GetKeywords and '-' in the keyword

[antti.kujala]

Hi, 

I am using GetKeyWords() like this:

Snippet

var pko = new PromptKeywordOptions("Define projection:") {
                    AllowArbitraryInput = true
                };

                foreach (var k in new[] { "X", "Y", "Z", "-X", "-Y", "-Z" })
                    pko.Keywords.Add(k);

                var projection = Utils.Editor.GetKeywords(pko);

When I select any of key words starting with '-' the prompt result status is PromptStatus.OK, but the result itself is an empty string. So what is going on? I have understood that there is some special handling for certain characters, but is the '-' one of the special characters.

How I use GetKeyWords() with strings starting with '-' and where to get the documentation explaining how the get keywords really works ?

br,

Antti

[SENL1362]

What AutoCAD version.

This is the result for AutoCAD 2016:

       [CommandMethod("GetKW")]
        public static void GetKeyword()
        {
            Document doc = null;
            Database db = null;
            Editor ed = null;


            try
            {
                doc = AcadApp.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
                if (doc == null)
                    throw new System.Exception("No MdiActiveDocument");
                db = doc.Database;
                ed = doc.Editor;

                var pko = new PromptKeywordOptions("Define projection:");
                pko.AllowArbitraryInput = true;
      

                foreach (var k in new[] { "X", "Y", "Z", "-X", "-Y", "-Z" })
                    pko.Keywords.Add(k);

                var pr = ed.GetKeywords(pko);
                if (pr.Status != PromptStatus.OK)
                    return;

                ed.WriteMessage("\n Keyword=" + pr.StringResult);


            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                if (ed != null)
                    ed.WriteMessage("\n Error in GetKeyword: {0}", ex.Message);
            }
        }

[antti.kujala]

Hi, 

Autocad version is 2016. I double checked the prompt result and still the result is the same, I get empty string for all keywords starting with '-'.

If I change keywords for example:

new[] { "X", "Y", "Z", "MINUSX", "MINUSY", "MINUSZ" }

then I get the correct values from the promp result.

[SENL1362]

also when you use:
ed.GetKeywords(pko);
instead of
Utils.Editor.GetKeywords(pko);

[oneMSN]

Did you ever find a resolution to this issue, I have a similar issue in that the stringResult is truncated after the '-'?

[oneMSN]

Sadly no,  I can't remember why I was doing this and I have searched my repos for the code and cant find it.  Either I did something else to work round it or abandoned what I was doing.

[Ed__Jobe]

Have you tried preceding the dash with the escape char "\"?

foreach (var k in new[] { "X", "Y", "Z", "\-X", "\-Y", "\-Z" })

[kerry_w_brown]

For reference:

in ac2025 

using an escape char "\"  generates a compiler error :: Error CS1009 Unrecognized escape sequence

 

Using the code as posted by @SENL1362 in post 2  works as expected.

    foreach (var k in new[] { "X", "Y", "Z", "-X", "-Y", "-Z" })
        pko.Keywords.Add(k);
    var pr = ed.GetKeywords(pko);
    if (pr.Status != PromptStatus.OK)
        return;
    ed.WriteMessage("\n Keyword= " + pr.StringResult);

 

Regards,

[Ed__Jobe]

---

@kerry_w_brown wrote:

For reference:

in ac2025 

using an escape char "\"  generates a compiler error :: Error CS1009 Unrecognized escape sequence

---

Thanks for testing Kerry. I didn't have time. Is the backslash being replaced then?

[Ed__Jobe]

---

@oneMSN wrote:

Did you ever find a resolution to this issue, I have a similar issue in that the stringResult is truncated after the '-'?

---

Since @kerry_w_brown  tested @SENL1362 code and it worked, you should show your code that is giving you a problem. What version of acad? VS?

[kerry_w_brown]

---

@Ed__Jobe wrote:

---

@kerry_w_brown wrote:

For reference:

in ac2025 

using an escape char "\"  generates a compiler error :: Error CS1009 Unrecognized escape sequence

---

Thanks for testing Kerry. I didn't have time. Is the backslash being replaced then?

---

using a backslash  "\-X" won't compile

using a doublebackslash  "\\-X" displays '\-X' and returns '-X'

I have no inkling about the inner workings of the Editor.GetKeywords()  method

Regards,