Save DXF as flat pattern issue

[TeeVar]

The save option have multiple issues.

1. PSM with flat pattern.

DXF is saved properly. No issues.

2. PSM without flat pattern

DXF is saved properly but the file is empty. There should be some kind of check does the flat pattern exist. If no flat pattern, show error. 

3. PAR to PSM using "Switch to" from tool tab (switch between environment)

Doesn't matter does the flat pattern exist or not, HK save empty file.

4. PAR to PSM with material thickness 

If you want to save DXF with name change that will include material thickness, HK will not find material thickness property. There is no issue with the material thickness property in the name file if the part was modeled directly in the sheet metal part environment without using "switch to" from tool tab.

[rmcanany]

Thank you for the report!

I could probably replicate that situation, but it would save me a bit of trial and error if you could email me a couple of files that illustrate the behavior.

[rmcanany]

Yeah, that was screwed up. Please try it with the new preview linked below.

By the way, there are several other upcoming changes on the way in the next week or so. They're discussed in the Release Notes.

Even though it is called V2026.1, all the changes should be present/working in the preview I sent. If anything catches you eye, please give it a try and let me know how it goes.

Here's the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oA_G5cp0M0KV15QIsfP3QSLsLAYt5h5q/view?usp=drive_link

[TeeVar]

PSM without flat pattern - fixed, now we have error in the app and log. The question is, is it possible to automate it? If flat pattern is not detected, make flat pattern. Because now i have to do it manually or use external HK app to make flat pattern if I have a lot of files.

All files for test

PAR_to_PSM_bend_1.par - sheet metal made after switching from part to sheet metal environment, with flat pattern
PAR_to_PSM_no_bend.par - sheet metal made after switching from part to sheet metal, no flat pattern
PSM_bend_1.psm - file with flat pattern
PSM_no_bend.psm - file without flat pattern

flat_pattern.zip

[rmcanany]

It would be possible to provide an option to automatically make a flat pattern if one is missing. I will look at that for a future release.

Right now, you could first use the Update Flat Pattern command. With the files you sent, that would yield this result.

.

If you click the highlighted button, it will reduce the list to only files with errors. You could use that as input to the external program you referenced.

.

By the way, I "promoted" you to Beta Tester in the Housekeeper Credits section. As you know, that's not worth any money, but it does provide some recognition for all your efforts to make the program better for you -- and everybody else. Thank you!

[rmcanany]

A couple of other error messages in you log file caught my eye. I did a little investigating.

There were a couple like this:

PAR_to_PSM_no_bend.par in D:\Praca\Programy\SolidEdgeHousekeeper\housekeeper_test_file\flat_pattern
    Save model as
        Unable to process property 'Custom.Grubość materiału' in formula '%{Custom.Grubość materiału}'
        Could not parse filename formula '%{System.File Name (no extension)} - %{System.Material} - %{Custom.Grubość materiału}'

As you probably found out, %{Custom.Grubość materiału} was not present in the file properties.

There was one like this:

PSM_bend_2.psm in D:\Praca\Programy\SolidEdgeHousekeeper\housekeeper_test_file\flat_pattern
    Save model as
        Error saving 'D:\Praca\Programy\SolidEdgeHousekeeper\housekeeper_test_file\flat_pattern\PSM_bend_2 - Stal - 5,00.dxf'.
        Error was: Nieprawidłowy wskaźnik. (Wyjątek od HRESULT: 0x80004003 (E_POINTER)).

I didn't have this file, but found a couple of my own with the same complaint. In those cases, the flat pattern was a Blank and not a Flatten. Apparently, even though you can export a *.dxf manually, the API is not able to deal with those at this time. I updated the error message to suggest checking for that condition.

[TeeVar]

For some unknown reason material thickness in polish version is represented by default by "grubość materiału". Maybe this is because material thickness and few others are exposed in variable table. So sometimes testing something on my files can be troublesome. But this isn't the reason why material thickness can't be found in PAR files. I can save DXF with material thickness directly from PSM without issues. Problem appears when you switch from PAR to PSM environment.

