ModelSpace vs. PaperSpace Viewport

[junoj]

Hi, is there a way to be able to distinguish if the ModelSpace from PaperSpace Viewport. ‘.CurrentSpaceId’ points to the model space when looking at the model space via paperspace viewport.

[_gile]

Hi,

Look at the TILEMODE and CVPORT sytem variables.

The TileMode sysvar (or Database property) indicates if the Model layout si active (1) or any other layout 0.

If TileMode = 0, the CVPORT sysvar returns the current viewport number, 1 is the number of the layout viewport and indicates the Paper space is active. Values greater than 1 indicates a floating viewport is active (Model space through the viewport).

[BlackBox_]

Quick example:

// <snip>

// using transaction (tr)

                        ObjectId spaceId;

                        if (1 == System.Convert.ToInt32(Application.GetSystemVariable("CVPORT")))
                            spaceId = SymbolUtilityServices.GetBlockPaperSpaceId(db);

                        else
                            spaceId = SymbolUtilityServices.GetBlockModelSpaceId(db);

                        BlockTableRecord btr =
                            tr.GetObject(spaceId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;

// do something useful

// commit()

// <snip>

[junoj]

Thank you very much Gilles and BlackBox. Both of your methods will work providing that I have the drawing open with Autocad. Unfortunately I am accessing the dwg remotely without opening the application, so the application object is not available to me.

[_gile · Accepted solution]

You can use the Database.TileMode property to know if the current layout is the Model Layout or any other layout

You can use the Database.CurrentSpaceId to get the current space and compare it to theobjectId return by SymbolUtilityServices.GetBlockModelSpaceId()

            if (db.TileMode)
            {
                // The Model layout is active
            }
            else if (db.CurrentSpaceId == SymbolUtilityServices.GetBlockModelSpaceId(db))
            {
                // A floating viewport in a paper space layout is active
            }
            else
            {
                // A paper space is active
            }

[junoj]

Thank you very much Gilles!!!

[junoj]

One more quick question Gilles, Is it possible to get the ID of the Layout when a viewport is active - looking at the model space? When I try 'CurrentSpaceId' i get the ID of the model space.

[BlackBox_]

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@junoj wrote:
One more quick question Gilles, Is it possible to get the ID of the Layout when a viewport is active - looking at the model space? When I try 'CurrentSpaceId' i get the ID of the model space.

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Perhaps this excerpt from the developer documentation will help:

 http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2013/ENU/index.html?url=files/GUID-2CEED409-0E15-4F48-9AA1-D12D246E27DB...

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Identify and Manipulate the Active Viewport (.NET) :
The active viewport is represented in the Viewports table by a record named "*Active", which is not a unique name as all tiled viewports currently displayed on the Model tab are named "*Active". Each tiled viewport that is displayed is assigned a number. The number of the active viewport can be obtained by:

• Retrieving the value of the CVPORT system variable
•  
• Using the ActiveViewportId property of the Editor object to get the object id for the active viewport and then open the Viewport object to access its Number property

Once you have the active viewport, you control its display properties, enable drafting aids for the viewport such as grid and snap, as well as the size of the viewport itself. Tiled viewports are defined by two corner points: lower-left and upper-right. The LowerLeftCorner and UpperRightCorner properties represent the graphic placement of the viewport on the display.

---

[junoj]

Thank you BlackBox. My understanding is that the CVPORT variable is for viewports. What I am trying to obtain is the CTAB system variable. The CTAB variable has the name of the current tab regardless if one of the viewports is active.

I am able to obtain the CTAB  variable via the GetSystemVariable , but I am having a hard time finding a way to access same variable without opening the drawing.

I think CTAB is a very elegant solution, providing I can find a way to obtain the variable.

[BlackBox_]

Sorry for my misunderstanding... Consider LayoutManager.Current.CurrentLayout as Viru demonstrates in this DevBlog article:

http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2012/06/identifying-active-space-and-active-layout.html

[Edit] - Forgot to mention using the LayoutManager's GetLayoutId() Method (using CurrentLayout as the string parameter)

Cheers

[junoj]

Thank you BlackBox for the response.  The link to the code that you provided works nice only if one is in the Model Tab or in the Layout Tab.

However if you are in the Layout Tab (Paper Space) and you are looking via the viewport at the Model Space then the code will return the Model Space ID.

[BlackBox_]

I overlooked your earlier statement that you're attempting to identify the active space from a side Database... The only other thing I can think to suggest without Googling, is for you to consider Database.CurrentSpaceId as Kean suggests here:

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2007/09/accessing-the-a.html

... Perhaps someone much smarter than I will be along shortly, to better suggest a solution. Sorry I could not be of more help.

Cheers