Where is the RealDWG SDK and can I use it without an AutoCAD dependency?

[Anonymous]

I am building an app that needs to access (read/write) the dwg file. The app is NOT an AutoCAD hosted add in, and needs to operate in an Win32 environment where AutoCAD is not installed.

RealDWG seems to be the SDK that I need. I am referred from the AutoCAD site to TechSOft 3D. http://www.techsoft3d.com/products/autodesk-platforms/realdwg/

I have contacted them, and they tell me that the RealDWG SDK has been intregrated into ObjectARX, and that I should look through these forums for samples.

I want a C++ sample project (Visual Studio) to open/close a dwg file, and access the db (without any dependency on AutoCAD)

I want instructions on what dll's need to be packaged in the installer.

I don't want to guess this stuff from documentaion about the ObjectARX SDK.

Posts like this one are not a good sign: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/net/realdwg-installer-why-so-cryptic/m-p/6341741#M48734 that this task will be possible.

I don't mind paying for the SDK, but I wouldn't expect something a bit easier than my experience so far.

Can someone give me some advice on where to go from here. (3rd party APIs maybe?)

[Anonymous]

There's a typo in the second last paragraph, and could see where to edit.

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I don't mind paying for the SDK, but I wouldn't expect something a bit easier than my experience so far.

---

Should be
I don't mind paying for the SDK, but I would expect something a bit easier than my experience so far.

[techsoft3d]

Greg –

I’ll try to explain the concept again, perhaps for the benefit of other readers too. Btw, as there is no RealDWG forum, most RealDWG questions are posted in either the .NET or C++ forum. You’re not likely to get many replies on a RealDWG question in the LISP forum.

RealDWG is the SDK to create stand-alone applications without dependency on AutoCAD, there is no evaluation version for RealDWG.

As most developers applying to license RealDWG SDK are already familiar with 3rd party development for AutoCAD, ObjectARX and the drawing database (DWG) parts of AutoCAD, they do not require an evaluation version. Also the license fee is so low, developers apply for the license straight away.

However, if you still need to perform a “proof-of-concept”, before you want to apply for the license, you can do that using ObjectARX. RealDWG, sometimes referred to as ObjectDBX, is a subset of the ObjectARX SDK. RealDWG doesn’t cover any viewing or drawing functionality, just the database parts with all entities and relationships in there.

If you don’t have AutoCAD, you can download a 30-day trial version here.
Download and read about system requirements for the ObjectARX SDK here.
If you’re not familiar with ObjectARX programming, you can get started here. Also have a look at the sample projects that come with the SDK. When licensing RealDWG, the SDK contains similar set of sample projects that are all targeted on RealDWG development. The SDK also contains a set of merge modules (MSM) to package DWG functionality with your custom deployment.

Read more about RealDWG on the Autodesk website.

How to verify RealDWG only functionality using ObjectARX

You need to make sure critical features are kept within the RealDWG parts of the API:

1. Managed code (.NET)

You’ll be using the managed API of ObjectARX. The ObjectARX features that are specific to RealDWG only, can be found in the namespaces of the AcDbMgd.dll:

You need to make sure no critical calls are made to AcCoreMgd.dll, which contains overlapping namespaces ‘GraphicsSystem’ and ‘Runtime’ (the dll is not part of RealDWG):

Additional dll’s in ObjectARX that are also available in RealDWG:
• acdbmgdbrep.dll
• AdWindows.dll
• AcAxDb21res.dll

1. Native code (C++)

The ObjectARX functionality that is also available in RealDWG is restricted to these libraries:

ac1st21.lib
• acdb21.lib
• acdbmgd.lib
• AcDbPointCloudObj.lib
• AcDrawBridge.lib
• acge21.lib
• AcGeolocationObj.lib
• acgiapi.lib
• acismobj21.lib
• acModelDocObj.lib
• AcMPolygonObj.lib
• AcSceneOE.lib
• axdb.lib
• rcexelib.obj
• rxapi.lib

from the utils folders
• AecModeler.lib
• AdImaging.lib
• AdIntImgServices.lib
• acbr21.lib
• acgex21.lib
• AsdkHlrApi21.lib

Tech Soft 3D is the global sales channel for Autodesk platform products RealDWG, AutoCAD OEM and Inventor OEM. They deal with the application process, host the media for downloads and cover presales topics. Autodesk Developer Network provides technical support for all those products.

Cheers,

Paavo Rantanen, Tech Soft 3D