Boolean

  ' Set Mark of Solidworks Select Data
  swSelData.mark = selectMark
  
  ' Boolean variable
  Dim boolStatus As Boolean
  
  ' Error Message
  Dim errorMessage As String
  
  If selectMark = 1 Then
    ' Select Tab faces
    boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vTabFaces, False, swSelData)
    errorMessage = "Failed to select Tab faces."
  Else
    ' Select Width faces
    boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vWidthFaces, False, swSelData)
    errorMessage = "Failed to select Width faces."
  End If

  ' Check if faces are selected
  If boolStatus = False Then
    MsgBox errorMessage
    swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
    SelectFaceArrays = boolStatus
    Exit Function
  End If
  
  SelectFaceArrays = True
  
End Function

Prerequisite

There are some prerequisite for this article.

• Knowledge of VBA programming language is ❗required.

• We use existing parts in Assembly document.

• One component is fully constraint and other component is Float as shown in below image.

We will apply checks in this article, so the code we write should be error free most of the time.

Steps To Follow

This VBA macro can be divided into following sections:

1. Create and Initialize required variables
2. Get Components and Loop through them
3. Get faces
4. Select faces
5. Add Width Mate
6. Final Work

Every section with each line is explained below.

I also give some links (see icon 🚀) so that you can go through them if there are anything I explained in previous articles.

Create and Initialize required variables

Option Explicit

• Purpose: Above line forces us to define every variable we are going to use.
• Reference: 🚀 SOLIDWORKS Macros - Open new Part document article.

' Variable for Solidworks application
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks application.
• Variable Name: swApp
• Type: SldWorks.SldWorks
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks document
Dim swDoc As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks document.
• Variable Name: swDoc
• Type: SldWorks.ModelDoc2
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Assembly
Dim swAssembly As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Assembly.
• Variable Name: swAssembly
• Type: SldWorks.AssemblyDoc
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Component
Dim swComponent As SldWorks.Component2

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Component.
• Variable Name: swComponent
• Type: SldWorks.Component2.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Body
Dim swBody As SldWorks.Body2

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Component.
• Variable Name: swBody
• Type: SldWorks.Body2.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Mate Feature
Dim swMateFeature As SldWorks.Feature

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Mate Feature.
• Variable Name: swMateFeature
• Type: SldWorks.Feature.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Face
Dim swFace As SldWorks.Face2

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Face.
• Variable Name: swFace
• Type: SldWorks.Face2.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Tab Face List
Dim vTabFaces(1 To 2) As SldWorks.Face2

• Purpose: Define 🚀 Array of Face2.
• Variable Name: vTabFaces
• Type: Face2
• Length of Array: (1 To 2)
• Reference: Please visit
  • For Arrays in VBA : 🚀 Array on this website.

' Variable for Solidworks Width Face List
Dim vWidthFaces(1 To 2) As SldWorks.Face2

• Purpose: Define 🚀 Array of Face2.
• Variable Name: vWidthFaces
• Type: Face2
• Length of Array: (1 To 2)
• Reference: Please visit
  • For Arrays in VBA : 🚀 Array on this website.

' Variable for Solidworks Mate Feature Data
Dim swMateData As SldWorks.MateFeatureData

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Mate Feature Data.
• Variable Name: swMateData
• Type: SldWorks.MateFeatureData.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Variable for Solidworks Width Mate Feature Data
Dim swWidthMateData As SldWorks.WidthMateFeatureData

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Width Mate Feature Data.
• Variable Name: swWidthMateData
• Type: SldWorks.WidthMateFeatureData.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

These all are our global variables.

They are SOLIDWORKS API Objects.

' Program to add Width Mate
Sub main()

End Sub

• In above line, we create main Program to add Width Mate in assembly.
• This is a Sub procedure which has name of main.
• This procedure hold all the statements (instructions) we give to computer.
• Reference: Detailed information 🚀 VBA Sub and Function Procedures article of this website.

' Set Solidworks Application variable to current application
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

• In above line, we set value of swApp variable.
• This value is currently opened Solidworks application.

' Set Solidworks document variable to currently opened document
Set swDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc

• In above line, we set value of swDoc variable.
• This value is currently opened part document.

