Re: reading strings from TEXT and MTEXT using VB.NET

ConstantineS · ‎02-14-2011

I'm trying to read text from TEXT and MTEXT objects in AutoCAD 2010 using VB.NET and have run into difficulties. Here is my code:

    <Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.CommandMethod("runTest", CommandFlags.Session)> _
    Public Sub Test()

        Dim acDocEd As Editor
        Dim acTypValAr(3) As TypedValue
        Dim acSelFtr As SelectionFilter
        Dim acSSPrompt As PromptSelectionResult
        Dim acSSet As SelectionSet
        Dim selObj As SelectedObject
        Dim textObj As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common.AcadText
        Dim mtextObj As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common.AcadMText

        acDocEd = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor

        acTypValAr.SetValue(New TypedValue(DxfCode.Operator, "<or"), 0)
        acTypValAr.SetValue(New TypedValue(DxfCode.Start, "TEXT"), 1)
        acTypValAr.SetValue(New TypedValue(DxfCode.Start, "MTEXT"), 2)
        acTypValAr.SetValue(New TypedValue(DxfCode.Operator, "or>"), 3)

        acSelFtr = New SelectionFilter(acTypValAr)
        acSSPrompt = acDocEd.SelectAll(acSelFtr)

        If acSSPrompt.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then
            acSSet = acSSPrompt.Value
            For Each selObj In acSSet
                If selObj.GetType.ToString = "TEXT" Then
                    textObj = selObj
                    MsgBox("Text = " & textObj.TextString)
                Else
                    mtextObj = selObj
                    MsgBox("Text = " & mtextObj.TextString)
                End If
            Next selObj
        End If
    End Sub

I realize that the ".TextString" method only works on TEXT and MTEXT objects and not a generic "SelectedObject", so I tried to detect the object type (my code does not work), then I need to convert the selected object to either TEXT or MTEXT (again my code doesn't work).

Is there a better way to do this? Can it be done without using COM objects?

Thanks in advance,

Constantine

chiefbraincloud · ‎02-14-2011

Yes, it can be done without COM.

One problem you have there is that selObj.GetType.ToString will always return the Fully Qualified Type Name (which will ALWAYS be "Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.SelectedObject")

The other problem is that you can't just cast from SelectedObject to things derived from DbObject. (or to COM AcadText or AcadMText) You have to use a Transaction and the ObjectId pointer provided by the SelectedObject, and open the object for read. As you'll see below, the ObjectId also has an ObjectClass property which is useful for Type-Testing an object without opening it.

For the simplest change needed to make your code work, remove your declaration of textObj and mtextObj, and replace your For Each selObj...Next with this code:

Using trans As Transaction = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.TransactionManager.StartTransaction
    Try
	For Each selObj In acSSet
	    Select Case selObj.ObjectId.ObjectClass.Name
		Case "AcDbText"
		    Dim textObj As DBText = trans.GetObject(selObj.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForRead, False, True)
		    MsgBox("Text = " & textObj.TextString)
		    textObj.Dispose()
		Case "AcDbMText"
		    Dim mtextObj As MText = trans.GetObject(selObj.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForRead, False, True)
		    MsgBox("Text = " & mtextObj.Contents)
		    mtextObj.Dispose()
	    End Select
	Next selObj
    Catch ex As Exception
    Finally
	trans.Commit()
    End Try
End Using

Dave O.

ConstantineS · ‎02-15-2011

Thanks Chief,

Thanks, that worked. As I transition from VBA to VB.NET, I am lacking a fundamental understanding of VB.NET, such as when to use a transaction, and of the AutoCAD object model so that I can avoid using COM. Do you know of good sources, on line or in book(s), for these topics?

Thanks,

Constantine

chiefbraincloud · ‎02-15-2011

When to use a transaction or not is based on the AutoCAD API, as opposed to VB, and basically, if you are using COM, (ie. methods/objects exposed under the Interop and Interop.Common namespace) you never use a transaction, because the COM wrappers take care of it for you. If you are using the managed API, you need to use a transaction any time you want to access objects through the ObjectID.

As far as sources go, this is starting to get repetitive, but:

1) there is a blog by Kean Walmsley called Through the Interface

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/

It is a great reference, especially if you get the RSS feed, making it easier to search through his posts.

2) the ObjectARX Software developers kit contains some .NET examples and the ARX help files. I use the ARX help files when the .NET help is less than helpful.

3) There is an online Developer Guide for .NET, but I don't have a handy link to post, because I don't use it.

