civil 3d vb.net extended data tab of the properties window

[kcimos]

I'm duplicating my thread here, but this one should focus on the .net aspects of this topic.

I'm using civil 3d 2014.

If one enters the "propertysetdefine" command or "stylemanager" command, a window pops up that lets you define properties for objects. You can then add these properties via the Extended Data tab of the Properties window.

I ultimately want to automate the process of entering this data once these properties exist, and also possibly adding the properties to begin with.

My searches have only gotten me to info about editing the civil 3d parts catalog, or stuff for ADA & MEP. I saw a nice article about being able to edit the Notes Property field which is in the extended data tab by default. But this will not suffice, due to client expectations.

[rl_jackson]

I'll watch here too.

[kcimos]

It was suggested that I'm looking for exteded entity data, I found this code:

    <CommandMethod("VXD")> _
    Public Sub ViewXData()
        ' Get the current database and start a transaction
        Dim acCurDb As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Database
        acCurDb = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Database

        Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

        Dim appName As String = "MY_APP"
        Dim msgstr As String = ""

        Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

            ' Request objects to be selected in the drawing area
            Dim acSSPrompt As PromptSelectionResult = acDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

            ' If the prompt status is OK, objects were selected
            If acSSPrompt.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then

                Dim acSSet As SelectionSet = acSSPrompt.Value

                ' Step through the objects in the selection set
                For Each acSSObj As SelectedObject In acSSet
                    ' Open the selected object for read
                    Dim acEnt As Entity = acTrans.GetObject(acSSObj.ObjectId, _
                                                            OpenMode.ForRead)

                    ' Get the extended data attached to each object for MY_APP
                    Dim rb As ResultBuffer = acEnt.GetXDataForApplication(appName)

                    ' Make sure the Xdata is not empty
                    If Not IsNothing(rb) Then
                        ' Get the values in the xdata
                        For Each typeVal As TypedValue In rb
                            msgstr = msgstr & vbCrLf & typeVal.TypeCode.ToString() & ":" & typeVal.Value
                        Next
                    Else
                        msgstr = "NONE"
                    End If

                    ' Display the values returned
                    MsgBox(appName & " xdata on " & VarType(acEnt).ToString() & ":" & vbCrLf & msgstr)

                    msgstr = ""
                Next
            End If

            ' Ends the transaction and ensures any changes made are ignored
            acTrans.Abort()

            ' Dispose of the transaction
        End Using
    End Sub

 but this does not retrieve any properties that were created via propertsetdefine and assigned via the extended data tab of the properties window.

[Jeff_M]

Looks like the propertyies you are looking for are Aec Dictionary objects. Here's a snip from the Object Browser for the AecBaseMgd.

Hope that gets you a starting point!

I'm curious as to how this will be (or is, if you are using it manually) used. What kind of information do you add to display there? 

[kcimos]

our client has guidelines for civil3d files. In addition to normal pipe and structure data, they want various names,IDs,Owners, etc for each part (& other things too), They lay out the procedure to set up the drawing using Propertysetdefine, otherwise I'd have looked into doing it differently by now. There are scores of drawings, with thousands of pipes/structures, and potential for future projects, so automation makes sense.

[kcimos]

thanks, I'll lookinto RXObject

[Jeff_M]

No, not the RXObject, that is the base AutoCAD object class. I was referring to the Dictuonary* objects. However, that isn't right anyway. If you add a reference to the AecPropDataMgd.dll, I think you will find everything in there you need. I'm looking now, but running out of time to do any testing.

[Jeff_M]

I found some sample code over at theSwamp that should help:

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=37862.msg430653#msg430653

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=43114.msg510122#msg510122

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=40079.msg453458#msg453458

There are also a few references in the AutoCAD Architecture Customization forum: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Architecture/bd-p/54

Good Luck!

[kcimos]

thanks for the help, However I don't think AecPropDataMgd.dll is a civil 3d thing. I can't check until Monday.

[Jeff_M]

Yes, it is. I was able to do some rudimentary stuff in the half hour I spent with it.

[kcimos]

Great, Thanks a lot.

I had seen these examples while searching, but since they were in architecture and/or MEP forums, and there was the whole Space object part, I continued to look elsewhere, without knowing that I was on the right track.