I am very new to working with the SolidWorks API and VB. I recently wrote a VB script based on sample code found on the API knowledge base to:

1. Launch a background application of SolidWorks
2. Load an assembly which is linked to a design table (keeping it invisible)
3. Update the model based on the design table entries
4. Resave the model as a step file
5. Close the model and exit SolidWorks

For the most part, the code works. However, when the part linked to the Excel file is opened, MS Excel is launched and the Excel design table and SolidWorks application windows become visible, even though I have the Frame.KeepInvisible = True option specified. Is there a way to keep the MS Excel Window from opening, allowing it to run in the background? Also, I want to keep SolidWorks invisible while the model is updating to reflect changes in the design table. I have provided the code for reference. It is relatively short. I appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks!

Option Explicit On

Imports System

Module Module1

    '-----------------------------

    ' Preconditions: Specified file exists.

    '

    ' Postconditions: The specified assembly file is exported in the STEP format

    '

    '------------------------------

    Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

    Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

    Dim swExtension As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension

    Dim swAssembly As SldWorks.AssemblyDoc

    Dim doctype As Long

    Dim errors As Long

    Dim warnings As Long

    Dim modelpath As String

    Dim modelFileName As String

    Dim convFileName As String

    Dim Success As Boolean

    Dim vComponents As Object

    Dim outputpath As String

    Sub SaveToSTEP(ByVal inputFileName As String, ByVal outputFileName As String)

        ' Determine the type of SolidWorks file based on

        ' its filename extension

        If LCase(Right(inputFileName, 7)) = ".sldprt" Then

            doctype = SwConst.swDocumentTypes_e.swDocPART

        ElseIf LCase(Right(inputFileName, 7)) = ".sldasm" Then

            doctype = SwConst.swDocumentTypes_e.swDocASSEMBLY

        ElseIf LCase(Right(inputFileName, 7)) = ".slddrw" Then

            doctype = SwConst.swDocumentTypes_e.swDocDRAWING

        Else

            doctype = SwConst.swDocumentTypes_e.swDocNONE

        End If

        ' Open part document linked to design table

        swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6("C:\LDI Multi-Body Part.SLDPRT", SwConst.swDocumentTypes_e.swDocPART, 256, "", errors, warnings)

        swApp.SetUserPreferenceIntegerValue(3, 0)

        swModel.ForceRebuild3(False)

        swApp.Visible = False

        swApp.Frame.KeepInvisible = True

        swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6(inputFileName, doctype, 256, "", errors, warnings)

        If swModel Is Nothing Then

            Debug.Print("Failed to open document " + modelpath + ". Errors: " & errors)

        End If

        ' Activate the document, which should remain invisible

        ' due to earlier call to IFrame::KeepInvisible

        swModel = swApp.ActivateDoc2(inputFileName, True, errors)

        ' Save document as STEP

        swApp.SetUserPreferenceIntegerValue(SwConst.swUserPreferenceIntegerValue_e.swStepAP, 214)

        swModel.Extension.SaveAs("C:\CE13 Combustor Geometry Files\MultiPoint\" + outputFileName + ".step", SwConst.swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAsCurrentVersion, SwConst.swSaveAsOptions_e.swSaveAsOptions_Silent, Nothing, errors, warnings)

        swModel = Nothing

    End Sub

    Sub main(ByVal args() As String)

        Dim Output As String = args(0)

        Dim Document As String

        On Error GoTo Fail

        ' Get SolidWorks

        swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")

        ' Allow SolidWorks to run in the background

        ' and be invisible

        swApp.UserControl = False

        ' If the following property is true, then the

        ' SolidWorks frame will be visible on a call to

        ' ISldWorks::ActivateDoc2; so set it to false

        swApp.Visible = False

        ' Keep SolidWorks frame invisible when

        ' ISldWorks::ActivateDoc2 is called

        swApp.Frame.KeepInvisible = True

        Document = "C:\LDI Combustor Test Section.SLDASM"

        SaveToSTEP(Document, Output)

        swApp.CloseAllDocuments(True)

        swApp.ExitApp()

        Debug.Print("--- Done ---")

        swApp.ExitApp()

        swApp = Nothing

        Exit Sub

Fail:

        Debug.Print("Execution failed with error " & Err.Number & ": '" & Err.Description & "'")

    End Sub

End Module