AutoCAD .NET Developer's Guide

ContentsIntroductionGuide OrganizationOverview of the AutoCAD .NET APIComponents of the AutoCAD .NET APIOverview of Microsoft Visual StudioWhich Edition of Microsoft Visual Studio to UseUse COM Interoperability with .NETDependencies and RestrictionsFor More InformationSample CodeTransition from ActiveX Automation to .NETGetting Started with Microsoft Visual StudioUnderstand Microsoft Visual Studio ProjectsDefine the Components in a ProjectView Project InformationWork with Microsoft Visual Studio ProjectsCreate a New ProjectOpen an Existing Project or SolutionSave a Project or SolutionWork with Multiple Projects in a SolutionEdit an Existing Project or SolutionAdd New ItemsImport Existing ItemsEdit ItemsUse the Code WindowUse the Windows Form DesignerUse the Properties WindowRename a ProjectAdd and Reference Other ProjectsSet the Options for Microsoft Visual StudioLoad an Assembly into AutoCADAccess and Search Referenced Libraries (Object Browser)Exercises: Create Your First ProjectExercise: Create a New ProjectExercise: Reference the AutoCAD .NET API FilesExercise: Create a New CommandExercise: Set the Target Framework for a ProjectExercise: Build and Load a .NET Assembly in AutoCADRelated AutoCAD Commands and TerminologyMore Information Basics of the AutoCAD .NET APIUnderstand the AutoCAD Object HierarchyThe Application ObjectThe Document ObjectThe Database ObjectThe Graphical and Nongraphical ObjectsThe Collection ObjectsNon-Native Graphical and Nongraphical ObjectsAccess the Object HierarchyReference Objects in the Object HierarchyAccess the Application ObjectCollection ObjectsAccess a CollectionAdd a New Member to a Collection ObjectIterate through a Collection ObjectErase a Member of a Collection ObjectUnderstand Properties and MethodsOut-of-Process versus In-ProcessDefine Commands and AutoLISP FunctionsCommand DefinitionAutoLISP Function DefinitionControl the AutoCAD EnvironmentControl the Application WindowControl the Drawing WindowsPosition and Size the Document WindowZoom and Pan the Current ViewManipulate the Current ViewDefine to WindowScale a ViewCenter ObjectsDisplay Drawing Extents and LimitsUse Named ViewsUse Tiled ViewportsIdentify and Manipulate the Active ViewportMake A Tiled Viewport CurrentUpdate the Geometry in the Document WindowCreate, Open, Save, and Close DrawingsCreate and Open a DrawingSave and Close a DrawingWork with No Documents OpenLock and Unlock a DocumentSet AutoCAD PreferencesDatabase PreferencesSet and Return System VariablesDraw with PrecisionAdjust Snap and Grid AlignmentUse Ortho ModeCalculate Points and ValuesCalculate AreasCalculate a Defined AreaPrompt for User InputGetString MethodGetPoint MethodGetKeywords MethodControl User InputAccess the AutoCAD Command LineCreate and Edit AutoCAD EntitiesOpen and Close ObjectsWork with ObjectIdsUse Transactions with the Transaction ManagerStart a New Transaction and Open an ObjectCommit and Rollback ChangesNest TransactionsOpen and Close Objects without the Transaction ManagerUpgrade and Downgrade Open ObjectsCreate ObjectsDetermine the Parent ObjectCreate LinesCreate a Line ObjectCreate a Polyline objectCreate Curved ObjectsCreate a Circle objectCreate an Arc objectCreate a Spline objectCreate Point ObjectsCreate Solid-Filled AreasWork with RegionsCreate RegionsCreate Composite RegionsCreate HatchesCreate a Hatch ObjectAssociate a HatchAssign the Hatch Pattern Type and NameDefine the Hatch BoundariesWork with Selection SetsObtain the PickFirst Selection SetSelect Objects in the Drawing AreaAdd To or Merge Multiple Selection SetsDefine Rules for Selection FiltersUse Selection Filters to Define Selection Set RulesSpecify Multiple Criteria in a Selection FilterAdd Complexity to Your Filter List ConditionsUse Wild-Card Patterns in Selection Set Filter