Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

About This Book
Customization in AutoCAD
AutoLISP in AutoCAD
VBA in AutoCAD
What to Expect
Other Information
Styles and Conventions of This Book
Contacting the Author

Part I: AutoCAD Customization: Increasing Productivity through Personalization

Chapter 1: Establishing the Foundation for Drawing Standards
1. Naming Standards for Projects and Files
2. Managing Standards with Drawing Templates
3. Choosing a File Format for Your Drawings
4. Defining Plotter Configurations and Plot Styles
5. Enforcing CAD Standards
Chapter 2: Working with Nongraphical Objects
1. Standardizing the Names of Nongraphical Objects
2. Managing Object Properties with Layers
3. Creating and Managing Annotation Styles
4. Defining and Managing Other Nongraphical Objects
5. Removing Unused Nongraphical Objects
Chapter 3: Building the Real World One Block at a Time
1. Defining and Editing a Block Definition
2. Using and Managing Block Definitions
3. Embedding Information in a Block Definition with Attributes
4. Adding Dynamic Properties to a Block Definition
5. Extracting Properties and Values from a Block Reference
Chapter 4: Manipulating the Drawing Environment
1. Getting Started with Drawing-Environment Customization
2. Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process
3. Specifying Application Preferences
4. Customizing the Elements in the Drawing Window
5. Configuring Command and Dynamic Input
6. Creating and Modifying Command Aliases
7. Working with System and Environment Variables
Chapter 5: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Windows
1. Getting Started with the CUI Editor
2. Creating Commands and Defining Command Macros
3. Customizing User-Interface Elements
4. Setting Up Rollover Tooltips and the Quick Properties Palette
5. Organizing the User Interface with Workspaces
6. Working with Customization Files
7. Controlling the Tools on the Status Bars
Chapter 6: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Mac
1. Getting Started with the Customize Dialog Box
2. Creating Commands and Defining Command Macros
3. Customizing User-Interface Elements
4. Controlling the Tools on the Status Bar
Chapter 7: Creating Tools and Tool Palettes
1. What Is a Tool Palette?
2. Using the Tool Palettes Window
3. Defining Tool Palettes
4. Adding and Modifying Tools
5. Organizing Tool Palettes with Tool-Palette Groups
6. Sharing Tool Palettes and Tool-Palette Groups
Chapter 8: Automating Repetitive Tasks
1. Creating and Running Scripts
2. Recording Action Macros (Windows Only)
Chapter 9: Defining Shapes, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns
1. Creating and Compiling Shapes
2. Creating and Using Custom Linetypes
3. Creating and Applying Custom Hatch Patterns
Chapter 10: Using, Loading, and Managing Custom Files
1. Deploying Your Custom Files
2. Using and Loading Custom Programs
3. Backing Up and Migrating Customization

Part II: AutoLISP: Productivity through Programming

Chapter 11: Quick Start for New AutoLISP Programmers
1. Working with AutoLISP Expressions
2. Storing and Loading AutoLISP Expressions
Chapter 12: Understanding AutoLISP
1. Getting Started with AutoLISP
2. Storing and Retrieving Values
3. Exploring Data Types
4. Leveraging AutoCAD and Third-Party Commands
5. Defining and Using Custom Functions
6. Example: Drawing a Rectangle
Chapter 13: Calculating and Working with Values
1. Calculating Values with Math Functions
2. Manipulating Strings
3. Converting Data Types
4. Returning a Value from a Custom Function
5. Exercise: Drawing a Rectangle (Revisited)
Chapter 14: Working with Lists
1. What Are Lists?
2. Creating a List
3. Getting an Element from a List
4. Appending, Substituting, and Removing Elements
5. Determining Whether an Item Exists in a List
6. Sorting the Elements of a List
7. Using Point Lists to Calculate Geometric Values
8. Converting Lists to Strings and Strings to Lists
9. Exercise: Adding Holes to the Plate
Chapter 15: Requesting Input and Using Conditional and Looping Expressions
1. Interacting with the User
2. Conditionalizing and Branching Expressions
3. Repeating and Looping Expressions
4. Exercise: Getting Input from the User to Draw the Plate
Chapter 16: Creating and Modifying Graphical Objects
1. Working with Entity Names and Dotted Pairs
2. Adding Objects to a Drawing
3. Selecting Objects
4. Modifying Objects
5. Working with Complex Objects
6. Extending an Object's Information
7. Exercise: Creating, Querying, and Modifying Objects
Chapter 17: Creating and Modifying Nongraphical Objects
1. Working with Symbol Tables
2. Working with Dictionaries
3. Exercise: Creating and Incrementing Room Labels
Chapter 18: Working with the Operating System and External Files
1. Storing Information in the Windows Registry or a Plist File
2. Accessing Data from External Files
3. Working with Directories and Files in the Operating System
4. Exercise: Reading and Writing Data
Chapter 19: Catching and Handling Errors
1. Identifying and Tracking Down Errors
2. Catching Errors in a Program
3. Defining and Using a Custom Error Handler
4. Grouping Functions into a Single Undo Action
5. Exercise: Handling Errors in the drawplate Function
Chapter 20: Authoring, Managing, and Loading AutoLISP Programs
1. Storing AutoLISP Expressions
2. Writing Modular Code
3. Adding Comments
4. Undefining and Redefining Standard AutoCAD Commands
5. Defining a Startup Function
6. Loading AutoLISP Files
7. Managing the Locations of AutoLISP Files
8. Deploying AutoLISP Files
9. Exercise: Deploying the drawplate Function
Chapter 21: Using the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only)
1. Accessing the Visual LISP Editor
2. Managing AutoLISP Files with the Visual LISP Editor
3. Formatting an AutoLISP File
4. Validating and Debugging Code
5. Creating a Visual LISP Project
6. Compiling LSP and PRJ Files into a VLX File
7. Exercise: Working with the Visual LISP Editor
Chapter 22: Working with ActiveX/COM Libraries (Windows only)
1. Understanding the Basics of ActiveX
2. Importing COM Libraries
3. Using the AutoCAD COM Library
4. Leveraging the Windows and Microsoft Office COM Libraries
Chapter 23: Implementing Dialog Boxes (Windows only)
1. What Is Dialog Control Language?
2. Defining and Laying Out a Dialog Box
3. Loading and Displaying a Dialog Box
4. Interacting with and Responding to a User
5. Exercise: Implementing a Dialog Box for the drawplate Function