' Check if Solidworks document is opened or not
If swDoc Is Nothing Then
  MsgBox ("Solidworks document is not opened.")
  Exit Sub
End If

• In above code block, we check if we successfully set the value of swDoc variable.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: swDoc Is Nothing
• When this condition is True,
  • We show and 🚀 message window to user.
  • Message: SOLIDWORKS document is not opened.
  • Then we stop our macro here.

' Set Solidworks Assembly document
Set swAssembly = swDoc

• In above line, we set value of swAssembly variable.
• This value is swDoc variable.

' Create Assembly Mate Data
Set swMateData = swAssembly.CreateMateData(swMateType_e.swMateWIDTH)

• In above line, we set the value of swMateData variable.
• We set value by CreateMateData() method.
• This CreateMateData() method is part of swAssembly variable.
• This CreateMateData() method takes following parameter.

  • Type: Type of mate to create as defined in swMateType_e in below table.

    Member	Description
    swMateANGLE	6
    swMateCAMFOLLOWER	9
    swMateCOINCIDENT	0
    swMateCONCENTRIC	1
    swMateCOORDINATE	20
    swMateDISTANCE	5
    swMateGEAR	10
    swMateHINGE	22
    swMateLINEARCOUPLER	18
    swMateLOCK	16
    swMateLOCKTOSKETCH	12
    swMateMAGNETIC	25
    swMateMAXMATES	14
    swMatePARALLEL	3
    swMatePATH	15
    swMatePERPENDICULAR	2
    swMatePROFILECENTER	24
    swMateRACKPINION	13
    swMateSCREW	17
    swMateSLIDER	23
    swMateSLOT	21
    swMateSYMMETRIC	8
    swMateTANGENT	4
    swMateUNIVERSALJOINT	19
    swMateUNKNOWN	7
    swMateWIDTH	11

• Since we want to add Width mate, hence we use value swMateWIDTH as type.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Set Width Mate data to Assembly Mate Data
Set swWidthMateData = swMateData

• In above line, we set Width Mate data to previously created Assembly Mate data.
• We set value of variable swWidthMateData to variable swMateData.
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Set Mate Type
swWidthMateData.ConstraintType = swMateWidthOptions_e.swMateWidth_Centered

• In above line, set the “Mate Type” ➡ “Centered” Type as shown in below image.

Get Components and Loop through them

In this section, we Get Components and Loop through them.

' Variable for List of elements
Dim vArray As Variant

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for List of elements.
• Variable Name: vArray
• Type: Variant

' Get Components list in opened assembly
vArray = swAssembly.GetComponents(True)

• In above line, we set the value of vArray variable.
• We set value by GetComponents method of swAssembly variable.

' Variable for component Index
Dim componentIndex As Integer

• In above line, we create a variable for component Index as a counter.
• Variable Name: componentIndex
• Type: Integer

' Loop Components List
For componentIndex = 0 To UBound(vArray)
  
Next

• In above line, we create a For loop.
• This loops start from i = 0 to maximum number of items in vArray we select.

' Set Solidworks Component variable
Set swComponent = vArray(componentIndex)

• In above line, we set value of swComponent variable.
• This value is current value of array vArray.

Get Faces

In this section we get desired face for Width mate.

' Calling this function
GetFaces swComponent, componentIndex

• In above line, we call a function.
• Function Name: GetFaces
• Function Parameters: They are
  • swComponent
  • componentIndex

' Function to get required face for Tangent mate
Function GetFaces(component As SldWorks.Component2, componentIndex As Integer)
  
End Function

• In above line, we create a Function to select required face for Tangent mate.
• This is a Function procedure which has name of SelectFace.
• This procedure hold all the statements (instructions) for select required face for Tangent mate.
• Reference: Detailed information 🚀 VBA Sub and Function Procedures article of this website.

This function has 2 parameters as follows:

• component As SldWorks.Component2
• componentIndex As Integer

' Get body of current component
Set swBody = component.GetBody

• In above line, we set value of swBody variable.
• Value of swBody variable is set by GetBody method of component variable.

