AcadNetAddinWizard & More

AutoCAD Jig & VB.NET: Move Block/BlockReference/INSERT Using EntityJig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

In this article, let us see how to move a Block (Commonly used name)/BlockReference (API term) /INSERT (User term) using AutoCAD EntityJig and VB.NET. Here is the core code and a test command for the block moving jig we are going to talk about:

#Region "Namespaces"
 
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Media.Imaging
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.IO
 
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
Imports MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document
Imports AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
#End Region
 
 
Namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
    Public Class BlockMoving
        Inherits EntityJig
#Region "Fields"
 
        Public mCurJigFactorNumber As Integer = 1
 
        Private mPosition As New Point3d()
        ' Factor #1
#End Region
 
#Region "Constructors"
 
        Public Sub New(ent As Entity)
            MyBase.New(ent)
        End Sub
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Overrides"
 
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    TryCast(Entity, BlockReference).Position = mPosition
                    Exit Select
                Case Else
                    Return False
            End Select
 
            Return True
        End Function
 
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    Dim prOptions1 As New JigPromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Block position:")
                    Dim prResult1 As PromptPointResult = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1)
                    If prResult1.Status = PromptStatus.Cancel Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult1.Value.Equals(mPosition) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        mPosition = prResult1.Value
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
                Case Else
                    Exit Select
            End Select
 
            Return SamplerStatus.OK
        End Function
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Method to Call"
 
        Public Shared Function Jig(ent As BlockReference) As Boolean
            Try
                Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
                Dim jigger As New BlockMoving(ent)
                Dim pr As PromptResult
                Do
                    pr = ed.Drag(jigger)
                    jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber += 1
                Loop While pr.Status <> PromptStatus.Cancel AndAlso pr.Status <> PromptStatus.[Error] AndAlso pr.Status <> PromptStatus.Keyword AndAlso jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber <= 1
 
                Return pr.Status = PromptStatus.OK
            Catch
                Return False
            End Try
        End Function
 
#End Region
    End Class
End Namespace
 
…
<CommandMethod("TestEntityJigger4")> _
Public Shared Sub TestEntityJigger4_Method()
    Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
    Dim db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
 
    Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
        Dim selRes As PromptEntityResult = ed.GetEntity("Pick a block:")
        If selRes.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then
            Dim ent As BlockReference = TryCast(tr.GetObject(selRes.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockReference)
            If ent IsNot Nothing Then
                BlockMoving.Jig(ent)
            End If
        End If
 
        tr.Commit()
    End Using
End Sub
…

Here is how the block moving jig behaves in AutoCAD after the test command runs and a block is picked:

As can be seen, the original block stayed at its original place for the reference purpose in this situation and some exact graphics as the block appearance were moving along with the cursor at that moment. After a point (the new block position) was clicked, the picked block was moved to the new place.

If readers would like a different behavior for the block moving such as the original block graphics being highlighted or even making it disappear totally, it can be achieved by tweaking the test command a bit. Some similar code will be introduced in some coming posts, please stay tuned. 

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• An entity type needs to be specified in the EntityJig derivative, as BlockReference here.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the new block position.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update the block position as set in the Sampler().
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides a coder, Entity Jigger, to help us create entity jig code automatically, quickly and reliably to address various entity types and circumstances.

AutoCAD Jig & VB.NET: ColorIndex Input for Circle Jigging Using EntityJig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

We have demonstrated jigging a circle by its center and radius with keyword support before. In this article, let us see how to add the ColorIndex input rather than only some pre-set color keywords during the circle jigging.

Here is the core class and the test command in VB.NET for the circle jig with color index input support we are going to talk about:

#Region "Namespaces"
 
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Media.Imaging
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.IO
 
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
Imports MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document
Imports AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
#End Region
 
 
Namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
    Public Class EntityJigger2
        Inherits EntityJig
#Region "Fields"
 
        Private mEntity As Circle
 
        Public mCurJigFactorNumber As Integer = 1
 
        Private mCenter As New Point3d()
        ' Factor #1
        Private mRadius As Double = 0.0001
        ' Factor #2 : It is critical to set it as none zero to avoid the degeneration problem.
        Public mColorIndex As Integer = -1
        ' Factor #3 : Also a flag to indicate if a ColorIndex is input. 
#End Region
 
#Region "Constructors"
 
        Public Sub New(ent As Entity)
            MyBase.New(ent)
            mEntity = TryCast(ent, Circle)
            mEntity.Center = mCenter
            mEntity.Radius = mRadius
        End Sub
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Overrides"
 
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            If mColorIndex >= 0 AndAlso mColorIndex <= 256 Then
                TryCast(Entity, Circle).ColorIndex = mColorIndex
                mColorIndex = -1
                Return True
            End If
 
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Center = mCenter
                    Exit Select
                Case 2
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Radius = mRadius
                    Exit Select
                Case Else
                    Return False
            End Select
 
            Return True
        End Function
 
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    Dim prOptions1 As New JigPromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Circle center:")
                    prOptions1.Keywords.Add("Color")
                    Dim prResult1 As PromptPointResult = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1)
                    If prResult1.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult1.Value.Equals(mCenter) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        mCenter = prResult1.Value
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
                Case 2
                    Dim prOptions2 As New JigPromptDistanceOptions(vbLf & "Circle radius:")
                    prOptions2.Keywords.Add("Color")
                    prOptions2.BasePoint = mCenter
                    Dim prResult2 As PromptDoubleResult = prompts.AcquireDistance(prOptions2)
                    If prResult2.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult2.Value.Equals(mRadius) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        If prResult2.Value < 0.0001 Then
                            ' To avoid the degeneration problem!
                            Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                        Else
                            mRadius = prResult2.Value
                            Return SamplerStatus.OK
                        End If
                    End If
                Case Else
                    Exit Select
            End Select
 
