Call a solidworks macro from a sub and pass global variables - vba

Question

In Solidworks I record two macros.
Macro 1 is empty:
Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long
'added code
Dim distance_of_second_plane
'end of added code
Sub main()
Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
'added code: here I want to call the second macro and send it distance_of_second_plane, and have it use that value
distance_of_second_plane = .05
'.. now what?
'end of added code, don't know what to add.
End Sub
Macro 2 does something that requires data from macro 1:
Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long
Sub main()
Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Front Plane", "PLANE", 0, 0, 0, True, 0, Nothing, 0)
Dim myRefPlane As Object
Set myRefPlane = Part.FeatureManager.InsertRefPlane(8, 0.05334, 0, 0, 0, 0)
Part.ClearSelection2 True
End Sub
these macros are of course saved in different files. How do I call the second from the first, passing in the data from the first, and using it in the second?
things I`ve tried: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/140033, http://www.cadsharp.com/macros/run-macro-from-another-macro-vba/, VBA module that runs other modules, Call a Subroutine from a different Module in VBA
all of them are problematic. I'll give details of the errors I get if asked for them.

Answer 1

You could create a separate module to encapsulate your common methods. Then add reference to that module and call it from both your Macro1 and Macro2 sub routines.
So for example in your Macro1:
In the project explorer, right click on the Modules folder and Insert-Module, name in Module1 (or whatever you want)
Create a subroutine in Module1, name it InsertPlane (or whatever name makes sense), and construct the subroutine with parameters that will be needed to accomplish what needs to be done
Sub InsertPlane(ByRef swApp As Object, ByVal distance As Double)
'enter your code here, the parameters passed to InsertPlane can be whatever you need
'to do what the method needs to do.
End Sub
In your main() method of your macro, call the InsertPlane() method when you need it
Sub main()
Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
'added code: here I want to call the second macro and send it distance_of_second_plane, and have it use that value
distance_of_second_plane = 0.05
'example of calling the subroutine
boolstatus = Module1.InsertPlane(swApp, distance_of_second_plane)
End Sub
The modules can be exported and imported, so you can reuse them in other macros, to do that right click in the project tree on Module1 and export file. Similarly, you can right click on the Modules folder and Import modules.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

While it is possible to run a macro from another macro using ISldWorks::RunMacro2, it is not possible to have this method return any values that you can use in your first macro. Even if this was possible, I would not recommend it.
Everything you need to accomplish can be accomplished in a single macro, you simply need to learn how to use the SolidWorks API to reach that end. Could you please explain what you are trying to accomplish with your macro? Then I could show you what code you need.
Please also note that the macro recorder is really not a good tool for creating macros of any significance. If you plan on using the SolidWorks API seriously, then you really need these three skills under your belt:
How to do basic programming with VBA (variables, arrays, conditionals, loops, etc)
How to navigate and read the SolidWorks API Help (the offline version)
How API objects are related to one another (SolidWorks API Object Model)
I have some videos at my web site (in my profile) that can help you get started. Again, if you want me to help here with your current problem, please explain what you're trying to automate.