topic Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET in .NET Forum

How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:16:31 GMT

Hi all,

I`m still trying to find a solution to my previous post, displaying a vb.net form when an autocad block reference is double-clicked. Unfortunately, I still don`t know how to capture the double-click event for a block reference from code. I have gone down the IMessageFilter path, still no success.

I have tried the addHandler for application using code supplied to me in my previous post, still no luck. I really need to be able to capture the doubleclick event for a block reference in autocad, without overwriting the default autocad double-click behavior.

I wish to be able to double-click a block reference, capture its name, and, if the name is same as blocks created by my form, then I`d simply have my dot net form pop up, displaying a few of the block`s properties.

Does anyone have any ideas on how this might be accomplishedÉ

Below is the code module I am using, which isn`t working ofr me:

' System
Imports Microsoft.Win32
Imports System.Reflection

' AutoCAD
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports acApp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput

' AutoCAD Interop
Imports acOp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop
Imports acOpCom = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common

Module ModDoubleClick

Private acDoc As acOp.AcadDocument
Private handlerAdded As Boolean = False

Public Sub eventDoubleClick()
Try
If handlerAdded = False Then
acApp.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 0)
If acDoc Is Nothing Then
acDoc = CType(acApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.AcadDocument, _
Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadDocument)
AddHandler acDoc.BeginDoubleClick, AddressOf callback_DoubleClick
End If
handlerAdded = True
End If

Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)

Finally
acApp.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 1)
End Try
End Sub

Private Sub callback_DoubleClick(ByVal PickPoint As Object)
Dim activeDoc As Document = acApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = activeDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

Using docLock As DocumentLock = activeDoc.LockDocument()
If prmtSel.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then Return
If prmtSel.Value.Count <> 1 Then Return

Dim id As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.ObjectId = _
prmtSel.Value(0).ObjectId

Using acTrans As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Transaction = _
activeDoc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

Dim dbObj As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DBObject = _
acTrans.GetObject(id, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.OpenMode.ForWrite)

Dim ent As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity = _
TryCast(dbObj, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity)

If ent Is Nothing Then
Return
Else
Dim blockRef As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference = _
TryCast(ent, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference)

If blockRef Is Nothing Then
Return
Else
activeDoc.Editor.WriteMessage(blockRef.Name)
End If
End If
acTrans.Commit()

End Using

End Sub

End Module

And the Commands class, from which my vb.net form is generated, as well as where the ModDoubleClick.eventDoubleClick() method is called:

Public Class Commands

' Component for displaying the Mass Straight Conveyor form

<CommandMethod("mst")> _
Public Shared Sub massStraight()

Try
' Call this to override default block dblclk event handler
ModDoubleClick.eventDoubleClick()

' Display the mass straight form
Dim cForm As New frmMassStraight
acApp.ShowModalDialog(cForm)

Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)
End Try

End Sub

End Class

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Many thanks...

Cat

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

ACADuser — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:58:37 GMT

See if this might help;

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=40021.0

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:34:17 GMT

This code seems to be working OK for me as far as capturing the event. You are creating and displaying the form at the wrong place however. I think these 2 lines of code shouldn't be part of your command that's setting up the handler:

Dim cForm As New frmMassStraight
acApp.ShowModalDialog(cForm)

but instead have to be called before your callback returns. If you try to run this but you double click on something other than a block reference you might Return prematurely. I would suggest you print out the Type of your entity just to be sure you are double clicking on the right entity before you return:

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "Type: " + ent.GetType().ToString())

You should see:

Type: Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference

as opposed to something like this:

Type: Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Solid3d

or something else. Hope this helps

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

jeff — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:31:35 GMT

Have you looked at http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2012/09/displaying-entity-details-on-double-click.html

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:14:33 GMT

Thanks... the article shows me a code structure that is quite similar to the one I already have. My code should work, but it isn't, I am not seeing the desired result, and I'm guessing this is probably as a result of HOW I'm calling its command.

This whole thing is so confusing. I even seperated the doubleclick module into its own calling command (complete with usepickset), so that I could draw a block, then execute the doubleclick command, and then double-click on the block to see if anything happens... nothing. Just the same ol' AutoCAD attributes editor.

Really frustrating!

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:20:01 GMT

And as well, I have also been to http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2012/09/displaying-entity-details-on-double-click.html many days ago; I translated the code to dot net, and executed it. When I go to AutoCAD and type cui in the command to pull up the cui editor, I see that my new double click action has been created alright, but I still don't know how to attach it to block references, or how to modify the macro string to open my vb.net form.

