The scripting language used in CAMduct or ESTmep is similar to Visual Basic. Most of the commands, functions and syntax are the same or very similar. To access scripting features from within CAMduct or ESTmep, click Window 
Scripting.
Basic Commands and Syntax
Variables: To declare a variable use the DIM keyword. For example:
DIM a_string = "a string"
DIM a_number = 45.8
You do not need to specify which type of variable is declared, unlike Visual Basic's 'As String' or "As Integer". This is automatically defined.
Keywords and Syntax
The keywords and syntax are almost identical to Visual Basic - all common keywords like if, then, else, function, endif, while, loop, select, for, and next are supported in the same way that Visual Basic does. The scripting language is not case-sensitive when looking for keywords, functions or variables (or when comparing strings). To generate check errors, there is an error command or to just output a debug message there is a debug command. If you need to ask the user a yes/no type of question to continue, there is a query command for this also (see the special keywords and inbuilt functions appendices for parameters and return values for these commands). Scripting also has two commands that Visual Basic users might not be familiar with: include and run. Include can be used to insert an external script into the code of the current script. The external script is executed and any functions or variables defined in it will be accessible in the current script after the include command. The run command is very similar, but any functions and commands defined in the external script will be "forgotten" after execution, and will not be accessible from the current script.
Item properties and methods
The current item being checked is accessed via the " Item" variable. To access data or call methods of the item, you need to append this with a ' .' followed by the method / property name. For example:
Dim Num = Item.Number This accesses the item number and reads it into the temporary variable " Num".
Item.Number = "1" This accesses the item number and writes to it, changing it to 1.
Dim ok = Item.Update() This calls the method " Update" on the item.
What the methods do is defined by the internal code which gets called, but they can take variable parameters and return values to indicate, for example, success or failure. All methods must have brackets () which enclose the parameters, if any.
List of Item Properties
| Name | Type | Read | Write | Description |
| NUMBER | String | Yes | Yes | Item Number Field |
| CID | Number | Yes | Yes | Custom ID Field |
| DIMS | Number | Yes | No | Number of Dimensions |
| DIM[ ] | Object | Yes | No | Access Indexed Dimension |
| OPTIONS | Number | Yes | No | Number of Options |
| OPTION[ ] | Object | Yes | No | Access Indexed Option |
| CONNECTORS | Number | Yes | No | Number of Connectors |
| CONNECTOR[ ] | Object | Yes | No | Access Indexed Connector |
| SEAMS | Number | Yes | No | Number of Seams |
| SEAM[ ] | Object | Yes | No | Access Indexed Seam |
| LIBRARY | String | Yes | Yes | Fitting Library |
| SPECIFICATION | String | Yes | Yes | Specification Name |
| SERVICE | String | Yes | Yes | Service Name |
| MATERIAL | String | Yes | Yes | Material Name |
| GAUGE | Number | Yes | Yes | Gauge Thickness, if you write to the Gauge the Lock is set. |
| ORDER | String | Yes | Yes | Order Number Field |
| PALLET | String | Yes | Yes | Pallet Field |
| DATABASEID | String | Yes | Yes | Database ID |
| CUSTOMDATA[ ] | Various | Yes | Yes | Custom Data (by String or Index) |
| ALIAS | String | Yes | Yes | Alias Field |
| NOTES | String | Yes | Yes | Notes Field |
| STATUS | String | Yes | Yes | Current Status Name |
| DESCRIPTION | String | Yes | Yes | Item Description, Product Name |
| FILENAME | String | Yes | Yes | File Name (????.itm) |
| PATH | String | Yes | Yes | Location on disk of Item (including trailing '/') |
| GAUGELOCK | True/False | Yes | Yes | Gauge Locked, True if Locked or to Lock |
| SPLITTERS | String True/False | Yes | Yes | Can be set by "Name" or Index, True if Locked |
List of Methods
| Name | Return Value | Parameters | Description |
| UPDATE | True/False | None | Re-develop and Update the Item with any changes to Dims etc. Returns False if the changes invalidate the item. |
Item Sub-Objects
Item Connector Object Properties
Item Connectors are an array which is accessed from the item via a 1 -based index. The property is then accessed from using a '.' followed by property name. For example:
Dim C1_Name=Item.Connector[1].Value
| Name | Type | Read | Write | Description |
| Value | String | Yes | Yes | Connector Name |
| Type | String | Yes | No | Connector Library |
| Locked | True/False | Yes | Yes | Connector Lock Flag |
Item Seam Object Properties
Item Seams are an array which is accessed from the item via a 1-based index. The property is then accessed from this using a '.' followed by property name. For example:
| Name | Type | Read | Write | Description |
| Value | String | Yes | Yes | Seam Name |
| Locked | True/False | Yes | Yes | Seam Lock Flag |
Item Pattern Dimension Object Properties
Item Pattern Dimensions are an array which is accessed from the item via a 1-based index or by description. The property is then accessed from this using a '.' followed by property name. For example:
Dim dim1=Item.Dim[1].Value
Dim lengthdim=Item.Dim["length"].Value
| Name | Type | Read | Write | Description |
| Value | String or Number | Yes | Yes | Dim value (e.g. 600,90,"Auto") |
| Num Value | Number | Yes | No | Actual Value Used (even if Auto) |
| Name | String | Yes | No | Dim Description, e.g. "Length" |
| Locked | True/False | Yes | Yes | Dim Locked Flag |
| Annotation | String | Yes | No | Annotation as on Take-Off e.g. "A" |
| Status | String | Yes | No | Input, Display, NotUsed, etc. |
Item Pattern Option Object Properties
Item Pattern Options are an array which is accessed from the item via a 1-based index or by description. The property is then accessed from this using a '.' followed by property name. For example:
Dim option1 = Item.Option[1].Value
Dim 2parts_option = Item.Option["2 Parts"].Value
| Name | Type | Read | Write | Description |
| Value | String or Number | Yes | Yes | Value (e.g. Yes, 12, True, "Auto") |
| Name | String | Yes | No | Description e.g. "2 Parts" |
| Locked | True/False | Yes | Yes | Locked Flag |
| Status | String | Yes | No | Input, Hidden |
Inbuilt Functions and Variables
There are many inbuilt functions and variables defined to help with basic and simple tasks in scripts. These are predefined in their actions and values and cannot or should not be changed by the user.