            Return SamplerStatus.OK
        End Function
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Method to Call"
 
        Public Shared Function Jig() As Boolean
            Try
                Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
                Dim db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
 
                Dim jigger As New EntityJigger2(New Circle())
                Dim pr As PromptResult
                Do
                    pr = ed.Drag(jigger)
                    If pr.Status = PromptStatus.Keyword Then
                        If pr.StringResult = "Color" Then
                            Dim prResult As PromptIntegerResult = ed.GetInteger(vbLf & "Color index:")
                            jigger.mColorIndex = prResult.Value
                        End If
                    End If
                Loop While pr.Status = PromptStatus.Keyword OrElse (pr.Status = PromptStatus.OK AndAlso System.Math.Max(System.Threading.Interlocked.Increment(jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber), jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber - 1) <= 2)
 
                If pr.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then
                    Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                        Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                        Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(bt(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                        btr.AppendEntity(jigger.Entity)
                        tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(jigger.Entity, True)
                        tr.Commit()
                    End Using
                Else
                    Return False
                End If
 
                Return True
            Catch
                Return False
            End Try
        End Function
 
#End Region
    End Class
End Namespace
 
…
<CommandMethod("TestEntityJigger2")> _
Public Shared Sub TestEntityJigger2_Method()
    Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
    If EntityJigger2.Jig() Then
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database." & vbLf)
    Else
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "It failed to jig and add a circle to the database." & vbLf)
    End If
End Sub
…

Here is how the circle jig behaves in AutoCAD after the test command runs, a center is input, the Color keyword is chosen, some color index is input, and its radius is being jigged:

The following outputs may be there in the AutoCAD command line window:

Command: TESTENTITYJIGGER2
Circle center [Color]: color
Color index: 50
Circle center [Color]:
Circle radius [Color]: c
Color index: 100
Circle radius [Color]:

A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database.

By the way, cancellations/escapes by users will gracefully be handled by the jig as usual.

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• An entity type needs to be specified in the EntityJig derivative, as Circle here.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the center and the radius in a certain order.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• The keywords can be added easily through the Keywords collection of the JigPromptPointOptions or other similar prompt options objects.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update the center and the radius properties of the circle in the same order as set in the Sampler().
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig. If two properties need to be set, the jig needs to be fired off twice. That is why a while loop is used.
• The while loop needs to think about the PromptStatus.Keyword case of the PromptResult after each Jig Drag.
• The color index needs to be collected from outside of the Jig itself using the GetInteger() of the Editor object instead of the JigPrompts of the Jig object.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the circle be added to the database to avoid database corruption.
• The last but important, please make sure the radius of the circle either in memory or database resident is never zero, otherwise a degeneration exception would come up.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides a coder, Entity Jigger, to help us create entity jig code automatically, quickly and reliably.

AutoCAD Jig & VB.NET: Keyword Support for Circle Jigging Using EntityJig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

We have demonstrated jigging a circle by both its center and radius using the EntityJig class previously. In this article, let us add the keyword support for collecting a color such as Red, Green and Blue for the circle during its jigging. 

Here is the core class and the test command in VB.NET for the circle jig with keyword support we are going to talk about:

#Region "Namespaces"
 
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Media.Imaging
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.IO
 
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
Imports MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document
Imports AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
#End Region
 
 
Namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
    Public Class EntityJigger1
        Inherits EntityJig
#Region "Fields"
 
        Private mEntity As Circle
 
        Public mCurJigFactorNumber As Integer = 1
 
        Private mCenter As New Point3d()
        ' Factor #1
        Private mRadius As Double = 0.0001
        ' Factor #2 : It is critical to set it as none zero to avoid the degeneration problem.
        Private mColorIndex As Integer = -1
        ' Factor #3 : Also a flag to indicate if a ColorIndex is input. 
#End Region
 
#Region "Constructors"
 
        Public Sub New(ent As Entity)
            MyBase.New(ent)
            mEntity = TryCast(ent, Circle)
            mEntity.Center = mCenter
            mEntity.Radius = mRadius
        End Sub
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Overrides"
 
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            If mColorIndex >= 0 AndAlso mColorIndex <= 256 Then
                TryCast(Entity, Circle).ColorIndex = mColorIndex
                mColorIndex = -1
                Return True
            End If
 
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Center = mCenter
                    Exit Select
                Case 2
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Radius = mRadius
                    Exit Select
                Case Else
                    Return False
            End Select
 
            Return True
        End Function
 
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    Dim prOptions1 As New JigPromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Circle center:")
                    prOptions1.Keywords.Add("Red")
                    prOptions1.Keywords.Add("Green")
                    prOptions1.Keywords.Add("Blue")
                    Dim prResult1 As PromptPointResult = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1)
                    If prResult1.Status = PromptStatus.Keyword Then
                        Select Case prResult1.StringResult
                            Case "Red"
                                mColorIndex = 1
                                Exit Select
                            Case "Green"
                                mColorIndex = 3
                                Exit Select
                            Case "Blue"
                                mColorIndex = 5
                                Exit Select
                            Case Else
                                mColorIndex = -1
                                Exit Select
                        End Select
 
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
 
                    If prResult1.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult1.Value.Equals(mCenter) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        mCenter = prResult1.Value
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
                Case 2
                    Dim prOptions2 As New JigPromptDistanceOptions(vbLf & "Circle radius:")
                    prOptions2.Keywords.Add("Red")
                    prOptions2.Keywords.Add("Green")
                    prOptions2.Keywords.Add("Blue")
                    prOptions2.BasePoint = mCenter
                    Dim prResult2 As PromptDoubleResult = prompts.AcquireDistance(prOptions2)
                    If prResult2.Status = PromptStatus.Keyword Then
                        Select Case prResult2.StringResult
                            Case "Red"
                                mColorIndex = 1
                                Exit Select
                            Case "Green"
                                mColorIndex = 3
                                Exit Select
                            Case "Blue"
                                mColorIndex = 5
                                Exit Select
                            Case Else
                                mColorIndex = -1
                                Exit Select
                        End Select
 