Part III: AutoCAD VBA: Programming with VBA and ActiveX (Windows only)

Chapter 24: Understanding the AutoCAD VBA Environment
1. What Makes Up an AutoCAD VBA Project?
2. What You'll Need to Start
3. Getting Started with the VBA Editor
4. Managing VBA Programs
5. Executing VBA Macros
6. Accessing the AutoCAD VBA Documentation
Chapter 25: Understanding Visual Basic for Applications
1. Learning the Fundamentals of the VBA Language
2. Exploring Data Types
3. Comparing Values
4. Conditionalizing and Branching Statements
5. Repeating and Looping Expressions
Chapter 26: Interacting with the Application and Documents Objects
1. Working with the Application
2. Managing Documents
3. Working with System Variables
4. Querying and Setting Application and Document Preferences
5. Executing Commands
6. Exercise: Setting Up a Project
Chapter 27: Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects
1. Understanding the Basics of a Drawing-Based Object
2. Accessing Objects in a Drawing
3. Working with Model or Paper Space
4. Creating Graphical Objects
5. Getting an Object in the Drawing
6. Modifying Objects
7. Changing Object Properties
8. Exercise: Creating, Querying, and Modifying Objects
Chapter 28: Interacting with the User and Controlling the Current View
1. Interacting with the User
2. Selecting Objects
3. Performing Geometric Calculations
4. Changing the Current View
5. Exercise: Getting Input from the User to Draw the Plate
Chapter 29: Annotating Objects
1. Working with Text
2. Dimensioning Objects
3. Creating and Modifying Geometric Tolerances
4. Adding Leaders
5. Organizing Data with Tables
6. Creating Fields
7. Exercise: Adding a Label to the Plate
Chapter 30: Working with Blocks and External References
1. Managing Block Definitions
2. Inserting and Working with Block References
3. Managing External References
4. Listing File Dependencies
5. Exercise: Creating and Querying Blocks
Chapter 31: Outputting Drawings
1. Creating and Managing Layouts
2. Displaying Model Space Objects with Viewports
3. Controlling the Output of a Layout
4. Plotting and Previewing a Layout
5. Exporting and Importing File Formats
6. Exercise: Adding a Layout to Create a Check Plot
Chapter 32: Storing and Retrieving Custom Data
1. Extending Object Information
2. Creating and Modifying a Custom Dictionary
3. Storing Information in the Windows Registry
4. Exercise: Storing Custom Values for the Room Labels Program
Chapter 33: Modifying the Application and Working with Events
1. Manipulating the AutoCAD User Interface
2. Using External Custom Programs
3. Working with Events
4. Exercise: Extending the User Interface and Using Events
Chapter 34: Creating and Displaying User Forms
1. Adding and Designing a User Form
2. Placing and Arranging Controls on a User Form
3. Changing the Appearance of a User Form or Control
4. Defining the Behavior of a User Form or Control
5. Displaying and Loading a User Form
6. Exercise: Implementing a User Form for the DrawPlate Project
Chapter 35: Communicating with Other Applications
1. Referencing a Programming Library
2. Creating and Getting an Instance of an Object
3. Accessing a Drawing File from outside of AutoCAD
4. Working with Microsoft Windows
5. Reading and Writing Text Files
6. Parsing Content in an XML File
7. Working with Microsoft Office Applications
8. Exercise: Reading and Writing Data
Chapter 36: Handling Errors and Deploying VBA Projects
1. Catching and Identifying Errors
2. Debugging a VBA Project
3. Deploying a VBA Project
4. Exercise: Deploying the DrawPlate VBA Project

