Visual Basic .NET Vs AutoLisp?

[Tyran]

What is the difference in programing in AutoCAD with Autolisp or Visual Basic?

What would I use .NET for in AutoCAD? I have visual studio 2005 pro on the way and a few books on VB, I am going to write my own programs for AutoCAD and ArcGIS.

I chose to do this because i noticed both the programs support VB script, I am still not sure the extent of what I can do with it, is it a limitless procedure? can I program AutoCAD to do what I want? "disable commands/functions, Create new automated functions, etc.."?

Thanks
Eric

[Anonymous]

Hi,

You can customise AutoCAD with a variety of techniques:
The menu system via the CUI Editor
The menu system via MNS/MNU files
The menu system via the APIs
Editing the PGP file
Command Scripts
Diesel
Lisp
Visual Lisp (Lisp with ActiveX functionality and an Editor)
VBA
VB
.NET in any of it's flavours
C++
Any other language with ActiveX functionality

come to mind quickly.

You will need to use one of the first three, no matter what else you do,
unless you expect users to type all the commands associated with your
software.
It is likely you will need to use more than one of the other tools.

Which of them to use depends on:

what you want to do
what your current skill level is
what your knowledge of AutoCAD is
what your long term goals are
what your ability to adapt are

If you plan to write linking software between AutoCAD and ArcGIS, then you
should eliminate the techniques which can't be used with ArcGIS

Almost all the items above enable you to create new AutoCAD commands. Many
of them can "hide" or "modify via reactors" existing AutoCAD commands.

As a matter of principle, my opinion is that you should not interfere with
AutoCAD commands, but provide your own alternative which has the enhanced
features you need.

Before starting any project which requires the more powerful tools such as
.NET and C++ you should have a significant knowledge of AutoCAD (and
perhaps, a relevant Autodesk Vertical product like Civil 3D). There is far
too much time spent re-inventing the wheel in these areas.

Lastly, you are posting to a Land Desktop customisation NG. If there is any
area of customising AutoCAD which is "dead" this is it.

Look at the range of other Customisation NGs and read some of their content
to get an idea where the group content is closer to your needs.
--

Laurie Comerford
CADApps
www.cadapps.com.au
www.civil3Dtools.com

wrote in message news:5761691@discussion.autodesk.com...
What is the difference in programing in AutoCAD with Autolisp or Visual
Basic?

What would I use .NET for in AutoCAD? I have visual studio 2005 pro on the
way and a few books on VB, I am going to write my own programs for AutoCAD
and ArcGIS.

I chose to do this because i noticed both the programs support VB script, I
am still not sure the extent of what I can do with it, is it a limitless
procedure? can I program AutoCAD to do what I want? "disable
commands/functions, Create new automated functions, etc.."?

Thanks
Eric

[Tyran]

My primary purpose for customizing AutoCAD is for DescKey files.

My company used to have LDD 2007 we recently switched to Civil 3D 2008, I setup a description key for all 12 PCs in this office, The basic function for this is:

when an employee imports points from a topographic survey the points read the DescKey file and draw all the symbols from the symbol path to each symbol.

It worked perfect in 2007... I posted in the LDD forum and they told me that Civil 3D changed the way they read DescKeys, you have to block the symbols into the drawing template...
That to me defeats the purpose of using DescKeys.

My original job was to setup instant points, The points are located on a server computer so each pc just drew from that specific location.

My question is how can I bypass the blocking of all 300 of my symbols into a drawing template? can i recreate the function of 2007? I need AutoCAD to draw the symbols from the original folder... and yes I made sure all the settings are correct. (labels, point settings, all paths, etc..)..

If I am missing something plainly obvious please tell me, thank you
Eric

[shaheenmongam]

what if I need to use a command 100 times

for example: I have 100 autocad drawings which are to be converted to pdf format. now I dont want to open each and every drawing and convert it seperately, instead I need to write a programme so that it can call autocad, open each file one at a time, do convertion, for all the 100 files.

for this, what should I do?

Thanks