There are also several people who frequent this discussion group who are also on 'The Swamp'. I am not a member over there.

As far as books, there is one, which has earned mixed reviews on this group, by ....Jerry.... I'm drawing a blank on his last name. (sorry Jerry 😉

Dave O.

arcticad · ‎02-15-2011

VB.NET For AutoCAD 2010

http://www.vbcad.com/

Jerry Winters

I purchased the book, I'd recommend it. go buy it.

---------------------------

(defun botsbuildbots() (botsbuildbots))

ConstantineS · ‎02-15-2011

Thanks guys.

ditran7577 · ‎11-06-2012

Hi,

I want to display string from autocad to datagridview. Can you help me?

Please see attachment.

Hallex · ‎11-07-2012

If you use windows form datagridview then you have create

List<string, int> mtextcounts which is include mtext string (unique) and number of count

then pass it as argument in your datagridview , say on button click:

this.DataGridView1,DataSource=mtextcounts

this.DataGridView1.DataMember="YourColumnName"

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Hallex · ‎11-07-2012

See how I would do it, with limited testing:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;

namespace MtextTools
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        // added button1, button2, datagridview1, label1 for test
        private  SortedList<string, int> dgvsource = new SortedList<string, int>();
        private BindingSource bind = new BindingSource();

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            
        }

        private void btnSelect_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.dataGridView1.Columns.Clear();
            this.label1.Text = "";
           // this.Hide();// if modeless


            testMtextCount();


            bind = new BindingSource();
            bind.DataSource = null;
            bind.DataSource = dgvsource;
            this.dataGridView1.DataSource = bind;
            this.dataGridView1.Columns[0].HeaderText = "MODEL";
            this.dataGridView1.Columns[1].HeaderText = "QUANTITY";
            this.dataGridView1.Columns[0].Width = 240;
            this.dataGridView1.Columns[1].Width = 120;
            this.dataGridView1.DataMember = bind.DataMember;
            this.label1.Text = "SUM RUNS: ";
            string runs = dgvsource.Values.Sum().ToString();
            this.label1.Text = this.label1.Text + runs;
            //clear data
            dgvsource.Clear();
            runs = "";
            // this.Show();// if modeless
        }

        private  void testMtextCount()
        {

            Document doc = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

            Database db = doc.Database;

            Editor ed = doc.Editor;

            PromptSelectionOptions pso = new PromptSelectionOptions();

            pso.MessageForRemoval = "\nFailed to select mtexts!";

            pso.MessageForAdding = "\nPlease, select the mtexts on screen: ";

            // build filter to select the mtexts
            SelectionFilter filter =
                new SelectionFilter(new TypedValue[] { new TypedValue(0, "mtext") }  );

            // perform mtext selection
            PromptSelectionResult sres = ed.GetSelection(pso, filter);// might be SelectAll instead

            if (sres.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;
            try
            {

                SelectionSet sset = sres.Value;

                using (Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
                {

                    foreach (SelectedObject sobj in sset)
                    {
                        Entity ent = tr.GetObject(sobj.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForRead, false) as Entity;

                        MText mtx = ent as MText;
                     

                                object[] datum = new object[] { mtx.Text, 1};
                                if (!dgvsource.ContainsKey(mtx.Text))
                                {
                                    dgvsource.Add(mtx.Text, 1);
                                }
                                else
                                {
                                    dgvsource[mtx.Text]+=1;
                                }

                    }
         
                    tr.Commit();

                }

            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.ShowAlertDialog(ex.Message + "\n" + ex.StackTrace);
            }
   
        }

        private void btnExit_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.Close();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
        
 
            this.dataGridView1.AllowUserToOrderColumns = false;
            this.dataGridView1.AllowUserToAddRows = false;
            this.dataGridView1.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill;

        }

    }
}

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ditran7577 · ‎11-07-2012

Thanks Hallex (*Pro) for your feedback.However,you mistake my idea. I want to display that table on win form (VB.NET better) after that export to excel winh same columns and rows. I have mtext and dtext. Can you help me?

Hallex · ‎11-08-2012

Hey, can you read by my lips: my nickname is Hallex

without any prefixes, keep it in mind,

Well, going farter, you can try attached files with my bad explanation,

coz I'm not a teacher to make your homework

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ditran7577 · ‎11-08-2012

Great Hallex. Thank you very much. All text are OK.How about block. For example,I want to count block base on their layer or their tag (layer is MODEL) . And how to export them to excel that we choice. I hope I did not bother you. Thanks.