End User License Agreement

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1: Establishing the Foundation for Drawing Standards

Figure 1.1 Possible project numbering structure
Figure 1.2 Possible file-naming structure
Figure 1.3 Drawing Units dialog box. The Windows version of the dialog box appears on the top the Mac OS version appears on the bottom.
Figure 1.4 Editing a plotter configuration file
Figure 1.5 Editing a plot style file. The Windows version of the dialog box appears on the top and the Mac OS version on the bottom.
Figure 1.6 Configuring drawing standards files
Figure 1.7 Enabling the plug-ins to use when validating drawing standards
Figure 1.8 Changing the notification and Check Standards settings
Figure 1.9 Access to CAD Standards notifications and settings is just a click away.
Figure 1.10 Standards violation found
Figure 1.11 The check for standards violations is complete.
Figure 1.12 Standards violation detected
Figure 1.13 Morethan one drawing can be checked for standards violations with the Batch Standards Checker.
Figure 1.14 Use this report to determine which files contain standards violations so they can be fixed.
Figure 1.15 Translating layers between CAD standards
Figure 1.16 Defining a new layer to use as part of the layer translation map
Figure 1.17 Changing the settings to use when translating layers

Chapter 2: Working with Nongraphical Objects

Figure 2.1 Possible layer-naming structure
Figure 2.2 Renaming nongraphical objects
Figure 2.3 Organizing objects with layers
Figure 2.4 Setting the color of a layer
Figure 2.5 Managing linetypes and scales
Figure 2.6 Controlling the display of lineweights
Figure 2.7 Changing layer settings affects the way you work with layers in the drawing window and user interface.
Figure 2.8 Unreconciled layer notification balloon
Figure 2.9 Creating dynamic filters based on layer names and properties
Figure 2.10 Saving layer states allows you to later restore the visibility and properties of the layers in a drawing.
Figure 2.11 The appearance of text can be controlled with text styles.
Figure 2.12 Creating and defining dimension styles
Figure 2.13 Updating the properties of a table style
Figure 2.14 Modifying a multileader style

Chapter 3: Building the Real World One Block at a Time

Figure 3.1 Defining a block
Figure 3.2 Block editing environment
Figure 3.3 Tools available for modifying the objects and behavior of a block definition
Figure 3.4 Inserting a block definition
Figure 3.5 Defining an attribute definition
Figure 3.6 You can edit attribute values after inserting a block reference.
Figure 3.7 Modifying a block's dynamic properties with grips (left: in the drawing window; right: in the Block Editor)
Figure 3.8 Defining a lookup table for a dynamic block
Figure 3.9 Defining a lookup table for a dynamic block

Chapter 4: Manipulating the Drawing Environment

Figure 4.1 Setting the properties for the new shortcut
Figure 4.2 Switching workspaces
Figure 4.3 Setting application preferences
Figure 4.4 Elements of the drawing window
Figure 4.5 Customizing the input search options for the Command prompt
Figure 4.6 Accessing recently used commands and coordinate values
Figure 4.7 Controlling the behavior and appearance of dynamic input
Figure 4.8 Command suggestion list based on typed characters
Figure 4.9 AutoCorrect entry in the command suggestion list

Chapter 5: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Windows

Figure 5.1 The CUI Editor lets you create and modify user-interface elements.
Figure 5.2 Command-line history of the input you previously entered
Figure 5.3 Defining the properties of a command
Figure 5.12 Tooltip for the custom Wheelchair Note command
Figure 5.4 The properties of the completed command
Figure 5.5 Creating a custom image
Figure 5.6 Example custom image
Figure 5.7 Managing images in the loaded CUIx files
Figure 5.8 Accessing the customization options for the Quick Access toolbar
Figure 5.9 Adding a command to the QAT
Figure 5.10 Accessing the controls that can be placed on the QAT
Figure 5.11 Results of the customization to the QAT
Figure 5.13 The results of using the Wheelchair Note command
Figure 5.14 Command and control organization using the ribbon
Figure 5.15 Structure of the Home 2D - Draw panel
Figure 5.16 Structure for the new My Tools panel
Figure 5.17 The completed My Tools panel
Figure 5.18 Favorites tab with the My Tools panel
Figure 5.19 Customizing the current workspace
Figure 5.20 Adding the ribbon tab to the current workspace
Figure 5.21 Controlling the order of the ribbon tab with the workspace
Figure 5.22 The Favorites tab displayed on the ribbon
Figure 5.23 The custom Edit Text tab displayed when the multiline text object was selected
Figure 5.24 Structure of the Favorites pull-down menu in the CUI Editor
Figure 5.25 Favorites pull-down menu on the menu bar
Figure 5.26 Line Objects Menu in the drawing window
Figure 5.27 Structure of the Favorites toolbar in the CUI Editor and how it appears in the user interface
Figure 5.28 Rollover tooltip and Quick Properties panel displaying the properties for an arc
Figure 5.29 Controlling the appearance and behavior of the Quick Properties palette
Figure 5.30 Modifying the properties displayed on the rollover tooltip for a Hatch object
Figure 5.31 Controlling the display of tools on the status bar

