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 second element is the AutoCAD ActiveX Automation Interface, which
establishes messages (communication) with AutoCAD objects. Programming
in VBA requires a fundamental understanding of ActiveX Automation. A
description of the AutoCAD ActiveX Automation Interface can be found in
the ActiveX and VBA Developer's Guide 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.
The third element that defines VBA programming is VBA itself. It has its own
set of objects, keywords, constants, and so forth, that provide program flow,
control, debugging, and execution. The Microsoft extensive Help system for
VBA is included with AutoCAD VBA.
The AutoCAD ActiveX/VBA interface provides several advantages over other
AutoCAD API environments:
■ Speed. Running in-process with VBA, ActiveX applications are faster than
AutoLISP applications.
■ Ease of use. The programming language and development environment are
easy-to-use and come installed with AutoCAD.
■ Windows interoperability. ActiveX and VBA are designed to be used with
other Windows applications and provide an excellent path for
communication of information across applications.
■ Rapid prototyping. The rapid interface development of VBA provides the
perfect environment for prototyping applications, even if those applications
will be developed eventually in another language.
■ Programmer base. Programmers already use Visual Basic 6. AutoCAD
ActiveX/VBA opens up AutoCAD customization and application
development to these programmers as well as those who will learn Visual
Basic 6 in the future.
Quick Reference
Commands
VBAIDE
Displays the Visual Basic Editor.
VBALOAD
Loads a global VBA project into the current work session.
Overview of AutoCAD VBA | 433