.NET

[#1]

Hello, I'd like to know if it is possible, with the .NET API provided in AutoCAD 2009, to define dynamic blocks (dynamic properties and actions) completely from .NET code (VB.NET or C#).

If yes, can someone provide me a tutorial about this issue ?

Thank you.

[#2]

Unfortunately no, the authoring elements were not publicly
exposed.

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href="news:6068882@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6068882@discussion.autodesk.com...

Hello,
I'd like to know if it is possible, with the .NET API provided in AutoCAD
2009, to define dynamic blocks (dynamic properties and actions) completely
from .NET code (VB.NET or C#). If yes, can someone provide me a tutorial about
this issue ? Thank you.

[#3]

Is it possible to show the dynamic properties?

I can retreive AttributeDefinitions, but no properties...

[#4]

sample code for iterating all dynamic blkrefs of MS and accessing their prop's:

using (BlockTable bt = (BlockTable)trans.GetObject(HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead, false))
{
BlockTableRecord btr = (BlockTableRecord)trans.GetObject(bt[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace], OpenMode.ForRead);
{
foreach(ObjectId objId in btr)
{
using (DBObject dbObj = trans.GetObject(objId, OpenMode.ForRead, false))
{
if (dbObj != null && dbObj.GetType() == typeof(BlockReference))
{
try
{
BlockReference br = dbObj as BlockReference;
if (br != null && br.IsDynamicBlock)
{
DynamicBlockReferencePropertyCollection dynBlkRefProps = br.DynamicBlockReferencePropertyCollection;
foreach (DynamicBlockReferenceProperty dynProp in dynBlkRefProps)
{
// ... access dynprop methods
// dynProp... PropertyName, Value, GetAllowedValues()
}
}
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
// ...
}
}
}
}
}
}

[#5]

Hi bobbydehero,

Thanks for your answer. However, this is not what I am looking for.

What you are describing, is how to get the PropertyREFERENCES from a BlockREFERENCE.

What I need to do is find the PropertyDEFINITIONS from a BlockDEFINITION.

I can extract the AttributeDefinitions from a blockDefinitions by iterating it's entities, but I still have not found how to extract the Properties...

[#6]

Ok, I'm not sure whether this suggestion works, before I've tried myself... but you might find something if you do this:

1) try querying the BlockTableRecord (that is dynamic) extension dictionary
2) get the "ACAD_ENHANCEDBLOCK" entry and examine the resbuf's - maybe you can find something there.

[#7]

Hi, thanks, I'll try that.

For now, we'll create a BlockReference in memory and access the Properties that way...

[#8]

Yeah, that's probably wise... I ran a quick test and found out that the ACAD_ENHANCEDBLOCK dictionary entry is an EvalGraph object that is not exposed in the .Net framework (Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.EvalGraph).

I then tried C++ and the corresponding AcDbEvalGraph class is accessible for 3rd party dev's, but the implementation of the node classes are still not public - meaning you can only access them as AcDbObjects, here's a printout of the class descriptor names (for my sample dynamic block table record):
AcDbBlockStretchAction
AcDbBlockMoveAction
AcDbBlockVisibilityParameter
AcDbBlockVisibilityGrip
AcDbBlockGripExpr
AcDbBlockGripExpr
AcDbBlockLookupParameter
AcDbBlockLookupAction
AcDbBlockLinearParameter
AcDbBlockLinearGrip

[#9]

bertvan -

It's actually possible to read the dynamic properties from a BlockTableRecord if you for some reason still want to...
Here's some sample code, and you'll need to reference the unsupported acmgdinternal module for it (generally not recommended):

Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;
using (Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
{
BlockTable bt = (BlockTable)(trans.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead));
if (bt.Has(sDynBlk) == true)
{
BlockTableRecord btr = (BlockTableRecord)trans.GetObject(bt[sDynBlk], OpenMode.ForRead);
if (btr.IsDynamicBlock)
{
try
{
DBDictionary extDictDynBT = (DBDictionary)trans.GetObject(btr.ExtensionDictionary, OpenMode.ForRead, false);
DBObject acadEnhancedBlk = (DBObject)trans.GetObject(extDictDynBT.GetAt("ACAD_ENHANCEDBLOCK"), OpenMode.ForRead, false);
EvalGraph graph = null;
ObjectId idGraph = acadEnhancedBlk.ObjectId;
if (!idGraph.IsNull)
graph = (EvalGraph)trans.GetObject(idGraph, OpenMode.ForRead);

if (graph != null)
{
int [] iNodes = graph.GetAllNodes();
foreach(int iNode in iNodes)
{
DBObject node = graph.GetNode((uint)iNode, OpenMode.ForRead, trans);
if (node != null)
{
EvalExpr eExpr = node as EvalExpr;
if (eExpr.GetType() == typeof(BlockLookupAction))
{
BlockLookupAction blua = eExpr as BlockLookupAction;
if (blua != null)
{
Array pDataTable;
LookupColumnDescriptorCollection descArray;
blua.GetLookupTable(out pDataTable, out descArray);
if (pDataTable != null)
{
....


if (eExpr.GetType() == typeof(BlockLookupParameter))
{
BlockLookupParameter blup = eExpr as BlockLookupParameter;
if (blup != null)
{
BlockParameterPropertyDescriptorCollection props = blup.PropertyDescription;
foreach (BlockParameterPropertyDescriptor prop in props)
{
....

[#10]

just wondering if it can be done now?