Chapter 6: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Mac

Figure 6.1 You create and modify user-interface elements by using the Customize dialog box.
Figure 6.2 Command-line history of the input you previously entered
Figure 6.3 The properties of the completed command
Figure 6.4 Wheelchair command with the custom icon
Figure 6.5 Structure of the Favorites pull-down menu in the Customize dialog box
Figure 6.6 Favorites pull-down menu on the menu bar
Figure 6.7 The results of using the Wheelchair Note command
Figure 6.8 Structure of the Open Shapes tool group
Figure 6.9 Structure for the new Favorites toolset and the My Tools tool group
Figure 6.10 Completed Favorites toolset and My Tools tool group
Figure 6.11 Controlling the display of tools on the status bar

Chapter 7: Creating Tools and Tool Palettes

Figure 7.1 Tool palettes in the Tool Palettes window
Figure 7.2 Components of the Tool Palettes window
Figure 7.3 Controlling the image size and style for tools
Figure 7.4 Adding a new tool based on a line object from the drawing area
Figure 7.5 New Line tool on a custom tool palette
Figure 7.6 A flyout offers additional related geometric tools.
Figure 7.7 Changing the properties of a tool
Figure 7.8 Controlling which tools are displayed on the flyout
Figure 7.9 Revised tool and flyout
Figure 7.10 Searching for named objects and support files
Figure 7.11 Creating and managing tool-palette groups

Chapter 8: Automating Repetitive Tasks

Figure 8.1 Action Recorder panel on the ribbon
Figure 8.2 The Action Tree shows recently recorded actions.
Figure 8.3 Recorded actions and values used to create a new layer named Hardware with the color blue
Figure 8.4 Saving recorded actions to an action macro

Chapter 9: Defining Shapes, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns

Figure 9.1 Determining which value to use for vector angles (left) or octants (right)
Figure 9.2 BAT shape inserted into the drawing (top) along with a polyline with the Batting linetype assigned (bottom)
Figure 9.3 sBreakdown of the BAT shape
Figure 9.4 Inserted DMOND shape (left) and a breakdown of its shape definition (right)
Figure 9.5 Dash Dot Dash linetype assigned to a polyline
Figure 9.6 Plot Line linetype assigned to a polyline
Figure 9.7 Same object with different linetype scale factors
Figure 9.8 Breakdown of the AR-B816 hatch pattern
Figure 9.9 sDiamonds hatch pattern used to fill a rectangle
Figure 9.10 Diamonds hatch pattern in the Hatch Pattern gallery
Figure 9.11 Pattern button on the Hatch visor
Figure 9.12 Available hatch patterns in the hatch library

Chapter 10: Using, Loading, and Managing Custom Files

Figure 10.1 Loading a custom program
Figure 10.2 Internet search results on AutoLISP files

Chapter 11: Quick Start for New AutoLISP Programmers

Figure 11.1 Result of using AutoLISP expressions with the circle command
Figure 11.2 Drawing concentric circles with AutoLISP
Figure 11.3 Converting a rectangle to a revision cloud
Figure 11.4 Loading the acp_qs.lsp file

Chapter 12: Understanding AutoLISP

Figure 12.1 Structure of an AutoLISP expression
Figure 12.2 Result of the drawplate custom function

Chapter 13: Calculating and Working with Values

Figure 13.1 Multiline text object created from multiple string values
Figure 13.2 Loading the LSP files
Figure 13.3 Results of the custom drawplate function

Chapter 14: Working with Lists

Figure 14.1 Completed plate

Chapter 15: Requesting Input and Using Conditional and Looping Expressions

Figure 15.1 Window drawn based on user input
Figure 15.2 Rubber-band line effect used when specifying a point from a base point
Figure 15.3 The rubber-band effect used when specifying the opposite corner with the getcorner function
Figure 15.4 Message displayed with the alert function
Figure 15.5 Custom message displayed with the acet-ui-message function
Figure 15.6 Message displayed in the status bar with the grtext function
Figure 15.7 Drawing individual vectors with the grdraw function
Figure 15.8 Drawing multiple vectors with the grvecs function
Figure 15.9 Custom animated progress message
Figure 15.10 Completed plate

Chapter 16: Creating and Modifying Graphical Objects

Figure 16.1 Circle and line objects created with the entmake function
Figure 16.2 Plan view of a #12-24 machine screw, slotted round head
Figure 16.3 Basics of a callout balloon
Figure 16.4 RoomNum block reference inserted with AutoLISP
Figure 16.5 The completed plate created using the updated utility functions
Figure 16.6 Office furniture layout
Figure 16.7 Bill of materials generated from the office furniture layout

Chapter 17: Creating and Modifying Nongraphical Objects

Figure 17.1 RoomLabel block definition
Figure 17.2 Plan view of the office building
Figure 17.3 Inserted RoomLabel block

Chapter 18: Working with the Operating System and External Files

Figure 18.1 File-navigation dialog box displayed with the getfiled function
Figure 18.2 BOM content in Excel

Chapter 19: Catching and Handling Errors

Figure 19.1 Troubleshooting and debugging loading problems
Figure 19.2 Troubleshooting and debugging execution problems
Figure 19.3 Rolling back changes made with commands and the entmake function
Figure 19.4 Wrapping functions with undo groupings to create a single undo action

Chapter 20: Authoring, Managing, and Loading AutoLISP Programs

Figure 20.1 Loading a custom program
Figure 20.2 Loading a custom program
Figure 20.3 Adding a LSP file to the Startup Suite
Figure 20.4 This security warning informs you of a LSP file being loaded from an untrusted location.
Figure 20.5 Custom help for a custom function

Chapter 21: Using the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only)

Figure 21.1 The Visual LISP Editor with a new LSP file open in an editor window
Figure 21.2 Searching for defined functions and variables
Figure 21.3 Color syntax allows you to quickly identify functions, argument values, and problems in a program.
Figure 21.4 Setting element colors to be used in the editor window
Figure 21.5 Specifying the settings to format code in the editor window
Figure 21.6 Use the Console window to execute AutoLISP statements.
Figure 21.7 The Build Output window indicates the type of error encountered during checking.
Figure 21.8 Organizing LSP files into a project
Figure 21.9 Accessing files from the project window
Figure 21.10 Unformatted and formatted code
Figure 21.11 Breakpoint set in the editor window
Figure 21.12 Execution paused as a result of a breakpoint
Figure 21.13 Watching variable values with the Watch window
Figure 21.14 Viewing information about the recent error

Chapter 22: Working with ActiveX/COM Libraries (Windows only)

Figure 22.1 Hierarchy of the AutoCAD COM library

Chapter 23: Implementing Dialog Boxes (Windows only)

Figure 23.1 Alternative message box defined with DCL
Figure 23.2 Example dialog box titled Create Label Object
Figure 23.3 Grouping related tiles in the Create Label Object dialog box
Figure 23.4 Setting the alignment and sizes of tiles
Figure 23.5 New dialog box for the drawplate function

Chapter 24: Understanding the AutoCAD VBA Environment

Figure 24.1 The VBA Editor allows for the development of a VBA program
Figure 24.2 The Project Explorer lists loaded projects and components
Figure 24.3 Modify the properties of a component, UserForm, or control
Figure 24.4 Edit code statements stored in a code or class module.
Figure 24.5 Members of an object in a referenced library can be viewed in the Object Browser.
Figure 24.6 Changing the VBA environment settings
Figure 24.7 Managing loaded VBA programs
Figure 24.8 Executing a macro stored in a VBA project
Figure 24.9 Edit, debug, and execute macros from the Macros dialog box.
Figure 24.10 Custom dialog box used to draw a top or side view of a hex bolt
Figure 24.11 Views of the completed hex bolt

Chapter 26: Interacting with the Application and Documents Objects

Figure 26.1 Rectangle and text drawn using commands
Figure 26.2 Navigating the new project with the Project Explorer
Figure 26.3 Error message generated as a result of AutoCAD not being able to save the drawing
Figure 26.4 New drawing with a title block
Figure 26.5 Field values populated by drawing properties

Chapter 27: Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects

Figure 27.1 Drawing object hierarchy
Figure 27.2 Definition of a line
Figure 27.3 Definition of a circle
Figure 27.4 Definition of an arc
Figure 27.5 Offset polylines and lines
Figure 27.6 Polyline with three vertices
Figure 27.7 Message box containing the handle and object ID of an object
Figure 27.8 Rotated line object around a base point
Figure 27.9 New mounting plate

Chapter 28: Interacting with the User and Controlling the Current View

Figure 28.1 Rubber-band line effect used when specifying a point from a base point
Figure 28.2 The rubber-band effect used when specifying the opposite corner with the GetCorner function
Figure 28.3 Message displayed with the MsgBox function
Figure 28.4 Formula for calculating the distance between two points
Figure 28.5 Completed plates

