# SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional API Help

# Using VB.NET

Versions of SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional before 2008 supported Visual Basic 6. SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional 2008, and later, support VB.NET. Users who want to port their Visual Basic 6 applications to VB.NET applications need to know how to:

- Create stand-alone and add-in applications in VB.NET.
- Import the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional primary interop assembly.

  In your open project in Microsoft Visual Studio:

  1. Right-click the project name in the Solution Explorer.
  2. Select Add Reference.
  3. Select Framework in the left-side panel.
  4. Browse to the top folder of your SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional installation.
  5. Locate and select EPDM.Interop.epdm.dll.
  6. Click Open
  7. Click Add.
  8. Click Close.
- Obtain window handles.
  - Visual Basic 6 syntax:

> > Me.hWnd

> - VB.NET syntax:

> > Me.Handle.ToInt32()

- Keep add-in windows in the foreground.