' Get First face
Set swFace = swBody.GetFirstFace

• In above line, we set value of swFace variable.
• Value of swFace variable is set by GetFirstFace, which is part of swBody variable.

' Variable to store Message Box result
Dim resp As VbMsgBoxResult

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable to store Message Box result.
• Variable Name: resp
• Type: VbMsgBoxResult

' Variable to count added faces
Dim faceNumber As Integer: faceNumber = 0

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable to count number of faces added.
  • At the same time we set the value of this variable faceNumber to 0 i.e. faceNumber = 0
• Variable Name: faceNumber
• Type: Integer

' Loop through all Faces
Do While Not swFace Is Nothing
  
Loop

• In above line, we loop through all 🚀 Faces of current component.

' Clear all selection
swDoc.ClearSelection2 True

• In above line, we clear all previous selection.
• For this we use ClearSelection2 method which is part of SOLIDWORKS Document variable i.e swDoc variable.

' Select current face
swFace.Select True

• In above line, we select current face.

This function is not available in 🚀 Solidworks Face object.
Since 🚀 Solidworks Face object is also an 🚀 Solidworks Entity object, we can use methods from 🚀 Solidworks Entity object.

' Ask user to confirm this selection
resp = MsgBox("Is this correct Face?", vbYesNo, "Select Face")

• In above line, we ask user to confirm this selection.
• We do this in following steps.
  • Show a Message Box to user as shown below.

  

  • Store user response in resp variable.

' Check if user response if Yes
If resp = vbYes Then

End If

• In above code block, we check if user response if Yes.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: resp = vbYes

' Calling function for adding faces
AddFaces faceNumber, componentIndex

• In above line, we call a function.
• Function Name: AddFaces
• Function Parameters: They are
  • faceNumber
  • componentIndex

' Function to add Faces for Width mate
Function AddFaces(faceNumber As Integer, componentIndex As Integer)
  
End Function

• In above line, we create a 🚀 Function to add required face for Width mate.
• Name of 🚀 Function is AddFaces.
• This procedure hold all the statements (instructions) for adding required faces for Width mate.
• Reference: Detailed information 🚀 VBA Sub and Function Procedures article of this website.

This function has 2 parameters as follows:

• faceNumber As Integer
• componentIndex As Integer

If componentIndex = 1 Then

End If

• In above code block, we check if componentIndex is 1.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: componentIndex = 1

' Add current face to List of Width Faces
Set vWidthFaces(faceNumber + 1) = swFace
Exit Function

• When componentIndex is 1, then above code execute.
• In above line, 1st we add current face to List of Width Faces.
• 2nd, we exit this AddFaces function.

' Add current face to List of Faces
Set vTabFaces(faceNumber + 1) = swFace

• When componentIndex is not 1, then above code execute.
• In above line, 1st we add current face to List of Tab Faces.
• 2nd, we exit this AddFaces function.

' Increment face count
faceNumber = faceNumber + 1

• In above line, we Increment face count variable i.e. faceNumber by 1.

' When both faces are added
If faceNumber = 2 Then
  Exit Function
End If

• In above code block, we check if faceNumber is 2.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: faceNumber = 2
  • When this condition is True, then we exit GetFaces function.

' Get next face
Set swFace = swFace.GetNextFace

• In above line, we set the value of swFace variable.
• This is done by GetNextFace method of swFace variable.

Select Faces

In this section, we Select Faces.

' Select Faces for Width Mate
If SelectFaces() = False Then
  ' On failed select, return from here.
  Exit Sub
End If

• In above code block, we check the returning value of function SelectFaces().
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: SelectFaces() = False
  • When this condition is True, then we exit main procedure.
• In above condition, we call a SelectFaces() function.
• Function Name: SelectFaces
• Function Parameters: This function did not take any parameters.
• Return Value: This function return True or False.

' Function to select faces for Width mate
Function SelectFaces() As Boolean
  
End Function

• In above line, we create a 🚀 Function to select required face for Width mate.
• Name of 🚀 Function is SelectFaces.
• This procedure hold all the statements (instructions) for Selecting required faces for Width mate.
• Reference: Detailed information 🚀 VBA Sub and Function Procedures article of this website.
• Function Parameters: This function did not take any parameters.
• Return Value: This function return True or False.

