How to open autocad.exe in C# , PLEASE HELP!

[Anonymous]

I am using Visual.net 2008 with autocad.net API, autocad2010, windows 7 home

right now, i want to start autocad.exe, and draw some lines in it, by using C# WindowsFormsApplication, not  C# Class Library

still i cannot start autocad.exe

I hope to open cad by autocad.net API, not ObjectARX or others

I am a new one,  please HELP ME

thanks very very much !

[Anonymous]

There is no exe autocad, you mean acad.exe?

You cant program in autocad through windows forms with just opening acad.exe with out ObjectARX

[Hallex]

If you want to don't add any reference to acad's libraries

in this case just one way to do it is using late-binding to AutoCAD

There is a ton of code to do this work

[Hallex]

Here are 2 files were written on vb.net

See if this will be working fror you

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much ! really appreciate your great help ~

actually i work it out by using C# library

[Hallex]

Create Wndws Forms Application project

Name it AcadTestExe

Add form Form1 to project

Drop on form OpenFileDialog, texbox and button

Keep default names for all controls

Add class ReflectionCommands.cs

Copy all codes accodingy to classes, then hit F5

~'J'~

[Anonymous]

Dear Hallex, you are genius!!!

I tried your codes, and it works very well~

Thank for your help, It's really great~

althought I cannot figured out how you fix it without adding any CAD liraries or dll

I am a new one in cad developping , these days I kept searching for any useful book or documents

still there is no result

Can you give me some advice for learning cad with C# ? Is there any useful documents for me ?

PS: I can draw circle by your  incredible codes, Could you please tell me how to draw a ARC ?

[Hallex]

C'mon

This is very simple code

Glad you like it

This project does not require any

CAD library

I tested it on A2009-2010 Win7

Will be back

~'J'~

[Anonymous]

your code is incredible simple, I enjoy it

I cannot understand you until now

with your help, I figured it how to draw an arc

thanks ~~~~~~

and please give me some advice 

[Anonymous]

dear Hallex:

   I use your code to draw some lines in cad,

  It is ok in WIN7 64bit + AUTOCAD2008 and WinXP + AUTOCAD2004

 but errors happened in WinXP + AUTOCAD2008

 my code is :

for (int k = 1; k < iHH.OutHHXY.Row - 1; k++)   
{
pt2[0] = iHH.OutHHXY[k, 0];
pt2[1] = iHH.OutHHXY[k, 1];
drawLineInObject(oSpace, pt1[0], pt1[1], pt2[0], pt2[1], "0");
pt1[0] = pt2[0];
pt1[1] = pt2[1];
}

The error happened in these lines:

object oLine = oBlock.GetType().InvokeMember("AddLine", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, oBlock, pts);
oLine.GetType().InvokeMember("Layer", BindingFlags.SetProperty, null, oLine, new object[] { layer });
oLine.GetType().InvokeMember("Update", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, oLine, null);

BUT , if I debug the loops one by one, It runs well. I am so confused~

please help me ~~

Thanks very much !!!

[Hallex]

Try attached code it I rewrote it completely

I added some other things take a look at

the additional functions

[Hallex]

I wan't to do your homework sorry

In the attached file all is enough for

the basic operations

you have to read some books

about C# reference for more

[Anonymous]

Dear Hallex, Thanks very much for your patience andexcellent codes

I am reading some articles and books, I am sorry to cost you much time

[Hallex]

You're welcome

Just a hint:

Don't forget to rewrite drawLineInObject function

easier yet to use double[] as start and end points as

arguments

Something like:

{code}

public static object DrawLine (object oBlock, double[] p1, double[] p2, string layer)

{

// ...  the rest portion of your code is goes here.....

return oLine;

}{code}

[Anonymous]

Dear Hallex:

I read your code and test in Win7 with .net2008 cad2010, runs very well ~

but in winXP .net2008 cad2008, error happens

it says cannot find the following files:

at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)

at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()

at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)

at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(String fileName)

at AcadTestExe.ReflectionCommands.TestACAD(String fname) in F:........

at AcadTestExe.Form1.button1 Click(Object sender. EventArgs e) in F:.......

Dear Hallex, should I add some libraries in winXP?

I am a little confused,  

what language do you think is fit for me to learn cad devlopping? 

ObjectARX, or VBA, or visual Lisp, or C# ? 

can you introduce some reference book for me ?

right now I am more familiar with C#, C++ and matlab

Thanks for your patience and incredible codes~~~

[Hallex]

On the quick glance it may occurs by User Permission

See here for more:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.process.process(v=vs.80).aspx

[Anonymous]

Dear Hallex:

I test your code in anther computers

It runs well in WinXP and Win7 64bit, cad2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

you are genius, Hallex

I read many articles

and never see cad C# code without any libraries

your defined AcadApp and AcadDoc as Object 

Is it the reason that can runs well in different OS and CAD ?

[Hallex]

Hi,

There is no magic in my crappy codes

just well-known runtime methods nothing else

Please see here for more:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.reflection(v=vs.80).aspx

Hey, cease to praise me, I same stupid, as my gray-haired @$$ 🙂

~'J'~

[Anonymous]

Dear Hallex:

I never found cad C# code as powerful as yours which even need not dll or com

so I admire you

I am reading cad VBA now, and take a look at the MSDN web link you gave me

I know your code use some VBA Method, just like AddLine, Open...

My question is :

how do you know the parameters of using vba method?

For example: object AcDoc = AcadDocs.GetType().InvokeMember("Open", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, AcadDocs, args, null);

you define args: args[0] = fname;(file path and name)  args[1] = false;(can write dwg)

I saw in vba is :ThisDrawing.Application.Documents.Open "c:\1.dwg"

how do you know need fname together with false?

where can I find the rules?

all in C# library reference, reflection???

[Hallex]

No, all these arguments in AutoCAD Help file

That is a lot of work to digg it from there

Say, open VBA editor in AutoCAD by Alt+F11

Then in console add dummy Sub say:

{code}

Public sub Test()

type Open in here, then select a word Open

by double click on them and press F1

See then all arguments in the Help file

End sub

 {code}

Hint:

To convert any arguments to numeric values:

Open 'Immediate Window' in same editor and type here

any of AutoCad's constants preceded with question mark like this:

?acActiveViewPort

 or

?acSelectionSetAll

or

??acselectionSetCrossingPolygon

or

?acMiddleCenter ETC, ETC

Then press Enter

You should see a numeric equivalent of this constant

 in the same window next line below

So nothing smart it's just a lot of work, you have to digg deeper yourself