TheActiveXObjectModelforAutoCADLandDesktopisanActiveXandVBAinterfacethatenablesdeveloperstocreatedynamicandpowerfulapplications.ThisguidedescribestheconceptofexposingobjectsthroughanActiveXinterfaceandprogrammingthoseobjectsusingvariouslanguagesincludingtheVisualBasicforApplicationsprogrammingenvironment.

Thesection“GettingStarted”coverstheexamplecodefoundinthehelpreferenceandthesampleapplicationsthatareinstalledwiththeActiveXObjectModel.Refertothesection“UnderstandingtheActiveXObjectModel”forspecificinformationonfeaturesofAutoCADLandDesktopthatcanbeaccessedthroughtheActiveXObjectModel.Inthesection“ProgrammingGuidelines”therearetipsandrecommendationsfordevelopingapplicationsusingvariousprogramminglanguagesanddevelopmentenvironments.

IfyouarenewtotheVisualBasicforApplicationsprogrammingenvironmentorAutoCADActiveXtechnology,pleaserefertotheAutoCADActiveXandVBADeveloper'sGuidebeforeusingthisguide.

TopicsinthisSection:

ReferencingtheAutomationTypeLibraries

RunningtheExampleCodeinthisGuideReviewingtheSampleApplications

GettingStartedIntroduction

WheneveranewAutoCADLandDesktopprojectiscreated,thesupportingtypelibrariesmustbereferenced.AutoCADLandDesktoprequiresreferencetothreetypelibrariesbeforeanycodingbegins.Thethreetypelibrariesare:

AECBase4.0ApplicationLibrary(AecXUiBase40.tlb)AECBase4.0ObjectLibrary(AecXBase40.tlb)AutodeskLand4.0TypeLibrary

TheselibrariesprovideaccesstoalltheAutoCADLandDesktopObjects,Properties,Methods,andEvents.TheVBAIDEReferencesdialogallowsyoutosetthetypelibrariesforuse.

ToopentheReferencesdialogbox1. FromtheToolsmenu,chooseReferences.2. ScrollthroughthelistandchecktherequiredAutoCADLand

Desktoptypelibraries.3. ClickOK.

ReferencingtheAutomationTypeLibraries

AlloftheexamplecodeintheReferencecanbecopiedfromthehelpfiles,pasteddirectlyintotheAutoCADVBAenvironment,andthenexecutedwiththefollowingrequirements:

ThecurrentactivedrawinginAutoCADmustbeadrawingcreatedwithAutoCADLandDesktopopentomodelspace.

Theactiveprojectmustcontainobjectsordatathattheexampleistryingtoaccessforuse.Inordertoprovideclearandsimpleexamples,alltheexamplesprovidedinthereferenceassumethattheBasePointandNorthRotationisthesameastheAutoCADWorldcoordinatesystemusingthedefaultXandYsettings.IfyouuseanyoftheexamplesinyourowncodemakesureyoutestforBasePointandNorthRotationandprovideappropriateconversionwhennecessary.SomeexamplescontainuserinputmethodssuchasUtility.GetPoint,whichcanbecalledfromamacro,butcannotbecalledfromamodaldialog.

Toruntheexamples

1. CopytheexamplefromthehelpfileintoanemptyVBAcodemodule.

2. AddareferencetotheAECBaseApplication,AECBaseObject,andAutoCADLandTypeLibraries.

3. VerifythatAutoCADhasanAutoCADLandDesktopdrawingopentomodelspace.

4. Verifythattheactiveprojecthasdatafortheexampletoworkwith.5. OpentheMacrosdialogboxbyenteringthecommandVBARUN.6. ChoosethemacroandpressRun.

NOTE:TheexamplesareprovidedtosimplyshowhowaspecificObject,Property,Method,orEventcanbeused.Noprovisionsforerrortrappingareprovided.Codeoptimization,formatorlogichavebeenkeptsimple,andtoaminimum,forthesakeofclarity.

RunningtheExampleCode

TheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXandVBAActiveXObjectModelcomeswithseveralsamplesthatdemonstratehowtocreateyourownutilitiesandextensionstoAutoCADLandDesktop.Wehaveprovidedsamplesforeachofthemostcommondevelopmentenvironments:

VisualBasicforApplications

ProjectFindPointGroupFncsPointGroupReportDraw3dSurfaceAlignmentUtilitiesDrapeLinePointGroupTableParcelAreaDrawCrossSection

VisualBasic

LockWatcher

VisualLisp

CogoPoints

ObjectARX

AeccNewPointGroupPointExport

VisualC++

EventLogger,

Thislistingprovidesthename,description,andlocationofthemainsourcecodefileforeachsampleapplication.Manysampleapplicationshavesupportfilesthatcanbefoundinthesamedirectoryasthemain

ReviewingtheSampleApplications

sourcecodefile.

SampleApplications:

Sample\Land\Vba\ProjectFind.dvb

Description:VBAdialogforfindingAutoCADLandDesktopprojects.

Macros:

ProjectFind

Thismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatyoucanusesearchforaprojectbasedonapathandfiltersusingwildcards,andoptionallyloadadrawingfromthatprojectintoAutoCADLandDesktop.

Sample\Land\Vba\PointGroupFncs.dvb

Description:VBAfunctionstomodifyPointGroups.

Macros:

AddPointsToGroupThismacroaddsapointlisttotheselectedPointGroup.ThepointlistcanberetrievedfromanAutoCADdrawingortypedin.

CreateGroupByDesc

Thismacrodisplaysalistofalluniquepointdescriptions.YoucanthencreateanewPointGroupbasedonthatuniquedescription.ThenthemacroaddsallpointswiththatdescriptiontothatnewPointGroup.

DisplayGroupsByPoint

GivenaPointnumber,themacrodisplaysallpointgroupsthatcontainthatPointnumber.ThePointnumbercanbetypedorselectedfroman

AutoCADdrawing.

Sample\Land\Vba\PointGroupReport.dot

Description:VBAmacrothatcreatesacustomPointGroupreport.

Macros:

PointGroupReportThismacrowillacceptcustomerdataandprintout:customerdata,projectstatistics,andmultiplePointGroups.

NOTE:Tousethewordtemplate,youmusthavetheAutoCADLandDesktoprunningandadrawingopenwithapointdatabasecreatedinitsproject.LocatethePointGroupReport.dotwithExploreranddoubleclickonthefilename.ThiswillopenWordandbeginanewdocumentusingPointGroupReport.dotasthetemplate.FromtheToolsmenuopentheMacrosdialogandselectthemacronamedPointGroupReport.SelecttheRunbuttontodisplaythePointGroupDisplayDialog.Thisdialogcreatesaclientdatasectionandapointtablelistingforeachselectedpointgroup.

ToeditthismacrousetheVisualBasicEditorfromtheMacroselectionoftheToolsmenuinMicrosoftWord.

Sample\Land\Vba\Draw3dSurface.dvb

Description:VBAdialogfordrawingaSurfaceas3dFaces.

Macros:

DrawSurface

ThismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatyoucanusetoselectaSurfaceandthendrawallvisibleSurfaceFacesasAutoCAD3dFaces.Alldrawingisdoneonthecurrent

drawingsurface.

Sample\Land\Vba\AlignmentUtilities.dvb

Description:VBAdialogformakingacopyofanalignmentinthealignmentdatabase.

Macros:

CopyAlignment

Thismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatyoucanusetoselectanalignmentandthenmakeacopyofthatalignment.ThealignmentisnotdrawninthecurrentAutoCADdrawing.

Sample\Land\Vba\DrapeLine.dvb

Description:VBAdialogforprojectinganalignmenttoasurface,anddrawingtheresultasasetoflines.

Macros:

DrapeLineThismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatletstheuserselectanalignmentandasurface,anddrapeaprojectedseriesoflineentitiesontothesurfaceonthecurrentlayer.

Sample\Land\Vba\PointGroupTable.dvb

Description:VBAdialogforaddingapointtabletothedrawing.

Macros:

PointGroupTable

Thismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatallowstheusertoselectapointgroup,andinsertsatableonthecurrentlayerthatidentifiespointnumber,eastings,northingsandelevations.

Sample\Land\Vba\ParcelArea.dvb

Description:VBAdialogfordisplayingthetotalareaofasetofparcels.

Macros:

ParcelAreaThismacrolaunchesamodaldialogthatallowstheusertoselectoneormoreparcels,anddisplaysthetotalareaintheproperunits.

Sample\Land\Vba\DrawCrossSection.dvb

Description:VBAutilityfordrawingacrosssectionofthefirststationofthecurrentalignment.

Macros:

DrawCrossSection

ThismacrowilldrawingacrosssectioninModelSpaceusingaverticalscalefactorof10.ItimportstheCrossSectionblock,andthendraftseachcrosssectionsurfacesasalightweightpolyline.Thecodedemonstrateshowtoprocesstherightandleftsidesofthesurfacesproperly.

Sample\Land\ActiveX\LockWatcher

Description:AVBapplicationformonitoringmulti-userlocksforaproject.

NOTE:TheVBsampleLockWatcherwasdevelopedusingVisualBasicversion5.0.ItisalsocompatiblewithVB4-32andVB6.

Sample\Land\VLisp\CogoPoints.lsp

Description:VariousVisualLispfunctionstoaccesstheProjectandCogointerfaces.ThislispfileisusefulforlearningthesyntaxofActiveXandVLisp.

