Through the Interface

Creating a nested layer group inside AutoCAD using .NET

As a comment on this previous post, MikeR posted this request: Hi Kean, I'm the one that instigated this original question about group filters. That part is working fine and I can also set the active group filter in the file. Now I need to make parent & child filters. How can I add child filters to an existing parent filter at the root? Thanks, Mike The below code is an update of that shown previously, the main addition being the CNLG command to create a nested layer group. I also took the chance to fix a minor bug... Read more →

Alias Sketch for AutoCAD on Labs

This is a really fun one: a new technology preview on Autodesk Labs that integrates powerful sketching – such as that available in SketchBook Pro and SketchBook Mobile (both of which I’ve played around with, at one point or another) – into AutoCAD 2010. Now it’s not immediately apparent what the benefits are for having this kind of sketching integrated directly into AutoCAD, but for sure it saves application switching and is likely to make it easier to share marked-up models. The first thing I did was to install the application: To sketch you need to be in a... Read more →

Creating an AutoCAD group using .NET

In the last post we looked at some code to define a block and insert it into the model-space of an AutoCAD drawing. Today we’re going to look at creating a group. Before we dive into the code, it’s worth taking a quick look at the difference between a block and a group, to understand the differences between these two container/aggregator objects. I know that much of this information is available elsewhere, but hey – I’m on a roll, so I request your forbearance. Let’s start with looking at the top-level structure of an AutoCAD Database (which is equivalent... Read more →

Creating an AutoCAD block using .NET

This post – and its sister post, which will cover creating a group – are further topics I would expect to have already covered in this blog at some point, or perhaps to see covered by the AutoCAD .NET Developer’s Guide (and I’m sure they will be in a future incarnation of it). So thanks to Adam Nagy, from DevTech EMEA, for suggesting these topics. It’s nice to go back to basics once in a while (although this means I do have to beg the patience of the readers out there who know this stuff inside out). So, here’s... Read more →

DWG-capable 2D CAD on the web

Some time ago I looked into Project Draw, our first foray into diagramming on the web. Today we released – again on Autodesk Labs – our next-generation, web-based CAD tool… You may have heard of Dragonfly, and possibly even Firefly, well now it’s time to meet Butterfly. [This makes me think of “When I see an elephant fly”, the song from Dumbo, which happens to have been the first movie I ever saw at the cinema (not that I remember the event itself).] For more information on Project Butterfly, check out the announcement on Scott’s blog. Of particular interest... Read more →

Sweeping an AutoCAD solid using .NET

Back in this previous post we looked at some code to sweep an AutoCAD surface using .NET. As I mentioned in a later update, it’s possible to also sweep an AutoCAD solid using .NET (since AutoCAD 2010: prior to that one had to use ObjectARX). I’ve just received a comment asking me to show how to do this, so I thought I’d cover that, today. The code difference is tiny – we simply need to change the type of object we’re creating and call a different method with the same arguments. Where for a SweptSurface we would do this…... Read more →

More DevLabs currently planned for 2010

Early last year we introduced the concept of DevLabs and later on, based on their success, we scheduled some more. Well, it’s now 2010 and with a new year comes a new API training schedule (which you can also access from the easy-to-remember autodesk.com/apitraining). Here are the DevLabs we currently have scheduled for the coming year, although you’ll also find the schedule contains lots of other interesting events open to ADN members and non-members alike. Dates Location Products February 1–5 San Francisco, USA AutoCAD February 8–12 Farnborough, UK AutoCAD and Inventor March 2–4 New Delhi, India Geospatial and AutoCAD... Read more →

Creating an AutoCAD layer using .NET

Sometimes I receive a question which makes me think “I must have posted something that shows that by now, surely?” and yet I can’t find it. So please accept my apologies if this post is redundant and I’m just repeating myself. :-) Here’s the question that had me thinking: I don't know how may I create a new layer in drawing. And here’s some code I threw together to show this. It defines a simple command called CL which creates a layer with the name proposed by the user, after validating the name using the SymbolUtilityServices namespace (which I... Read more →

January’s Plugin of the Month: FacetCurve

Firstly, a slightly belated “Happy New Year!” to all of you. I’m now easing back into the saddle after three very relaxing weeks off with family and friends. One of the first activities I had on my plate in 2010 was to tidy up the application I presented in this previous post and turn it into January’s Plugin of the Month, FacetCurve for AutoCAD. The original C++ application this plugin is based on was generously provided by Jon Smith from COINS, a long-time ADN member (thanks, Jon!). You’ll find the official announcement over on Scott’s blog, in his trademark... Read more →