topic Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program in .NET Forum

Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 14:57:32 GMT

I have an AutoCAD OEM product named "BugCAD", and a standalone VB.NET application named BugWin. From BugWin, I need to be able to open BugCAD, and run a command named "Callform" that is already NETLOADed. The code below seems to be very close, but just can't quite do the job. It opens the program fine, and tries to run the command, but thinks it's a script file that it can't find.

This would be a very powerful feature for both programs to interact like this. Would appreciate any help!

    Private Sub BugCADToolStripMenuItem_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles BugCADToolStripMenuItem.Click

        ' New ProcessStartInfo created
        Dim p As New ProcessStartInfo

        p.FileName = "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\bugcad.exe"

        ' Use these arguments for the process
        p.Arguments = "/b command callform"

        ' Use a hidden window
        p.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal

        ' Start the process
        Process.Start(p)
    End Sub

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

FRFR1426 — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 16:50:33 GMT

After the /b switch, you need to pass the path of a script file (.scr extension). Just create a text file with a .scr extension, put your callform command in it and change the arguments of bugcad.exe.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:28:18 GMT

Thank you for your quick response Maxence. I still get two messages:

"Can't find specified drawing file. Pls verify it exsists." & "Program.scr" Can't find file.

Here's my new line of code:

' Use these arguments for the process
p.Arguments = "/b C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\Support\callform.scr"

Is this the format and/or proper text that I should use?

I did create a text file named "callform.scr" and put it into the \Support folder in the appropriate path. Inside the file is a line of text "callform".

I feel like it's very close to a solution!

thanks again!

mitch

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

FRFR1426 — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:14:17 GMT

Your script path contains spaces, you have to put it between double quotes.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:33:15 GMT

It already is in double quotes, isn't it? Can you show me exactly how the line should look? thanks!

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

FRFR1426 — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:36:34 GMT

p.Arguments = "/b ""C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\Support\callform.scr"""

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:47:05 GMT

Getting closer... just one error message now... "callform.scr" can't find file.

Maybe this is an OEM problem? The path in the code is the Support folder uncer where the bugcad.exe file is located... that's the right place isn't it?

Thanks so much for your patience and help.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:10:47 GMT

Does the command "callform" inside the text file 'callform.scr' need to be in quotes?

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:26:12 GMT

I decided try to do a similare procedure in plain AutoCAD (vs OEM), and just draw a box. This does not give an error message, but doesn't do anything.

In the folder 'C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\Support', I have a text file named 'drawline.scr'. In that file, i have the line: "LINE" "0,0,0" "1,0,0" "1,1,0" "0,1,0" "C".

I did that inside of a .lsp file, and it worked, but not in this situation using a .scr file. Here's the code, why doesn't this work?

    Private Sub BugCADToolStripMenuItem_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles BugCADToolStripMenuItem.Click

        ' New ProcessStartInfo created
        Dim p As New ProcessStartInfo

        p.FileName = "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\acad.exe"

        ' Use these arguments for the process
        p.Arguments = "/b ""C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\Support\drawline.scr"""

        ' Use a hidden window
        p.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal

        ' Start the process
        Process.Start(p)
    End Sub

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:37:56 GMT

looks like it is the string concatenation, just grabbed this line from some of my old code in c#:

link.Arguments = @"/b " + "\"" + Application.StartupPath + @"\someScript.scr" + "\"";

hth.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:58:49 GMT

I don't know how to convert C# to VB.net... I tried this, but doesn't work:
p.Arguments = "/b " & "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\Support" & "\callform.scr"""

thanks.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 21:07:30 GMT

this is a handy place to convert code vb.net to c# or vice-versa:

http://converter.telerik.com/

hth.

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 21:11:55 GMT

cool, thanks!

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 21:15:07 GMT

Aww... used the converter suggested by LE3, still "can't find file".

How frustrating... so close but so far... 😞

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 01:37:44 GMT

have been many years that i used a script, but after re-reading and seeing what you posted:

> "LINE" "0,0,0" "1,0,0" "1,1,0" "0,1,0" "C"

you do not have the "-" in your script line no?, if you do, just remove all of them, and try again.

leave a line like:

LINE 0,0,0 1,0,0 1,1,0 0,1,0 C

hth

luis.-

Re : Run command in AutoCAD OEM from external VB.NET program

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 00:58:14 GMT

It works! Here's the final code:


        ' New ProcessStartInfo created
        Dim p As New ProcessStartInfo

        p.FileName = "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\bugcad.exe"

        'BugCAD.scr  contains only the word Callform
        p.Arguments = "/b " + """" + "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD OEM 2014\oem\BugCAD\Support\bugcad.scr" + """"

        ' Use a hidden window
        p.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal

        ' Start the process
        Process.Start(p)
    End Sub

The script file in the Support folder contained only the command Callform, which runs my program inside of BugCAD (AutoCAD OEM). Several different folks contributed to the solution. I could never have figured this out on my own, despite lots of searching. Thanks so much!