Is VBA within Civil3D as flexible and supportive as VB.NET/C#.NET?

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

Can we access APIs using default VBA in Civil3D?
For eg: Can we create a 3D polyline using a set of vertices (from excel) using VBA?

or Can we create Pressure Network using VBA? or Can we add fitting to a network?

I am trying to create a macro to automate adding Fitting to a network. Through C#.Net, APIs are limited for pressure network. Record option within C3D gives me a .actm which I cant read in VBA. Can I use VBA for such automated workflows?

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff_M]

With VBA you can create/edit all AutoCAD objects and some C3D objects. But, since VBA uses the COM API, you cannot do anything in regards to Pressure Networks as there is no COM API for those objects

[Anonymous]

Hi @Jeff_M ,

Thank you for your reply. 

Okay in that case, if I have to record a macro of adding a fitting (invoking the native functionality) , then only way is "Record" option which creates a .actm file?

Also when reading the .actm file, it is all in binary. Anyway to read it in vba or any other usable format?

[Jeff_M]

I've never used the Record macro tool, so have no experience with it.

[Anonymous]

Okay no problem.

@Jeff_M , is autolisp also based on COM API? 
Can I do the manual task of adding pressure fitting or any pressure network related task using LISP?

[Jeff_M]

Yes, lisp uses the COM API to access the Civil 3D objects. You may be able to use (command "xxxx" params) but, based on everything else related to the PressurePipes, I wouldn't be surprised if there are no commandline only (i.e no dialogs) commands.