FeaturePython Objects

Introduction
FeaturePython objects (also often referred to as 'Scripted Objects') provide users the ability to extend FreeCAD's with objects that integrate seamlessly into the FreeCAD framework.

This encourages:


 * Rapid prototyping of new objects and tools with custom Python classes.


 * Serialization through 'App::Property' objects, without embedding any script in the FreeCAD document file.


 * Creative freedom to adapt FreeCAD for any task!

How Does It Work?
FreeCAD comes with a number of default object types for managing different kinds of geometry. Some of them have 'FeaturePython' alternatives that allow for user customization with a custom python class.

The custom python class simply takes a reference to one of these objects and modifies it in any number of ways. For example, the python class may add properties directly to the object, modifying other properties when it's recomputed, or linking it to other objects. In addition the python class implements certain methods to enable it to respond to document events, making it possible to trap object property changes and document recomputes.

It's important to remember, however, that for as much as one can accomplish with custom classes and FeaturePython objects, when it comes time to save the document, only the FeaturePython object itself is serialized. The custom class and it's state are not retained between document reloading. Doing so would require embedding script in the FreeCAD document file, which poses a significant security risk, much like the risks posed by embedding VBA macros in Microsoft Office documents.

Thus, a FeaturePython object ultimately exists entirely apart from it's script. The inconvenience posed by not packing the script with the object in the document file is far less than the risk posed by running a file embedded with an unknown script. However, the script module path is stored in the document file. Therefore, a user need only install the custom python class code as an importable module following the same directory structure to regain the lost functionality.

The Complete Beginner's Guide to FeaturePython Objects
Let's start from the very beginning (it's a very good place to start. ;) )

We're going to construct a complete, working example of a FeaturePython custom class, identifying all of the major components and gaining an intimate understanding of how everything works as we go. But before we do, there's a few details to get out of the way.

Setting up your development environment
To begin, FeaturePython Object classes need to act as importable modules in FreeCAD. That means you need to place them in a path that exists in your Python environment (or add it specifically). For the purposes of this tutorial, we're going to use the FreeCAD user Macro folder, though if you have another idea in mind, feel free to use that instead!

Anyway, if you don't know where the FreeCAD Macro folder is:


 * Windows: Type '%APPDATA%/FreeCAD/Macro' in the filepath bar at the top of Explorer


 * Linux: Navigate to /home/USERNAME/.FreeCAD/Macro


 * Mac: Navigate to /Users/USERNAME/Library/Preferences/FreeCAD/Macro

Now we need to create some files.


 * In the Macro folder create a new folder called fpo.
 * In the fpo folder, create a new folder called box.
 * In the box folder create two files: __init__.py and box.py (leave both empty for now)

The fpo folder provides a nice spot to play with new FeaturePython objects and the box folder is the module we will be working in.

__init__.py tells Python that in the folder is an importable module, and box.py will be the class file for our new FeaturePython Object

Your directory structure should look like this:

.FreeCAD |--> Macro |--> fpo |--> box |--> __init__.py                 |--> box.py

With our module paths and files created, it's now time to start writing our class object!

Available properties
Properties are the true building stones of FeaturePython objects. Through them, the user will be able to interact and modify your object. After creating a new FeaturePython object in your document ( obj=FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.addObject("App::FeaturePython","Box") ), you can get a list of the available properties by issuing:

You will get a list of available properties:

When adding properties to your custom objects, take care of this:
 * Do not use characters "<" or ">" in the properties descriptions (that would break the xml pieces in the .fcstd file)
 * Properties are stored alphabetically in a .fcstd file. If you have a shape in your properties, any property whose name comes after "Shape" in alphabetic order, will be loaded AFTER the shape, which can cause strange behaviours.

Property Type
By default the properties can be updated. It is possible to make the properties read-only, for instance in the case one wants to show the result of a method. It is also possible to hide the property. The property type can be set using

where mode is a short int that can be set to: 0 -- default mode, read and write 1 -- read-only 2 -- hidden

The EditorModes are not set at FreeCAD file reload. This could to be done by the __setstate__ function. See http://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13460&start=10#p108072. By using the setEditorMode the properties are only read only in PropertyEditor. They could still be changed from python. To really make them read only the setting has to be passed directly inside the addProperty function. See http://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13460&start=20#p109709 for an example.

Other more complex example
This example makes use of the Part Module to create an octahedron, then creates its coin representation with pivy.

First is the Document object itself:

Then, we have the view provider object, responsible for showing the object in the 3D scene:

Finally, once our object and its viewobject are defined, we just need to call them (The Octahedron class and viewprovider class code could be copied in the FreeCAD python console directly):

Making objects selectable
If you want to make your object selectable, or at least part of it, by clicking on it in the viewport, you must include its coin geometry inside a SoFCSelection node. If your object has complex representation, with widgets, annotations, etc, you might want to include only a part of it in a SoFCSelection. Everything that is a SoFCSelection is constantly scanned by FreeCAD to detect selection/preselection, so it makes sense try not to overload it with unneeded scanning. This is what you would do to include a self.face from the example above:

Simply, you create a SoFCSelection node, then you add your geometry nodes to it, then you add it to your main node, instead of adding your geometry nodes directly.

Working with simple shapes
If your parametric object simply outputs a shape, you don't need to use a view provider object. The shape will be displayed using FreeCAD's standard shape representation:

Same code with use ViewProviderLine

Further information
There are a few very interesting forum threads about scripted objects:

- http://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=13740

- http://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=12139

- https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13460&start=20#p109709

- https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=21330

In addition to the examples presented here have a look at FreeCAD source code src/Mod/TemplatePyMod/FeaturePython.py for more examples.