Functions:

loadAecProjLoadstheAutoCAD,Aecc.Application,andtheActiveProjectinterfaces.Thisroutinemustberunbeforeallotherfunctions.

cleanup Releasesallglobalinterfaces.

ProjectStats Displaystheactiveproject'sproperties.

PointGroups ListsthepointgroupnamesusingtheItem()method.

PointGroups2 ListsthepointgroupnamesusingEnumeration.

addCgPoint AddsanewCogoPoint.

Sample\Land\Arx\AeccNew

Description:ThisARXprovidesthecommandlineequivalentsofthe

NewandOpendialogs.ItdemonstratestheuseoftheACRX_CMD_SESSIONandACRX_CMD_NOINTERNALLOCKflagsforregisteredcommandsthatusetheDocument.NewProjectBasedandDocument.OpenProjectBasedActiveXmethods.

NOTE:Youmustmodifyprojectsettingsfortheincludeddirectoriesandthelibrarytomatchyoursystem.Thelocationsofthefollowingtypelibrariesmustalsobemodifiedinstdafx.h:acad.tlb,aecxbase.tlb,aecxuibase.tlbandlandauto.tlb.

Functions:

aeccnew Thispromptsyouforargumentsandcreatesanewproject/drawing.

aeccopen Thispromptsyouforargumentsandopensanexistingproject/drawing.

Sample\LandArx\PointGroup

Description:Thisapplicationdisplaysthecurrentlydefinedpointgroupsanddisplaysthepointsforanexistingpointgroup.

NOTE:Youmustmodifyprojectsettingsfortheincludeddirectoriesandthelibrarypathstomatchyoursystem.Thelocationsofthefollowingtypelibrariesmustalsobemodifiedinstdafx.h:acad.tlb,aecxbase.tlb,aecxuibase.tlbandlandauto.tlb.

Functions:

c:pointgroup ListsroutinesforPointGroup.arx.

c:listpointgroups Listsallpointgroupsforthecurrentproject.

listgrouppoints Givesapointgroupname,willlistallofthepoints.

Sample\Land\Arx\PointExport

Description:ApplicationwillexportallCogopointsintoanASCIIfile.

NOTE:Youmustmodifyprojectsettingsfortheincludeddirectoriesandthelibrarypathstomatchyoursystem.Thelocationsofthefollowingtypelibrariesmustalsobemodifiedinstdafx.h:acad.tlb,aecxbase.tlb,aecxuibase.tlbandlandauto.tlb.

Functions:

pointexport ExportsallCogopointstoanASCIIfile.

Sample\Land\ActiveX\EventLogger

Description:AC++applicationformonitoringalignmentevents.

Thissampleapplicationdisplaysadialogwithalistboxthatrecordsallalignmentevents(whenanalignmentorstationequationiswrittentothedatabase).ThesampledemonstrateshowtoimplementaneventsinkinaCOMobjectusingMFCandATL.

TheActiveXObjectModelforAutoCADLandDesktopexposesfeaturesandprovidesaccesstoprojectdatathroughanobjecthierarchy.Thishierarchyprovidesaconvenientandconsistentprogramminginterfacetoyourprojects.

Theobjecthierarchycanbegroupedintothefollowingcategories:

AlignmentsPlanalignmentscanbedefinedfromtangent,curve,andspiralobjects.YoucanalsomanageStationEquations.

ProjectManagementThisincludesextensionstotheAutoCADobjectmodelsothatyoucanmanageLandDesktopProjects.ItalsoprovidesaccesstoPreferencesandProjectPrototypes.

COMWrappersforARXObjectsTheseareprovidedforthePoint,Contour,andCurveTextARXobjectsthatresideinyourdrawings.Youcanmodifyexistingobjects,oraddanddeleteobjectsfromthedrawing.Inaddition,programmaticaccesstotheContourStyledictionaryobjectisprovidedsothatyoucanmanagetheappearanceofContourobjects.

CoordinateGeometryTheseobjectsallowyoutomanageyourCogoPointdatabase,PointGroups,andDescriptionKeys.

SurfacesTerrainmanagementisexposedthroughacollectionofsurfacesthathaveinputsandgeneratedoutputs.YoucandefineasurfacefromPointFiles,PointGroups,Boundaries,Breaklines,Contourdata,orDEMFiles.Youcanbuildasurfaceandawatershedmodel.ThegeneratedTinPoints,Edges,FacesandElevationContoursareprovidedasoutputs.

UnderstandingTheActiveXObjectModelIntroduction

ParcelsParcelobjectscanbedefinedfromlineandcurveobjects.Propertiessuchasarea,perimeter,centroid,andnamecanalsobeaccessed.

Profiles,CrossSections,andSuperelevationsTheActiveXObjectmodelprovidesaccesstoprofiles,crosssections,andsuperelevations.Youcanalsoaccesstheprofilesandcrosssectionblocksinthedrawingforcustomdrafting.

TopicsinthisSection:

TheBigPictureProjectManagementAlignmentsSurfacesCogoPointsProfilesCrossSectionsandSuperelevationsParcelsCOMWrappers

ActiveXObjectModelTheActiveXObjectModelisaninterfaceintotheAutoCADLandDesktopproduct.ItisnotareplacementforAutoCAD'sActiveXinterfacebutisanextensionofthatinterface.

ThroughtheActiveXObjectModelyoucancreateandedityourprojectdata.ThroughAutoCADActiveX,youcancreateandmodifydrawingentities.Thereisverylittleoverlapbetweenthetwo.TheActiveXObjectModelprovidesverylittledrawinginteraction.TheActiveXObjectModelhasnouserinterface.AutoCADActiveXprovidesthese(andothers)features.UsingAutoCADActiveXyoucandrawandeditAutoCADentities,aswellasprompttheuserforentityselectionorcreation.

ByusingboththeActiveXObjectModelandtheAutoCADActiveXinterface,youcaneasilycustomizeAutoCADLandDesktopforyourbusiness.

ActiveXObjectModelVersionsWhendesigningyourapplications,youcandetectwhatversionoftheActiveXObjectModelisinstalled,andbehaveappropriatelyaccordingtotheavailablefeatures.IfyouareusingActiveXAutomation(usingIDispatchmethodssuchasInvokeandGetIdsOfNames),youcantrytoaccessanewfeaturewiththeappropriateerrorhandling(onerrorhandler,try-catchblock,etc.).However,ifyouarecreatingcompiledapplications(vtablebinding),youmustchecktheprogramIDsthatareregisteredfortheapplicationobject:

Subversion()DimappAsAeccApplicationDimversion2AsBooleanDimversion4AsBooleanversion2=Falseversion4=False

TheBigPicture

Check1:OnErrorGoToCheck2Setapp=ThisDrawing.Application.GetInterfaceObject("Aecc.Application.2")version2=TrueCheck2:OnErrorGoToDoneSetapp=ThisDrawing.Application.GetInterfaceObject("Aecc.Application.4")version4=TrueDone:Ifversion4ThenDebug.PrintvbCrLf&"LandDesktop2007functionalityisavailable."ElseIfversion2ThenDebug.PrintvbCrLf&"LandDesktop2ifunctionalityisavailable."&_"Donottrytoinvoke2007featuresonthisdesktop."ElseDebug.PrintvbCrLf&"NoActiveXfunctionalityforLandDesktopisavailable."EndIfEndSub

LoadingCivilEngineeringFeaturesToaccesscivlengineeringfeatures,suchasAlignmentProfiles,CrossSectionsandSuperelevations,youmusthaveAutoCADCivil3DLandDesktopCompanion2009running.The"AutoCADCivil3DLandDesktopCompanion2009"versionofLandDesktophasthecivilengineeringandsurveyfeaturesincluded.TheversionofLandDesktopnamed"AutoCADLandDesktop2009",sometimesreferredtoasthestand-aloneversionofLandDesktop,doesnothavethecivilengineeringandsurveyfeaturesinstalled.YoumaygetanerrorcodeAECC_E_CIVIL_NOT_LOADED(ormessage"CivilDesktop\civilengineeringfeatureshas\havenotbeenloaded.")whenyoutrytoaccessprofileobjectsontheversionofLandDesktopthatdoesnotcontaincivil

engineeringfeatures("AutoCADLandDesktop2009").

IfyouhaveAutoCADCivil3DLandDesktopCompanion2009installed,thecivilengineeringfeaturesareautomaticallyloaded.

DataValidationTheAutoCADLandDesktopproductgetsinputthroughmenus,dialogs,commandlineinput,andthepointerdevice.Inmostcasestheprogramvalidatesthisinputbeforesendingthedatatothefunctions.TheActiveXObjectModelexposestheprogramsfunctions,bypassingtheAutoCADLandDesktopinterface.WhenusingTheActiveXObjectModel,youareresponsiblefortheinterface.ThemethodusedforcollectingandvalidatingthedataiscriticaltothedesignofanyprogramwrittenforusewiththeActiveXObjectModel.ProvidingincorrectdatatotheMethodsorPropertiesprovidedintheActiveXObjectModelcanresultininvalidresultsandincorrectdataintheprojectsdatabases.

ProjectsandDrawingsAutoCADLandDesktopisproject-based.ThemajorityofdataforaprojectisstoredexternallyfromanAutoCADdrawing.ThisincludesCOGOpoints,surfaces,andalignments.ADrawingisconsideredpartofthatprojectdata.Adrawingisassociatedwithoneproject.However,aprojectcanhavemultipledrawingsassociatedwithit.Adrawingisaviewintotheprojectdata.Becauseyoucanhavemultipledrawingsassociatedwithaproject,youcanhavemultipleviewsoftheproject.Inonedrawing,youmighthavealloftheCOGOpoints.Inanotherdrawing,thealignmentsmightbedisplayed.Thenumberofproject-baseddrawingsandtheircontentisuptotheenduser.However,alldataendsupasprojectdata.