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
 
                    If prResult2.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult2.Value.Equals(mRadius) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        If prResult2.Value < 0.0001 Then
                            ' To avoid the degeneration problem!
                            Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                        Else
                            mRadius = prResult2.Value
                            Return SamplerStatus.OK
                        End If
                    End If
                Case Else
                    Exit Select
            End Select
 
            Return SamplerStatus.OK
        End Function
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Method to Call"
 
        Public Shared Function Jig() As Boolean
            Try
                Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
                Dim db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
 
                Dim jigger As New EntityJigger1(New Circle())
                Dim pr As PromptResult
                Do
                    pr = ed.Drag(jigger)
                Loop While pr.Status = PromptStatus.Keyword OrElse (pr.Status = PromptStatus.OK AndAlso System.Math.Max(System.Threading.Interlocked.Increment(jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber), jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber - 1) <= 2)
 
                If pr.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then
                    Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                        Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                        Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(bt(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                        btr.AppendEntity(jigger.Entity)
                        tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(jigger.Entity, True)
                        tr.Commit()
                    End Using
                Else
                    Return False
                End If
 
                Return True
            Catch
                Return False
            End Try
        End Function
 
#End Region
    End Class
End Namespace

…
<CommandMethod("TestEntityJigger1")> _
Public Shared Sub TestEntityJigger1_Method()
    Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
    If EntityJigger1.Jig() Then
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database." & vbLf)
    Else
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "It failed to jig and add a circle to the database." & vbLf)
    End If
End Sub
…

Here is how the circle jig behaves this time in AutoCAD after the test command runs, a center is input, some color is chosen, and its radius is being jigged:

The following outputs may be there in the AutoCAD command line window:

Command:
TESTENTITYJIGGER1
Circle center [Red/Green/Blue]: r
Circle center [Red/Green/Blue]:
Circle radius [Red/Green/Blue]: g
Circle radius [Red/Green/Blue]: b
Circle radius [Red/Green/Blue]: g
Circle radius [Red/Green/Blue]:

A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database.

By the way, cancellations/escapes by users will gracefully be handled by the jig as usual.

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• An entity type needs to be specified in the EntityJig derivative, as Circle here.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the center and the radius in a certain order.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• The keywords can be added easily through the Keywords collection of the JigPromptPointOptions or other similar prompt options objects.
• The keyword input can be checked from the Status property of the PromptPointResult or similar and the keyword value can be retrieved from the StringResult property of the same PromptResult object.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update the center and the radius properties of the circle in the same order as set in the Sampler().
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig. If two properties need to be set, the jig needs to be fired off twice. That is why a while loop is used.
• The while loop also needs to think about the PromptStatus.Keyword case of the PromptResult after each Jig Drag.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the circle be added to the database to avoid database corruption.
• The last but important, please make sure the radius of the circle either in memory or database resident is never zero, otherwise a degeneration exception would come up.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides a coder, Entity Jigger, to help us create entity jig code automatically, quickly and reliably.

AutoCAD Jig & VB.NET: Jig Circle by Center and Radius Using EntityJig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is primarily used to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

In this article, let us start from jigging a circle by both its center and radius using the EntityJig class. Here is the core class and the test command in VB.NET for the circle jig we are going to talk about:

#Region "Namespaces"
 
Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Media.Imaging
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.IO
 
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
Imports MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application
Imports MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document
Imports MgdAcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows
 
#End Region
 
 
Namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
    Public Class EntityJigger
        Inherits EntityJig
 
#Region "Fields"
 
        Private mEntity As Circle
 
        Public mCurJigFactorNumber As Integer = 1
 
        Private mCenter As New Point3d()
        ' Factor #1
        Private mRadius As Double = 0.0001
        ' Factor #2 : It is critical to set it as none zero to avoid the degeneration problem.
#End Region
 
#Region "Constructors"
 
        Public Sub New(ent As Entity)
            MyBase.New(ent)
            mEntity = TryCast(ent, Circle)
            mEntity.Center = mCenter
            mEntity.Radius = mRadius
        End Sub
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Overrides"
 
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Center = mCenter
                    Exit Select
                Case 2
                    TryCast(Entity, Circle).Radius = mRadius
                    Exit Select
                Case Else
                    Return False
            End Select
 
            Return True
        End Function
 
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Select Case mCurJigFactorNumber
                Case 1
                    Dim prOptions1 As New JigPromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Circle center:")
                    Dim prResult1 As PromptPointResult = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1)
                    If prResult1.Status = PromptStatus.Cancel Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult1.Value.Equals(mCenter) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        mCenter = prResult1.Value
                        Return SamplerStatus.OK
                    End If
                Case 2
                    Dim prOptions2 As New JigPromptDistanceOptions(vbLf & "Circle radius:")
                    prOptions2.BasePoint = mCenter
                    Dim prResult2 As PromptDoubleResult = prompts.AcquireDistance(prOptions2)
                    If prResult2.Status = PromptStatus.Cancel Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.Cancel
                    End If
 
                    If prResult2.Value.Equals(mRadius) Then
                        Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                    Else
                        If prResult2.Value < 0.0001 Then
                            ' To avoid the degeneration problem!
                            Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
                        Else
                            mRadius = prResult2.Value
                            Return SamplerStatus.OK
                        End If
                    End If
                Case Else
                    Exit Select
            End Select
 
            Return SamplerStatus.OK
        End Function
 
#End Region
 
#Region "Method to Call"
 
        Public Shared Function Jig() As Boolean
            Try
                Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
                Dim db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
 
