VLAX-LDATA dictionary problems in R14->ADT3.3 conversion

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of converting our in house extensions from R14 to ADT3.3.
I've already got the application (which relates to CAD Standards) to fully
work under ADT3.3.

Part of the application writes a small but critical amount of information to
the drawing dictionary via VLAX-LDATA-PUT. In R14 this works fine, PUT the
data then as needed GET it. In ADT3.3this also works fine, PUT and then
GET.

The problem occurs when a drawing is converted from one version to another.
For example, when ADT3.3 opens a file created with R14. The proxy notice
appears indicating that my application is missing (RAMSA14), and also
details the 5 non graphic objects. When I run the ADT3.3 version of my app
it does not see any of the existing data. I can plug in new data, then
everything works fine. Strangely, after new data is added and the file is
saved in ADT3.3 the proxy notice goes away when the drawing is reopened.
Similar behavior is observed when the file is created anew in ADT3.3 then
saveas'ed to R14 and opened in R14 - the critical info goes away.

So I just started digging into the DBVIEW express tool. It seems as if in
ADT3.3 the information in the "Named objects dictionary" come through, but
not the actual values. What I mean is that the dictionary objects and keys
(is key the right word? similar to registry key) show up fine, and so does
the beginning part of the object definition entity name, type, control
string, etc. The actual data (a string) does not appear to exist however
whenever a drawing originated in one version is loaded in the other.

Is there a way to access this data? Is this a file translation issue that
cannot be solved (IE is this a failure {or feature?!?!} in the R14 import
filter in ADT3.3?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I would rather avoid workarounds requiring the user to reopen the R14 file
so the data can be saved to an external file or written to another location
such as a USERS variable or xdata, etc.

Thanks,

Peter Theis

[Anonymous]

Peter Theis wrote:

> Part of the application writes a small but critical amount of information to
> the drawing dictionary via VLAX-LDATA-PUT.

Bad news. The data is bound the R14 ARX and you can't get to it from
2000+.

IMO you will have to open each drawing in R14 and transition the data
through an xrecord.

Good Luck, Terry

o--------------------------------------------------o
| Never start any job without the right tools! |
| AutoCAD Add-on Tools at http://www.dotsoft.com |
o--------------------------------------------------o

[Anonymous]

Now I'm in trouble. It appears that Xrecords are VBA - any tips on how to
access xrecords for the Visual Lisp programer's point of view? I've yet to
tackle the VBA thing...

Also - are you sure that this isn't stored in the same way (IE- are you sure
this will make the acad version transition?

Thanks,

-Peter


Terry W. Dotson wrote in message
news:3B71D061.649A70A3@dotsoft.com...
> Peter Theis wrote:
>
> > Part of the application writes a small but critical amount of
information to
> > the drawing dictionary via VLAX-LDATA-PUT.
>
> Bad news. The data is bound the R14 ARX and you can't get to it from
> 2000+.
>
> IMO you will have to open each drawing in R14 and transition the data
> through an xrecord.
>
> Good Luck, Terry
>
> o--------------------------------------------------o
> | Never start any job without the right tools! |
> | AutoCAD Add-on Tools at http://www.dotsoft.com |
> o--------------------------------------------------o

[Anonymous]

you stepped on something that I think it was Terry or Frank , boy they
were mad regardig this issue.
any case the xrecords are easily accessible via lisp. HoW? have no clue
as how to do it, but go to Autocad.customization group and there are
many routines posted to read/write xrecords. I think the website will
give you tools for the search. Basically you will see them in two
flavors, ActiveX and plain old lisp, I believe both work the same..

once u figure out the translation code, you can run a script on the
files, the ScriptPro used to come with xpress tools, then I think they
merged it with migration tools, and then now with 3.3 you have to
download the migration tools from adesk website, considering it being a
5 meg file, why they did not include it on the CD, is beyond me.

PS: avoid going back n forth between r14 and adt3.3, you are askinig
for trouble with your files...

Peter Theis wrote:
>
> Now I'm in trouble. It appears that Xrecords are VBA - any tips on how to
> access xrecords for the Visual Lisp programer's point of view? I've yet to
> tackle the VBA thing...
>
> Also - are you sure that this isn't stored in the same way (IE- are you sure
> this will make the acad version transition?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Peter
>
> Terry W. Dotson wrote in message
> news:3B71D061.649A70A3@dotsoft.com...
> > Peter Theis wrote:
> >
> > > Part of the application writes a small but critical amount of
> information to
> > > the drawing dictionary via VLAX-LDATA-PUT.
> >
> > Bad news. The data is bound the R14 ARX and you can't get to it from
> > 2000+.
> >
> > IMO you will have to open each drawing in R14 and transition the data
> > through an xrecord.
> >
> > Good Luck, Terry
> >
> > o--------------------------------------------------o
> > | Never start any job without the right tools! |
> > | AutoCAD Add-on Tools at http://www.dotsoft.com |
> > o--------------------------------------------------o

--

-------------------
Nauman M
CAD Bazaar
Need to easily Navigate to your Custom Content Folders?
Need Autolayering for Dimensions without going through Design Center?
Download the updated ADT Tools for ADT 2 & 3 at
http://www.cadbazaar.com

[Anonymous]

you stepped on something that I think it was Terry or Frank , boy they
were mad regardig this issue.
any case the xrecords are easily accessible via lisp. HoW? have no clue
as how to do it, but go to Autocad.customization group and there are
many routines posted to read/write xrecords. I think the website will
give you tools for the search. Basically you will see them in two
flavors, ActiveX and plain old lisp, I believe both work the same..

once u figure out the translation code, you can run a script on the
files, the ScriptPro used to come with xpress tools, then I think they
merged it with migration tools, and then now with 3.3 you have to
download the migration tools from adesk website, considering it being a
5 meg file, why they did not include it on the CD, is beyond me.

PS: avoid going back n forth between r14 and adt3.3, you are askinig
for trouble with your files...

Peter Theis wrote:
>
> Now I'm in trouble. It appears that Xrecords are VBA - any tips on how to
> access xrecords for the Visual Lisp programer's point of view? I've yet to
> tackle the VBA thing...
>
> Also - are you sure that this isn't stored in the same way (IE- are you sure
> this will make the acad version transition?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Peter
>
> Terry W. Dotson wrote in message
> news:3B71D061.649A70A3@dotsoft.com...
> > Peter Theis wrote:
> >
> > > Part of the application writes a small but critical amount of
> information to
> > > the drawing dictionary via VLAX-LDATA-PUT.
> >
> > Bad news. The data is bound the R14 ARX and you can't get to it from
> > 2000+.
> >
> > IMO you will have to open each drawing in R14 and transition the data
> > through an xrecord.
> >
> > Good Luck, Terry
> >
> > o--------------------------------------------------o
> > | Never start any job without the right tools! |
> > | AutoCAD Add-on Tools at http://www.dotsoft.com |
> > o--------------------------------------------------o

--

-------------------
Nauman M
CAD Bazaar
Need to easily Navigate to your Custom Content Folders?
Need Autolayering for Dimensions without going through Design Center?
Download the updated ADT Tools for ADT 2 & 3 at
http://www.cadbazaar.com

[Anonymous]

Peter Theis wrote:

> Now I'm in trouble. It appears that Xrecords are VBA - any tips on how to
> access xrecords for the Visual Lisp programer's point of view? I've yet to
> tackle the VBA thing...

Head to the Programming section of http://www.dotsoft.com and look at
the topic "XRecords".

Terry