Inbuilt Variables
| TRUE | Boolean number meaning a positive result |
| FALSE | Boolean number meaning a negative result; same as zero |
| NULL | Number meaning no value; same as zero |
| VOID | Special variable used when wanting to use a default parameter |
| PI | Maths p number, defined as 3.1415926535897932384626433832795 |
The following are used by the file handling class:
| FORINPUT | Open file for input (reading) |
| FOROUTPUT | Open file for output (writing) |
| ISTEXT | the file being opened is a text file |
| FILE_START | Used by the File.Position parameter, meaning start of file |
| FILE_END | Used by the File.Position parameter, meaning end of file |
| MAPPATH_HOME | The current working directory (string) |
Inbuilt Maths Functions
| number SQRT (number: value) | Returns the square root of the value passed, e.g. SQRT(9) returns 3 |
| number SQR (number: value) | Returns the square of the value passed, e.g. SQR(3) returns 9 |
| number COS (number: angle in degrees) | Returns the cosine of the angle passed, e.g. COS(90) returns 0 |
| number SIN (number: angle in degrees) | Returns the sine of the angle passed, e.g. SIN(90) returns 1 |
| number TAN (number: angle in degrees) | Returns the tangent of the angle passed, e.g. TAN(45) returns 1 |
| number ACOS (number: between -1 and +1) | Returns the arc-cosine of the value passed in degrees, e.g. ACOS(0) returns 90 |
| number ASIN (number between -1 and +1) | Returns the arc-sine of the value passed in degrees, e.g. ASIN(1) returns 90 |
| number ATAN (number) | Returns the arc-tangent of the value passed in degrees, e.g. ATAN(1) returns 45 |
| number EXP (number) | returns the base 10 log exponent of the value passed, e.g. EXP(2) returns 100 |
| number LOG (number) | Returns the base 10 log of the passed e.g. LOG(100) returns 2 |
| number SIGN (number) | Returns +1 if the number passed is positive and -1 if the number is negative, e.g. SIGN(-2) returns -1 |
| number ABS (number) | Returns the positive value of the number passed, e.g. ABS(-2) returns 2 |
| number POW (number x, number y) | Calculates and returns x raised to the power of y |
Inbuilt String Functions
| string ASCII (number, character code) | Returns the character for the code passed, e.g. ASCII(10) returns a carriage return. |
| string CHR (string a, number, index from 1) | Returns the character in the passed string at the index position, e.g. CHR("fred",3) returns "e" |
| number LEN (string) | Returns the number of characters that make up the passed string, e.g. LEN("fred") returns 4 |
| boolean WILDCARD (string a, string b) | Performs a wildcard test of string a, against string b, and returns true if there is a match, e.g. WILDCARD("fred was here","fred") returns true. |
| number INSTR (number, start index from 1, string a, string b) | Returns the index from 1 that string b appears in string a, starting from the specified index, e.g. INSTR(3,"the end was far from the beginning", "the") returns 22. returns zero if there was no match found. |
| string SUBSTRING (string, number: start, number: end) | Returns the sub-string of the string passed, from the "start" character to the "end" character inclusive (1-indexed), e.g. SUBSTRING("superlative",3,5) returns "per". If end is <=0 then it is the offset from the end of the string, e.g. end of -1 is the 2nd to last character. 0 is the last character. |
| string MID (string, number start, number length) | Returns the sub-string of the string passed, from the last character(1-indexed) and of the specified length, e.g. MID("superlative",6,4) returns "lati" |
| string LEFT (string, number: length) | Returns the left portion of a string, of the specified length, e.g. LEFT("hello",3) returns "hel". |
| string RIGHT (string, number: length) | Returns the right portion of a string, of the specified length, e.g. RIGHT("hello",3) returns "llo". |
| string UPPER (string) | Returns an upper-case version of the string passed, e.g. UPPER("HelLo123") returns "HELLO123" |
| string LOWER (string) | Returns a lower-case version of the string passed, e.g. LOWER("HelLo123") returns "hello123" |
| string LTRIM (string) | Returns a copy of the string passed with any spaces at the beginning removed, e.g. LTRIM(" hello ") returns "hello " |
| string RTRIM (string) | Returns a copy of the string passed with any spaces at the end removed, e.g. RTRIM(" hello ") returns " hello" |
| string TRIM (string) | Returns a copy of the string passed, with any spaces at the beginning and end removed, e.g. TRIM(" hello ") returns "hello" |
Inbuilt General Functions
| boolean QUERY (string: prompt) | Displays a message box with the prompt that is passed. The user can choose yes or no. If they select yes then True is returned else False is returned. |
Running the Scripts in the Fabrication Products
To load and run a script in the Fabrication products you have to be in the Job Contents screen.
- Highlight the Items that you wish the script to affect.
- right-click and select Execute Script.
- There are a couple of options to choose from, selecting Browse will open a window to allow you to navigate through your folders and select a script to run. Alternatively any scripts that have been run in the past will be available to select.
- The script will execute and notify you when completed.
Some examples of scripting can be found at Scripting Overview.