Thisideaofbeingproject-basediscentraltoAutoCADLandDesktop,andtheActiveXObjectModelisbasedonit.

DrawingsandDocumentsAProjectcanhavemultipleAutoCADdrawingsassociatedwithit.TheDrawingscollectionisthislistofAutoCADdrawings.Thislistisretrievedfromthe[Project]\dwgsdirectory.

ADocumentisadrawingfileloadedintoAutoCADLandDesktop.Currently,theActiveXObjectModelonlysupportsoneDocumentbeingloadedatatime.ThisDocumentisderivedfromtheAutoCADActiveXDocumentandallmethodsaresupported.

RetrievingProjectInformationTheActiveXObjectModelcanonlyretrievedatafortheActiveProject.TheActiveProjectistheProjectassociatedwiththeDocumentthatiscurrentlyloaded.YoucangetalistofallProjects,thestatisticsforthoseProjects,andthedrawingsassociatedwiththoseProjects.YoucannotgetanyotherinformationfromthoseProjects.Forexample,youcannotgetalistofalignmentsorsurfacesforanon-activeProject.Inaddition,youcannothaveanactiveprojectifAutoCADLandDesktopisnotrunning.IfAutoCADLandDesktopisnotrunning,theActiveXObjectModelwillnotberunningandyoucannotgetanyinformationaboutprojectsordrawings.

Keepingthisinmind,usuallythefirstthingyoudoistogettheActiveProject.InVBA,toretrievetheActiveProject,do:

DimactiveProjAsAeccProjectSetactiveProj=AeccApplication.ActiveProject

ProjectNavigationFromtheProject,youcangetmostoftheLandprojectinformationthathasbeenexposedthroughtheActiveXObjectModel.TheObjectModeldiagramshowsthatfromtheProjectyouhavedirectaccesstoCogoPoints,PointGroups,DescriptionKeys,Surfaces,andAlignments.Inaddition,youhaveaccesstoalloftheProjectspecificsettingsandFileLocks.

CogoPoints,PointGroups,DescriptionKeys,Surfaces,andAlignmentsarecollections.Acollectionwillcontainzeroormoreobjects.Forexample,theSurfacescollectionwillcontainzeroormoreindividualsurfaces.Togetaccesstoanindividualmemberofacollection,useeithertheItemorEnumerationmethodsonthecollection.

Note:AllcollectionssupporttheItemandEnumerationmethods,andtheCountproperty.Notethatallcollectionsbeginwithanindexof0.Thisisa

C++standard,andisusedconsistentlyacrossAutoCAD-basedActiveXimplementations.

Youcanqueryormodifytheobjectafteryouretrieveit.Deleteoraddoperationsalwaysexistatthecollectionlevel.Ifyouthinkaboutthis,itmakessense.Whenaddingordeleting,youarechangingthecollection.Alladditionsanddeletionstoacollectionwillreturnthenewobject.

What'sNextOk,sonowyouhavetheActiveProject,whatisthenextstep?First,youhavetofigureoutwhatyouwanttoaccomplishwithyourprogram.Let’stakeasimpleproblem:printoutthePointGroupnames.TheeasiestwaytousetheActiveXObjectModelistolookattheObjectModelandworkyourwaybackward.TheproblemistoprintoutsomeinformationonaPointGroup.IfweclickonthePointGroupintheDevelopersGuide,itwilldisplayallofthemethodsandpropertiesforthePointGroup.IntheDevelopersGuide,weseethatPointGrouphasapropertycalledGroupName.Thisiswhatwewanttoprintout.

Afterwehavefiguredoutwhatwewanttoprint,thenweworkourwayuptheObjectModeluntilwegettotheApplication.Bydoingthis,weseethatwehavetousethePointGroupscollection,theProjectobject,theProjectscollection,andfinallytheAeccApplication.ThesearetheobjectsneededtoprintoutthePointGroup.GroupName.IfwereversetheorderandstartattheAeccApplication,wecannowworkourwaybackdowntothePointGroup.ThisishowtogetPointGroupinformation.

YoucantraversetheObjectModelinthesamefashionforanyoftheobjectsorcollections.First,findwhatinformationandobjectyouneed,thenfollowtheObjectModeldowntothatobject.

OverviewofModulesProjects

FromProjects,youcangettoCogoPoints,PointGroups,DescriptionKeyFiles,Surfaces,Alignments,Parcels,CrossSectionsandSuperelevations.Inaddition,thePreferencesProject,FileLocks,andDrawingsareexposed.

ThePreferencesProjectcontainstheCogo,Surface,Alignment,Parcel,Profile,andCrossSectionproperties.Thesepropertiesreturnobjectsthatexposesettingsforthoseareas.Allsettingsarefortheproject.

FileLocksisacollectionofallmulti-userlocksthatexistfortheproject.

Drawingcollectionisthelistofdrawingsfortheproject.

Cogo

CogoPoints,PointGroups,andDescriptionKeysareexposedthroughtheActiveXObjectModel.TheCogoPointisaCOGOpointthatexistsintheProjectdatabase.Itmayormaynotexistinthecurrentdrawing.WhenaCOGOpointisinsertedintoadrawing,itcanbeinsertedasanAeccPointorasablock.TheAeccPointisaCOMwrapperaroundanARXobject.

PointGroupsareusedtoworkwithanumberofpointsatatime.APointGroupdoesnotactuallyholdtheCogoPoint.ThePointGrouphasarangeofpointnumbers.ThepointnumberinapointgroupmaycontainpointsthatarenotcontainedintheProjectpointdatabase.APointGroupcanalsobeusedtooverridetheelevation,description,andnameforthepointsinthePointGroup.

ADescriptionKeyoverridestherawdescriptionfortheCOGOpoint.ByusingDescriptionKeys,youcansubstituteashortdescriptionwithalongerdescription.BydoingitwithaDescriptionKey,youonlyhavetochangethevalueinonespot.

Surfaces

TheTerrainModelisexposedthroughtheSurfacescollection.UsingtheSurfaceobject,youcandefinetheinputsfromPointFiles,PointGroupNames,BreakLines,ContourItemsandDEMFiles.YoucanalsoaddBoundariestoyourSurface.

YoucanalsogetalloutputinformationfortheSurface.TinPoints,Edges,Faces,ElevationContours,andWatershedscanberetrievedforaSurface.YoucanquerytheSurfacebypointtogettheelevationusingtheSurface.FindPointmethod.YoucanquerybetweentwopointsandretrievethecoordinateswherethatlinecrossesaSurfaceFacebyusing

theSurface.SampleElevationsmethod.Foragivenelevation,youcanretrieveallofthecontoursonthatSurfacebyusingtheElevationContours.Elevationmethod.ThisgivesyoufullcontrolovercreationandqueryingofaSurface.

VolumesarealsosupportedasSurfaceobjectsthatresultfromDifferenceGridandCompositecalculationmethods.

Alignments

TheAlignmentscollectionhasalloftheAlignmentsfortheproject.ForeachAlignment,youcanretrieve,add,anddeletetheentitiesandstationequations.QueriescanalsobemadeontheAlignment:Alignment.StationOffset,Alignment.PointLocation.

Parcels

TheParcelscollectionprovidesaccesstoalloftheparcelsintheproject.EachParcelcanbequeriedtoobtainpropertyinformationsuchasarea,perimeter,centroidandname.Newparcelscanbecreatedorexisitingparcelmodifiedbyeditingthierindividualcurveandlineobjects.

Profiles,CrossSections,andSuperelevations

IfyouareusingAutoCADCivil3DLandDesktopCompanion,whichincludescivilengineeringandsurveyfeatures,extensivereadaccessisavailableforexistinggroundprofiles,finishedgroundprofiles,crosssections,andsuperelevationsproperties.Ifyouareusingthestand-aloneversionofLandDesktop(titled"AutoCADLandDesktop"),thecivilengineeringandsurveyfeaturesarenotavailable.

Youcanimportprofilesandcrosssectionstothecurrentdrawing,andthenaccesstheresultingProfileBlocksandCrossSectionBlocksforcustomannotation.

OverviewofEventsEventsareamechanismthatallowsyourapplicationtoreceivenotificationwhenachangeoccurstothestateofsomeobject.Toreceivenotification,youmust“enable”eventsbyprovidinga“handler”or“event

sink”.RefertothesampleapplicationsforexamplesofhowtoimplementeventhandlersinVBandC++.

WhencodinginVBA,youmustprovideaneventhandlerforallobjectsenabledfortheModifiedevent.Ifyoudonotprovideahandler,VBAmayterminateunexpectedly.

Notethatnoeventswillbefiredwhileamodaldialogisbeingdisplayed.

AcadObject

AlloftheobjectsoutsideoftheProjectsandPrototypeshierarchyarederivedfromAcadObject.ThismeansthatobjectssuchasAeccApplicationandAeccDocumentderiveallofthepropertiesandmethodsfromtheparentActiveXobjects.However,sincenoadditionaleventswereimplemented,youwillusethebaseobjects(AcadApplicationandAcadDocument,forexample)togetnotificationsinyourapplication.