The macro string in the article runs thus:

C^C^myForm

How does this get modified to pop up a vb.net form named frmMassStraight which I would normally open using application.showModalDialog(formInstance)

Thanks all, for your help, but I'm still floundering in the dark, trying so hard to see the light which I know exists at the end of this dark tunnel...

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:27:30 GMT

Does anyone know of any professional AutoCAD VB.NET Customization Consultants whom I can pay for their time in order to discuss this doubleclick action problem on the phone or via email, in the hope of finding a feasible solution?

Many thanks in advance...

Cat

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:35:05 GMT

I am not sure I understand what is the problem.. Your code works perfectly with minor changes.

I replaced your cForm with one that has a textbox1 that displays all the properties of the objects you double click. It should help you identify/discover any issues. Alll you should have to do is add a winform to your project and drag a textbox1 on it:

Keep me posted where is your code failing exactly, because this works for me. Also, I am using AutoCAD 2013, it should be easy to replace document code relevant to 2012 or earlier.

Imports acOp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop

Public db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase

Public ed As Editor = activeDoc.Editor

Public ReadOnly Property ThisDrawing() As AcadDocument

Get

Return DocumentExtension.GetAcadDocument(Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument)

End Get

End Property

Private acDoc As acOp.AcadDocument

Private handlerAdded As Boolean = False

Private cForm As New frmMassStraight

Public Sub eventDoubleClick()

Try

If handlerAdded = False Then

MgdAcApplication.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 0)

If acDoc Is Nothing Then

acDoc = CType(ThisDrawing, Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadDocument)

AddHandler acDoc.BeginDoubleClick, AddressOf callback_DoubleClick

End If

handlerAdded = True

End If

Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception

MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)

Finally

MgdAcApplication.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 1)

End Try

End Sub

Private Sub DisplayError(ByVal msg As String)

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msg)

cForm.TextBox1.Text += msg + vbCrLf

MgdAcApplication.ShowModalDialog(cForm)

End Sub

Private Sub callback_DoubleClick(ByVal PickPoint As Object)

Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = activeDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

Dim msg As String = ""

Using docLock As DocumentLock = activeDoc.LockDocument()

If prmtSel.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then

DisplayError(String.Format("ERROR: prmtSel.Status= {0}", prmtSel.Status))

Return

End If

If prmtSel.Value.Count <> 1 Then

DisplayError(String.Format("ERROR: prmtSel.Value.Count={0}", prmtSel.Value.Count))

Return

End If

Dim id As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.ObjectId = prmtSel.Value(0).ObjectId

Try

Using acTrans As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Transaction = _

activeDoc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

Dim dbObj As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DBObject = _

acTrans.GetObject(id, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.OpenMode.ForWrite)

Dim ent As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity = _

TryCast(dbObj, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity)

cForm.Text = ent.GetType().ToString()

For Each p As System.Reflection.PropertyInfo In ent.GetType().GetProperties()

Try

Dim displStr As String = String.Format(" {0}: '{1}'", p.Name, p.GetValue(ent, Nothing))

cForm.TextBox1.Text += displStr + vbCrLf

Catch

Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("ERR: '{0}' p='{1}'", Err.Description, p.ToString)

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)

cForm.TextBox1.Text += msgStr + vbCrLf

End Try

If ent Is Nothing Then

DisplayError(String.Format("ERROR: ent={0}", ent))

Return

Else

Dim blockRef As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference = _

TryCast(ent, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference)

If blockRef Is Nothing Then

DisplayError(String.Format("ERROR: blockRef={0}", blockRef))

Return

Else

activeDoc.Editor.WriteMessage(blockRef.BlockName)

End If

acTrans.Commit()

End Using

Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception

Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("EX: '{0}'", ex.ToString)

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)

cForm.TextBox1.Text += msgStr + vbCrLf

Catch

Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("ERR: '{0}'", Err.Description)

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)

cForm.TextBox1.Text += msgStr + vbCrLf

End Try

End Using

MgdAcApplication.ShowModalDialog(cForm)

End Sub

' Component for displaying the Mass Straight Conveyor form

<CommandMethod("mst")> _

Public Sub massStraight()

Try

' Call this to override default block dblclk event handler

eventDoubleClick()

Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception

MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)

End Try

End Sub

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:41:01 GMT

Thanks a bunch. Let me try out your suggestion, and see if I can pinpoint where I am making my mistake.

I shall keep you posted on the development.

