2012

Table Of Contents
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 | 429