topic Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form in .NET Forum

How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

gary_kohout — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 19:43:00 GMT

Hello, kind of a newbie here. I have an old VB6 program that we use to fill out title blocks and print drawings etc. that I'm converting to C#. All of the current examples that I can find are plug ins to type commands on the command line. What I want is a windows form where I can click buttons on the form to interact with AutoCAD. I have played with the plug in code and it works, but how can I convert it to a windows form rather than a program? Are there some samples out there showing this using "ObjectARX"? All of the samples using a Windows Form that I have found are old where they only have one using statement for AutoCAD "using AutoCAD;"

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:32:22 GMT

Hi,

you might start here:

https://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2015/09/creating-an-autocad-palette-dynamically-to-launch-commands-and-methods-tagged-using-net.html

This shows a user-control used inside an AutoCAD palette.

- alfred -

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

_gile — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:54:15 GMT

Hi,

You can have a look at this little tutorial.

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

gary_kohout — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 15:38:35 GMT

Thanks guys, still can't get it going. I'm sure it' a very simple issue I'm missing. Here's the code I have right now. Just trying to get to the items in the "Block table" so I can get to the title blocks in model space. Can't figure out how to grab the active document that I have opened in AutoCAD. Keeps telling me it detected an invalid program...

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Data; using System.Drawing; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; using System.Windows.Forms; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry; using AcApp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application; namespace ACADTest2 { public partial class Form1 : Form { public Form1() { InitializeComponent(); } private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Document acDoc; acDoc = AcApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument; Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase; Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction(); BlockTable blkTbl = trans.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable; BlockTableRecord msBlkRec = trans.GetObject(blkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace], OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord; } } }

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

_gile — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:48:53 GMT

Hi,

Your issue does not seem to be related to the Windows Form API.

Did you start from a working AutoCAD plug-in with a simple CommandMethod?

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

gary_kohout — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 18:07:46 GMT

Yes, I started with some training I found online. This code works. When I run it, AutoCAD starts, then I type "netload" then have to select a dll name "AU.dll". The I type in "myfirstline" and it draws the line.

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices; using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry; namespace AU.MySoftware { public class Initialization : IExtensionApplication { #region Commands [CommandMethod("MyFirstLine")] public void cmdMyFirst() { Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase; Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction(); BlockTable blkTbl = trans.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable; BlockTableRecord msBlkRec = trans.GetObject(blkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace], OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord; Point3d pnt1 = new Point3d(0, 0, 0); Point3d pnt2 = new Point3d(10, 10, 0); Line lineObj = new Line(pnt1, pnt2); msBlkRec.AppendEntity(lineObj); trans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(lineObj, true); trans.Commit(); } #endregion #region Initialization void IExtensionApplication.Initialize() { } void IExtensionApplication.Terminate() { } #endregion } }

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

_gile — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:36:54 GMT

So, then you can add a new item to your project (a Windows Form) and make interaction within the dialog box (Windows form) and the command class (AutoCAD plugin as shown here.

PS: you should not have CommandMethod in a class implementing IExtensionApplication overall if the Initialize and Terminate methods are empty.

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

gary_kohout — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 21:20:41 GMT

But isn't this still an AutoCAD plug in? When I originally converted the VB6 code to C#, the only using statement I had for AutoCAD was "using AutoCAD;" and I was then able to run my program and it would find the AutoCAD app that was running and I was getting info from the document I had opened. I'm trying to upgrade to the newer method, but maybe it's only for plug ins?

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

_gile — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 21:47:59 GMT

The AutoCAD .NET API only runs "in-process" (i.e. a netloaded plugin).
Read this topic.

Re: How to convert Plugin to Windows Form

gary_kohout — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:36:14 GMT

Thanks! That clears up a lot of my confusion. Really appreciate your help!