ActiveX and VBA Developer's Guide
Download the archived PDF
Table of contents
-
Introduction
-
Overview of AutoCAD ActiveX Technology
-
Overview of AutoCAD Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Interface
-
How VBA Is Implemented in AutoCAD
-
Use the Microsoft .NET Framework
-
Dependencies and Restrictions
-
AutoCAD ActiveX and VBA Together
-
How This Guide Is Organized
-
For More Information
-
Sample Code
-
Migrate Automation Projects
-
New Objects
-
Changed Items
-
How to Migrate Projects
-
Getting Started with VBA
-
Understand Embedded and Global VBA Projects
-
Organize Your Projects with the VBA Manager
-
Load an Existing Project
-
Virus Alert
-
Unload a Project
-
Embed a Project into a Drawing
-
Extract a Project from a Drawing
-
Create a New Project
-
Save Your Project
-
Handle Your Macros
-
Use the Macros Dialog Box
-
Run a Macro
-
Edit a Macro
-
Step into a Macro
-
Set the Project Options
-
Edit Your Projects with the VBA IDE
-
View Project Information
-
Define the Components in a Project
-
Objects
-
Forms
-
Standard Modules
-
Class Modules
-
References
-
Add New Components
-
Import Existing Components
-
Edit Components
-
Use the Code Window
-
Use the UserForm Window
-
Name Your Project
-
Save Your Project
-
Reference Other VBA Projects
-
Set the VBA IDE Options
-
Editor
-
Editor Format
-
General
-
Docking
-
Perform an Introductory Exercise
-
More Information
-
AutoCAD VBA Project Terms
-
AutoCAD VBA Commands
-
ActiveX Automation Basics
-
Understand the AutoCAD Object Model
-
The Application Object
-
The Document Object
-
The Collection Objects
-
The Graphical and Nongraphical Objects
-
The Preferences, Plot, and Utility Objects
-
Use New AutoCAD Features
-
Access the Object Hierarchy
-
Reference Objects in the Object Hierarchy
-
Access the Application Object
-
Collection Objects
-
Access a Collection
-
Add a New Member to a Collection Object
-
Iterate through a Collection Object
-
Delete a Member of a Collection Object
-
Understand Properties and Methods
-
Understand Parent Objects
-
Locate the Type Library
-
Use Variants in Methods and Properties
-
What Is a Variant?
-
Use Variants for Array Data
-
Convert Arrays to Variants
-
Interpret Variant Arrays
-
Using Other Programming Languages
-
Convert the VBA Code to VB
-
Control the AutoCAD Environment
-
Open, Save, and Close Drawings
-
Set AutoCAD Preferences
-
Database Preferences
-
Control the Application Window
-
Control the Drawing Windows
-
Position and Size the Document Window
-
Use Zoom
-
Define a Zoom Window
-
Scale a View
-
Center Objects
-
Display Drawing Limits and Extents
-
Use Named Views
-
Use Tiled Viewports
-
Split the Active Viewport
-
Make Another Tiled Viewport Current
-
Update the Geometry in the Document Window
-
Reset Active Objects
-
Set and Return System Variables
-
Draw with Precision
-
Adjust Snap and Grid Alignment
-
Use Ortho Mode
-
Draw Construction Lines
-
Create Construction XLines
-
Query Construction XLines
-
Create Rays
-
Query Rays
-
Calculate Points and Values
-
Calculate Areas
-
Calculate a Defined Area
-
Prompt for User Input
-
GetString Method
-
GetPoint Method
-
GetKeyword Method
-
Control User Input
-
Access the AutoCAD Command Line
-
Work with No Documents Open
-
Import Other File Formats
-
Export to Other File Formats
-
Create and Edit AutoCAD Entities
-
Create Objects
-
Determine the Container Object
-
Create Lines
-
Create Curved Objects
-
Create Point Objects
-
Create Solid-Filled Areas
-
Work with Regions
-
Create Regions
-
Create Composite Regions
-
Unite Regions
-
Find the Intersection of Two Regions
-
Create Hatches
-
Create the Hatch Object
-
Associate a Hatch
-
Assign the Hatch Pattern Type and Name
-
Define the Hatch Boundaries
-
Work with Selection Sets
-
Create a Selection Set
-
Add Objects to a Selection Set
-
Define Rules for Selection Sets
-
Use Filter Lists to Define Selection Set Rules
-
Specify Multiple Criteria in a Selection Set Filter List
-
Add Complexity to Your Filter List Conditions
-