Chapter 29: Annotating Objects

Figure 29.1 Basic note created with single-line text
Figure 29.2 Basic note created with an MText object
Figure 29.3 Numbered list in an MText object
Figure 29.4 Aligned and diametric dimensions showing the measurement values of two circles
Figure 29.5 Geometric tolerance object created with the AddTolerance function
Figure 29.6 Multileader with two leader lines
Figure 29.7 Legacy leader created with the AddLeader function
Figure 29.8 Empty BOM table

Chapter 30: Working with Blocks and External References

Figure 30.1 Block-definition-to-block-reference relationship
Figure 30.2 Xref attachment flow
Figure 30.3 RoomLabel block definition
Figure 30.4 Plan view of the office building
Figure 30.5 Inserted RoomLabel block
Figure 30.6 Bill of materials generated from the office furniture layout

Chapter 31: Outputting Drawings

Figure 31.1 New layout with a title block

Chapter 32: Storing and Retrieving Custom Data

Figure 32.1 Message box displaying the data values of Xdata that represent a dimension override
Figure 32.2 Plan view of the office building
Figure 32.3 Inserted RoomLabel block

Chapter 33: Modifying the Application and Working with Events

Figure 33.1 Visual reference of the objects that make up a pull-down menu
Figure 33.2 ACP pull-down menu
Figure 33.3 Visual reference of the objects that make up a toolbar
Figure 33.4 New ACP toolbar
Figure 33.5 Selecting an object and event to add
Figure 33.6 Custom user interface elements added by loading acp.cuix
Figure 33.7 Layers created as a result of the BeginCommand event and the use of the hatch and dimlinear commands

Chapter 34: Creating and Displaying User Forms

Figure 34.1 Default UserForm displayed in the UserForm editor window
Figure 34.2 Controls that can be added to a user form are displayed in the Toolbox window.
Figure 34.3 Common controls employed in user forms
Figure 34.4 View and change the property values in the Properties window.
Figure 34.5 Selecting an object and event to add
Figure 34.6 New UserForm in the editor window
Figure 34.7 New user form running in the AutoCAD drawing environment
Figure 34.8 Completed Draw Plate user form
Figure 34.9 The label control added to the user form
Figure 34.10 Completed Draw Plate user form in the AutoCAD drawing environment
Figure 34.11 Completed plates

Chapter 35: Communicating with Other Applications

Figure 35.1 Check the Libraries drop-down list in the Object Browser and use the appname listed there.
Figure 35.2 Information from an externally opened drawing file
Figure 35.3 BOM content in Excel

Chapter 36: Handling Errors and Deploying VBA Projects

Figure 36.1 The layer wasn't found in the drawing.
Figure 36.2 Custom message containing information about a recent error
Figure 36.3 Outputting debug information to the Immediate window
Figure 36.4 Suspend the execution of a program with breakpoints for debugging.
Figure 36.5 Viewing local variables with the Locals window
Figure 36.6 Watching variables and statements with the Watches window
Figure 36.7 Adding a watch with the Add Watch dialog box
Figure 36.8 This security warning informs you that a DVB file is being loaded from an untrusted location.
Figure 36.9 Breakpoint set in the code editor window
Figure 36.10 Current watches added to the Watches window

List of Tables

Chapter 1: Establishing the Foundation for Drawing Standards

Table 1.1 System variables
Table 1.2 AutoCAD releases and drawing file formats

Chapter 2: Working with Nongraphical Objects

Table 2.1 System variables used to set default property values

Chapter 3: Building the Real World One Block at a Time

Table 3.1 Block properties available for use in an attribute-extraction template

Chapter 4: Manipulating the Drawing Environment

Table 4.1 AutoCAD command-line switches
Table 4.2 Commonly used command aliases

Chapter 5: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Windows

Table 5.1 Meaning of macro components
Table 5.2 Special characters that can be used in macros
Table 5.3 Customizable shortcut menus
Table 5.4 Aliases and alias naming conventions for shortcut menus
Table 5.5 Special names used to identify types of block reference objects

Chapter 6: Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Mac

Table 6.1 Macro components used in the circle example
Table 6.2 Special characters that can be used in macros

Chapter 8: Automating Repetitive Tasks

Table 8.1 Command-line equivalent commands (Windows and Mac OS)
Table 8.2 Command-line equivalent commands (Windows only)

Chapter 9: Defining Shapes, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns

Table 9.1 Components of a shape header line
Table 9.2 Shape specification line codes
Table 9.3 Codes and values for a BAT shape
Table 9.4 Values of the Center linetype
Table 9.5 Text string and shape object values
Table 9.6 Pattern-definition line values
Table 9.7 Values of the AR-B816 hatch pattern

Chapter 12: Understanding AutoLISP

Table 12.1 AutoLISP expressions
Table 12.2 Special characters that can prefix a command name
Table 12.3 AutoLISP expressions used to define the drawplate function