AcadEntity

TheCOMwrappersfortheAeccDbPoint,AeccDbContourandAecDbCurveTextobjectssupporttheModifiedevent.Thiseventwillbetriggeredwhenevertheobjectismodified.Modificationincludeswheneverthevalueofapropertyisset,evenifthenewvalueisequaltothecurrentvalue.

AeccObject

TheAeccObjectsupportstheModifiedevent,andallobjectsintheProjectsandPrototypeshierarchyarederviedfromAeccObject.Whileeveryobjectcansupporteventnotification,refertothefollowingtabletodeterminewhenaneventisfired.

EventnotificationisdispatchedbyaqueueingmechanismthatrespondswhenAutoCADentersaquiescentstate.Noeventswillbefiredwhileamodaldialogisbeingdisplayedorwhileacommandisinprogress.Inaddition,theeventqueuewillnotacceptmorethatoneeventforagiveninstanceofaCOMobjectatatime.Iftwoormoreeventconditionsoccuronanobjectwhileapendingeventisinthequeue,therewillbeonlyoneeventsentwhenAutoCADbecomesquiescent.

Event Objects

ProjectManagement NewDrawing Project,Drawings

OpenDrawing Project

CoordinateGeometry Save/Deletepoint Points,Point

Save?Deletepointgroup PointGroups,PointGroup

Save/Deletedesckey

DescKeyFiles,DescKeyFile,DescKey

PlanAlignments Save/Delete Alignments,Alignment,AlignEntities,StationEquations

Surfaces Lock/Unlocksurface Surfaces

Create Surfaces

Setcurrentsurface Surfaces

Save/SaveAs Surfaces,Surface

Delete/Rename Surfaces,Surface

Setdescription Surface

Addpointfile Surface,SurfaceInputs,Pointfiles

Addpointgroups Surface,SurfaceInputs,PointGroupNames

Addbreakline Surface,SurfaceInputs,BreakLines

Addboundary Surface,SurfaceInputs,Boundaries

Addcontour Surface,SurfaceInputs,ContourItems

Setouterboundary

Surface,SurfaceInputs,Boundaries

Flipface Surface,SurfaceOutputs,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

InsertNDbreakline

Surface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,WaterSheds

Surface,SurfaceOutputs,

Insertline TinPoints,Edges,WaterSheds

DeletelineSurface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

Minimizeflattriangles

Surface,SurfaceOutputs,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

Addboundary Surface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,WaterSheds

Addtoallelevations

Surface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

SetelevationSurface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

PastesurfaceSurface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

Build Surface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces

Buildhydrologymodel

Surface,SurfaceOutputs,TinPoints,Edges,Faces,WaterSheds

Computeextendedstats Surface

Set/Calcboundingbox Surface

Alignments Setcurrentalignment Alignments

Parcels Create Parcels

Delete,Import,Merge Parcel,Parcels

Profiles AlignmentEditorSave EGProfiles,FGProfiles

Creat,Edit,Delete EGProfiles,FGProfiles

CrossSections& SampleExistingGround CrossSections,Superelevations

Superelevations ProcessSections CrossSections,Superelevations

RunningMultipleInstancesofAutoCADAllAecBaseobjectsthatarederivedfromAcadobjectssupporttheInitmethod.ThisincludesAecApplication,AecDocuments,AecDocuments,AecDatabasePreferences,AecPreferences,AecPreferencesFiles,AecPreferencesUser,etc.

ThehelpstringdescribestheInitmethodasan"InitializationmethodwhichmustbecalledbeforeaccessingtheAECapplicationobject"TheActiveXObjectModelforAutoCADLandDesktopperformsthecalltoInitautomaticallyforAeccobjects.

Itisnotrestricted(hidden)becauseitcomesinhandywhenyouarerunningmultipleinstancesofAutoCAD,ArchitecturalDesktop(AutoCADArchitecture)orAutoCADLandDesktop.ThisallowsyoutopassinaninstanceoftheAutoCADapplicationobjectthatyouareinterestedin,insteadofrelyingontheactiveinstancehandedbackfromtheRunningObjectTable.Ifyoupassthisintoaninstanceoftheapplicationobject,itwillautomaticallybepassedontoanynewinstanceofchildobjects.

LandDesktopprojectsareusedtoorganizedrawingfiles,supportdatafiles,andsettingsthatareassociatedwitheachjobyouworkon.JustastheActiveDrawingiscentraltotheAutoCADapplicationobject,theLandDesktopapplicationobjectexposestheActiveProject.Throughtheprojectobject,youcanaccessCoordinateGeometry,PlanAlignment,DigitalTerrain,Parcels,Profile,CrossSectionandSuperelevationdataandpreferences.

Tocreateanewproject,usetheProjects.Addmethod,supplyingaprototypenamefromthePrototypescollectionandaprojectnameforthenewproject.Tocreatethefirstproject-baseddrawingforthenewproject,usetheDocument.NewProjectBasedmethod,specifyingthedrawingtemplatename,theprojectname,andthenewdrawingname.Thiswillswitchthedesktoptothenewlycreatedprojectanddrawing.

TheProjectscollectionisupdatedwhenevertheProjectPathpropertyischanged.Thisallowsyousearchforprojectsatvariouspaths.Toaccessfoldersonanetwork,youmustfirstmapthedrive.NotethatyouarelimitedtotheFileLocksandDrawingscollectionsforanyProjectthatisnottheActiveProject.ToaccesstheCogoPoints,PointGroups,DescriptionKeyFiles,Alignments,Surfaces,Parcels,Profiles,CrossSectionsandSuperelevationsyoumustbeintheprojectcurrentlyloadedintoAutoCADLandDesktop.

ExtensionstoAutoCADobjectsTheLandDesktopobjectmodelextendsmanyAutoCADActiveXobjectsbyaddingpropertiesandmethods.ThisincludestheApplication,Documents,Document,DatabasePreferences,PreferencesUser,PreferencesFile,andtheUtilityobjects.ThisenhancementisautomaticallyavailablewhenyounavigatefromtheAeccApplicationobjecttootherobjectsinthemodel.

TheDocumentscollectionsupportsthemanagementofmultipledrawings(MDI)intheAutoCADenvironment.SinceAutoCADLandDesktopworksonasingledrawingatatime(SDI),theDocumentsobjectisancillary.Youcangetthefirst(andonly)documentfromtheDocumentcollection,

UnderstandingProjectManagement

butitisgenerallymoreconvenienttousetheAeccApplication.ActiveDrawingmethod.Also,notethattheDocuments.AddandDocuments.NewmethodsarenotavailableinSDImode.

TheDocumentobjectaddstwoimportantmethods-OpenProjectBasedandNewProjectBased.Usethesemethodstoopenandcreateproject-baseddrawings,respectively.BothmethodsacceptanoptionalProjectnametoallowyoutoswitchfromoneprojecttoanother.NotethattheDocument.OpenandDocument.Newmethodsdonotsupportprojectsandwillreturnanerrorifinvoked.

TheDatabasePreferencesobjectrepresentssettingsthataresavedonapre-drawing(ordocument)basis.ThisincludesbasesettingsforArchitectureandCivilEngineering,aswellasAutoCADLandDesktopspecificsettings.Thesesettingscanbeloadedandsavedtoanexternalsetupprofile.

ThePreferencesUserandPreferencesFilesobjectsstoreuserandapplicationlevelsettings,respectively.ThePreferencesUsersettingscontroloverridestoAutoCADbehaviorandthemostrecentlyusedprojectanddrawings.Italsoallowsadefaultdrawingsetupprofiletobeappliedtonewdrawings,sothattheuserisnotpromptedforsettings.ThePreferencesFilesobjectexposesthepathsusedbyAutoCADLandDesktop.

TheUtilityobjectaddsmethodsthatconvertanEastingandNorthingtoanAutoCADXandYandbackusingthegeodeticbasepointandnorthrotationforthedrawing.

Project-ownedobjectsInadditiontoprovidingaccesstoCoordinateGeometry,PlanAlignments,Parcels,TerrainModeling,Profiles,CrossSections,andSuperelevations,theProjectobjectexposestheDrawingsandFileLockscollection.

TheDrawingscollectionissimilartotheDocumentscollection,exceptthatitrepresentsAutoCADdrawingfilesinalocalorremotefolder(directory).Thesefilesmayormaynotbeloadedintotheapplication.YoucanusetheProjectsandDrawingscollectionstobrowseanyLandDesktopprojectonalocalormappedremotedrive.Forconvenience,you

canusetheDrawings.OpenmethodtoswitchtotheparentprojectandopenthedrawingastheActiveDocument(similartotheDocument.OpenProjectBasedmethod).

TheFileLockscollectionexposesmulti-userprojectlocks.

UsingCollectionsTheobjectmodelcontainssimpleobjectsandcollectionsofobjects.Forsomecollections,ifyouchangethevalueofaproperty,thecollectionwillberebuilt.Youneedtorefreshyourobjectstoseetheeffectofthischange.Forexample:

DimprojectsAsAeccProjectsSetprojects=AeccApplication.Projects'GetthefirstprojectinthecollectionDimprojectAsAeccProjectSetproject=projects(0)'Changetheprojectpathprojects.Path="c:\projects2"'Projectisavalidobject,butnolongerrepresents'thefirstitemintheprojectscollection'refreshprojectSetproject=projects(0)

ChangingtheActiveProjectWhenadrawingisopenedfromadifferentproject,theAeccApplication.ActiveProjectobjectandAeccApplication.Projectscollectionarereleased.Forthisreason,itisagoodideatogettheseobjectsasneededinsteadofholdingontothemforthedurationofyourapplication.

NotificationsforchangestodrawingsettingsThesettingsexposedbytheDatabasePreferencesobjectarestoredintheAcDbDictionarynamed"AEC_VARS".The"AEC_VARS_DWG_SETUP"keyreturnsanAecDbVarsDwgSetupobjectthatstoresthebasesettingsforArchitectureandCivilEngineering.The

"AEC_VARS_CIVILSETUP"keyreturnsanAcDbVarsCivilSetupobjectstorestheAutoCADLandDesktopspecificsettings.

Toreceiveeventswhendrawingsettingsarechanged,implementaneventhandlerinaclassmodule,declareanobjectoftypeAcadObjectwithevents,andassignthedesireddictionaryobjecttothehandlerinyourcodemoduleorform.

TheActiveXObjectModelgivesaccesstoAutoCADLandDesktophorizontalalignments.AnAlignmentcancontaintangents(AlignTangent),curves(AlignCurve)andspirals(AlignSpiral).AnAlignmentcanbesettocurrent.ItsupportsthelockingmechanismfromAutoCADLandDesktop.Inaddition,stationequationsaresupportedforeachAlignment.

ThissectiondescribesthefundamentalsyouneedtoknowwhendevelopinganapplicationwithAlignments.Itprovidesinformationoncreating,using,andsavingAlignments.

CreatinganAlignmentIfanAlignmentisaddedsuccessfullytotheAlignmentscollection,therearetworesults:a)thenewAlignmentismadeCurrentandb)thenewAlignmentwillhaveawritelockonit.ThenewAlignmentisalsosavedimmediately.AutoSaveisignoredwhenanAlignmentiscreated.

"Current"AlignmentandLocksAutoCADLandDesktophasthenotionofa"current"alignment.Historically,thishasbeenusedintheapplicationtorelievetheuserfromhavingtoselectanalignmentforeverycommand.Also,whenanalignmentwassettocurrent,lockswerecreatedonthatalignment.Iftherewasapreviousalignment,thelockswerefreed.

TheActiveXObjectModelsupportsthe“Current”Alignmentconcept.AnAlignmentcanbemadeCurrentandlockswillbegeneratedatthattime.Also,thatCurrentAlignmentinActiveXObjectModelwillalsobethecurrentalignmentinAutoCADLandDesktop.ThroughtheActiveXObjectModel,youcanstayinsyncwiththemenus.

WhentheAlignmentscollectioniscreated,alloftheAlignmentnamesareloadedintomemory.Atthattime,eachAlignmentisgivenakReadLock.Nophysicallockiscreatedondisk.ThislockexistsonlyintheActiveXObjectModel.IftheAlignmentinthecollectionistheCurrentAlignment,thentheActiveXObjectModelwillretrievewhateverlockcurrentlyexistsondisk.ItcouldbeeitherakReadLockorakWriteLock.

UnderstandingAlignments

WhenyoumakeanAlignmentcurrent,severalthingswillhappen.IftherewasapreviousCurrentAlignment,thatwillbeunlocked.Next,thenewCurrentAlignmentwillbesetinboththeActiveXObjectModelandAutoCADLandDesktop.Finally,alockwillbegeneratedonthatAlignmentintheActiveXObjectModelandondisk.Thislockcanbeseenbyanyuserscurrentlyinthatproject.ThelockcanbeeitherakReadLockorakWriteLock.ThetypeoflockdependsonweatherthatAlignmentwaslockedbyanotheruser.

Asarule,boththeActiveXObjectModelandAutoCADLandDesktopwillalwaystrytoretrieveakWriteLockwhenaccessinganobject.ThisappliestoAlignmentsandSurfaces.Ifsomeoneelsehasawritelockonthatobject,thenareadlockwillbeaddedtothatobject.

BeforeanyeditsaremadeonanAlignment,theAlignmentmustbemadeCurrent.Also,thatAlignmentmusthaveakWriteLockforanychangestobemade.

Youcanaddanewalignmenttothecollectionandlaterdefinetheunderlyinggeometry.Beadvisedthatifyousaveanalignmentwithoutaddinganytangents,curvesorspirals,youwillnotbeabletoeditthegeometryusingthealignmenteditor.

AutoSaveAnychangesmadetoanAlignmentareautomaticallysaved.WhentheAlignmentissavedallentitiesandthegeneralAlignmentdata(startingstation,description)arewrittenout.ThiscanimpactperformanceifmanychangesaremadetotheAlignment.RememberthateverychangemaderesultsinwritingtheentireAlignment.

Tohelpwiththeperformanceissues,AutoSavewascreated.IfAlignments.AutoSaveisTrue,theneverychangemadetoanalignmentresultsinawriteoperation.IfAlignments.AutoSaveisFalse,thennowriteoperationsareperformed.ItistheresponsibilityoftheprogrammertocallAlignment.Saveforthewriteoperation.

AutoSaveisattheAlignmentscollectionlevel.WhentheAutoSavevalueisset,allalignmentsinthecollectionareupdated.

ThroughTerrainModelExplorer,athreedimensionalsurfacemodelcanbegeneratedfromdata.IntheActiveXObjectModel,youcancreateandquerythisthreedimensionalmodelthroughtheSurfacescollection.YoucanusetheSurfacecollectiontoiteratethroughalloftheexistingSurfaces,createannewSurface,ordeleteanexistingSurface.ThesearejustafewoftheSurfaceoperationsatthecollectionlevel.

ASurfaceisbrokendownintoinputs(SurfaceInputs)andoutputs(SurfaceOutputs).YoucanmodifytheSurfaceInputsbychangingtheContourItems,Breaklines,Boundaries,PointFiles,PointGroupsorDEMFiles.FromtheSurfaceOutputs,youcangettheTinPoints,Edges,Faces,ElevationContours,andWatersheds.

VolumeinformationcanbecreatedbyusingtheSurfaces.DifferenceGridortheSurfaces.CompositeGridmethods.BothmethodscreateanewSurface.ThisnewSurfacecanthenbequeriedforvolumeinformation.

SurfaceBoundaryPointsTheimplementationofIAeccBoundaries::Add()willcloseaboundary,ifthelastpointandfirstpointarenotidentical.Inaddition,ifthelastandfirstpointsarenotidenticalandcauselinesthatintersecteachother,thesurfacewillnotbehaveasexpected.Iftwopointsontheboundaryareco-located,theboundarywillberejected.Thebestwaytocreateaboundaryistoallowtheimplementationtoclosetheboundaryautomatically.

VisibleAreasUsingBreaklinesandBoundaries,areasofaSurfacecanbemadeinvisible.WatershedsandContourswillnotbereturnedfortheinvisibleareas.Faces,Edges,andTinPointswillbereturnedfortheinvisibleareas.

BuildSettingsSurface.BuildwillusethesettingsdefinedinTerrainModelExplorerBuilddialog.Thesesettingsincludethe"ApplyEditHistory"and"LogErrorsTo

UnderstandingSurfaces

File"options.

EditHistoryEditHistoryisnotexposedinthisreleaseoftheActiveXObjectModel.However,ifthe"ApplyEditHistory"isturnedoninTerrainModelExplorer,thenSurface.Buildwillusethissetting.

SurfaceLockingInitially,allSurfaceshavenolocksappliedtothem.Whenamethodorpropertyiscalled,thentheSurfaceisopened.Atthattime,alockwillbecreatedonthatSurface.TheActiveXObjectModelwillalwaystrytocreateawritelock(kWriteLock).IfsomeoneelsehascontrolofthatSurface,youwillgetareadlock(kReadLock).IftheSurfaceisselectedastheCurrentSurface,thelockswillalsobegenerated.Whentheobjecthasgoneoutofscope,theSurfacewillgobacktoitsoriginalstate.IfitwasopenedandlockedbeforetheActiveXObjectModelobjectwascreated,thenitwillstayopenedandlocked.IftheSurfacewasnotopened(andtherefore,notlocked),thenwhentheActiveXObjectModelobjectgoesoutofscope,theSurfacewillbeclosedandunlocked.

ElevationContoursAfterasurfacehasbeenbuild,youcangeneratecontourdatabysettingtheElevationContours.Elevationproperty.ZeroormoreElevationContourobjectswillbeaddedtothecollection,dependingontheelevationyouset.YoucanusetheElevationContour.CoordinatespropertytosettheverticesofanAeccContourobject.

ForeachLandDesktopProject,thereisaCOGOpointsdatabase.TheActiveXObjectModelgivesaccesstothisdatabasethroughtheCogoPointscollection.Throughthiscollection,youcanadd,delete,andmodifyaCogoPoint.

ACogoPointhasNorthing,Easting,andElevationfields.IftheGroupNameissetfortheCogoPoint,thenyouwillalsoseetheoverridesfromthatPointGroup.

PointGroupsandDescriptionKeyarealsoexposedthroughtheActiveXObjectModel.ThesecollectionsandobjectsallowyoutoworkwithgroupsofCOGOpoints.

CogoPointandAeccPointInaLandDevelopmentdocument,aCOGOpointcanexistinthedrawing.ThispointcanberepresentedaseitheranArxobjectoraSoftdeskblock.IfthepointisanArxobject,thenyoucanaccessitbyusingtheCOMwrapperAeccPoint.Thispointdoesnotnecessarilyexistinthepointdatabase.Ifitdoesexistinthedatabase,thenyoucouldaccessitbyusingaCogoPointobject.

Tostateitdifferently,aCogoPointobjectisapointdatabaseobjectandanAeccPointisaCOMwrapperfortheArxobject.

ACogoPointandAeccPointcanrepresentthesamegeometry.IfyouchangethecoordinatesforaCogoPoint,theArxobjectinthedrawingwillbeupdated.

PointNumberversesItemNumberWhenthecollectionclassisbuiltforCogoPoints,severalthingshappen.First,alistofthecurrentlyusedpointsisgenerated.Thesepointsarethenaddedtothecollection.Forexample,thepointdatabasehaspointswithpointnumbers1,3,5,and7.Whenthecollectionisbuilt,thenthecollectionwillhave4items.Item(0)willbepoint1,Item(1)point3,Item(2)point5,andItem(3)point7.ThereisnocorrespondencebetweentheItemnumberandthepointnumber.

UnderstandingCogoPoints

Ifyouwanttoworkwithpointsbypointnumber,useCogoPoints.PointByNumber.

Theverticalalignmentdataisrepresentedbytwocollections:theEGProfilesandtheFGProfiles.TheEGProfile,orexistinggroundprofiles,containsthesampledsurfacedataalongthealignment.TheFGProfile,orfinishedgroundverticalalignments,containthePVIswhichrepresentthebasisforthefinalroadwaydesign.TheEGProfilecanbeimportedintothedrawing,sothatthefinishedverticaldesigndatacanbedraftedontotheProfileBlock.

ExistingGroundProfilesWhiletheActiveXinterfacedoesnotrequireyoutodefineanyEGProfiles,theverticalalignmenteditorexpectstheExistingGroundCentertobedefined.

FinishedGroundProfilesWhenyoucreateanewFGProfileobject,adefaultPVIisaddedtothePVIscollectionasaplaceholder.ThepropertiesofthisPVIareallsetto0.0.Thisbehaviorisintentionalsinceatleastonedatumisrequiredtoaccesstheverticalalignmenteditor.

ItisuptotheusertomakesurethatthegeometryfortheFinishedGroundProfileiscorrect.Whendefiningaprofile,besuretocheckforthefollowing:

AFinishedGroundProfilecannotsupportaverticalcurveonthefirstorlastPVI.

TheFinishedGroundProfileobjectdoesnotcheckforoverlappingverticalcurves.TheFinishedGroundProfileobjectdoesnotchecktoensurethestartandendpointscoincidewiththepalnalignment.

LockingExistingGroundProfilesandFinishedGroundProfilesobjectsusethesamelockingastheAlignment.IftheAlignmenthasareadlock,thenExistingGroundProfilesandFinishedGroundProfileshaveareadlock.

UnderstandingProfiles

Thesameistrueforwritelocks.Remember,theonlywaytogenerateawritelockistosettheAlignments.CurrentAlignmenttotheoneyouwanttoworkwith.

ProfileBlocksProfileBlocksdonotsupportxrefs.IfandrawingisXRefedintoanotherdrawingandithasaprofile,theProfileBlockscollectionwillnotputitintoitslist.

Inadrawing,analignmentcanhavemorethanoneProfileBlockdrawn.Ifthishappens,therewillbenouniqueidentifierfortheProfileBlock.TheProfileBlockscollectionwillhavebothProfileBlockobjectsbutitisuptheusertodeterminewhichprofilewillbeused.

ThescalefactorusedfortheverticalexaggerationoftheexistinggroundandfinishedgroundprofilesistheProfileBlock.VerticalScaledividedbytheDatabasePreferences.DatabaseScale.

TheCoordinatesoftheProfileBlockareoneinchbelowtheDatumElevationbaseline.

TheCrossSectionsandSuperelevationscollectionsrepresentasliceofverticalalignmentdataatstationintervalsalongthealignment.ForagivenCrossSection,thedataispresentedasacollectionofpointcodesandsurfaces,suchasexistingground,topsurface,matchsurface,templatesandsubassemblies.Superelevationsarepresentedasacollectionofstationsatwhichthesuperelevationchanges.CrossSectionscanbeimportedintothedrawingasaCrossSectionBlockforcustomannotation.

Read-onlyCrossSectionandSuperelevationObjectsTheprocessofdesigningandapplyingroadwaytemplates,subassemblies,transitions,andsuperelevationsisacomplexprocedure.Forthisreason,theCrossSectionandSuperelevationobjectsareread-only.Youmustusetheappropriatecommandstocreateandeditthedata.TheActiveXobjectsprovideaccesstothedataforanalysisandcustomdrafting.

ManagingtheCurrentAlignmentWhenyouaccesstheCrossSectionandSuperelevationobjects,the"currentalignment"issettotheAlignmentyouareaccessing.YoucanusetheAlignments.CurrentAlignmentpropertytosaveandrestorethecurrentalignmentifrequired.

CrossSectionBlocksCrossSectionBlocksdonotsupportxrefs.IfadrawingisXRefedintoanotherdrawingandithasacrosssection,theCrossSectionBlockscollectionwillnotputitintoitslist.

Inadrawing,analignmentcanhavemorethanoneCrossSectionBlockdrawnforagivenstation.Ifthishappens,therewillbenouniqueidentifierfortheCrossSectionBlock.TheCrossSectionBlockscollectionwillhavebothCrossSectionBlockobjectsbutitisuptheusertodeterminewhichprofilewillbeused.

UnderstandingCrossSectionsandSuperelevations

ThescalefactorusedfortheverticalexaggerationofthecrosssectionistheCrossSectionBlock.VerticalScaledividedbytheDatabasePreferences.DatabaseScale.

TheParcelscollectionprovidesaccesstotheParceldatabaseandallowsadefinedParceltobeimportedinthedrawing.SimilartoanAlignment,aParcelismadeupofgeometricentitiesthatcanbeenumeratedusingtheParcelEntitescollection.

ClosingParcelPerimetersWhendefiningaParcel,theperimeterisnotautomaticallyclosedforyou.AParcelthathasnotbeenclosedwillreturnanareaof0.0squareunits.

LockingTheParceldatabasesupportsmulti-useraccesswithlocks.UnlikeAlignments,thelockingoccursautomaticallyonacommandbycommandbasis.AParcelcannotbelockedforthedurationofadesignsession.

UnderstandingParcels

OverviewACOMwrapperprovidesaninstanceofanActiveXobjectthatrepresentsadrawingentity.Yourapplicationusestheproperties,methods,andeventsfromthisobjecttoaccessandmanagethecorrespondingentityinthedrawing.COMwrappersareimplementedforAeccDbContour,AeccDbPoint,andAecDbCurveTextentities.

AutoCADLandDesktopobjectsthatarecreatedinmodelspace,usetheAcadModelSpacecollectiontoiteratethroughobjects.Forexample:

DimpntAsAeccPointDimobjAsAcadObjectForEachobjInThisDrawing.ModelSpaceIfobj.ObjectName="AeccDbPoint"ThenSetpnt=objEndIfNext

Similarly,youcaniterateexistingentitiesinaselectionsettoaccessyourcustomARXobjectsthroughtheirCOMwrappers.WhenusingtheFilterDataparameterforanAcadSelectionSet,specifytheobjectnamethatappearsinthePropertieswindow(orwhenyoulistanobject):AECC_CONTOUR,AECC_POINT,orAEC_CURVETEXT.

ObjectCreationYoucanusetheAcadModelSpace.AddCustomObjectmethodto(1)createaninstanceofyourARXobjectand(2)returnaninstanceofyourCOMwrappersoyoucanuseitspropertiestoinitializetheobject.NotethatyoucannotcreateAutoCADLandDesktopobjectsinPaperSpaceorBlocks.Forexample:

DimpntAsAeccPointSetpnt=ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddCustomObject("AeccDbPoint")pnt.Easting=1000pnt.Northing=1000pnt.Elevation=100

UnderstandingComWrappers

pnt.Number=1pnt.Description="testpoint"

EventsTheAutoCADLandDesktopobjectssupportnotificationthroughtheModifiedevent.

ContourStylesContourstylesaresavedonaper-drawingdrawingbasisinthedictionary.Tofacilitatethemanagementofstylesforcontourobjects,aCOMwrapperforthecontourstyleisprovided.Youcanaccessanystyleloadedinthecurrentdrawingthroughthe"AECC_CONTOUR_STYLE";dictionary:

DimcsAsAeccContourStyleDimobjAsAcadObjectForEachobjInThisDrawing.Dictionaries("AECC_CONTOUR_STYLES")Setcs=objIfcs.Name="Standard"ThenExitForEndIfNextDimContourAsAeccContourSetContour=ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddCustomObject("AeccDbContour")Contour.SetContourStylecs

ThissectionprovidesusefulinformationonhowtousetheActiveXObjectModelwithvariousprogramminglanguagesanddevelopmentenvironments.

TopicsinthisSection

VBAVBC++J++OtherLanguages

ProgrammingGuidelinesIntroduction

OptionExplicitAgoodprogrammingpracticeistoaddtheOptionExplicitdeclarationatthetopofyourmodule.ThiswillrequireyoutodeclareallvariablesusingtheDim,Private,Public,ReDim,orStaticstatements.Ifyouattempttouseanundeclaredvariablename,anerroroccursatcompiletime.ThispreventsVisualBasicfromautomaticallycreatingavariantfortheundeclaredvariableonyourbehalf,whichleadstoprogramerrors.

