2011
Table Of Contents
- Contents
- Basic Customization
- Overview of Customization
- Organize Program and Support Files
- Customize a Publish to Web Template
- Define Custom Commands
- Record and Modify Action Macros
- Custom Linetypes
- Custom Hatch Patterns
- User Interface Customization
- Understand User Interface Customization
- Work with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor
- Create and Manage Customization Files
- Customize Commands
- Overview of Commands
- Create, Edit, and Reuse Commands
- Create Macros
- Overview of Macros
- Use Special Control Characters in Macros
- Pause for User Input in Macros
- Provide International Support in Macros
- Use Built-in Commands in Macros
- Repeat Commands in Macros
- Use Single Object Selection Mode in Macros
- Use Macros to Swap User Interface Elements
- Use Conditional Expressions in Macros
- Use AutoLISP in Macros
- Control the Display of Command Items
- Assign Search Tags
- Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands
- Create Status Line Help Messages
- Assign, Create, and Manage Images for Commands
- Customize User Interface Elements
- Load an AutoLISP File
- Customize Workspaces
- Transfer and Migrate Customization
- Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor FAQs
- DIESEL
- Slides and Command Scripts
- Introduction to Programming Interfaces
- Shapes and Shape Fonts
- Overview of Shape Files
- Create Shape Definition Files
- Shape Descriptions
- Vector Length and Direction Code
- Special Codes
- Use Special Codes
- Codes 0, 1, and 2: End of Shape and Draw Mode Control
- Codes 3 and 4: Size Control
- Codes 5 and 6: Location Save/Restore
- Code 7: Subshape
- Codes 8 and 9: X-Y Displacements
- Code 00A: Octant Arc
- Code 00B: Fractional Arc
- Codes 00C and 00D: Bulge-Specified Arcs
- Code 00E: Flag Vertical Text Command
- Text Font Descriptions
- Sample Files
- Big Font Descriptions
- Unicode Font Descriptions
- Superscripts and Subscripts in SHX Files
- Index
The advantage of implementing an ActiveX interface for AutoCAD is twofold:
■ Programmatic access to AutoCAD drawings is opened up to many more
programming environments. Before ActiveX Automation, developers were
limited to an AutoLISP or C++ interface.
■ Sharing data with other Windows applications, such as Microsoft Excel
and Microsoft Word, is made dramatically easier.
For detailed information about using VBA to control AutoCAD ActiveX
Automation, see the ActiveX and VBA Developer's Guide and ActiveX and VBA
Reference in the Help system. To display Developer Help, on the InfoCenter
toolbar, to the right of the Help button, click the drop-down arrow. From the
menu, click Additional Resources ➤ Developer Help.
For example, you might want to prompt for input, set preferences, make a
selection set, or retrieve drawing data. You can decide on the controller to
use, depending on the type of manipulation.
Using Automation, you can create and manipulate AutoCAD objects from any
application that serves as an Automation controller. Thus, Automation enables
macro programming across applications, a capability that does not exist in
AutoLISP. With Automation you can combine the features of many applications
into a single application.
The displayed objects are called Automation objects. Automation objects make
methods, properties, and events available. Methods are functions that perform
an action on an object. Properties are functions that set or return information
about the state of an object. Events are user-initiated actions or occurrences to
which a program responds.
Virtually any type of application can access the displayed Automation objects
within AutoCAD. These applications can be stand-alone executables, dynamic
linked library (DLL) files, and macros within applications such as Microsoft
Word or Microsoft Excel. The most common of these is most likely the
stand-alone executable. If you are using applications from application
developers, follow their instructions for installation and use of their product.
See also:
■ ActiveX Automation and VBA
430 | Chapter 7 Introduction to Programming Interfaces