Autocad 2006 command code#

Connect to the drawing database's Block tableĪfter the transaction is initiated, I talk to the Block table to retrieve an instance of the space I am looking to draw in - model space in this example.In order to complete this task, I must go through the AutoCAD Transaction object just as if this were a program I was writing that talked to a Microsoft Access or SQL database.

Autocad 2006 command code#

With managed code however, I am inserting an MText object directly into the drawing's database. With unmanaged, COM-based code, I could access the appropriate drawing space (model or layout) and add the MText object. Next, is the actual communication with AutoCAD, which is extremely important! You'll use this same structure again and again as you do more managed projects, so it is worth delving into in more detail. Here, I changed the sub name and the AutoCAD command so this code can co-exist in a project alongside the first example.

After that, I declared my class object and my subroutine. Because this required drawing the text, I had to go into AutoCAD instead of just using its command line. Starting at the top, again, I added some more calls to the Imports section. If Not isnothing(acadDB) Then acadDB.dispose() If Not isnothing(acadBT) Then acadBT.dispose() If Not isnothing(acadMText) Then acadMText.dispose() If Not isnothing(acadTrans) Then acadTrans.Dispose() Imports ĭim acadDB As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabaseĪcadTrans = ()ĪcadBT = trans.GetObject(acadDB.BlockTableId, _Ī.ForRead)ĪcadBTR = trans.GetObject(acadBT(acadBTR.ModelSpace), _Ī.ForWrite)ĪcadTrans.AddNewl圜reatedDBObject(acadMText, True) The code to accomplish this is going to look like: This is important to note in case, for example, the DLL did not work and you need to change it and re-test it.Īssuming that worked, let's change the program to insert the 'Hello World!' text into the current drawing as MText. NET assemblies, so AutoCAD needs to be shutdown if you want to load the DLL a second time. Using NETLOAD in AutoCAD and the end result of Hello World Once it loads, type HELLO into AutoCAD's command prompt and 'Hello World!' should echo back after you press the Enter key.įigure 3. Then fire up AutoCAD 2006, type in NETLOAD and load the DLL you just created. That functionality alone is worth the learning curve of. This is all we need to make our subroutine accessible from within AutoCAD! No more calling it through VBA or writing a LISP wrapper to access it. Notice the subroutine has a descriptor attached to it: Then I have the actual subroutine, HelloCommand, where I write the message to AutoCAD's command line. Just as in VB6-based programming, our DLL needs a class so it can be called from AutoCAD. The next block of code is our class object. NET where you can declare and set variables all in one line such as: That's a lot of code to type in if you don't need to.Īlso notice that within the Imports block, I also create a global variable AND set it in the same statement. For example, in the Autodesk examples, you'll see them call the MdiActiveDocument.Editor like this:Ī. This step also saves typing within your code. Think of a namespace as an object within the reference that you want to access. NET, you specifically state which assemblies' namespaces are to be used. Besides adding references to the assemblies (references) in. Starting from the top, the first block of code is the Imports statements. The easiest way is for me to show the code then describe it:

Okay, let's look at the code to accomplish the first 'Hello World!' example in VB.NET. For more information, please refer to SharpDevelop's Help file. Its environment is similar to Visual Studio's. Now you should have the code window open for SharpDevelop. In the next dialog box, select a Class Library combine (figure 1).įigure 2. To begin, open SharpDevelop and create a new combine - a combine is equivalent to a new project in Microsoft Visual Basic. The code is derived from the Autodesk sample available in the AutoCAD 2006 install, in the AutoCAD 2006 ObjectARX toolkit and from the Autodesk Web site. NET editor SharpDevelop by SharpDevelop.įor this article, we will recreate the classic 'Hello World' example and throw the text into AutoCAD's command line and into an MText object. With the commands that I will create here, you can use any editor - including Windows' NotePad - because no graphics are involved. NET editors, please do so before continuing with this article. If you have not already read last month's column discussing. Welcome back! This month we're going to create two simple AutoCAD commands in Visual Basic. NET Editors to Create Simple AutoCAD commands NET 14 Jun, 2005 By: Mike Tuersley Cadalyst Use.