ForNextLoopsWhenusingaForNextlooptoiteratethroughanobjectcollectionuse"EXITFOR"ifyouneedtoexittheloopbeforconclusion.Ifa"GOTO"isusedtoexittheloopthereferencecounttotheobjectisnotcleanedandwillcreateanerrorcondition.

IntelliSenseIfanAutoCADLandDesktopobjectdoesnotdisplaythecompletelistofpropertiesandmethodsintheIntelliSensepicklist,tryassigningtheobjecttoatypedvariablefirst.Forexample:

DimprefuserAsAeccPreferencesUserSetprefuser=AeccApplication.Preferences.User'Theprefuserobjectwillnowcorrectlydisplay'allpropertiesandmethodswithIntelliSense

AutoCADLandDesktopEnumeratedValueAutoCADLandDesktopenumeratedvaluesarenamedconstantsusedintheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXAutomationmethodsandproperties.

InVBA,youcannotcreateaninstanceofanobjectoftheenumeratedtype.Forexample:

'WorksinVB,butnotVBADimborderstyleAseAeccBorderStyle

Globals

VBAProgrammingGuidelines

InVBA,globalvariablesarenotreleaseduntiltheVBAprojectisunloaded.Forexample,inyourprojectthefollowingvariablesaredeclaredasglobalvariables:

OptionExplicitPublicacadAsAcadApplicationPublicappAsAeccApplicationPublicprojsAsAeccProjects

Theobjectsacad,app,andprojwillnotbereleaseduntiltheVBAprojectisunloaded.ThisiscorrectbehaviorbutyoumustrefreshthevariableswhenyoucomebackintotheVBAcode.Ifyoudonotrefreshthevariables,youmightnotgetthelatestinformation.Forexample,additionalprojectsmightbeaddedtotheAeccProjectscollection.

Ingeneral,alloftheguidelinesfromtheVBAsectionalsoapplytoVB.Thissectionincludessomeadditionalinformationthatisspecifictodevelopingstand-alone(out-of-process)applicationsusingVisualBasic.

ConnectingtoAutoCADLandDesktopVisualBasicprovidesafunctioncalledGetObjecttogetareferencetoacurrentlyactiveinstanceofanActiveXobjectofthespecifiedtype.SinceacompiledVBapplicationisinadifferentprocessthanAutoCADLandDesktop,youmust"connect"totheapplicationobject:

DimacadAsAcadApplicationSetacad=GetObject(,"AutoCAD.Application")

Next,youusetheAcadApplication.GetInterfaceObjectmethodtogetaninstanceoftheAutoCADLandDesktopapplicationobject:

DimappAsAeccApplicationSetapp=acad.GetInterfaceObject("Aecc.Application")

YoumightwanttodeclarethesevariablesasPublicatthemodulelevelsothattheyareavailabletoallproceduresinallmodules.

ForNextLoopsWhenusingaForNextlooptoiteratethroughanobjectcollectionuse"EXITFOR"ifyouneedtoexittheloopbeforconclusion.Ifa"GOTO"isusedtoexittheloopthereferencecounttotheobjectisnotcleanedandwillcreateanerrorcondition.

QuiescentStateandActiveXcallsWhenAutoCADisatthecommandlineprompt,itisinaquiescentstate.WhenAutoCADhascompletedprocessingthelastcommandandtherearenopendingcommands,itisinastatethatAutoCADcanprocessanActiveXcall.

BeawarethatifAutoCADisbusywhenyourapplicationtriestoinvokeanActiveXpropertyormethod,AutoCADmaydisplayamodaldialogindicatingthattheActiveXrequestwasnothandled.Youarethen

VBProgrammingGuidelines

promptedtoretrytherequest.

Topreventthissituation,yourapplicationshouldusetheAcadApplication.GetAcadStatemethodtodetermineifAutoCADisbusy.ThismethodreturnsanAcadStateobject,whichisatransientobjectusedtocheckforAutoCADquiescencefromout-of-processapplications.

ImportingTypeLibrariesCOMreplacesthenotionofheaderfileswithTypeLibraries.IntheMicrosoftVisualC++environment,youusethepreprocessordirective#importintheStdAfx.hfiletomakeallinterfaces,properties,methods,events,enumerations,etc.availableinyourcode.Usetheno_namespaceoptiontodisabletherequirementofqualifyingeachobjectwiththetypelibraryname.

Forexample:

//createC++wrapperclassesfortheCOMinterfaces

//newTLHandTLIfileswillbegeneratedeachtime

#import"acax16enu.tlb"/*no_implementation*/raw_interfaces_onlyno_namespacenamed_guidsrename("GetObject","acaxGetObject")

#import"AecXUIBase40.tlb"no_implementationraw_interfaces_onlynamed_guidsno_namespace

#import"AecXBase40.tlb"no_implementationraw_interfaces_onlynamed_guidsno_namespace

#import"LandAuto46.tlb"no_implementationraw_interfaces_onlynamed_guidsno_namespace

NotethattheAecXBasetypelibraryreferencestheAutoCADAxDb16typelibrary.WhileyoudonothavetoexplicitlyimportAxDb16enu.tlb,itmustbeinthepathorproperlyregisteredonyourworkstation,otherwiseyouwillencountererrorswhenimportingAecXBase40.tlb.

InitializingtheCOMlibrariesWhenyoucreateyourproject,youmaysafelyomittheoptions"Automation"and"ActiveXControls"toreducethecodesizeofyourproject.However,youwillneedtomake2manualchangestoensurethattheCOMlibrariesareinitialized:

C++ProgrammingGuidelines

InStdAfx.h:

#include<afxdisp.h>//MFCOLEautomationclasses

Inyourapplication’sInitInstancemethod:

//InitializeOLElibrariesif(!AfxOleInit()){AfxMessageBox("OLEinitializationfailed.");returnFALSE;}

ConnectingtotheLandDesktopApplicationObjectIngeneral,thesearethestepstogettotherunninginstanceoftheLandDesktopApplicationObject:

CallGetActiveObjecttogettherunninginstanceoftheAutoCADapplicationobject.ThismethodreturnsapointertoIUnknown.

CallQueryInterfacetogettheinterfaceIAcadApplication.

CallGetInterfaceObjecttogettherunninginstanceoftheLandDesktopapplicationobject.ThismethodreturnsapointertoIDispatch.

CallQueryInterfacetogettheinterfaceIAeccApplication.

IfyouhaveseveralinstancesofAutoCADapplicationsrunningatthesametime(AutoCAD,LandDesktop,ArchitecturalDesktop,RasterDesign),andyouaredevelopinganin-processapplication(e.g.ARXDLL),youcanusethesestepstogetthecorrectinstanceofAutoCAD:

CallAfxGetApptogetapointertotheCWinAppderivedobject.

CallGetIDispatchtogettheIDispatchinterfacefortheAutoCADapplicationobject.

CallQueryInterfacetogettheinterfaceIAcadApplicationinterface.

CallGetInterfaceObjecttogettherunninginstanceoftheLandDesktopapplicationobject.ThismethodreturnsapointertoIDispatch.

CallQueryInterfacetogettheinterfaceIAeccApplication.

CallInit,passingintheIAcadApplicationpointertoinitializetheobjectmodelwiththeproperinstanceofAutoCAD.

Whendevelopingastandalone(outofprocess)applicationthatneedstohandlemultiplerunninginstancesofAutoCADapplications,youmustenumeratetheRunningObjectTableforthedesiredinstanceofAutoCADinplaceofthecalltoAfxGetApp.SeeMSDNArticle190985fordetailsandsamplecode.

RestrictedPropertiesandMethodsWhenyouimportaTypeLibraryintoyourproject,youmayseemtohaveaccesstoread-onlypropertiesandbeabletoinvokemethodsthatarenotdocumentedintheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXandVBAReference.These"restricted"membersoftheinterfacearehiddeninVBAandothermacrolanguages,butarenotfilteredoutbytheimportdirective.

Beawarethatthesememberscannotbecalledarbitrarily.MostareusedforinitializingtheCOMobject,andwillnotupdateyourprojectdatabase.RefertotheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXandVBAReferenceforthelistofsupportedinterfacemembers,orusetheOLEViewersuppliedwiththeMicrosoftVisualStudioToolstodeterminewhichmembersarerestricted.

CachingInterfacesItisrecommendedthatyoucachetheapplicationobjectonly(i.e.IAeccApplicationPtr).Thiswillallowaccesstoanyobjectthroughoutthedurationofyourapplication.

Forallotherobjects,itisgenerallysafertoqueryforinterfacesuponeachuseinsteadofcachingandre-usingpointersasclassmembersorothernon-localvariables.Thiswillavoidanyconfusionaboutthestateoftheinterfaceobjectatthetimeofuse.

ExceptionHandlingWhenyouimportaTypeLibraryintoyourMicrosoftVisualC++project,thepreprocessorgeneratesboth"raw"methodsand"wrapper"methodsinthe*.tlhfile.TherawmethodsreturnHRESULTs,whichshouldbecheckedbytheprogrammer.ThewrappermethodshidetheHRESULTs,providingerrorhandlingforyou,andwillissueaCOMexceptionwhenanerroroccurs.Whilethewrappermethodsprovideaconveniencetothedeveloper,unhandledexceptionswillappearinadialogbeforeyourusers.