                Dim ent As New Circle()
                Dim jigger As New EntityJigger(ent)
                Dim pr As PromptResult
                Do
                    pr = ed.Drag(jigger)
                    jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber += 1
                Loop While pr.Status <> PromptStatus.Cancel AndAlso jigger.mCurJigFactorNumber <= 2
 
                If pr.Status <> PromptStatus.Cancel Then
                    Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                        Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                        Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(bt(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                        btr.AppendEntity(jigger.Entity)
                        tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(jigger.Entity, True)
                        tr.Commit()
                    End Using
                Else
                    Return False
                End If
 
                Return True
            Catch
                Return False
            End Try
        End Function
 
#End Region
 
    End Class
 
End Namespace
 
…
<CommandMethod("TestEntityJigger")> _
Public Shared Sub TestEntityJigger_Method()
    Dim ed As Editor = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
    If EntityJigger.Jig() Then
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database." & vbLf)
    Else
        ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "It failed to jig and add a circle to the database." & vbLf)
    End If
End Sub
…

Here is how the circle jig behaves in AutoCAD after the test command runs and a center is input and its radius is being jigged:

The following outputs may be there in the AutoCAD command line window:

Command: TestEntityJigger

Circle center:
Circle radius:
A circle has been successfully jigged and added to the database.

If the circle jig is canceled (escaped out) by users either at the center input point or the radius input moment, the jig will handle the situation gracefully.
Command: TESTENTITYJIGGER

Circle center:
Circle radius: *Cancel*

It failed to jig and add a circle to the database.

Command:
TESTENTITYJIGGER
Circle center: *Cancel*

It failed to jig and add a circle to the database.

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• An entity type needs to be specified in the EntityJig derivative, as Circle here.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the center and the radius in a certain order.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK please.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update the center and the radius properties of the circle in the same order as set in the Sampler().
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig. If two properties need to be set, the jig needs to be fired off twice. That is why a while loop is used.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the circle be added to the database to avoid database messes.
• The last but not least, please make sure the radius of the circle either in memory or database resident is never zero, otherwise a degeneration exception would come up.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides a coder, Entity Jigger, to help us create entity jig code automatically, quickly and reliably.

Generic Type and Base Class: AutoCAD .NET SymbolTable and Enumerator

Recently spotted an article on web talking about ‘effectively’ utilizing the .NET power in AutoCAD .NET, Maximize the .NET in AutoCAD® .NET. It talks a bit about the .NET Generic type and suggests creating a container template class for all AutoCAD symbol table records.

“Now many of these containers have similar behavior and perform similar set of operations on the items they contain, i.e., add, remove, iterate. These similar operations can therefore be abstracted out - it doesn‟t matter what type of object is being affected so long as the operations are similar. This is the exact definition of a .NET Generic type.
…
Here is a sample class that implements a generic template interface IEnumerable defined by the .NET framework. Implementing this interface makes iterating its contents easy:

public class SymbolTableRecordContainer : IEnumerable<T>
{
IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator();
}
”
Not sure how the guy implemented the container template and how he should use it in the real world AutoCAD .NET programming, but judging from the simple fact that all AutoCAD symbol tables are derived from the same simple nice and functional base class, SymbolTable, as follows, doing so is like bringing owls to Athens.

public abstract class SymbolTable : DBObject, IEnumerable

The SymbolTable is already a container for various AutoCAD symbol table records such as layers, line types and text styles and once again they all share another simple nice and functional base class, SymbolTableRecord, as follows.

public abstract class SymbolTableRecord : DBObject

With these simple facts clear, it is already a very easy and obvious job to enumerate AutoCAD symbol table records no matter what they are. Here is some sample code.

#region Namespaces
 
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Linq;
using System.Xml;
using System.Reflection;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
 
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
using MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application;
using MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document;
using AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
#endregion
 
 
namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
{
    public class SymbolTableEnumerator
    {
        ObjectId mContainerId;
 
        public SymbolTableEnumerator(ObjectId id)
        {
            mContainerId = id;
        }
 
        public void PrintOutAllRecordNames()
        {
            Database database = mContainerId.Database;
            Editor ed = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
           
            using (Transaction transaction = database.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
            {
                SymbolTable symTable = (SymbolTable)transaction.GetObject(mContainerId, OpenMode.ForRead);
                ed.WriteMessage(string.Format("\nTable: {0}", symTable.ToString()));
              
                foreach (ObjectId id in symTable)
                {
                    SymbolTableRecord record = (SymbolTableRecord)transaction.GetObject(id, OpenMode.ForRead);
                    ed.WriteMessage(string.Format("\n\t{0}", record.Name));
                }
 
                transaction.Commit();
            }
        }
 
        [CommandMethod("SymbolTablesAndRecords")]
        public static void SymbolTablesAndRecords_Method()
        {
            Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;
 
            SymbolTableEnumerator enum1 = new SymbolTableEnumerator(db.LayerTableId);
            enum1.PrintOutAllRecordNames();
 
            SymbolTableEnumerator enum2 = new SymbolTableEnumerator(db.LinetypeTableId);
            enum2.PrintOutAllRecordNames();
 
            SymbolTableEnumerator enum3 = new SymbolTableEnumerator(db.TextStyleTableId);
            enum3.PrintOutAllRecordNames();
        }
 
    }
}

Here is some sample output on AutoCAD command line window.

Command: SymbolTablesAndRecords

Table: Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.LayerTable
 0
 Title Block
 Viewport
 A-Walls
 A-Electrical
 A-Windows
 Reference
 Dimensions
 Text
 Defpoints
 Elevation
 Section AA
 No Print
 A-Doors
 A-Plumbing
Table: Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.LinetypeTable
 ByBlock
 ByLayer
 Continuous
 DASHED
Table: Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.TextStyleTable
 Standard
 Roman

So there must be something fundamental but important missed out there.

