Revit Addin OnStartUp Confusion - How to Disable Panels based on Entitlements?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to check whether someone should be able to use my addin based on the entitlement API. But I'm not sure how to pass a variable between an event handler and a class.

private Boolean Purchased = false;
public Result OnStartup(UIControlledApplication application)
    {
            AddRibbonPanel(application);
            application.ControlledApplication.ApplicationInitialized += ControlledApplication_ApplicationInitialized;

            Autodesk.Windows.RibbonControl ribbon = Autodesk.Windows.ComponentManager.Ribbon;
            foreach (Autodesk.Windows.RibbonTab tab in ribbon.Tabs)
            {
                if (tab.Name == "MyTab")
                {
                    foreach (Autodesk.Windows.RibbonPanel panel in tab.Panels)
                    {
                        panel.IsEnabled = this.Purchased;
                    }
                }
            }
                // end of entitlement api status check
                return Result.Succeeded;
        }

The event handler in line 5 check the REST resonse and sets 'Purchased' to true, but it doesn't seem to execute before for each loop. Is there a way to force the event to trigger first? Or what effective strategies can we use to enable/disable our plugins based in the EntitlementAPI?

thanks in advance

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Dear Jonah,

Thank you for your query.

Yes, indeed, there is no way for you to guarantee that the REST call will be executed synchronously.

I would suggest executing it in an asynchronous context, and using another method to enable and disable your add-in functionality.

For instance, you could use the IExternalCommandAvailability interface at a later point, after start-up:

https://apidocs.co/apps/revit/2019/c05acaf4-4cd9-8fd6-db06-44b22ae4f987.htm

Here is one sample making use of a trivial command availability class:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/roll-your-own-toggle-button.html

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much Jeremy. I ended up having the buttons initiate as disabled and having a button that checks entitlements and enables the other buttons. It's not as automatic as checking on start up, but it is fine compromise. The toggle-button code was really helpful.