Prepare the environment:

• install Scia Engineer (32/64bit)

  • .NET Framework is included in setup
  • start Scia ENgineer to test it (set protection, open new project, etc.)

• install python 3.7

  • choose correct platform (32/64bit) based on the Scia Engineer platform
  • install using setup https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-370/ (check the "add Python to path" checkbox)
  • copy the .\res\python.exe.config and pythonw.exe.config to the directory where the python.exe and pythonw.exe are (e.g. run cmd "where python.exe")
  • setup should also install the PIP package manager for Python
  • test python by running cmd "python"
  • test pip by running cmd "pip"
  • upgrade PIP by running "python -m pip install --upgrade pip"
  • install the WHEEL package by running "pip install wheel"

• install python.net https://github.com/pythonnet/pythonnet/wiki/Installation

  • preffered way

    • via PIP from local .whl file
      • get .whl file
        • from https://github.com/scia-garage/SciaOpenAPI_example_parabolic/tree/master/res
          • go to website and download .whl file fitting your PYTHON version and PLATFORM
        • from https://ci.appveyor.com
          • go to https://ci.appveyor.com/project/pythonnet/pythonnet
          • select some stable revision
          • select correct PYTHON_VERSION (e.g. 3.7) and Platform (e.g. 32/64bit based on SEn) - click it
          • go to Artifacts and download respective .whl file
      • cmd "pip install .\.whl"

  • alternatives (sometimes tricky)

    • prerequisities
      • you need mt.exe in PATH variable
        • e.g. install MS Visual Studio https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads
        • e.g. install windows sdk https://developer.microsoft.com/cs-cz/windows/downloads/windows-10-sdk
        • e.g. https://github.com/eladkarako/mt
    • ways how to install
      • via PIP from distant repo
        • cmd "pip install pythonnet"
      • via building from downloaded released sources
        • download sources https://ci.appveyor.com/project/pythonnet/pythonnet
          • select some stable revision
          • select correct version of python and platform (32/64bit based on SEn)
        • extract binaries to new directory
        • cd to that directory
        • run "setup.py build"
        • run "setup.py install"
      • from pythoniron git repo
        • install git from https://git-scm.com/download/win
        • "pip install git+https://github.com/pythonnet/pythonnet.git"

Write your code:

• reference the Scia.OpenAPI.dll

  clr.AddReference(r"C:\Program Files (x86)\SCIA\Engineer19.0\Scia.OpenAPI.dll")

• import SCIA.OpenAPI classes

  from SCIA.OpenAPI import *;
  from SCIA.OpenAPI.StructureModelDefinition import *;
  from SCIA.OpenAPI.Results import *;
  from Results64Enums import *;

• Finalize your script using the dispose (Environment.Dispose() method call)

  Troubleshooting:

• if you get following exception, just register esa libraries

  • run cmd AS ADMINISTRATOR
  • navigate to Scia Engineer directory
  • run "EP_regsvr32 esa.exe" (for 64bit "ep_regsvr64 esa.exe")

    Unhandled Exception: System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.AccessViolationException: Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt.