ActiveX and VBA Developer's Guide

• 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