AutoCAD .NET: Transform Picked Point from Current UCS to WCS

We are addressing a very simple task regarding AutoCAD .NET programming in this article. How to transform a picked point from the current (active) UCS to the WCS?

It sounds too obvious to metion.  That was also what we thought about it, and it explains why the topic was not covered explicitly before. However, judging from some code on web, it apparently is not the case. So, let’s take a few seconds here to have a bit review about it.

//...
 
Editor ed = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
Matrix3d ucs = ed.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
 
PromptPointResult ppr = ed.GetPoint("\nSpecify base point: ");
if (ppr.Status != PromptStatus.OK)
    return;
 
Point3d baseUcs = ppr.Value;
CoordinateSystem3d cs = ucs.CoordinateSystem3d;
 
// Transform from UCS to WCS
Matrix3d mat =
    Matrix3d.AlignCoordinateSystem(
    Point3d.Origin,
    Vector3d.XAxis,
    Vector3d.YAxis,
    Vector3d.ZAxis,
    cs.Origin,
    cs.Xaxis,
    cs.Yaxis,
    cs.Zaxis
    );
 
Point3d baseWcs = baseUcs.TransformBy(mat);
Point3d curPt = baseWcs;
 
//...

Checking the code there more times, got more confused about why the simple task had to be done that way, which is redundant, inefficient, and error prone. In fact, as demonstrated hundreds of times before in our posts, a single line of code can transform the picked point, ppr.Value, from the current UCS to the WCS so easily and reliably.

//...
 
Editor ed = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
 
PromptPointResult ppr = ed.GetPoint("\nSpecify base point: ");
if (ppr.Status != PromptStatus.OK)
    return;
 
Point3d curPt = ppr.Value.TransformBy(ed.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem);
 
//...

 
The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides various project wizards, item wizards, coders and widgets to help program AutoCAD .NET addins.

AutoCAD .NET: EntityJig – Dynamic Chamfer and Jig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

We have demonstrated jigging various AutoCAD entities such as Line, Multiple-Line, Circle, Polyline, DBText, and Block, performing various actions dynamically, using either EntityJig or DrawJig, such as Insert, Move, Rotate, Copy, Array, and Mirror, and creating various Solid types such as Box, Cube, Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, Pyramid, Prism, Wedge, Frustum, Torus, The Pentagon, and The Solar System in many early posts. In this article, let us see how to chamfer a polygon composed of a closed AutoCAD 2D Polyline dynamically.

Here is the core code of dynamic chamfer jig along with a test command:

#region Namespaces
 
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Linq;
using System.Xml;
using System.Reflection;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
 
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
using MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application;
using MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document;
using AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
#endregion
 
 
namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
{
    public class ChamferJigger : EntityJig
    {
        #region Fields
 
        public int mCurJigFactorIndex = 1;
 
        private Point3d mBasePoint = new Point3d();
        private Point3d mNewPoint;  // Factor #1
 
        public Point2dCollection mOriginalVertices;
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Constructors
 
        public ChamferJigger(Entity ent, Point3d basePoint)
            : base(ent)
        {
            mOriginalVertices = new Point2dCollection();
            for (int i = 0; i < PLine.NumberOfVertices; i++)
            {
                mOriginalVertices.Add(PLine.GetPoint2dAt(i));
            }
               
            mNewPoint = mBasePoint = basePoint.TransformBy(UCS);
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Properties
 
        private Editor Editor
        {
            get
            {
                return MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            }
        }
 
        private Matrix3d UCS
        {
            get
            {
                return Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
            }
        }
 
        private Polyline PLine
        {
            get
            {
                return Entity as Polyline;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Overrides
 
        protected override bool Update()
        {
            double dist = mBasePoint.DistanceTo(mNewPoint);
            Point2dCollection ptCol = new Point2dCollection();
            List<double> bulges = new List<double>();
            for (int i = 0; i < mOriginalVertices.Count; i++)
            {
                Point2d current = mOriginalVertices[i];
                Point2d previous = i == 0 ? mOriginalVertices[mOriginalVertices.Count - 1] : mOriginalVertices[i - 1];
                Point2d next = i == mOriginalVertices.Count - 1 ? mOriginalVertices[0] : mOriginalVertices[i + 1];
 
                Point2d pt1 = current + (previous - current) / current.GetDistanceTo(previous) * dist;
                Point2d pt2 = current + (next - current) / current.GetDistanceTo(next) * dist;
                double bulge = Math.Tan(((next-current).GetAngleTo(current-previous))/4);
                ptCol.Add(pt1);
                bulges.Add(bulge);
                ptCol.Add(pt2);
                bulges.Add(0);
            }
 
            for (int i = 0; i < PLine.NumberOfVertices; i++)
            {
                PLine.SetPointAt(i, ptCol[i]);
                PLine.SetBulgeAt(i, bulges[i]);
            }
            for (int i = PLine.NumberOfVertices; i < ptCol.Count; i++)
                PLine.AddVertexAt(i, ptCol[i], bulges[i], 0, 0);
 
            return true;
        }
 
        protected override SamplerStatus Sampler(JigPrompts prompts)
        {
            switch (mCurJigFactorIndex)
            {
                case 1:
                    JigPromptPointOptions prOptions1 = new JigPromptPointOptions("\nLocation:");
                    prOptions1.UserInputControls = UserInputControls.Accept3dCoordinates |
                        UserInputControls.GovernedByOrthoMode | UserInputControls.GovernedByUCSDetect;
                    prOptions1.BasePoint = mBasePoint;
                    prOptions1.UseBasePoint = true;
                    PromptPointResult prResult1 = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1);
 
                    if (prResult1.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel) return SamplerStatus.Cancel;
 
                    if (prResult1.Value.Equals(mNewPoint))  //Use better comparision method if wanted.
                    {
                        return SamplerStatus.NoChange;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        mNewPoint = prResult1.Value;
                        return SamplerStatus.OK;
                    }
                default:
                    break;
            }
 
            return SamplerStatus.OK;
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Methods to Call
 
        public static ChamferJigger jigger = null;
        public static bool Jig(Entity ent, Point3d basePt)
        {
            try
            {
                jigger = new ChamferJigger(ent, basePt);
                PromptResult pr;
                do
                {
                    pr = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.Drag(jigger);
                    if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Keyword)
                    {
                        // Add keyword handling code below
 