Chapter 13: Calculating and Working with Values

Table 13.1 AutoLISP advanced math functions
Table 13.2 AutoLISP functions for converting numeric values to strings
Table 13.3 AutoLISP functions for converting strings to numeric values
Table 13.4 AutoLISP functions for converting numeric values

Chapter 14: Working with Lists

Table 14.1 AutoLISP list sorting functions

Chapter 15: Requesting Input and Using Conditional and Looping Expressions

Table 15.1 initget flags argument bitcodes
Table 15.2 Example grread returns
Table 15.3 AutoLISP functions for testing the values of a variable
Table 15.4 AutoLISP looping functions

Chapter 16: Creating and Modifying Graphical Objects

Table 16.1 Common DXF group codes
Table 16.2 Automatically generated DXF group code values
Table 16.3 Optional DXF group code values
Table 16.4 Required DXF group code values
Table 16.5 ssget selection methods
Table 16.6 AutoLISP object property functions
Table 16.7 dumpallproperties Area property description
Table 16.8 XData-related DXF group codes

Chapter 17: Creating and Modifying Nongraphical Objects

Table 17.1 Symbol-Table names
Table 17.2 Functions that can be used to modify symbol Table entries
Table 17.3 Symbol Table entry name and modification limits

Chapter 18: Working with the Operating System and External Files

Table 18.1 ASCII file access modes
Table 18.2 File-browsing mode argument bitcodes
Table 18.3 AutoLISP file-management functions
Table 18.4 AutoLISP file-related functions

Chapter 20: Authoring, Managing, and Loading AutoLISP Programs

Table 20.1 Automatically loaded LSP files
Table 20.2 Files for DrawPlate.bundle

Chapter 21: Using the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only)

Table 21.1 Additional Visual LISP Editor debugging tools

Chapter 22: Working with ActiveX/COM Libraries (Windows only)

Table 22.1 Common data types used with the vlax-make-variant function
Table 22.2 Additional array functions

Chapter 23: Implementing Dialog Boxes (Windows only)

Table 23.1 Common attributes used with the dialog tile
Table 23.2 Interactive tiles available with the dialog tile
Table 23.3 Common attributes used with control tiles
Table 23.4 Tile subassemblies
Table 23.5 Cluster tiles
Table 23.6 Attributes used with aligning and sizing tiles
Table 23.7 Spacer tiles
Table 23.8 Modes available for use with the mode_tile function
Table 23.9 List-editing modes
Table 23.10 AutoLISP functions used to work with image and image_button tiles
Table 23.11 Predefined variables that contain information about the current tile

Chapter 25: Understanding Visual Basic for Applications

Table 25.1 VBA data types
Table 25.2 VBA math functions and operators
Table 25.3 VBA string manipulation functions and operators
Table 25.4 Special constants with ASCII values
Table 25.5 VBA data conversion functions

Chapter 26: Interacting with the Application and Documents Objects

Table 26.1 Application-related properties
Table 26.2 Application window–related properties
Table 26.3 Drawing file–related properties
Table 26.4 Drawing window–related properties
Table 26.5 Preference objects accessible from the application

Chapter 27: Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects

Table 27.1 Properties related to the AcadObject object
Table 27.2 Properties related to the AcadEntity object
Table 27.3 Methods related to the AcadEntity object
Table 27.4 Properties used to access the collection objects of an AcadDocument object
Table 27.5 Properties related to an AcadLine object
Table 27.6 Properties related to an AcadCircle object
Table 27.7 Properties related to an AcadArc object
Table 27.8 Properties related to an AcadLWPolyline or AcadPolyline object
Table 27.9 Methods related to an AcadLWPolyline or AcadPolyline object

Chapter 28: Interacting with the User and Controlling the Current View

Table 28.1 Bit codes available for the InitializeUserInput method
Table 28.2 Object selection methods
Table 28.3 Zoom-related methods
Table 28.4 Properties related to an AcadViewport object
Table 28.5 Properties related to an AcadView object

Chapter 29: Annotating Objects

Table 29.1 Control codes for AcadText objects
Table 29.2 Functions used to create new dimensions

Chapter 30: Working with Blocks and External References

Table 30.1 Constant values of the AcAttributeMode enumerator
Table 30.2 Properties related to an AcadAttribute object
Table 30.3 Properties related to an AcadBlock object
Table 30.4 Properties used to determine a block definition's type
Table 30.5 Properties used to affect a block reference
Table 30.6 Methods used to manage an xref
Table 30.7 Raster image–related properties and methods
Table 30.8 Underlay-related properties

Chapter 31: Outputting Drawings

Table 31.1 Display-related properties of an AcadPViewport object
Table 31.2 Drafting aids–related properties of an AcadPViewport object
Table 31.3 Sheet view–related properties of an AcadPViewport object
Table 31.4 Constant values of the AcPlotType enumerator
Table 31.5 Additional plot settings of an AcadPlotConfiguration object

