Need guidance on where to start

[timothy_crouse]

Hello, I am interested in finding or creating a utility-type app that will create boundaries around AutoCAD objects.  I have been using Total Boundary for years but the website is currently down for payment processing preventing an ACAD 2025 License Update.  

I was pointed to this thread:

Solved: Create the outermost border for the curves (BOUNDARY) - Autodesk Community

However, I need some guidance on turning this code into a functioning app.  My assumption is this would need to be brought into Visual Studio as a C# project.  

If anyone has a moment could you please provide the high-level steps to convert this code into a working ACAD App?

Thanks In Advance

-Tim C.

[JamesMaeding]

@timothy_crouse 

that link which has the vb.net code actually has the full code in it.

Its got the CommandMethod("Outline") which is the command.

So what you do is get visual studio installed, make a hello world prog for your acad version, then add the code from the post and you have the command.

Part of the hello world prog is learning how to use netload to load the compiled dll.

I do not recommend using a wizard to do the hello world, start from blank class library project.

Add your acad references (managed .dlls) and the imports statements.

That way you don't have magical ingredients going on, you know exactly what things are needed and its barely anything. I use VS community 2022. Its free.

I can also show you how to set up so you can just hit the green run button in VS, and it starts acad and netloads the dll for you.

Note that most experienced people here will not run vb.net code. We convert to C# and then run. Its so easy to do usually and we just add code to existing test projects and go. Maintaining extra vb.net projects is a waste of time once you are set up.

I will likely convert this project myself, as I am curious about the performance of merging tons of regions. That is a GIS thing.

Anyone know how the Civil3D shrinkwrap command works?

Part of the question is how to handle gaps for shapes that do not fully close.

I do this with TIN surfaces where I remove all long triangles to some tolerance so i don't have to make boundaries. Civil3D people wish they had that. Maybe Terry Dotson could write that to delete civil3d tris. Anyway, I still like this region approach as it handles curves nicely.

[timothy_crouse]

I am headed on travel for a couple of weeks.  I will brush up on a few things during that period.  Then when I get back I will get set up.

Is the code in the thread creating numerous small regions and bringing them together as a polyline boundary?

Thank You for looking into this.

Best Regards

-Tim C.

[_gile]

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@timothy_crouse  a écrit :

Is the code in the thread creating numerous small regions and bringing them together as a polyline boundary?

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Yes, the code in this reply works like this.

[timothy_crouse]

Regarding the code in  THIS THREAD, it appears (to me) to be in C# syntax.

From what you remember what is left to turn this into a tool that will create boundaries around anything selected?

Meaning what limitations are in-place that you remember.  I am assuming there is a good amount of testing of different scenarios required to turn it into a polished utility.

Thanks for the link to the code

Best Regards

-Tim C.

[ActivistInvestor]

If you don't have the required experience writing AutoCAD .NET extensions, you'll need to find someone that has the means to compile the code into an AutoCAD extension (a .DLL that is NETLOADed into AutoCAD).

You could always give it a shot yourself, using Visual Studio and the prerequisite AutoCAD managed assembly references. There's plenty of instructional material that walks you through building an AutoCAD managed extension available on Autodesk's website.

As far as testing/validating the code to handle the scenarios you need it for, that's entirely up to you. No one knows what you're going to throw at the code except you.