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex++;
                    }
                } while (pr.Status != PromptStatus.Cancel && pr.Status != PromptStatus.Error && jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex <= 1);
 
                if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel || pr.Status == PromptStatus.Error)
                {
                    if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                        jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                    return false;
                }
                else
                    return true;
            }
            catch
            {
                if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                    jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                return false;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Test Commands
 
        [CommandMethod("TestChamferJigger")]
        public static void TestChamferJigger_Method()
        {
            Editor ed = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;
 
            try
            {
                PromptEntityResult selRes = ed.GetEntity("\nPick a polygon to Chamfer:");
                if (selRes.Status == PromptStatus.OK)
                {
                    using (Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
                    {
                        Entity ent = tr.GetObject(selRes.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Entity;
                        if (ent != null && ent is Polyline && ((Polyline)ent).Closed)
                        {
                            if (ChamferJigger.Jig(ent, selRes.PickedPoint))
                                tr.Commit();
                            else
                                tr.Abort();
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                ed.WriteMessage(ex.ToString());
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
    }
}

Here is what the screen looks like when an rectangle has been chamfered dynamically by the dynamic chamfer jig:
 

NOTE: The isometric view is in a UCS instead of WCS, indicating our chamfer Jigger honors UCS perfectly.

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• Our Chamfer Jig is supposed to support closed 2d Polyline only for now.
• The picked point on the entity will determine where to jig the Entity from and to.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the new location of the base point.
• Some UserInputControls flags are used here, GovernedByUCSDetect, UseBasePointElevation, and Accept3dCoordinates to collect a point from UCS but intepreted in WCS.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update new location of the Entity through the TransformBy() call on a Vector calculated from the previous base point and the new input location since not every Entity type has an Location or BasePoint property.
• The old base point needs to be replaced with the new location just collected so that the next movement can still behave well in every Update() call.
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig.
• The while loop needs to think about the PromptStatus.Keyword case of the PromptResult after each Jig Drag.
• Keyword handling code can be added as commented.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the entity be finally chamfered.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides two jigging related coders, Entity Jigger and Draw Jigger, to help us create jigging code automatically, quickly, reliably, and professionally.

AutoCAD .NET: EntityJig – Dynamic Fillet and Jig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

We have demonstrated jigging various AutoCAD entities such as Line, Multiple-Line, Circle, Polyline, DBText, and Block, performing various actions dynamically, using either EntityJig or DrawJig, such as Insert, Move, Rotate, Copy, Array, and Mirror, and creating various Solid types such as Box, Cube, Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, Pyramid, Prism, Wedge, Frustum, Torus, The Pentagon, and The Solar System in many early posts. In this article, let us see how to fillet a polygon composed of a closed AutoCAD 2D Polyline dynamically.

Here is the core code of dynamic fillet jig along with a test command:

#region Namespaces
 
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Linq;
using System.Xml;
using System.Reflection;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
 
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
using MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application;
using MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document;
using AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
#endregion
 
 
namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
{
    public class FilletJigger : EntityJig
    {
        #region Fields
 
        public int mCurJigFactorIndex = 1;
 
        private Point3d mBasePoint = new Point3d();
        private Point3d mNewPoint;  // Factor #1
 
        public Point2dCollection mOriginalVertices;
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Constructors
 
        public FilletJigger(Entity ent, Point3d basePoint)
            : base(ent)
        {
            mOriginalVertices = new Point2dCollection();
            for (int i = 0; i < PLine.NumberOfVertices; i++)
            {
                mOriginalVertices.Add(PLine.GetPoint2dAt(i));
            }
               
            mNewPoint = mBasePoint = basePoint.TransformBy(UCS);
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Properties
 
        private Editor Editor
        {
            get
            {
                return MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            }
        }
 
        private Matrix3d UCS
        {
            get
            {
                return Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
            }
        }
 
        private Polyline PLine
        {
            get
            {
                return Entity as Polyline;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Overrides
 
        protected override bool Update()
        {
            double dist = mBasePoint.DistanceTo(mNewPoint);
            Point2dCollection ptCol = new Point2dCollection();
            for (int i = 0; i < mOriginalVertices.Count; i++)
            {
                Point2d current = mOriginalVertices[i];
                Point2d previous = i == 0 ? mOriginalVertices[mOriginalVertices.Count - 1] : mOriginalVertices[i - 1];
                Point2d next = i == mOriginalVertices.Count - 1 ? mOriginalVertices[0] : mOriginalVertices[i + 1];
 