Chapter 32: Storing and Retrieving Custom Data

Table 32.1 Xdata-related DXF group codes

Chapter 33: Modifying the Application and Working with Events

Table 33.1 Properties that describe an AcadPopupMenu collection object
Table 33.2 Properties that describe an AcadPopupMenuItem object
Table 33.3 Methods used to manage pull-down menus on the menu bar
Table 33.4 Properties that describe an AcadToolbar collection object
Table 33.5 Properties that describe an AcadToolbarItem object
Table 33.6 Common events for the AcadApplication and AcadDocument objects

Chapter 34: Creating and Displaying User Forms

Table 34.1 Common UserForm or control properties
Table 34.2 Common UserForm or control events

Chapter 35: Communicating with Other Applications

Table 35.1 Common class IDs for the AutoCAD Object library Application object
Table 35.2 Drive-related methods of the FileSystemObject object
Table 35.3 Folder-related methods of the FileSystemObject object
Table 35.4 File-related methods of the FileSystemObject object
Table 35.5 File modes available for the OpenTextFile statement
Table 35.6 File formats available for the OpenTextFile statement

Chapter 36: Handling Errors and Deploying VBA Projects

Table 36.1 Err object–related properties
Table 36.2 Files for DrawPlate_VBA.bundle

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Acknowledgments

I have to give a very special thanks to all the great folks at Sybex, especially Willem Knibbe, for working on and helping to get this project off the ground after a few years of talking about it. The next two people I would like to thank are Mary Ellen Schutz and Dassi Zeidel, the development and production editors on this book; you two made sure I stayed on track and delivered a high-quality book. I also want to thank Liz Welch (copyeditor), Candace Cunningham (proofreader), and Ted Laux (indexer) for the work you all did on this book.

Thanks to all the folks at Autodesk, who put in the long hours and are dedicated to the work they do on the Autodesk^® AutoCAD^® product. I cannot forget some of the most important individuals on this book, my technical editors: Rebecca Afshar, Craig Black, and Richard Lawrence. Rebecca Afshar performed the technical edit for Part I, “AutoCAD Platform Customization: User Interface and Beyond.” Rebecca has spent many years as both an instructor and user of AutoCAD; all of this experience helped to make this book even better.

Craig Black performed the technical edit for Part II, “AutoCAD Platform Customization: AutoLISP. ” I have known Craig for nearly 20 years and first met him while attending an AutoLISP^® session at the local Autodesk Training Center, where he was an instructor. Craig is a excellent AutoLISP programmer and was a great asset as a technical editor on this book. It is always a pleasure to collaborate with Craig and this book was no different.

Last but not least, Richard Lawrence performed the technical edit for Part III, “AutoCAD Platform Customization: VBA.” Richard is a great friend who I met many years ago at Autodesk University. He is a passionate and driven user of AutoCAD and is always looking to improve the way he uses AutoCAD.

Being a technical editor is never the easiest job, but it is one of the most important and I appreciate what you all did to make this book better.

About the Author

Lee Ambrosius first started working with AutoCAD R12 for DOS in 1994. As a drafter, he quickly discovered that every project included lots of repetition. Lee, not being one to just settle for “this is just the way things are,” set out on a path that would redefine his career. This new path would lead him into the wondrous world of customization and programming—which you might catch him referring to as “the rabbit hole.”

In 1996, Lee began learning the core concepts of customizing the AutoCAD user interface and AutoLISP. The introduction of VBA in AutoCAD R14 would once again redefine how Lee approached programming solutions for AutoCAD. VBA made it much easier to communicate with external databases and other applications that supported VBA. It transformed the way information could be moved between project management and manufacturing systems.

Not being content with VBA, in 1999 Lee attended his first Autodesk University and began to learn ObjectARX®. Autodesk University had a lasting impression on him. In 2001, he started helping as a lab assistant. He began presenting on customizing and programming AutoCAD at the event in 2004. Along the way he learned how to use the AutoCAD Managed.NET API.

In 2005, Lee decided cubicle life was no longer for him, so he ventured off into the CAD industry as an independent consultant and programmer with his own company, HyperPics, LLC. After he spent a couple of years as a consultant, Autodesk invited him to work on the AutoCAD team; he has been on the AutoCAD team since 2007. For most of his career at Autodesk, Lee has worked primarily on the customization and end-user documentation. Recently, he has been working on the AutoLISP, VBA, ObjectARX,.NET, and JavaScript programming documentation.

In addition to working on documentation, Lee has been involved as a technical editor or author for various editions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Bible, AutoCAD for Dummies, AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies, AutoCAD 3D Modeling Workbook for Dummies, and Mastering AutoCAD for Mac. He has also written white papers on customization for Autodesk and a variety of articles on customization and programming for AUGIWorld, published by AUGI®.

AutoCAD^® Platform Customization

User Interface, AutoLISP^®, VBA, and Beyond

Acknowledgments

About the Author