Many thanks...

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 03:21:09 GMT

Hi sszabo,

I`ve implemented the code revision you so kindly provided. However, when I run the `mst` command, nothing happens. I doubleclick on a block after running the command, and the attributes editor is what I see still.

Here is the code I have:

' System
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Linq.Expressions

' AutoCAD
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports acApp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput

' AutoCAD Interop
Imports acOp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop
Imports acOpCom = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common

<Assembly: CommandClass(GetType(Test.Commands))> 


Namespace Test

    Public Class Commands
        Public db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
        Public activeDoc As Document = acApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Public ed As Editor = activeDoc.Editor

        Private acDoc As acOp.AcadDocument
        Private handlerAdded As Boolean = False
        Private cForm As New frmMassStraight ' I already have a form called frmMassStraight, so I simply added a Textbox1 to it
        
        ' I tried using the property call, but was getting an error on type mismatch from document to acadDocument
        Public Function ThisDrawing()
            Return acApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.AcadDocument
        End Function

        Public Sub eventDoubleClick()

            Try
                If handlerAdded = False Then
                    acApp.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 0)
                    If acDoc Is Nothing Then
                        acDoc = CType(ThisDrawing, Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadDocument)
                        AddHandler acDoc.BeginDoubleClick, AddressOf callback_DoubleClick
                    End If
                    handlerAdded = True
                End If

            Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception
                MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)

            Finally
                acApp.SetSystemVariable("DBLCLKEDIT", 1)
            End Try

        End Sub

        Private Sub displayError(ByVal msg As String)
            ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msg)
            cForm.TextBox1.Text += msg + vbCrLf
            acApp.ShowModalDialog(cForm)
        End Sub

        Private Sub callback_DoubleClick(ByVal pickPoint As Object)
            Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = activeDoc.Editor.GetSelection()
            Dim msg As String = ""

            Using docLock As DocumentLock = activeDoc.LockDocument()
                If prmtSel.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                    displayError(String.Format("Error: prmtSel.Status= {0}", prmtSel.Status))
                    Return
                End If

                If prmtSel.Value.Count <> 1 Then
                    displayError(String.Format("Error: prmtSel.Value.Count={0}", _
                                               prmtSel.Value.Count))
                End If

                Dim id As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.ObjectId = prmtSel.Value(0).ObjectId
                Try
                    Using acTrans As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Transaction = _
                        activeDoc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

                        Dim dbObj As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DBObject = _
                        acTrans.GetObject(id, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.OpenMode.ForWrite)

                        Dim ent As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity = _
                            TryCast(dbObj, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Entity)

                        cForm.Text = ent.GetType().ToString()

                        For Each p As System.Reflection.PropertyInfo In _
                            ent.GetType().GetProperties()
                            Try
                                Dim displStr As String = String.Format(" {0}:      '{1}'", _
                                                        p.Name, p.GetValue(ent, Nothing))
                                cForm.TextBox1.Text += displStr + vbCrLf

                            Catch
                                Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("Error: '{0}' p='{1}'", _
                                                Err.Description, p.ToString)
                                ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)
                                cForm.TextBox1.Text += msgStr + vbCrLf
                            End Try
                        Next

                        If ent Is Nothing Then
                            displayError(String.Format("Error: ent={0}", ent))
                            Return
                        Else
                            Dim blockRef As Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference = _
                                TryCast(ent, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockReference)

                            If blockRef Is Nothing Then
                                displayError(String.Format("Error: blockRef={0}", blockRef))
                                Return
                            Else
                                activeDoc.Editor.WriteMessage(blockRef.BlockName)
                            End If
                        End If
                        acTrans.Commit()

                    End Using
                Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception
                    Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("EX: '{0}'", ex.ToString)
                    ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)

                Catch
                    Dim msgStr As String = String.Format("ERR: '{0}", Err.Description)
                    ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msgStr)
                    cForm.TextBox1.Text += msgStr + vbCrLf
                End Try

            End Using
            acApp.ShowModalDialog(cForm)

        End Sub

        ' Component for displaying the Mass Straight Conveyor form
        <CommandMethod("mst")> _
        Public Sub massStraight()
            Try
                ' Call this to override the default block dblclk event handler
                eventDoubleClick()

            Catch ex As Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception
                MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)

            End Try
        End Sub

    End Class


End Namespace

I wonder if the problem is because I used the wrong document translations here. I am developing in an AutoCAD 2010 environment, and probably used the wrong instances for your equivalent of DocumentExtension.GetAcadDocument() as well as MgdAcApplication.