Just start new PAR file, switch to PSM env., create plate with one bend. Use HK DXF flat pattern save with file name change. Use "%{System.File Name (no extension)} - (material thickness variable)" and see do you have any errors.

Yes, I was testing blank body pattern. Forgot to delete log entries.

[rmcanany]

It worked here.

Save As setup. It may be a typo, but your call out for the file name is %{System.File Name (no extension)} - (material thickness variable). Mine is %{System.File Name (no extension)} - %{Custom.Material Thickness}. I selected both properties by right-clicking the text box and choosing Insert property. Is that how you did it?

Favorite properties. This is where I added the properties I needed for the file name.

Variable table

Output

[rmcanany]

I did a little more investigating of Material Thickness.

First, that is the exposed name of the Variable MaterialThickness. In your locale, that could well be Grubość materiału.

On my system, that variable (and exposed property) appears to be always available in a *.psm. In a *.par it appears to be available if Switch to Sheet Metal was activated at the outset. Not sure, but there may need to be at least one sheet metal feature for it to appear.

If I created a *.par with a part feature, the variable did not appear, even if I later did Switch to Sheet Metal. Also, in that situation the Flat Pattern command created a Blank, not a Flatten. I wonder if that was what was happening.

I could probably add a check for that situation and report an error if it occurs. Would that help? I thought about just ignoring it, but was afraid it would give the false impression that the command succeeded. I guess I could add an option to let the user decide. If there is a large number if part files that don't contain sheet metal features, it can result in a lot of errors in the log.

[TeeVar]

I did investigating as well.

Part of the problem is that i switch between polish and english version, this is only on my side.

SE by default expose material thickness variable and change it depend on language ver. to: Material Thickness, Grubość materiału, Materialstärke and many more. If in your formula you use Material Thickness but the file has been created in polish ver., HK will not find Material Thickness because material thickness is exposed as Grubość materiału.

Conclusion: it doesn't matter what language ver. of SE you use, important is what is the name of the exposed material thickness variable.

Not sure, but there may need to be at least one sheet metal feature for it to appear.

No need, material thickness variable is added after switching to PSM.

I found as well that PAR_to_PSM has no warning that flat pattern has not been found.

Don't worry about blank body pattern. You can completely ignore it.

[rmcanany]

Thank you for all the sleuthing.

I'll add a note to the Readme about dealing with Material Thickness exposed name.

I just tried creating a new *.par, switching immediately to PSM. Created a contour flange, but not flat pattern. I got an error message that no flat pattern was found. That may have been a recent addition. I'll make a new preview this afternoon and send you a link.

In the meantime, if you want to send me the file that didn't generate an error, I can try it out. It would also be helpful to see an image of how the Save Model As command was configured.

[rmcanany]

Here's a link to the update...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTQqImTXHi3X_F0jU3MyJ09Mz3bHomvP/view?usp=sharing

[TeeVar]

HK reports only last error or shows only one error at a time.

If I use formula %{System.File Name (no extension)} - %{Custom.Grubość materiału}, HK will report only Unable to process property 'Custom.Grubość materiału'. But if I use %{System.File Name (no extension)} on the same file, HK will report No flat pattern detected

This is why I though there is no log in the previous beta release.

[rmcanany]

Appreciate the continued testing. I'll look into it.

I assume it's the same file, right? Are these the conditions?

• %{Custom.Grubość materiału} is not exposed (with that name) in the variable table.
• A flat pattern is not present.

[TeeVar]

You can try to use this file but instead of %{Custom.Grubość materiału} use %{Custom.Material Thickness} in the formula. And yes, there is no flat pattern. I think it will works with any other variable. HK is not able to show more than one error in the log.

PAR_to_PSM_no_bend_PL.zip

[rmcanany]

I just checked the code. You're right about the single error thing. The first check is the new file name. If it finds a problem, like a missing variable, it gives up and doesn't do any further processing.

I think your point is that it would be more informative to continue processing and report all the errors. It would still give up at the end, but the user could fix all the issues without having to rerun the program a bunch of times. I'll look into it. Thank you!