CriteriaFilter for Extended DataRemove Objects From a Selection SetEdit Named and 2D ObjectsWork with Named ObjectsPurge Unreferenced Named ObjectsRename ObjectsErase ObjectsCopy ObjectsCopy an ObjectCopy Objects between DatabasesOffset ObjectsTransform ObjectsMove ObjectsRotate ObjectsMirror ObjectsScale ObjectsArray ObjectsCreate Polar ArraysCreate Rectangular ArraysExtend and Trim ObjectsExplode ObjectsEdit PolylinesEdit SplinesEdit HatchesEdit Hatch BoundariesEdit Hatch PatternsUse Layers, Colors, and LinetypesWork with LayersSort Layers and LinetypesCreate and Name LayersMake a Layer CurrentTurn Layers On and OffFreeze and Thaw LayersLock and Unlock LayersAssign Color to a LayerAssign a Linetype to a LayerErase LayersWork with ColorsAssign a color value to an objectMake a color current through the databaseMake a color current with the CECOLOR system variable Work with LinetypesMake a Linetype ActiveAssign a linetype to an objectMake a linetype current through the databaseMake a linetype current with the CELTYPE system variable Rename Linetypes Delete LinetypesChange Linetype DescriptionsSpecify Linetype ScaleSave and Restore Layer StatesUnderstand How AutoCAD Saves Layer StatesUse the LayerStateManager to Manage Layer StatesSave Layer StatesRename Layer StatesDelete Layer StatesRestore Layer StatesExport and Import Saved Layer StatesAdd Text to DrawingsWork with Text StylesCreate and Modify Text StylesAssign FontsUse TrueType FontsUse Unicode and Big FontsSet Text HeightSet Obliquing AngleSet Text Generation FlagUse Single-Line Text (Text)Create Single-Line TextFormat Single-Line TextAlign Single-Line TextChange Single-Line TextUse Multiline Text (MText)Create Multiline TextFormat Multiline TextUse Unicode Characters, Control Codes, and Special CharactersSubstitute FontsCheck SpellingDimensions and TolerancesDimensioning ConceptsParts of a DimensionDefine the Dimension System VariablesSet Dimension Text StylesUnderstand Leader LinesUnderstand Associative DimensionsCreate DimensionsCreate Linear DimensionsCreate Radial DimensionsCreate Angular DimensionsCreate Jogged Radius DimensionsCreate Arc Length DimensionsCreate Ordinate DimensionsEdit DimensionsOverride Dimension TextWork with Dimension StylesCreate, Modify, and Copy Dimension StylesOverride the Dimension StyleDimension in Model Space and Paper SpaceCreate Leaders and AnnotationCreate Leader LinesAdd the Annotation to a LeaderLeader AssociativityEdit Leader AssociativityEdit LeadersUse Geometric TolerancesCreate Geometric TolerancesEdit Geometric TolerancesWork in Three-Dimensional SpaceSpecify 3D CoordinatesDefine a User Coordinate SystemConvert CoordinatesCreate 3D ObjectsCreate WireframesCreate MeshesCreate Polyface MeshesCreate SolidsEdit in 3DRotate in 3DArray in 3DMirror Objects Along a PlaneEdit 3D SolidsDefine Layouts and PlotModel Space and Paper SpaceLayoutsLayouts and BlocksPlot SettingsLayout SettingsPaper Size and UnitsPlot OriginPlot AreaPlot ScaleLineweight ScalePlot DeviceQuery and Set Layout SettingsViewportsFloating ViewportsCreate Paper Space ViewportsChange Viewport Views and ContentScale Views Relative to Paper SpaceScale Pattern Linetypes in Paper SpaceUse Shaded ViewportsPlot Your DrawingPlot from Model SpacePlot from Paper SpaceUse EventsUnderstand the Events in AutoCAD Guidelines for Event HandlersRegister and Unregister EventsHandle Application EventsHandle Document EventsHandle DocumentCollection EventsHandle Object EventsRegister COM Based Events with .NETDevelop Applications with VB.NET and C#Handle ErrorsDefine Application Error TypesTrap Runtime ErrorsUse Try StatementsUse the Exception ObjectOn Error Statements (VB.NET)Compare Error Handlers in VBA or VB to .NETRespond to User Input ErrorsDistribute Your ApplicationVBA/VB to VB.NET and C# ComparisonVBA to VB.NET and C# Comparison