How to access the Display color of an Object coming from Partner sofwtare

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

How can I access the color an object is being displayed knowing the following:

-The Object comes from ShipConstructor (Autodesk Partner)

- As an "External" entity, it possess TrueColor = byLayer

-The True color of the object after being exploded is the color that is being displayed - This is the Variable and/or Value I am looking for (without having to explode the object)

- The Display color comes from external SQL database

Your assistance is very much appreciated

[norman.yuan · Accepted solution]

Since you know that after exploding the entity, you get an Acad3DSolid entity, thus is color is available, I guess your question is how to get the color WITHOUT exploding it, right?

To me, it looks like the object is a custom entity (not AutoCAD native entity), created via third party's  ObjectARX application. Because you are posting in VBA programming forum, I assume you want to access the custom entity with VBA code.

So, the very first question you need to ask is: is this custom entity accessible with AutoCAD COM API/VBA? You need to ask the vendor to confirm this. If not, then you are out of luck. If yes, the vendor's software should comes with COM type library and installed. Then in AutoCAD VBA editor, you can set reference to the type library. After that you can examine its COM API to see if the color property is exposed, or if you can explode the custom entity with code and then get the color value.

[Anonymous]

Hello Norman,
thank you very much for your reply.
1) YES

Since you know that after exploding the entity, you get an Acad3DSolid entity, thus is color is available, I guess your question is how to get the color WITHOUT exploding it, right?

2)YES

To me, it looks like the object is a custom entity (not AutoCAD native entity), created via third party's  ObjectARX application. Because you are posting in VBA programming forum, I assume you want to access the custom entity with VBA code.

3) YES

So, the very first question you need to ask is: is this custom entity accessible with AutoCAD COM API/VBA? You need to ask the vendor to confirm this. If not, then you are out of luck. If yes, the vendor's software should comes with COM type library and installed. Then in AutoCAD VBA editor, you can set reference to the type library. After that you can examine its COM API to see if the color property is exposed, or if you can explode the custom entity with code and then get the color value.

I know the object can be accessed through VBA. But how do I find which library or module/object governs this property? My reasoning is that, if AutoCad Instance knows which color to show/display, than this value must also be stored somewhere in a acad variable.

Thank you in advance for any further clue

BRegards,
JES
 

[Ed__Jobe · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I know the object can be accessed through VBA. But how do I find which library or module/object governs this property? My reasoning is that, if AutoCad Instance knows which color to show/display, than this value must also be stored somewhere in a acad variable.

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If it is VBA accessible, you should be able to find something from the vendor in References. In the vbaide, go to Tools>References and look for something with the word "ship" in it. Check the tlb and open the Object Browser to see what objects and properties the api exposes.

As to your reasoning, yes acad stores it "somewhere", but if the vendor didn't supply an api to access it, as Norman said "You're out of luck".

[Anonymous]

Thank you both very much for clarifications.

I have contacted the Vendor for further explanation in how to access that property/value.
Otherwise I will create something as dumb as " copy - Explode - get Color - delete copied object" 
Best Regards

JES