Drawing Client Graphics?

[gerrardhickson]

Hi all,

I had an idea I wanted to explore to help with a special case of sketched symbols (think dynamic sketched symbols). I wanted to allow the user to select 2 or more points, use client graphics to draw a preview of the sketched symbol, then on confirmation from the user - create the actual sketched symbol.

However, I didn't make it far - it seems there is no client graphics object for drawings.

So, my question is this - when you move a text box, or drag a table column, those objects are temporarily replaced by a rectangle, then, when you release the cursor, the object re-appears in its new location or size.

Is this functionality available to the API under a different object name or is there another work around that might help in this case?

Regards

[JelteDeJong · Accepted solution]

You might want to have a look at this help example. I translated it to iLogic/vb.net. Have a look at the code it sort of works in a drawing.

Dim oDoc As Document = ThisDoc.Document

Dim oIE = ThisApplication.CommandManager.CreateInteractionEvents
oIE.Start()

Dim oIG As InteractionGraphics = oIE.InteractionGraphics

Dim oDataSets As GraphicsDataSets = oIG.GraphicsDataSets

' Set a reference to the transient geometry object for use later.
Dim oTransGeom As TransientGeometry = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry

' Create a coordinate set.
Dim oCoordSet As GraphicsCoordinateSet = oDataSets.CreateCoordinateSet(1)

' Create an array that contains coordinates that define a set
' of outwardly spiraling points.
Dim oPointCoords(90) As Double
Dim i As Long
Dim dRadius As Double = 1
Dim dAngle As Double
For i = 0 To 29
	' Define the X, Y, and Z components of the point.
	oPointCoords(i * 3 + 1) = dRadius * Math.Cos(dAngle)
	oPointCoords(i * 3 + 2) = dRadius * Math.Sin(dAngle)
	oPointCoords(i * 3 + 3) = i / 2

	' Increment the angle and radius to create the spiral.
	dRadius = dRadius + 0.25
	dAngle = dAngle + (3.14159265358979 / 6)
Next

' Assign the points into the coordinate set.
oCoordSet.PutCoordinates(oPointCoords)

' Create the ClientGraphics object.
Dim oClientGraphics As ClientGraphics = oIG.OverlayClientGraphics

' Create a new graphics node within the client graphics objects.
Dim oLineNode As GraphicsNode = oClientGraphics.AddNode(1)

' Create a LineGraphics object within the node.
Dim oLineSet As LineGraphics = oLineNode.AddLineGraphics

' Assign the coordinate set to the line graphics.
oLineSet.CoordinateSet = oCoordSet

' Update the view to see the resulting spiral.
oIG.UpdateOverlayGraphics(ThisApplication.ActiveView)

' Create another graphics node for a line strip.
Dim oLineStripNode As GraphicsNode = oClientGraphics.AddNode(2)

' Create a LineStripGraphics object within the new node.
Dim oLineStrip As LineStripGraphics = oLineStripNode.AddLineStripGraphics

' Assign the same coordinate set to the line strip.
oLineStrip.CoordinateSet = oCoordSet

' Create a color set to use in defining a explicit color to the line strip.
Dim oColorSet As GraphicsColorSet = oDataSets.CreateColorSet(1)

' Add a single color to the set that is red.
oColorSet.Add(1, 255, 0, 0)

' Assign the color set to the line strip.
oLineStrip.ColorSet = oColorSet

' The two spirals are currently on top of each other so translate the
' new one in the x direction so they're side by side.
Dim oMatrix As Matrix = oLineStripNode.Transformation
oMatrix.SetTranslation(oTransGeom.CreateVector(15, 0, 0))
oLineStripNode.Transformation = oMatrix

' Update the view to see the resulting spiral.
oIG.UpdateOverlayGraphics(ThisApplication.ActiveView)

'oIE.Stop


MsgBox("See the stuff")

[gerrardhickson]

That's what I'm looking for - thanks for that!