As it is, this code should work, but I am not seeing the desired effect. The form doesn`t pop up at all, so I can`t even tell what`s wrong. However, in an attempt to debug, I am guessing that the showModalDialog code at the end of the doubleclick callback probably isn`t being reached at all, which is why the form does not pop up at all to show me anything.

Not even the commandline shows me any of the messages I am supposed to see in the event of an error, or successful call.

Any ideas,

Thanks in advance...

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:10:36 GMT

On a second thought: I just recreated what you describe by replacing this line:

Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = activeDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

with this:

Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = acDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

So you probably have the wrong document obj. Unfortunately I am not familiar with ACAD 2010 and have't worked with ACAD before 2013. You will have to ask somebody to point you to the correct way to return the ThisDrawing object for your version. I think your code should work so I am not sure why it doesn't.

try this too if you like:

First make sure you can see messages from eventDoubleClick(). If you don't the problem is your document object. Make sure you have this:

Dim activeDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

I am also assuming you loaded a valid drawing before you ran your mst command. To verify this:

Private Sub callback_DoubleClick(ByVal PickPoint As Object)

Dim prmtSel As PromptSelectionResult = activeDoc.Editor.GetSelection()

Dim msg As String = ""

msg = String.Format("doc: {0} prmtSel:{1}", activeDoc.Name, prmtSel.Value.ToString)

ed.WriteMessage(vbLf + msg)

This should give you:

doc: C:\mydrawing.DWG prmtSel:(((8796087866032),PickPoint,114,))

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

jeff — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:36:27 GMT

Confused why you even try using AcadDocument object among other things.

I would start over and forget about blockreferences or blocks and focus on showing a blank form for a double-click event.

Thats it.

Will help you along but for now

So you need a blank form

A command to register event handler.

And showing the form .

Once you get a understanding of that then move to next steps and improving approach.

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:11:42 GMT

Thanks sszabo,

I deeply appreciate all the help you've given me. Let me try out the suggestion you just made, and see where it gets me. Yes I totally understand about CAD 2013, unfortunately, my work is based on 2010 (eventually the company will upgrade to 2013) but for now, all the work is on 2010 so I have a lot of research to do on the ThisDrawing and document objects. Seems that's where my problem is originating...

Thanks for everything

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

jeff — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:28:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
And as well, I have also been to http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2012/09/displaying-entity-details-on-double-click.html many days ago; I translated the code to dot net, and executed it. When I go to AutoCAD and type cui in the command to pull up the cui editor, I see that my new double click action has been created alright, but I still don't know how to attach it to block references, or how to modify the macro string to open my vb.net form.

The macro string in the article runs thus:

C^C^myForm

How does this get modified to pop up a vb.net form named frmMassStraight which I would normally open using application.showModalDialog(formInstance)

Thanks all, for your help, but I'm still floundering in the dark, trying so hard to see the light which I know exists at the end of this dark tunnel...

Have you tried adding a command myForm?

<Command("myForm")...>

Sub

Dim formInstance As New frmMassStraight

application.showModalDialog(formInstance)

End Sub

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:27:30 GMT

Yes, I have tried

<Command("myForm")...>

Sub

Dim formInstance As New frmMassStraight

application.showModalDialog(formInstance)

End Sub

That's how I had things set up in the first place. And this calls my form alright, but I still don't know how to tie in the doubleclick override, or how to build a functional doubleclick override in the first place.

You've seen my code? Any idea what I'm doing wrong, or what I'm missing? Many have told me that my code seems alright, and works for them. But unfortunately, I still doubleclick on my frmMassStraight block references and the default AutoCAD doubleclick behavior kicks in, instead of my frmMassStraight form popping up...

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Balaji_Ram — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:49:43 GMT

Hello,

Maybe this is causing the problem : In the finally block, the system variable "DBLCLKEDIT" is set to 1 again ?

I have attached the dropbox link to a sample project that is mostly from your code and a recording of the steps that I tried.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xzp9iiq6sc7e1bm/MBhZ6B7evG

It works ok on AutoCAD 2011 and on double-clicking a block reference the modal form displays the block name.

Hope this provides some hint to resolve the issue with your sample project.

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:58:08 GMT

Thanks very much, this helped immensely. Truly grateful for the help.

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

jeff — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:17:16 GMT

By getting the current selection set would'nt that clear it and no other doubleclick actions would be called?

I thought the DBLCLICK variable had to do with DoubleClickActions in CUI and nothing to do with Application.BeginDoubleClick event?