Use Wild-Card Patterns in Selection Set Filter Criteria
-
Filter for Extended Data
-
Display Information About a Selection Set
-
Remove Objects from a Selection Set
-
Edit Objects
-
Work with Named Objects
-
Purge Named Objects
-
Rename Objects
-
Copy Objects
-
Copy an Object to the Same Location
-
Copy Multiple Objects
-
Offset Objects
-
Mirror Objects
-
Array Objects
-
Create Polar Arrays
-
Create Rectangular Arrays
-
Move Objects
-
Move Objects Along a Vector
-
Rotate Objects
-
Delete Objects
-
Scale Objects
-
Transform Objects
-
Extend and Trim Objects
-
Explode Objects
-
Edit Polylines
-
Edit Splines
-
Edit Hatches
-
Edit Hatch Boundaries
-
Edit Hatch Patterns
-
Use Layers, Colors, and Linetypes
-
Work with Layers
-
Sort Layers and Linetypes
-
Create and Name Layers
-
Make a Layer Active
-
Turn Layers On and Off
-
Freeze and Thaw Layers
-
Lock and Unlock Layers
-
Assign Color to a Layer
-
Assign a Linetype to a Layer
-
Delete Layers
-
Work with Colors
-
Work with Linetypes
-
Make a Linetype Active
-
Rename Linetypes
-
Delete Linetypes
-
Change Linetype Descriptions
-
Specify Linetype Scale
-
Assign Layers, Colors, and Linetypes to Objects
-
Change an Object's Layer
-
Change an Object's Color
-
Change an Object's Linetype
-
Save and Restore Layer Settings
-
Understand How AutoCAD Saves Layer Settings
-
Use the LayerStateManager to Manage Layer Settings
-
Save Layer Settings
-
Restore Layer Settings
-
Export and Import Saved Layer Settings
-
Add Text to Drawings
-
Work with Text Styles
-
Create and Modify Text Styles
-
Assign Fonts
-
Use TrueType Fonts
-
Use Unicode and Big Fonts
-
Set Text Height
-
Set Obliquing Angle
-
Set Text Generation Flag
-
Use Line Text (Text)
-
Create Line Text
-
Format Line Text
-
Align Line Text
-
Change Line Text
-
Use Multiline Text (Mtext)
-
Create Multiline Text
-
Format Multiline Text
-
Use Unicode Characters, Control Codes, and Special Characters
-
Substitute Fonts
-
Specify an Alternative Default Font
-
Check Spelling
-
Dimensions and Tolerances
-
Dimensioning Concepts
-
Parts of a Dimension
-
Define the Dimension System Variables
-
Set Dimension Text Styles
-
Understand Leader Lines
-
Understand Associative Dimensions
-
Create Dimensions
-
Create Linear Dimensions
-
Create Radial Dimensions
-
Create Angular Dimensions
-
Create Ordinate Dimensions
-
Edit Dimensions
-
Override Dimension Text
-
Work with Dimension Styles
-
Create, Modify, and Copy Dimension Styles
-
Override the Dimension Style
-
Dimension in Model Space and Paper Space
-
Create Leaders and Annotation
-
Create Leader Lines
-
Add the Annotation to a Leader Line
-
Leader Associativity
-
Edit Leader Associativity
-
Edit Leaders
-
Use Geometric Tolerances
-
Create Geometric Tolerances
-
Edit Tolerances
-
Customize Toolbars and Menus
-
Understand the MenuBar and MenuGroups Collections
-
Load Menu Groups
-
Change the Menu Bar
-
Insert Menus in the Menu Bar
-
Remove Menus from the Menu Bar
-
Rearrange Menu Items on the Menu Bar
-
Create and Edit Pull-Down and Shortcut Menus
-
Create New Menus
-
Add New Menu Items to a Menu
-
Specify the Index Parameter
-
Specify the Label Parameter
-
Specify the Tag Parameter
-
Specify the Macro Parameter
-
Add Separators to a Menu
-
Assign an Accelerator Key to a Menu Item
-
Create Cascading Submenus
-
Delete Menu Items from a Menu
-
Explore the Properties of Menu Items
-
Create and Edit Toolbars
-
Create New Toolbars
-
Add New Toolbar Buttons to a Toolbar
-
Add Separators to a Toolbar
-
Define the Toolbar Button Image
-
Create Flyout Toolbars
-
Float and Dock Toolbars
-
Delete Toolbar Buttons from a Toolbar
-
Explore the Properties of Toolbar Items
-
Create Macros
-
Macro Characters Mapped to ASCII Equivalents
-
Macro Termination
-
Pause for User Input
-
Cancel a Command
-
Macro Repetition
-
Use of Single Object Selection Mode
-
Create Status-Line Help for Menu Items and Toolbar Items
-
Add Entries to the Right-Click Menu
-
Use Events
-
Understand the Events in AutoCAD
-
Guidelines for Event Handlers
-
Handle Application Level Events
-
