topic Re: DLL for my custom classes in VBA Forum

DLL for my custom classes

parikhnidi — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:26:50 GMT

Hi,

I have built library of classes for the objects I encounter every day. What I want is to build a .dll file that can be referred to in my project without having to include class module files any more.

If it can be accomplished, then what version of Visual Studio I need. I am using AutoCAD 2021.

Thanks,

Nimish

Re: DLL for my custom classes

ThomasRambach — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 09:09:03 GMT

If you're trying to create an AutoCAD add-in, I would start by looking at this page:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/simplecontent/content/my-first-autocad-plug-overview.html

Re: DLL for my custom classes

norman.yuan — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:33:23 GMT

Since you are posting in AutoCAD VBA forum, so I assume the classes you mentioned are the class modules in a DVB project (or multiple DVB projects), and your intention is to re-use them as shared object classes in your other DVB projects. Yes, that is a good practice of programming to share/re-use classes.

Since it is VBA code, there is no way to wrap the class code into a DLL file. You have following options:

1. Place all the classes you intend to be shared/re-used for your Acad VBA development in a single DVB project. Then when working with other VBA project, you simply add reference to this project via menu "Tools...->References...". That is, you do not have to compile the class code into DLL file. Drawback of this approach: the DVB file can only be shared by AutoCAD VBA, not other VBA, such as Excel VBA.

2. If you still have access to Classical VB (VB5/6), you can write the class code there and compile them into COM DLL, so that it can be share by all COM environment (Acad VBA. Excel VBA...).

3. If you do not have access to VB5/6, you can use VB.NET/C# (on MS .NET Framework) to create DLL for the classes, and then expose the DLL as COM DLL. This certainly makes things a bit complicated. If you have to do it with MS .NET Framework, why not directly go to AutoCAD .NET API, which is much more powerful than VBA

IMO, if you are seriously developing AutoCAD custom apps, VBA (64-bit) is critically short of support and not worth putting considerable effort for business mission critical development. So, either you share the classes with DVB file and stick with Acad VBA only for now; or you move on the AutoCAD .NET API programming.

Re: DLL for my custom classes

parikhnidi — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:19:44 GMT

Thanks Norman for your suggestions. I will definitely look into this.

Nimish

Re: DLL for my custom classes

parikhnidi — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:20:54 GMT

Thanks Thomas for pointing me to the right directions.

Nimish