topic Re: Document GUID in .NET Forum

Document GUID

drobertsY4GL3 — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:36:28 GMT

My plugin currently uses the document name + object handle as an identifier when saving records to an SQL database. I would like to use a more robust document id than the name, so that the document is seen as the same, even if it is moved to a different location, or if the file is renamed.

I have tried using the document hash, but this changes based on where the document is located. Same with the document.Database.FingerprintGuid.

Would creating a custom document property like myDocumentGUID be the best way to go?

Re: Document GUID

norman.yuan — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 03:22:37 GMT

You might consider embed an GUID value in the drawing's named dictionary (of course create your own named Dictionary underneath the drawing's named dictionary).

Re: Document GUID

daniel_cadext — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 08:50:50 GMT

DWGPROPS, summary section, keywords or comments, or custom area is easy to read
XDATA attached to the 0 layer would be easy to access as well

In ARX FingerprintGuid has a set and get, maybe you can assign the GUID, but then it might be a race between who sets it first, you or autocad.

I always thought FingerprintGuid never changed... odd

Re: Document GUID

drobertsY4GL3 — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:11:48 GMT

Thank you daniel and norman. Your suggestions worked great!

Below is the implementation I used.

ViewModel:

// Check document for GUID custom propery and assign if missing. documentGUID = Utilities.GetDocumentGUID(); if(documentGUID == null) { Utilities.SetDocumentGUID(); var customizationSection = new Autodesk.AutoCAD.Customization.CustomizationSection(); // Save the document after assigning a custom GUID property. customizationSection.Save(); documentGUID = Utilities.GetDocumentGUID(); }

Helper Methods:

public static string GetDocumentGUID() { // Check if custom property exists. var document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument; System.Collections.IDictionaryEnumerator customProperties = document.Database.SummaryInfo.CustomProperties; while(customProperties.MoveNext()) { var key = customProperties.Key.ToString(); if(key == "DOCUMENT_GUID") { return customProperties.Value.ToString(); } } return null; }

public static void SetDocumentGUID() { // Create custom propery var document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument; var infoBuilder = new DatabaseSummaryInfoBuilder(); var GUID = System.Guid.NewGuid().ToString(); infoBuilder.CustomPropertyTable.Add("DOCUMENT_GUID", GUID); using (DocumentLock docLock = document.LockDocument()) { document.Database.SummaryInfo = infoBuilder.ToDatabaseSummaryInfo(); } }

More info on creating custom properties:
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/net/create-document-custom-property/td-p/11763555