                Point2d pt1 = current + (previous - current) / current.GetDistanceTo(previous) * dist;
                Point2d pt2 = current + (next - current) / current.GetDistanceTo(next) * dist;
                ptCol.Add(pt1);
                ptCol.Add(pt2);
            }
 
            for (int i = 0; i < PLine.NumberOfVertices; i++)
                PLine.SetPointAt(i, ptCol[i]);
            for (int i = PLine.NumberOfVertices; i < ptCol.Count; i++)
                PLine.AddVertexAt(i, ptCol[i], 0, 0, 0);
 
            return true;
        }
 
        protected override SamplerStatus Sampler(JigPrompts prompts)
        {
            switch (mCurJigFactorIndex)
            {
                case 1:
                    JigPromptPointOptions prOptions1 = new JigPromptPointOptions("\nLocation:");
                    prOptions1.UserInputControls = UserInputControls.Accept3dCoordinates |
                        UserInputControls.GovernedByOrthoMode | UserInputControls.GovernedByUCSDetect;
                    prOptions1.BasePoint = mBasePoint;
                    prOptions1.UseBasePoint = true;
                    PromptPointResult prResult1 = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1);
 
                    if (prResult1.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel) return SamplerStatus.Cancel;
 
                    if (prResult1.Value.Equals(mNewPoint))  //Use better comparision method if wanted.
                    {
                        return SamplerStatus.NoChange;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        mNewPoint = prResult1.Value;
                        return SamplerStatus.OK;
                    }
                default:
                    break;
            }
 
            return SamplerStatus.OK;
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Methods to Call
 
        public static FilletJigger jigger = null;
        public static bool Jig(Entity ent, Point3d basePt)
        {
            try
            {
                jigger = new FilletJigger(ent, basePt);
                PromptResult pr;
                do
                {
                    pr = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.Drag(jigger);
                    if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Keyword)
                    {
                        // Add keyword handling code below
 
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex++;
                    }
                } while (pr.Status != PromptStatus.Cancel && pr.Status != PromptStatus.Error && jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex <= 1);
 
                if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel || pr.Status == PromptStatus.Error)
                {
                    if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                        jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                    return false;
                }
                else
                    return true;
            }
            catch
            {
                if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                    jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                return false;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Test Commands
 
        [CommandMethod("TestFilletJigger")]
        public static void TestFilletJigger_Method()
        {
            Editor ed = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;
 
            try
            {
                PromptEntityResult selRes = ed.GetEntity("\nPick a polygon to fillet:");
                if (selRes.Status == PromptStatus.OK)
                {
                    using (Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
                    {
                        Entity ent = tr.GetObject(selRes.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Entity;
                        if (ent != null && ent is Polyline && ((Polyline)ent).Closed)
                        {
                            if (FilletJigger.Jig(ent, selRes.PickedPoint))
                                tr.Commit();
                            else
                                tr.Abort();
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                ed.WriteMessage(ex.ToString());
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
    }
}

Here is what the screen looks like when a rectangle has been filleted dynamically by the dynamic fillet jig:

NOTE: The isometric view is in a UCS instead of WCS, indicating our fillet Jigger honors UCS perfectly.

 A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• Our Fillet Jig is supposed to support closed 2d Polyline only for now.
• The picked point on the entity will determine where to jig the Entity from and to.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the new location of the base point.
• Some UserInputControls flags are used here, GovernedByUCSDetect, UseBasePointElevation, and Accept3dCoordinates to collect a point from UCS but intepreted in WCS.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update new location of the Entity through the TransformBy() call on a Vector calculated from the previous base point and the new input location since not every Entity type has an Location or BasePoint property.
• The old base point needs to be replaced with the new location just collected so that the next movement can still behave well in every Update() call.
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig.
• The while loop needs to think about the PromptStatus.Keyword case of the PromptResult after each Jig Drag.
• Keyword handling code can be added as commented.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the entity be finally filleted.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides two jigging related coders, Entity Jigger and Draw Jigger, to help us create jigging code automatically, quickly, reliably, and professionally.

AutoCAD .NET: EntityJig – Offset Curve Entity Dynamicly Using Jig

AutoCAD .NET API provides two concrete Jig classes for us to jig different entities in different circumstances, EntityJig and DrawJig. EntityJig is to jig a specific entity as its name indicates and the DrawJig is to jig anything that has graphics to draw, which can be a single entity, a group of entities, or something that is not available natively in AutoCAD.

We have demonstrated jigging various AutoCAD entities such as Line, Circle, and Block, performaing various actions dynamically, using either EntityJig or DrawJig, such as Move, Rotate, Copy, and Mirror, and creating various Solid types such as Cone, Cylinder, Pentagon, and so on in many early posts. In this article, let us see how to use jig to offset an curve entity dynamically.

Here is the core code of dynamic offset jig along with a test command:

#region Namespaces
 
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Linq;
using System.Xml;
using System.Reflection;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
 
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
using MgdAcApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application;
using MgdAcDocument = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Document;
using AcWindowsNS = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Windows;
 
#endregion
 
 
namespace AcadNetAddinWizard_Namespace
{
    public class EntityOffsetJigger : EntityJig
    {
        #region Fields
 
        public int mCurJigFactorIndex = 1;
 
        private Point3d mBasePoint = new Point3d();
        private Point3d mNewPoint;  // Factor #1
 
        public Curve OriginalCurve;
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Constructors
 
        public EntityOffsetJigger(Entity ent, Point3d basePoint) : base(ent)
        {
            OriginalCurve = ent as Curve;
            mNewPoint = mBasePoint = basePoint.TransformBy(UCS);
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Properties
 
        private Editor Editor
        {
            get
            {
                return MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            }
        }
 
        private Matrix3d UCS
        {
            get
            {
                return Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Overrides
 
        protected override bool Update()
        {
            double dist = ((Curve)Entity).GetClosestPointTo(mNewPoint, true).DistanceTo(mNewPoint);
            Curve crv = (OriginalCurve).GetOffsetCurves(dist)[0] as Curve;
            if (crv.GetClosestPointTo(mNewPoint, true).DistanceTo(mNewPoint) > 1e-6)
                dist = -dist;
 
