2013

Table Of Contents
A custom object is a type of object created by an ObjectARX
®
(AutoCAD
Run-Time Extension) application, which typically has more specialized
capabilities than standard AutoCAD objects. Custom objects include parametric
solids (AutoCAD
®
Mechanical), intelligently interactive door symbols
(AutoCAD
®
Architecture), polygon objects (AutoCAD
®
Map 3D), and associative
dimension objects (AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT).
In addition to Autodesk, many software vendors use ObjectARX to write
programs that create graphical and nongraphical custom objects that are useful
in their AutoCAD based applications.
Proxy Objects
A proxy object is a substitute for a custom object when the ObjectARX
application that created the custom object is not available to AutoCAD or
other host applications. Later, when the application is available, the proxy
object is replaced by the custom object.
Proxy objects have significantly reduced capabilities compared to their
corresponding custom objects. The extent to which proxy objects can be edited
is determined by the parent ObjectARX application. For example, operations
such as erasing and moving an object, or changing object properties, may or
may not be possible on a proxy object, depending on the application that
created it.
When you open a drawing, you might see a message listing the total number
of proxy objects in the drawing (both graphical and nongraphical) and the
name of the missing application and provides additional information about
the proxy object type and display state. You can use the dialog box to control
the display of proxy objects.
Object Enablers
An object enabler is a tool that provides specific viewing and standard editing
access to a custom object in the host applications when the application that
created the custom object is not present.
Object Enablers allow custom objects in a drawing to behave with more
intelligence than proxy graphics. Object enablers also facilitate workgroup
collaboration when using other Autodesk products.
If the ObjectARX application is not installed on your system, you can check
for available Object Enablers on the Web. For example, if you receive a drawing
that contains objects that were created in AutoCAD Architecture, but you
don't have that application installed on your system, the AEC Object Enabler
is downloaded so you can view those drawings as they were intended.
Work with Data in Other Formats | 703