' Clear all selection
swDoc.ClearSelection2 True

• In above line, we clear all previous selection.
• For this we use ClearSelection2 method which is part of SOLIDWORKS Document variable i.e swDoc variable.

' Variable for Solidworks Select Data
Dim swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Solidworks Select Data.
• Variable Name: swSelData
• Type: SldWorks.SelectData
• Reference: Please visit 🚀 online SOLIDWORKS API Help.

' Set value of Solidworks Select Data variable
Set swSelData = swDoc.SelectionManager.CreateSelectData

• In above line, we set value of swSelData variable.
• Value of swSelData variable is set by CreateSelectData, which is part of SelectionManager. This SelectionManager is part of swDoc variable.

' Variable to hold return value of SelectFaceArrays function
Dim returnValue As Boolean

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable to hold return value of SelectFaceArrays function.
• Variable Name: returnValue
• Type: Boolean

' Calling function to select Tab faces
returnValue = SelectFaceArrays(swSelData, 1)

• In above line, we are doing 2 things at same time.
  • Calling SelectFaceArrays function.
    • Function Name: SelectFaceArrays
    • Function Parameters: They are
      • swSelData
      • 1
  • Setting value of returnValue variable.
    • This value is return value of SelectFaceArrays function.

' Function to Select Required Face Arrays
Function SelectFaceArrays(swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData, selectMark As Integer) As Boolean
  
End Function

• In above line, we create a 🚀 Function to select required Face Arrays.
• Name of 🚀 Function is SelectFaceArrays.
• This procedure hold all the statements (instructions) for Selecting Required Face Arrays.
• Reference: Detailed information 🚀 VBA Sub and Function Procedures article of this website.
• Function Parameters: They are
  • swSelData As SldWorks.SelectData
  • selectMark As Integer
• Return Value: This function return True or False.

' Set Mark of Solidworks Select Data
swSelData.Mark = selectMark

• In above line, we set Mark of swSelData variable to 1.

' Boolean variable
Dim boolStatus As Boolean

• Purpose: In above line, we create a Boolean variable.
• Variable Name: boolStatus
• Type: Boolean

' Error Message
Dim errorMessage As String

• Purpose: In above line, we create a variable for Error Message.
• Variable Name: errorMessage
• Type: String

If selectMark = 1 Then
  ' Select Tab faces
  boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vTabFaces, False, swSelData)
  errorMessage = "Failed to select Tab faces."
Else
  ' Select Width faces
  boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vWidthFaces, False, swSelData)
  errorMessage = "Failed to select Width faces."
End If

• In above code block, we check the returning value of selectMark variable.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking this condition.
• Condition: selectMark = 1
• When above condition is True, then below code executes and select Tab Faces.

' Select Tab faces
boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vTabFaces, False, swSelData)
errorMessage = "Failed to select Tab faces."

• In above line, we select Faces by MultiSelect2 method.
• This MultiSelect2 method takes following parameter.
  • Objects: Array of selectable objects.
  • AppendFlag: True to append the objects to the selection list, False to replace the current selection list with these objects.
  • Data: 🚀 ISelectData object, Nothing, or null
• When condition selectMark = 1 is False, then below code executes and select Width Faces.

' Select Width faces
boolStatus = swDoc.Extension.MultiSelect2(vWidthFaces, False, swSelData)
errorMessage = "Failed to select Width faces."

• In above line, we select Faces by MultiSelect2 method.
• This MultiSelect2 method takes following parameter.
  • Objects: Array of selectable objects.
  • AppendFlag: True to append the objects to the selection list, False to replace the current selection list with these objects.
  • Data: 🚀 ISelectData object, Nothing, or null

' Check if faces are selected
If boolStatus = False Then
  MsgBox errorMessage
  swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
  SelectFaceArrays = boolStatus
  Exit Function
End If

• In above code block, we check if we successfully selected the faces.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: boolStatus = False
• When this condition is True,
  • We show and 🚀 message window to user.
  • Message: errorMessage variable contains the message.
  • Clear all previous selection.
  • Then we set the value of this SelectFaceArrays() function to boolStatus variable.
  • Then we Exit this SelectFaceArrays() function.

