First touch on AutoCad customization towards developing automatic macros design

[pablo_tinajas]

Hi there!

I work for a spanish company based on Madrid that builds external structures. We already have 2D macros of many of our products, developed on Visual Basic and we are able to draw them automatically on AutoCad by using just some commands. We are also able to combine them and draw full blocks of them as on the final design would be. 

Our idea is to get this a bbit further. We would like to develop some kind of internal AutoCad software that let us not only draw and combine our products, but also being able to edit those whole blocks once they are already drawn. Defining the variables we want and the customization areas needed. All of this done on a visual interface where we can choose any change or order... 

How and where would you start a project like this? 

For now i've read that maybe .NET is a way to access ACAD and maybe start developing some plugins or so.

I look forward to read your answers!

Cheers!

[jayhar · Accepted solution]

Hello,

To develop an internal AutoCAD software that allows you to not only draw and combine your products but also edit them and define variables and customization areas, you will need to have a good understanding of AutoCAD and programming.

The first step in this project would be to determine the specific requirements and functionality needed for your software. Once you have a clear understanding of what you want your software to accomplish, you can then start looking at the technology and tools you will need to develop it.

As you mentioned, using .NET is a good option for accessing AutoCAD and developing plugins. You may want to consider using the AutoCAD .NET API, which is a programming interface provided by AutoCAD to interact with its objects and functions. With the .NET API, you can create custom commands, menus, and toolbars, and access and modify AutoCAD drawings.

To get started with developing plugins using the AutoCAD .NET API, you can refer to the AutoCAD Developer Documentation, which provides detailed information on the API, including tutorials, code examples, and reference material.

In addition to .NET, you may also want to consider using other technologies, such as AutoLISP or VBA, to develop your software. AutoLISP is a programming language used to customize AutoCAD, while VBA is a programming language used to automate tasks in Microsoft Office applications, including AutoCAD.

In conclusion, developing an internal AutoCAD software that allows you to draw, combine, and edit your products with customization options will require a good understanding of AutoCAD and programming. Using .NET, AutoLISP, or VBA may be a good starting point for developing the software, and you can refer to the AutoCAD Developer Documentation for more information on the API and programming languages.

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AutoCAD & Revit Architecture Certified Professional

Thanks You
Jayhar.M.J

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[pablo_tinajas]

Hello @jayhar , 

Thank you very much for your well-dedicated answer. The thing i'm more interested in is, as you mentioned, the possibility of creating some kind of visual interface (using the .NET API as it seems) since where i can access, set, create and modify my AutoCAD drawings. This is really important beacause it would be a very useful software for all of my fellow engenieers so they can save a lot of time everyday.

I already have almost every .dwg file i need to assemble any big construction block i need. But for now, we only have been capable of developing some macros to automate assembly on VBA. The idea is just to have one unique visual interace from where we can access every functionality already available , such as which specific construction cat i want to get drawed or how many beams of each type... that sort of thing. 

Is AutoCAD .NET API well suited to be used in order to develop it? And if it is: is the documentation you refered me to oriented towards that? Or maybe is AutoLISP better to develop this software?

Any extra information you can provide me with i'm sure it will be super useful! 

I'm very grateful for your reply. 

Thank you and have a nice afternoon!

[norman.yuan]

Depending on the nature of your business requirements, as @jayhar has already pointed out, LIST/VBA (COM API)/.NET API all can be considered to be possible. However, since you seems emphasizing the importance of having a good UI, thus, developing based on AutoCAD .NET API should be the natural choice.

However, the learning curve is much steeper than using VBA. You need to have generic MS .NET Framework programming knowledge/skill above-beginner level, plus the AutoCAD .NET API object models. I'd say, a year, or two would be expected for a pure beginner to learn and practice to be able to eventually develop a production-level of custom CAD app. For someone who has generic .NET Framework programming experience and only need to learn AutoCAD .NET API (but know AutoCAD use well), it could be a few months of focused study/practice, at least.

Unless you really want to learn and do it yourself, it might be better to hire a right developer to do it, if the the business really needs this to be done sooner than later. Or even find someone who can do some portion of it for you while mentoring you.