Enable Application Level Events
-
Handle Document Level Events
-
Enable Document Level Events in Environments Other Than VBA
-
Code Document Level Events in Environments Other Than VBA
-
Code Document Level Events in VBA
-
Handle Object Level Events
-
Enable the Object Level Event
-
Work in Three-Dimensional Space
-
Specify 3D Coordinates
-
Define a User Coordinate System
-
Convert Coordinates
-
Create 3D Objects
-
Create Wireframes
-
Create Meshes
-
Create Polyface Meshes
-
Create Solids
-
Edit in 3D
-
Rotate in 3D
-
Array in 3D
-
Mirror Objects Along a Plane
-
Edit 3D Solids
-
Define Layouts and Plot
-
Model Space and Paper Space
-
Layouts
-
Layouts and Blocks
-
Plot Configurations
-
Layout Settings
-
Paper Size and Units
-
Adjust the Plot Origin
-
Set the Plot Area
-
Set the Plot Scale
-
Set the Lineweight Scale
-
Set the Plot Device
-
Viewports
-
Floating Viewports
-
Switch to a Paper Space Layout
-
Switch to the Model Space Layout
-
Create Paper Space Viewports
-
Change Viewport Views and Content
-
Scale Views Relative to Paper Space
-
Scale Pattern Linetypes in Paper Space
-
Use Shaded Viewports
-
Plot Your Drawing
-
Perform Basic Plotting
-
Plot from Model Space
-
Plot from Paper Space
-
Advanced Drawing and Organizational Techniques
-
Work with Raster Images
-
Attach and Scale a Raster Image
-
Manage Raster Images
-
Change Image File Paths
-
Name Images
-
Modify Images and Image Boundaries
-
Show and Hide Image Boundaries
-
Change Image Layer, Boundary Color, and Boundary Linetype
-
Change Image Scale, Rotation, Location, Width, and Height
-
Change Image Visibility
-
Modify Bitonal Image Color and Transparency
-
Adjust Image Brightness, Contrast, and Fade
-
Clip Images
-
Change the Clipping Boundary
-
Show and Hide the Clipping Boundary
-
Clip a raster image boundary
-
Use Blocks and Attributes
-
Work with Blocks
-
Define Blocks
-
Insert Blocks
-
Explode a Block Reference
-
Redefine a Block
-
Work with Attributes
-
Create Attribute Definitions and Attribute References
-
Edit Attribute Definitions
-
Extract Attribute Information
-
Use External References
-
Update Xrefs
-
Attach Xrefs
-
Overlay Xrefs
-
Detach Xrefs
-
Reload Xrefs
-
Unload Xrefs
-
Bind Xrefs
-
Clip Blocks and Xrefs
-
Demand Loading and Xref Performance
-
Assign and Retrieve Extended Data
-
Develop Applications with VBA
-
More VBA Terminology
-
Forms in VBA
-
Design and Run Mode
-
Add Controls to a Form
-
Change the Size and Placement of a Control
-
Use Formatting Controls
-
Change the Properties of a Control
-
Add Code to a Control
-
Display and Hide Forms
-
Load and Unload Forms
-
Modal Forms
-
Handle Errors
-
Define Application Error Types
-
Trap Runtime Errors
-
Respond to Trapped Errors
-
Respond to AutoCAD User Input Errors
-
Encrypt VBA Code Modules
-
Run a VBA Macro from a Toolbar or Menu
-
Automatically Load a VBA Project
-
Automatically Run a VBA Macro
-
Automatically Open the VBA IDE Whenever a Project Is Loaded
-
Work in a Zero Document State
-
Distribute Your Application
-
Distribute Visual Basic 6 Applications
-
64-bit Migration
-
AutoCAD Object Instantiation in VBA
-
Handling ObjectId
-
Appendix of 32-bit Methods
-
Interact with Other Applications and Windows APIs
-
Interact with Visual LISP Applications
-
Interact with Other Windows Applications
-
Reference the ActiveX Object Library of Other Applications
-
Create an Instance of the Other Application
-
Program with Objects from Other Applications
-
Quit the Other Application
-
Access Windows APIs from VBA
-
ActiveX/VBA Tutorial: Design the Garden Path
-
Check Your Environment
-
Define the Goal
-
Write the First Function
-
Get Input
-
Declare Variables
-
Enter the gpuser Subroutine
-
Draw the Path Outline
-
Draw the Tiles
-
Tie It All Together
-
Step Through the Code
-
Execute the Macro
-
Add a Dialog Box Interface
-
Create the Dialog Box
-
Use the Project Window to Navigate Your Project
-
Update the Existing Code
-
Add Code to the Dialog Box
-
Visual LISP and ActiveX/VBA Comparison
-
Visual LISP and ActiveX/VBA Comparison