Getting the X and Y of my First CAM location

[vpcnc]

I've posted this in the BCC Forums. Thought someone here might help as well.

I'm trying to make an Edit to the Way the Tool Change Macro Outputs the First X and Y position. In the Default Macro, It was Hard Coded to output an X0 and a Y0.
I've Changed it to X???? and Y???? because these always need to be changed.
What I liked to do is have the Macro Output the X and Y of the First Feature to be cut from the Cam side.
If Nothing is selected on the CAM side then it would output the X???? and the Y???? so they can be manually changed.
Example, If I'm going to Drill Holes, then I want the X and Y to be the X and Y of the First Hole location.
Here is the Modified Script/Macro as I have it now.
Fanuc0MDToolChange.bas

'Tool Parameters
OptionsUnits Output, Unit = UN
NCEdit Output,Line = i
dim XPOS as double
dim YPOS as double
dim ZPOS as double
dim TOOLNUM as integer
dim DESC as string
dim TOOLNUMSTRING as string
dim SPINDIR as integer
dim SPINSPEED as integer
dim WORKOFF as integer
SPINDIR = 3
SPINSPEED = 500
WORKOFF = 54
NCEdit Line = i, Output, X = XPOS, Y = YPOS, Z = ZPOS
Ask Header="Tool Change",Output,Cancel=canc,"Tool Number;0"=TOOLNUM, "Tool 
Description"=DESC, "Spindle Direction;0"=SPINDIR, "Spindle Speed;0"=SPINSPEED, 
"Work Offset;0"=WORKOFF
If canc Then
    Exit
End If
If WORKOFF < 54 Then
 WORKOFF = 54
End If
If WORKOFF > 59 Then
 WORKOFF = 59
End If
If TOOLNUM > 99 Then
 TOOLNUM = 99
End If
If TOOLNUM < 0 Then
 TOOLNUM = 0
End If
If TOOLNUM < 10 Then
 TOOLNUMSTRING = "0"+TOOLNUM
Else
 TOOLNUMSTRING = TOOLNUM
End If
If SPINDIR < 3 Then
 SPINDIR = 3
End If
If SPINDIR > 4 Then
 SPINDIR = 4
End If
If SPINSPEED < 0 Then
 SPINDPEED = SPINSPEED * -1
End If
XPOS = XPOS - 1
YPOS = YPOS - 1
NCEdit Line = i,Output,Text=txt
txt = "N"+TOOLNUM+"M06T"+TOOLNUMSTRING
If Len(DESC) > 0 Then
 txt = txt+" ("+DESC+")"
End If
NCEdit Line = i,Text=txt, X = XPOS, Y = YPOS, Z = ZPOS, Output, NumLines=nl
NCEdit Line = i+1,Output,Text=txt
txt = txt+"G0G"+WORKOFF+"G90X????Y????S"+SPINSPEED+"M0"+SPINDIR
NCEdit Line = i+1,Text=txt, X = XPOS, Y = YPOS, Z = ZPOS, Output, NumLines=nl
NCEdit Line = i+2,Output,Text=txt
txt = txt+"G43Z1.0H"+TOOLNUM+"M08"
NCEdit Line = i+2,Text=txt, X = XPOS, Y = YPOS, Z = ZPOS, Output, NumLines=nl
NCEdit Line = nl + 2, X = XPOS, Y = YPOS
NCRenumber
Window2

This is the Sample NC code that I get...

N1M06T01 (TEST)
G0G54G90X????Y????S500M03
G43Z1.0H1M08

Can anyone help with what I need to change on the Highlighted section of the Macro/Script?

[tjones]

Not sure how to read the future?

How can the script know what you will be doing next? You could put the tool change line in and then later run a script to read the position and update the x,y.

Maybe some more info would help.

Do you wish to have the script read a cad position or have the operator input the values when it runs?

[vpcnc]

Not sure how to read the future?

Not looking to read the future...

The Chain to be Cut has already been selected on the CAD side.
I'd like the Script to read the X and Y of the start point of the First Entity of the Chain. Then Insert that X Y in place where I have the X???? Y????.

If no Chain, or Entity is selected, then it would default to using the X???? Y????.

I've examined every script that comes with BCC and most of the scripts that I've found through various posts. I haven't been able to find the variable or codes that I need to use to do this.

I'm pretty sure that the Selected Chain would be available as an Array, but What Array? Then How do you determein if the Entity is a Point, Line or Arc?

I'm also thinking that maybe it can be done after the fact with Generate, and then go back to the first line and search for the X and Y.

[The One]

Try this, not exactly, it will need some formatting and changes to work in your script, but this gives you the basic idea.

NCEdit Line = i
Verify Output, NSel = NE
If NE = 0 Then
txt = X???Y???
Else
Generate
NCEdit Line = i, Output, X = xpos, Y = ypos
Undo
txt = X + xpos + Y + ypos
End If


Then do the rest. You need to generate code, so that the the system knows where X and Y are. The scripting engine does not allow you to get information from the entities directly, so we create the locations and just store them to a variable before we undo the code generation.

Regards

[vpcnc]

You need to generate code, so that the the system knows where X and Y are. The scripting engine does not allow you to get information from the entities directly, so we create the locations and just store them to a variable before we undo the code generation.

I'll experiment with your sample code and see what I can come up with.
If I get it working, I'll post the finished code.

Thanks, this might just be the missing info I need.