Overview of the SolidWorks VBA Macro Object Library & Model

SolidWorks VBA Macro Object Library

When you write a macro in VBA for SolidWorks, you’re essentially telling the software,
“Hey SolidWorks, here’s what I want you to do.”
To make that possible, SolidWorks exposes a huge set of objects, methods, and properties called the API (Application Programming Interface) — and this is what you access via VBA.

Let’s break down how the SolidWorks Object Model works in VBA, and what objects you’ll use 90% of the time.

🧩 What is the SolidWorks VBA Object Library?

The SolidWorks VBA Object Library is a collection of predefined objects like:

• Application (SldWorks)

• Documents (ModelDoc2, PartDoc, AssemblyDoc, DrawingDoc)

• Sketches (SketchManager, SketchSegment)

• Features (FeatureManager, Feature)

• Selections (SelectionMgr)

• Views & Sheets

• Export, Config, Dimension Objects

• …and many more

You declare these objects in your VBA macro and then call methods/functions on them to control SolidWorks.

📘 Core Object Hierarchy (Object Model)

Here’s a simplified object hierarchy of a SolidWorks macro:

SldWorks (application)
│
├── ModelDoc2 (active document - part/asm/drw)
│   ├── SketchManager (to create sketches)
│   ├── FeatureManager (to add features)
│   ├── Extension (advanced functions: selection, property, etc.)
│   └── SelectionMgr (user selection context)
│
└── Documents (collection of open docs)

This means:

1. You start with SldWorks to connect to the application.

2. From there, you get the active document using ActiveDoc.

3. Then you dive deeper—like opening a sketch, drawing a circle, and making a feature.

🔑 Most Common Objects (with Purpose)

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swSketchMgr = swModel.SketchManager
Set swFeatMgr = swModel.FeatureManager
Set swSelMgr = swModel.SelectionManager
Set swExt = swModel.Extension

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swModel = swApp.NewDocument("C:\Path\Part.prtdot", 0, 0, 0)
swModel.Extension.SelectByID2 "Front Plane", "PLANE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0

Set swSketchMgr = swModel.SketchManager
swSketchMgr.InsertSketch True
swSketchMgr.CreateCircleByRadius 0, 0, 0, 0.05
swSketchMgr.InsertSketch True

Set swFeatMgr = swModel.FeatureManager
swFeatMgr.FeatureExtrusion2 True, False, False, 0, 0, 0.1, 0, False, False, False, False, _
    0, 0, False, False, False, False, True, True, True, 0, 0, False

🧪 Example: Real Macro Showing Object Flow

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As ModelDoc2
Dim swSketchMgr As SketchManager
Dim swFeatMgr As FeatureManager

Sub main()
    Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
    Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc

    ' Access sketch and feature managers
    Set swSketchMgr = swModel.SketchManager
    Set swFeatMgr = swModel.FeatureManager

    MsgBox "Using VBA Object Model Successfully!"
End Sub

This small macro:

• Connects to SolidWorks

• Accesses the open document

• Loads the two most common managers: sketch and feature

🧠Tips

• Use swApp.ActiveDoc to always get the currently open model.

• Always check if the doc is Nothing to avoid errors.

• Use ObjectBrowser (F2 in VBA Editor) to explore all SolidWorks API objects.

• Reference the SOLIDWORKS XX Type Library under Tools → References.

📚 Learn More:

• 🔗 SolidWorks API Programming Guide (Official)

• 🔗 Microsoft VBA Object Browser (How to Use)

Read Also:

Getting Started with SolidWorks VBA Macro: #1 Best Guide

Top 5 Reasons to Use VBA in SolidWorks for Smarter CAD Automation

How to Cut-Extrude from Sketch in SolidWorks using VBA macro?