Ineithercase,youshouldhandletheseerrorsinyourapplication.Thiscanbeaccomplishedinoneoftwoways:

Wrapallcallstowrappermethodsintry-catchblocks

ChecktheHRESULTfromtherawmethodsandimplementerrorcheckingyourself

SmartPointersWhenyouimportaTypeLibrary,thegeneratedwrappermethodswilluse"smartpointers"wheneverthemethodreturnsaninterface.Youmustuseasmartpointerinyourcodetoensurethatthereferencecountontheobjectdoesnotdecrementto0beforethecalltothewrappermethodreturns.Ifyouuseastandardpointer,youwillbeleftwiththeaddressofareleasedCOMobject,andanexceptionwilloccurwhenyoutrytouseit.

COMSupportclassesIfanargumentorreturnvalueofawrapperclassexpectsa_variant_t(or_bstr_t),donotuseaVARIANT(orBSTR).Thiswillcompile,butwillultimatelycauseproblems.

Forexample,therawmethodforAeccCogoPoints.PointStringToArraylookslikethis:

virtualHRESULT__stdcallraw_PointStringToArray(BSTRPointString,VARIANT*Points)=0;

Thewrappermethodlookslikethis:

;_variant_tPointStringToArray(_bstr_tPointString);

TheCOMsupportclass_variant_tautomaticallyinitializesitsinternalVARIANTusingthecorrectconstructor(theonethattakesaVARIANT*,inthiscase).Notethatwhileingeneral,theclientisresponsiblefordeallocatingthememoryallocatedforthevariant,the_variant_t(or_bstr_t)classesdoitautomaticallyforyou.

MFCclassWizardSupportThroughMicrosoft'sMFCclassWizard,youcangenerateMFCclassesfromtheTypeLibrary.Thisgivesyoueasyaccesstowrappedmethodsandproperties.However,someoftheLandDesktopobjectsarederivedfromAutoCADorAecobjects.Forexample:AeccApplication,AeccDocument.WhenaMFCclassisgeneratedfortheseclassesthroughclassWizard,thenonlytheadditionalmethodsandpropertiesthatLandDesktopaddedwillbeimplementedinthatnewclass.classWizarddoesnotimplementthemethodsandpropertiesfromtheparentclass.

ARXdevelopmentWhenregisteringanewcommandthatwillinvokeActiveXmethods,usetheACRX_CMD_MODALcommandflag.Thecommandmustbemodal(andnottransparent)sothatnoothercommandsorprogramsarecurrentlyactive.

IfyouplantousetheDocument.OpenProjectBasedorDocument.NewProjectBasedmethodsinyourregisteredcommand,besuretoaddtheACRX_CMD_SESSIONandACRX_CMD_NOINTERNALLOCKflags.Theformerflagrunsthecommandhandlerinthesessionfiber,whilethelateravoidslockingtheAutoCADstateoutofquiescence(normallyusedwithActiveXcalls).TheseflagsarerequiredtoensurethatAutoCADisinthepropercontextwhenswitchingdocuments.

ReturnvaluesIngeneral,allpropertiesandmethodsreturnS_OKwhennoerrorsare

encountered.ThereturnvalueE_FAILisreturnedwhenaninternalerrorconditionpreventssuccessfulcompletionoftheoperation.AnexampleisamemoryallocationorotherWin32servicefailure.Incertaincases,areturnvalueofS_FALSEisreturnedtoindicatethattheoperationdidnotcompleteduetousererror.Someexamplesincludetryingtoappendanalignmententitythathasnomatchingendpointwiththepreviousentity,ortryingtoaccessthecoordinatesofanelevationcontourusinganinvalidelevationforthesurface.

Inyourapplication,checkforareturnvalueofS_OKtoindicatethatnointernalorusererrorshaveoccured.

Using"IntelliSense"IfyoutypicallyuseIntelliSensetodeterminewhatpropertiesandfunctionsareavailableforagiveninterface,pleasebeadvisedthatrestrictedfunctionswillshowupinIntelliSense.Theserestrictedfunctionsarenotsupported,andinmostcaseswillcauseundesirableeffects.ThesafewaytodeterminethesupportedfunctionsistoconsulttheHelpforAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXObjects.

ImportingTypeLibrariesAftercreatingaWindowsApplicationprojectinVisualJ++,youcanimportCOMobjectsthroughtheTypeLibraries.VisualJ++createsclasswrappersthatprovidetheinterfaceforaccessingtheCOMobjects.Theseclasswrappersareaddedaspackagesinyourprojectdirectory.

Note:ToaccessaspecificCOMobjectfromanotherproject,youcanavoidwrappingtheobjectsforeachprojectbyplacingtheCOMwrapperclassesintheCLASSPATH.

TheCOMwrapperscanbecreatedfromtheVisualJ++IDEoratthecommandlineusingthejactivex.exeutility.

TocreatetheCOMwrappersfromthecommandline:Invokethejactivex.exeutility.Forexample:jactivex/wfc/w/xi/X:rkc/d"d:\VJ++\COM_Wrappers"landauto46.tlbBuildtheclassfilesforeachCOMWrapperjavafileusingtheJavacompiler.The*.javafilescanberemovedfromtheCLASSPATHaftertheclassfileshavebeencreated.

TogeneratetheCOMWrappersfromtheVisualJ++IDE:OntheCOMWrapperdialog,selecttheLandTypeLibrary1.1checkboxandclickOK.SelecttheBuildmenuitemtobuildthesolutionandgeneratetheclassfilesfromthejavafilesTheCOMwrapperfoldersmaynowberemovedfromtheprojecttopreventtheclassfilesfrombeingregeneratedduringeachbuild.Thiswillreducethesizeofthesolutionandreducethebuildtime

GettingtheApplicationobjectThisexampleshowshowtoaccesstheAutoCADLandDesktopApplicationobjectthroughtherunningobjecttable.

//Importthelibrarypackagessoobjectscanbereferredbytheirshortnames://RequiredVisualJ++imports:importcom.ms.win32.Ole32;

J++ProgrammingGuidelines

importcom.ms.wfc.ui.*;importcom.ms.com.*;//RequiredLandautoimports:importacax16enu.*;importAecXBase40.*;importAecXUIBase40.*;importAxDb16enu.*;importLandAuto46.*;publicclassLandAutoSampleextendsObject{privateIAeccApplicationm_iaecApp;privateIAeccProjectsm_iaecProjects;privateIAeccProjectm_iaecProject;//Constructor:publicLandAutoSample(){m_iaecApp=GetAeccApplication();m_iaecProjects=m_iaecApp.getProjects();m_iaecProject=m_iaecApp.getActiveProject();}//SampleclassmethodtogettheexistingIAeccApplicationobject:privateIAeccApplicationGetAeccApplication(){//***GettheexistingAutoCADsession:Ole32ole32=newOle32();StringsAcadApp="AutoCAD.Application";_Guid_guid=ole32.CLSIDFromProgID(sAcadApp);StringsGuidAcad=_guid.toString();StringsMonikerDispName="!"+sGuidAcad;IRunningObjectTableirot=ole32.GetRunningObjectTable(0);IMonikerimoniker=ole32.CreateItemMoniker(sMonikerDispName,"");IAcadApplicationiacApp=(IAcadApplication)

irot.GetObject(imoniker);//***Ifyouaregoingtousecivilengineringfeatureinterfaces,CrossSections,Profiles,etc.//initializecivilengineeringfeaturesinterfaceincaseithasnotbeeninitialized.:IAcadDocumentiacDoc=(IAcadDocument)iacApp.getActiveDocument();iacDoc.SendCommand("(cd_mnl)");//***GettheAeccApplicationinterfaceobject:StringsAeccApp="Aecc.Application";IAeccApplicationiaecApp=(IAeccApplication)iacApp.GetInterfaceObject(sAeccApp);returniaecApp;}//SamplemethodthatreturnsaStringarraycontainingProjectNames//thatcouldbedisplayedinaListBoxcontrol:publicString[]GetProjectNames(){IAeccProjectproj=m_iaecApp.getActiveProject();intiCount=m_iaecProjects.getCount();String[]sProjects=newString[iCount];StringsProjName="";Variantv=newVariant();for(inti=0;i<iCount;i++){v.putInt(i);proj=m_iaecProjects.Item(v);sProjects[i]=proj.getName();}returnsProjects;}}

RestrictedPropertiesandMethodsWhenyouimportaTypeLibraryintoyourproject,youmayseemtohaveaccesstoread-onlypropertiesandbeabletoinvokemethodsthatarenotdocumentedintheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXandVBAReference.These"restricted"membersoftheinterfacearehiddeninVBAandothermacrolanguages,butarenotfilteredoutbytheimportdirective.

Beawarethatthesememberscannotbecalledarbitrarily.MostareusedforinitializingtheCOMobject,andwillnotupdateyourprojectdatabase.RefertotheAutoCADLandDesktopActiveXandVBAReferenceforthelistofsupportedinterfacemembers,orusetheOLEViewersuppliedwiththeMicrosoftVisualStudioToolstodeterminewhichmembersarerestricted.

TheActiveXObjectModelopensupprogrammaticaccesstoAutoCADLandDesktopProjectstomanyprogrammingenvironmentsotherthanVB,VBA,C++,J++andVisualLISP.Theseinclude:

AnyMicrosoftOffice97product,includingWord,Access,Excel,ProjectandPowerPoint.AnyVBScriptenabledproduct,includingOutlookandInternetExplorer.AnyproductthatsupportsAutomation(ActiveXDispatchinterfaces),includingDelphi.

Pleaserefertothedocumentationprovidedwitheachproduct.

OtherProgrammingGuidelines