What if you wanted it to show for certain blocks but not all?

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:54:52 GMT

I ended up NOT going down the Application.BeginDoubleClick event route anymore. What I ended up doing was creating a custom doubleclick action to which I attached the macro that calls my edit form.

And then, in the myCommands.vb file, I call the moethod that registers this custom doubleclick action in the initialize() method.

Which means that, upon AutoCAD load, the AutoCAD cuix file is iterated thru, my custom doubleclick action (which targets attribute blocks) is removed, and then recreated.

As well, in order to ensure that I target only specific blocks, in the method that executes the selectImplied() pickset, I cast the picked entity as a block reference, and then check its name. IF the name falls under the category of blocks I need, then I pop up the edit form; else I use acDoc.SendStringToExecute() to execute the eattedit command macro.

The only downside I suffered was that it now takes 3 clicks (instead of 2) to pop up the eattedit editor for attribute blocks other than the ones I need to edit. Still, considering how almost impossible it was to get this problem resolved, I am honestly satisfied with the outcome.

Re: How to capture double click event in AutoCAD using VB.NET

Balaji_Ram — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:15:30 GMT

Hi Jeff,

That is a valid point.

I was only looking into getting the originally posted code to work. It does have its limitations such as showing our dialog for all the blocks without being selective.

I dont see that the "DBLCLKEDIT" system variable can get reset without our code doing it. This system variable controls the customization of double click that is done using the CUI. So switching it off will ensure that we are allowed to show our dialog without the macro specified in the CUI customization of bloc edit interfering in it.

To do double click customization selectively, using the CUI approach is the right way. But I still dont get why 3 clicks are needed for blocks for which the custom dialog need not be shown.

Here is a sample code that worked ok. It changes the macro for the block double click to invoke a custom command called "mybedit". Inside the "mybedit" command, we can check if the block is one that we are interested in. If yes, we do our custom action such as showing our dialog. If not we set the pick first selection and then invoke the AutoCAD "bedit".

public class Test : IExtensionApplication
{
    static CustomizationSection cs;

	[CommandMethod("mybedit", CommandFlags.UsePickSet)]
	static public void MyBeditCommand()
	{
		Document activeDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
		Editor ed = activeDoc.Editor;

		PromptSelectionResult result = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.GetSelection();
		if (result.Status == PromptStatus.OK)
		{
			SelectionSet ss = result.Value;
			foreach (SelectedObject so in ss)
			{
				ed.WriteMessage(so.ObjectId.Handle.ToString());

				// Some check here to identify if we need to show our dialog
				if (so.ObjectId.Handle.ToString().Equals("1BB"))
				{
					// Show our dialog
				}
				else
				{
					// Let AutoCAD do the block edit.

	                ObjectId[] ids = ss.GetObjectIds();

					// Set the implied selection to what it was before our command was called
					ed.SetImpliedSelection(ids);

					// call "bedit" command
					activeDoc.SendStringToExecute("_BEDIT ", false, false, false);
				}
			}
		}
	}
	
    [CommandMethod("MacroCUI")]
    static public void ModifyMacroCUI()
    {
        Document activeDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
        Editor ed = activeDoc.Editor;

        DoubleClickAction blockDoubleClickAction = null;
        foreach (DoubleClickAction dca in cs.MenuGroup.DoubleClickActions)
        {
            ed.WriteMessage("\n" + dca.Name);
            if (dca.Name.Equals("Block"))
            {
                blockDoubleClickAction = dca;
                break;
            }
        }
        if (blockDoubleClickAction != null)
        {
            blockDoubleClickAction.DoubleClickCmd.MenuMacroReference.macro.Command = "$M=$(if,$(and,$(>,$(getvar,blockeditlock),0)),^C^C_properties,^C^C_mybedit)";

            if (cs.IsModified)
              cs.Save();
        }
    }

    void IExtensionApplication.Initialize()
    {
        Document activeDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
        Database db = activeDoc.Database;
        Editor ed = activeDoc.Editor;

        // retrieve the location of, and open the ACAD Main CUI File
        string mainCuiFile = (string)Application.GetSystemVariable("MENUNAME");
        mainCuiFile += ".cuix";
        cs = new CustomizationSection(mainCuiFile);
    }

    void IExtensionApplication.Terminate()
    {
    }
}

In the code, I have made a check on the block reference handle, which you can change to any other condition to identify your block reference (ex : XData )

The "MacroCUI" command changes the macro for block double click action after which you can try the double click.