Getting Started with VBA in Pythagoras

Think of a macro as a shortcut that saves you from repeating the same clicks and actions over and over. Instead of manually repeating steps, you write a small program (in a simple language called VBA – Visual Basic for Applications) that tells Pythagoras what to do.

• Do you always rename objects in a drawing?

• Do you often calculate averages or move objects in a certain way?

With a macro, you can automate these tasks. In other words: you teach the computer how to do it for you.

Why Use VBA?

• Automate repetitive tasks – no more doing the same clicks 50 times.

• Add your own tools – create custom functions that don’t exist in Pythagoras yet.

• Save time and reduce errors – let the software do the boring, error-prone work.

VBA in Pythagoras works very similarly to the VBA in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word). If you’ve ever recorded a macro in Excel, the concept is the same, but here it’s applied to CAD drawings.

WORKFLOW

Here’s how to create and run your very first macro inside any open document.

1. Open the Macro Library Manager

• Go to Settings → Macro Library Manager… .

• The Macro Manager window opens.

2. Create a New Document Library

• In the Document Libraries panel (right-hand side), click the green plus button.
  

• Type a name, e.g. MyFirstMacro. Press Enter.
  

3. Write the macro in the VBA Editor

Open the VBA Editor

• Select your new library under Active Document Library.

• With your library selected, click the white paper icon (tooltip: Open VBA editor for active document library).
  

• If Pythagoras asks: Apply changes and open VBA editor? Click Apply.

• The VBA Editor will now open.

Write the VBA code, the Macro

Paste this code into the editor:

Sub PM_Greeting()
    Dim userName As String
    
    userName = InputBox("Hi there! What's your name?")
    
    If userName = "" Then
        MsgBox "Hello mysterious stranger! ?"
    Else
        MsgBox "Nice to meet you, " & userName & "! ?"
    End If
End Sub

• Sub … End Sub defines your macro.

• PM_ is important: only macros starting with PM_ appear in the Run Macro menu.

• Dim userName As String creates a variable (a kind of storage box) that will hold the name the user types. Since names are text, we tell VBA it’s a String.

• InputBox asks the user for input and stores the answer in userName.

• MsgBox shows a pop-up message with the result.

Compile

In the editor, go to Run > Compile to check your code.

Close the VBA Editor.

4. Run your VBA Code

• Back in Pythagoras, go to Tools > Run Macro.

• You’ll see your Greeting macro listed. Run it — and a pop-up will appear, greeting you by name (or as a ‘mysterious stranger’)!

The menu label is derived from the procedure name after removing the PM_ prefix.
Example: Sub PM_Greeting() → menu shows Greeting.

Congratulations — you’ve just built your first macro!