Q The buttons that I create in my VB application are only enabled when the machine is inactive. When it is executing they are grayed out. How can I have a button that stays enabled whilst the machine is executing.

A. You use the DVButton function SetStatus. Also look at the documentation on DMMachine m_Status member variable. The SetStatus function allows you to define when the button is enabled and when it is disabled. There is a small sample within VBProjectB. For example, to have a button enabled whilst the machine is executing call SetStatus on the appropriate button as follows.

UpperButtons.m_DVButton(1).SetStatus DS_MACHINE_EXECUTE, 0, "My Label"

Q Can I set a font on a button.

A. You can set the font on a button or all buttons within a button array. See DVButton::SetButtonFont to set font on an individual button or DVButtonArray.SetButtonFont to set font on all buttons within the array.

DGDataSet

Q How can I programmatically reposition a complete drawing once it has been loaded and is visible on screen.

A You do this by applying the DGDataSet::Rescale function. This takes as an argument a SDGOrigin data structure that has been initialised with the new offsets that are required. (Note that this function can also be used to rescale or rotate the geometry). First the origin structure has to be initialised, the offsets applied, and then extended before calling the rescale function. See the program listing below.

Dim origin As DGOrigin
Set origin as New DGOrigin
origin.m_Offset(DG_YY) = 200
origin.Extend
machine.m_DMProfile.m_DGDataSet.Rescale origin
 

Note that  the DGOrigin object will self destruct when it goes out of scope.

DMAxis

Q How can I disable the set Zero button in the standard Jog To dialog.

A. This is a question about axis capabilities or style. When the axis is created it is given attributes that define its capabilities. If using a 'stock' machine configuration, it might for example, be required to disable axis homing. Or, as in this example, the ability to 'zero' an axis is to be disabled. To do this, you use the function DMAxis.SetAxisStyle. For example, to disable the Y axis, use the following code once the machine has been created.

machine.m_DMAxis(DG_YY).SetAxisStyle DM_AXIS_NOZERO, DM_AXIS_NOZERO