SelectFaceArrays = True

If there are no errors then in above line, we set the value of this SelectFaceArrays() function to True and then exit the function.

' Calling function to select Width faces
returnValue = SelectFaceArrays(swSelData, 16)

• In above line, we are doing 2 things at same time.
  • Calling SelectFaceArrays function.
    • Function Name: SelectFaceArrays
    • Function Parameters: They are
      • swSelData
      • 16
  • Setting value of returnValue variable.
    • This value is return value of SelectFaceArrays function.

' Send this return value
SelectFaces = returnValue

In above line, we return the value of returnValue variable for this function.

Add Width Mate

In this section, we add Width Mate.

' Set Width Mate Tab faces
swWidthMateData.TabSelection = vTabFaces

• In above line we set TabSelection of swWidthMateData => vTabFaces variable.

' Set Width Mate Width faces
swWidthMateData.WidthSelection = vWidthFaces

• In above line we set WidthSelection of swWidthMateData => vWidthFaces variable.

' Add Width Mate
Set swMateFeature = swAssembly.CreateMate(swWidthMateData)

• In above line, we set the value of variable swMateFeature by CreateMate() method.

• This CreateMate() method takes following parameters as explained:

  • MateData - Mate-specific object:

    Mate-specific object
    IAngleMateFeatureData
    ICamFollowerMateFeatureData
    ICoincidentMateFeatureData
    IConcentricMateFeatureData
    IDistanceMateFeatureData
    IGearMateFeatureData
    IHingeMateFeatureData
    ILinearCouplerMateFeatureData
    ILockMateFeatureData
    IParallelMateFeatureData
    IPerpendicularMateFeatureData
    IProfileCenterMateFeatureData
    IRackPinionMateFeatureData
    IScrewMateFeatureData
    ISlotMateFeatureData
    ISymmetricMateFeatureData
    ITangentMateFeatureData
    IUniversalJointMateFeatureData
    IWidthMateFeatureData

• Return Value : This CreateMate() method return 👉 Mate2 data object.

• In our code, I have used following values:

  Parameter Name	Value Used
  MateData	swWidthMateData

Reference: For more details about

• Solidworks AssemblyDoc details: 🚀 online Solidworks API Help for Solidworks Feature Manager.
• CreateMate Method: 🚀 online Solidworks API Help for CreateMate Method.

' Check if Mate is added or not
If swMateFeature Is Nothing Then
  MsgBox "Failed to Add Mate."
  swDoc.ClearSelection2 True
  Exit Sub
End If

• In above code block, we check if we successfully added Width Mate or not.
• We use 🚀 IF statement for checking.
• Condition: swMateFeature Is Nothing
• When this condition is True,
  • We show and 🚀 message window to user.
  • Message: *Failed to Add Mate.
  • After that we clear the selection.
  • Then we stop our macro here.

Now we run the macro and after running macro we get Width Mate as shown in below image.

Final work

In this section, after adding Width Mate, we have to do some cleaning work so that we can use this macro frequently.

' Clear all selection
swDoc.ClearSelection2 True

• In above line, we clear all selection.
• For this we use ClearSelection2 method which is part of SOLIDWORKS Document variable i.e swDoc variable.

' View zoom to fit
swDoc.ViewZoomtofit2

• In above line, we make our view zoom to fit the model.
• For this we use ViewZoomtofit2 method which is part of SOLIDWORKS Document variable i.e swDoc variable.

' Rebuild assembly
swDoc.ForceRebuild3 True

• In above line, we Rebuild assembly.
• For this we use ForceRebuild3 method which is part of SOLIDWORKS Document variable i.e swDoc variable.

This is it !!!

I hope my efforts will helpful to someone!

If you found anything to add or update, please let me know on my e-mail.

Hope this post helps you to Width Mate with SOLIDWORKS VBA Macros.

For more such tutorials on SOLIDWORKS VBA Macro, do come to this website after sometime.

If you like the post then please share it with your friends also.

Do let me know by you like this post or not!

Till then, Happy learning!!!

• 🎁 Download 5 Free SolidWorks Macros →