About Macros

The following definitions are provided to help you better understand the terminology related to macros.

Macro

Program written in a simple script language to allow customization and automation of repetitive user tasks. Macros are stored in the database as objects.

Macro library

Container for macro programs, stored in the database as a representation. From an external standpoint, macro library, macro container and macro project are synonyms which stand for the same concept.

VSTA add-in

Term used by Microsoft, corresponding to the Dassault Systèmes notion of VSTA macro. A macro, as such, adds functionality in the host application (in CATIA, for example).

IDE

Integrated development environment, also known as DTE: design-time environment.

This section describes script development tools and languages.

You can use the following scripting tools and languages:

CATScript

These macros are written in Basic Script, stored in directories, and can be run on both Windows and Linux.

Visual Basic Script (VBScript)

At minimum level 5.0 which is part of the operating system. Although CATScript macros written in previous releases continue to work, we recommend that you prefer VB Script to CATScript.

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Version 7

Programming language developer by Microsoft. This product is installed with the software. Macros written using VBA can only be run on Windows. Among the advantages of using VBA are:

• VBA's IntelliSense features can display a list of the available properties, methods and constants to facilitate editing.
• VBA contains a debugger.
• You can use VBA for graphic user interface development, which is not possible using CATScript or VBScript macros.

Note: VBA must have a CATMain method in order to be launched outside the editor.

Microsoft VSTA

Visual Studio Tools for Applications. Scripting technology based on the .NET framework and the Visual Studio IDE. VSTA adds support for C Sharp (C#).

VSTA is available side-by-side with VBA v7 and VBScript. This means you can still edit and run VBA and VBScript macros, while also creating new VSTA macro libraries and edit or run VSTA macros in the same fashion.

Macros are stored in a macro library or in a document.

Macros are stored as objects:

• In a macro library: the macro will be stored in a directory (or a VBA project if it exists).
• In a document: the macro will be stored in the current document.

What macro types you can store and where you can store them are summarized in the following table:

Macro Types			Where Stored
Language Used	Editor	File extension	In Document	In Directory	In VBA Project
C#	Visual Studio
CATScript	Internal editor	.CATScript	Yes	Yes	No
MS VBA	Visual Basic Editor	.catvba	No	No	Yes
MS VB Script	Internal editor	.catvbs	Yes	Yes	No
VB.Net	Visual Studio

This section describes limitations.