Jerry Winters VB.NET Programming for AutoCAD Customization

[Anonymous]

Hi, everybody. In the past, I have written little programms with VBA with autocad, and excel. About a month ago, I started learning VB.net, in order to work with visual studio and autocad. I have read good comments about Jerry Winter'book VB.NEt programming for autocad customization. The webpage www.vbacad.com where supossedly the book can be bought,  does not seem to work properly, so  I can not order the book there.

I would like to know if anybody knows where I can order the book. I have tried to contact with the author but he has not replied.

the book is on sale on amazon, but it costs more than 500 dollars. Obviously, I won't pay that much.

thanks in advance.

borja1980

[fieldguy]

Personal opinion - don't buy it.  There is enough information on the internet (samples, developer guides, etc.).

[gdefilo]

Hi Borja,

I don't know that book.

Maybe it's good or not. But I would suggest you to control the link you provided.

I think it's not correct. Look at this instead:

http://www.vbcad.com/

Hope this helps,

Giancarlo

[Anonymous]

My mistake. You are right, the correct webpage is www.vbcad.com  there was a typo in my previous post. I know there is a lot of information in the web, but i would like to have a reference book, and it seems this is the book to have for autocad vb.net programming.There is also a lot of information about the autcoad api in internet but the autocad help files are somewhat arid, and i wanted something more digerible.

i have found another book in amazon but it has horrible remarks.

Thank you anyway

[SENL1362]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lwKk1eCci1-7sm8jqou5vLd5fLmml3hbeubnOZJHaWk/edit

[Anonymous]

I have used both while learning vb.net in AutoCad and I liked (still do) having both to hand for reference. But the best document is by far the Developers guide, it's very very detailed and contains all you need to get started.

[dgorsman]

Learn the dotNET basics first - objects, instances, value types, methods, properties, scope, and so on.  Once you have a grasp on that then the AutoCAD API can be understood in the proper context.  That will render the book (which, by the way, is probably well and truly out of date by this point) irrelevant for the most part since you won't be creating code by rote but by understanding what you want it to do.

[Anonymous]

I have already spent some time learning vb.net. Now, the next step would be to begin learning the autocad api. My intention is to be able to work With autocad and civil 3D api . I tried to find a web where i could buy Jerry winters book, but it seems imposible. I suppose would have to work with the developers guide, given the fact that the book seems to be out of print and it can only be bought at Amazon for no less than 400 dollars. By the way, i tríed to contact jerry and i am still waiting for a response. Thanks to everyboy anyway

[Anonymous]

I have his book and can tell you it is very good.  Jerry has figured a lot of this out before ADN beefed up their API documentation and he did it through a lot of personal study.  That's where the down-side is too actually, there may be errors  here and there that ADN may not have communicated directly until after his book was published.  At the same time, his book is much better organized and a nice one-stop shop for AutoCAD .NET API samples and explanations.  Also note that ADN has greatly improved their documentation with recent releases as well.  Putting the blogs and forums aside (assuming your preference is to get a good clean start and not dig through other people's problems to figure that out or search through what-if scenarios) I would suggest you walk through the ADN documentation and if you can get a copy of Jerry's book too.  Though I wouldn't pay $500 for it, I think it may have cost me $20 or so.  Between the two of these I think you can really speed up your startup time with the API.

Hope this was helpful.

[Anonymous]

I agree: this book is very good !

[kerry_w_brown]

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@dgorsman wrote:

Learn the dotNET basics first - objects, instances, value types, methods, properties, scope, and so on.  Once you have a grasp on that then the AutoCAD API can be understood in the proper context.  That will render the book (which, by the way, is probably well and truly out of date by this point) irrelevant for the most part since you won't be creating code by rote but by understanding what you want it to do.

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This is probably the best advice you'll get on this issue.

The choice of programming language is another issue  

[Anonymous]

I have this book and I can honestly say that I don't think I could have made the transition from lisp without it.  It is very well written and I highly recommend it.

I do not beleive this book exists in actual physical form.  I have it as a PDF.  I have heard that if you order the physical book you get the PDF until the book is printed, but I don't beleive this has ever happened.

Jerry Winters is a regular speaker at Autodesk University.  He may be difficult to reach because he is ramping up for this year's event.  Just guessing.  He was pretty responseful when I reached out to him, but that was several years ago.

Jeff

Detroit, MI

[Keith.Brown]

I have the hard copy of the book.  It exists.  If you buy the hard copy you do not get the pdf with it.  At least when I purchased it that was the case.

He is notorious for not answering emails.  Alot of people have complained about contacting him and not being able to get ahold of him on these and other forums.

[CADbloke]

I gave my hard copy away to a friend. Now that Ithink of it, I haven't heard from him in a while. 😕

I got a PDF with it (I couldn't recall so I had to search for it) in 2010. I don't think I've looked at it since...2010.

I did see this gem on page iv ...

Step 1: The original purchaser of this book is entitled to 4 hours of on-line training. The book
must be registered in order to get that training. The Registration ID is on the inside of the back
cover of the book.

So...has anybody actually had their "training"?

My verdict: you will learn my by doing and asking than by reading, unless the treatise on The FormBorderStyle property on page 380 is your style. 

[Anonymous]

I've been looking for hours online to buy this book!!! There was no luck. I went onto the website but everytime I click checkout, it give me a site that is broken. Where can I get my hands on this book!! hard copy or e book is fine. 

[Anonymous]

LOL

$500

http://www.amazon.com/VB-NET-Programming-AutoCAD-Customization-Level/dp/1892131102/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UT...

[CADbloke]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I've been looking for hours online to buy this book!!! There was no luck. I went onto the website but everytime I click checkout, it give me a site that is broken. Where can I get my hands on this book!! hard copy or e book is fine. 

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I would say you had good luck there. Try this: http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-net-developers-guide - it will do you less harm. So will http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=32381.0

A Google search found this attachment (not its parent post) ... https://forums.autodesk.com/autodesk/attachments/autodesk/152/44323/1/19381092-AutoCAD-NET-Developers-Guide.pdf - it's fairly old but it's a better bet than "The Precious". Seriously, forget that ever existed and move on.