Reload LineTypes

[Anonymous]

How would I Reload a linetype... the linetype already exists in the drawing...

But I want to update the linetype defintition. 

This doesn't work. 

I need to open the linetyperecord... but what do I use to reload or re-define the linetablerecord. 

	Dim db As Database = ActiveDrawing.Database 
			Dim ed As Editor = editor

			Const filename As String = "SFR_LINETYPES.lin"
         
            Try
             
				Dim path As String = HostApplicationServices.Current.FindFile(filename, db, FindFileHint.Default)
				db.LoadLineTypeFile("*", path)

 

[Anonymous]

Came across a post over in the new AutoCAD DevBlog on this topic just yesterday. How to reload the line type in AutoCAD using AutoCAD.NET API: http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2012/03/how-to-reload-the-line-type-in-autocad-using-autocadne... Is this what you're looking for? Art

[Alexander.Rivilis]

What about setting EXPERT system variable in value >= 3? 

[Anonymous]

Those solutions don't work. 

I need to delete the linetype and then reimport or re-define it completely. 

For whatever reason It's not working. 

Autocad 2011 

Windows XP

[Anonymous]

using art's reference above, viru says that a drawing's line type definitions get updated when its .lin file is loaded (as you show in your post). therefore as long as your drawing continues to use its .lin file, the line type definition in the .lin file has to be changed (presuming the line type name stays the same)

[Hallex · Accepted solution]

If CommanfFlags is set to Session

you have use LockDocument, i.e.:

        [CommandMethod("relaodLinetype", CommandFlags.Session)]

        public static void relaodLinetype()
        {
            // Set full path of .LIN file herer:
            string linfile = @"C:\Test\SFR_LINETYPES.lin";

            DocumentCollection docManager = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager;

            Database db = docManager.MdiActiveDocument.Database;

            using (DocumentLock doclock = docManager.MdiActiveDocument.LockDocument())
            {
                Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction();

                bool bReload = false;

                using (trans)
                {

                    LinetypeTable table = trans.GetObject(db.LinetypeTableId, OpenMode.ForRead) as LinetypeTable;

                    if (table.Has("CENTER"))

                        bReload = true;

                }

                System.Int16 fileDia = (System.Int16)

                    Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.GetSystemVariable("FILEDIA");

                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", 0);

                //reload using linetype command...

                Object acadObject = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.AcadApplication;

                object ActiveDocument =
                    acadObject.GetType().InvokeMember("ActiveDocument", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, acadObject, null);

                object[] dataArry = new object[1];

                if (bReload)
                {
                    dataArry[0] = "-linetype Load CENTER\n" + linfile + "\nYes\n ";
                }
                else
                {
                    dataArry[0] = "-linetype Load CENTER\nacad.lin\n ";
                }
                ActiveDocument.GetType().InvokeMember(

                            "SendCommand", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, ActiveDocument, dataArry);

                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", fileDia);
            }
        }

~'J'~

[Anonymous]

Many Thanks Hallex, as you've helped me when I was in a pickle before. 

Having some success here! 

It works!

Two follow-up Questions: 

1. 

So why use the  

 ActiveDocument.[GetType]().InvokeMember("SendCommand", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, ActiveDocument, dataArry)

 instead of 

   ActiveDrawing.SendStringToExecute("-linetype load....etc",False,False,False)

 Why use the InvokeMember? Does it work faster or better? What's the difference. 

Could I just use: 

   Public Shared Sub SendCommand(ByVal Command As String)
            Dim doc As Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document
            doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            doc.SendStringToExecute(Command, False, False, True)


            
        End Sub

 As my function/method for sending commands? What should I dig into to learn more about this? 

2. What does LockDocument do exactly, (Yes obviously it locks the document) but why do it on the linetype load? 

[Anonymous]

Oh for anybody following along here's my code; 

 <CommandMethod("reloadLinetype", CommandFlags.Session)> _
        Public Shared Sub Reload_LineType()

            ' Set full path of .LIN file herer:
            Dim linfile As String = gstrc_SFR_LineType_FullFileName
            Dim linName As String = "PNEUMATIC"
            Dim bReload As Boolean = False

            '' Get the current document and database
            Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            Dim DB As Database = acDoc.Database

            Try

                'Lock Document
                Using DocLock As DocumentLock = acDoc.LockDocument

                    '' Start a transaction
                    Using TR As Transaction = DB.TransactionManager.StartTransaction

                        '' Open the Linetype table for read
                        Dim acLineTbl As LinetypeTable
                        acLineTbl = TR.GetObject(DB.LinetypeTableId, _
                           OpenMode.ForWrite)

                        If acLineTbl.Has(linName) = true Then
                            bReload = True 
                        End If 

                        ' Save the changes and dispose of the transaction
                        TR.Commit()


                    End Using

                End Using



                Dim fileDia As System.Int16 = CShort(Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.GetSystemVariable("FILEDIA"))

                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", 0)

                'reload using linetype command...

                Dim acadObject As [Object] = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.AcadApplication

                Dim ActiveDocument As Object = acadObject.[GetType]().InvokeMember("ActiveDocument", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, acadObject, Nothing)

                Dim dataArry As Object() = New Object(0) {}

                If bReload Then
                    dataArry(0) = "-linetype Load " & linName & vbLf & linfile & vbLf & "Yes" & vbLf & " "
                Else
                    dataArry(0) = "-linetype Load " & linName & vbLf & "acad.lin" & vbLf & " "
                End If

                ActiveDocument.[GetType]().InvokeMember("SendCommand", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, ActiveDocument, dataArry)

                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", fileDia)


                dataArry(0) = "regen" & vbLf 
                ActiveDocument.[GetType]().InvokeMember("SendCommand", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, ActiveDocument, dataArry)
             
           
            Catch
                Console.WriteLine("Error in LoadLineType")
            End Try


        End Sub

[Anonymous]

In reponse to VB_Autocad_guy...

The InvokeMember() code is calling the COM interop's AcadDocument.SendCommand() method, except it is calling this using the .NET reflection library's late binding technique. You can google this for more details.

The AcadDocument.SendCommand() method has the advantage of being executed straight away (i.e. synchronously) versus the Document.SendStringToExecute() method which is executed after your code has finished (i.e. asynchronously).

Note that for the COM AcadDocument.SendCommand() method to work synchronously it must be called in the application context (i.e. CommandFlags.Session needs to be set).

Calling this method using late binding is significantly slower than if you reference the interop dll directly in your project. However the advantage is that it will work for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems as well as different versions of AutoCAD - i.e. you don't have to create multiple builds just for a simple COM interop call every now and then.

It's a nice trick to know.

For some further background refer to these posts:

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2006/08/techniques_for_.html

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2011/11/generating-preview-images-for...

Art

[Anonymous]

Oh and if you are accessing a document from the application context (i.e. CommandFlags.Session) then you need to lock any document before you edit it, hence the DocumentLock.

[Anonymous]

This example doesn't work with localized AutoCAD. My command enters in an infinite loop and writes messages to command line like "The command "-LINETYPE" doesn't exist". 

How to write this line correctly in this situation?

dataArry[0] = "-linetype Load CENTER\n" + linfile + "\nYes\n ";