Getting started with Civil3D and .NET unmanaged C++

[TheDabbler]

Hello All,

I had a topic in the ObjectArx forum which is similar to this, but was directed here to perhaps get more replies.

I have several years experience with C++, so I would like to develop with reasonably pure C++ if possible. So I chose Unmanaged C++ .NET as my platform, although Managed C++ might be alright if it is not too different. I would rather not learn a new language like C# if I can help it.

There doesn't seem like a lot of C++ examples on the internet (not that I have managed tro find anyway). If anyone has links to more C++ examples (in addition to the samples) that would be awesome. I already have the Developers Manual & the API reference.

What I am actually trying to do:

I have a design surface, a surface which I surveyed, and a TIN Volume surface as a comparison between the two. Am trying to place surface elevations on the comparison surface at the location of each point in the surveyed surface (I have a Point Group for it). So my dwg will show cut / fill values.

My request:

Could I indulge someone to post the code for something simple like printing out the names of each surface in the dwg. It is mainly the setup of a custom class along with all the required namespaces, initialisation etc, that I am interested in. That is, a very simple but complete set of code. Meanwhile, I will have a go at porting some C# code to C++ - which could be tricky because I don't know much about C#.

Questions:

1.  When one makes a .dll  with a custom class, then loads it in C3D: How does C3D know which function to run?  Does one call a function from a constructor?

Thanks in advance for any help - Cheers

[TheDabbler]

Hello All,

So I spent the whole day trying to port C# code to Managed C++, but am stuck trying to do a Transaction. Here is the code:

Conformance.cpp

// This is the main DLL file.

#include "stdafx.h"

#include "Conformance.h"

using namespace Autodesk::Civil::ApplicationServices;
using namespace Autodesk::Civil::DatabaseServices;
typedef  Autodesk::Civil::DatabaseServices::Surface  CivSurface;
//typedef Application::DocumentManager::MdiActiveDocument doc;
typedef 

namespace Conformance {

void CSurfaceElevation::MyFunc() {
    

    Transaction ts = CivilApplication::ActiveDocument::Database::TransactionManager.StartTransaction()) ; 
        try {

            CivilDocument ^ActiveDoc = CivilApplication::ActiveDocument;
            // Get the first surface in a document    
            // "doc" is the CivilApplication.ActiveDocument
            ObjectId ^surfaceId = ActiveDoc->GetSurfaceIds()[0];
            CivSurface ^oSurface = surfaceId->GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead) //as CivSurface;

            // print out general properties:
            GeneralSurfaceProperties ^genProps = oSurface->GetGeneralProperties();

            String propsMsg = "\nGeneral Properties for " + oSurface->Name;
            propsMsg += "\n-------------------";
            propsMsg += "\nMin X: " + genProps->MinimumCoordinateX;
            propsMsg += "\nMin Y: " + genProps->MinimumCoordinateY;
            propsMsg += "\nMin Z: " + genProps->MinimumElevation;
            propsMsg += "\nMax X: " + genProps->MaximumCoordinateX;
            propsMsg += "\nMax Y: " + genProps->MaximumCoordinateY;
            propsMsg += "\nMax Z: " + genProps->MaximumElevation;
            propsMsg += "\nMean Elevation: " + genProps->MeanElevation;
            propsMsg += "\nNumber of Points: " + genProps->NumberOfPoints;
            propsMsg += "\n--";

            editor.WriteMessage(propsMsg);
        }
        catch (System.Exception e) { 
            editor.WriteMessage(e.Message); 
        }
        ts.Commit
    
}

 void CSurfaceElevation::Initialize() {
     throw gcnew System::Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}
 
 void CSurfaceElevation::Terminate() {
    throw gcnew System::Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}

} // end of namespace Conformance 

Conformance.h

// Conformance.h

#pragma once

using namespace System;
using namespace Autodesk::AutoCAD::Runtime;
using namespace Autodesk::Civil::ApplicationServices;




namespace Conformance {

    public ref class CSurfaceElevation : IExtensionApplication 
	{
		// TODO: Add your methods for this class here.
       // #pragma region IExtensionApplication Members
 
    public: 
        void MyFunc(); 

        virtual void Initialize();
        
 
        virtual void Terminate();
        
 
        //#pragma endregion
	};


} // end of namespace Conformance

 So I guess one might be able to see my lack of knowledge on how to do this properly. I would really appreciate it if someone could post a small & simple but complete set of code to start me off.

I am also trying some ObjectARX, but having some problems there too.

Cheers.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Did you look into this sample - 

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014\Sample\Civil 3D API\COM\VC++\Managed C++

Does it help ?

Thanks,

Partha Sarkar