            CopyProperties.BetweenSameKind((OriginalCurve).GetOffsetCurves(dist)[0], Entity);
   
            return true;
        }
 
        protected override SamplerStatus Sampler(JigPrompts prompts)
        {
            switch (mCurJigFactorIndex)
            {
                case 1:
                    JigPromptPointOptions prOptions1 = new JigPromptPointOptions("\nLocation:");
                    prOptions1.UserInputControls = UserInputControls.Accept3dCoordinates |
                        UserInputControls.GovernedByOrthoMode | UserInputControls.GovernedByUCSDetect;
                    prOptions1.BasePoint = mBasePoint;
                    prOptions1.UseBasePoint = true;
                    PromptPointResult prResult1 = prompts.AcquirePoint(prOptions1);
                   
                    if (prResult1.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel) return SamplerStatus.Cancel;
 
                    if (prResult1.Value.Equals(mNewPoint))  //Use better comparision method if wanted.
                    {
                        return SamplerStatus.NoChange;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        mNewPoint = prResult1.Value;
                        return SamplerStatus.OK;
                    }
                default:
                    break;
            }
 
            return SamplerStatus.OK;
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Methods to Call
 
        public static EntityOffsetJigger jigger = null;
        public static bool Jig(Entity ent, Point3d basePt)
        {
            try
            {
                jigger = new EntityOffsetJigger(ent, basePt);
                PromptResult pr;
                do
                {
                    pr = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.Drag(jigger);
                    if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Keyword)
                    {
                        // Add keyword handling code below
 
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex++;
                    }
                } while (pr.Status != PromptStatus.Cancel && pr.Status != PromptStatus.Error && jigger.mCurJigFactorIndex <= 1);
 
                if (pr.Status == PromptStatus.Cancel || pr.Status == PromptStatus.Error)
                {
                    if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                        jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                    return false;
                }
                else
                    return true;
            }
            catch
            {
                if (jigger != null && jigger.Entity != null)
                    jigger.Entity.Dispose();
 
                return false;
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        #region Test Commands
 
        [CommandMethod("TestEntityOffsetJigger")]
        public static void TestEntityOffsetJigger_Method()
        {
            Editor ed = MgdAcApplication.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
            Database db = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;
 
            try
            {
                PromptEntityResult selRes = ed.GetEntity("\nPick an entity to offset:");
                if (selRes.Status == PromptStatus.OK )
                {
                    using (Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
                    {
                        Entity ent = tr.GetObject(selRes.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForRead) as Entity;
                        if (ent != null && ent is Curve)
                        {
                            Curve curve =  ent as Curve;
                            DBObjectCollection dbCol = curve.GetOffsetCurves(0);
 
                            if (EntityOffsetJigger.Jig((Entity)dbCol[0], selRes.PickedPoint))
                            {
                                BlockTableRecord ms = tr.GetObject(ent.OwnerId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;
                                if (ms != null)
                                {
                                    ms.AppendEntity(jigger.Entity);
                                    tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(jigger.Entity, true);
 
                                    ent.UpgradeOpen();
                                    ent.Erase();
 
                                    tr.Commit();
                                }
                            }
                            else
                                tr.Abort();
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                ed.WriteMessage(ex.ToString());
            }
        }
 
        #endregion
    }
}

Here is what the the sceen looks like when an ellipsis is being offset dynamically by the dynamic offset jig:
 

NOTE: The isometric view is in a UCS instead of WCS, indicating our offset Jigger honors UCS perfectly.

A few highlights about the code may be helpful:

• Our Offset Jig is supposed to support any type of AutoCAD Curve.
• The picked point on the entity will determine where to jig the Entity from and to.
• The Sampler() override is to acquire input for the new location of the base point.
• Some UserInputControls flags are used here, GovernedByUCSDetect, UseBasePointElevation, and Accept3dCoordinates to collect a point from UCS but intepreted in WCS.
• If the input is the same as the stored variable, we’d better return SamplerStatus.NoChange to avoid unnecessary flashing; if not, return SamplerStatus.OK.
• Please do not forget to handle the cancel/escape circumstance as demonstrated.
• The Update() override is to update new location of the Entity through the TransformBy() call on a Vector calculated from the previous base point and the new input location since not every Entity type has an Location or BasePoint property.
• The old base point needs to be replaced with the new location just collected so that the next movement can still behave well in every Update() call.
• The Editor.Draw() is the power to fire the jig.
• The while loop needs to think about the PromptStatus.Keyword case of the PromptResult after each Jig Drag.
• Keyword handling code can be added as commented.
• Only after the jig succeeds should the entity be offset to the new location.
• The offset curve DBObjectCollection may contain multiple curves. That case may be addressed in a future post.
• The offset curve DBObjectCollection may need to be disposted of to save potential troubles. This is left as an exercise for readers to  explore further.
• There might be some other issues. Please feel free to advise and we will try to address them in the future.

The leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) provides a coder, Entity Jigger, to help us create entity jig code automatically, quickly and reliably.

AppDomain and AutoCAD .NET Assembly Loading and Unloading

Recently spotted an article on web talking about ‘effectively’ utilizing the .NET power in AutoCAD .NET, Maximize the .NET in AutoCAD® .NET.

It says something about loading and unloading AutoCAD .NET assemblies using AppDomains.

“While we are on the subject of having a separate loader (as discussed in the attributes section above) for your real .NET application, the .NET architecture offers a number of other advantages if you do plan to implement a separate loader application for your real .NET application. This loader would be responsible for loading and unloading your .NET application dynamically in AutoCAD (apart from serving as a parser for the custom attributes). All this can be achieved using the .NET concept called AppDomains.”

Not sure whether the guy really created such a loader himself and posted it somewhere or provided through any means to benefit the AutoCAD .NET development community, but we did not see it anyway. Or he just tried hard to present some huge, fancy, but hollow concepts and ideas.

In fact, with the leading edge AutoCAD .NET Addin Wizard (AcadNetAddinWizard) on hand, we do not really have to worry about AutoCAD .NET assembly loading and unloading anymore. Apart from providing features as launching the right version and flavor of AutoCAD automatically from inside the Visual Studio debugger and loading the resultant debug version .NET assembly created by the current project automatically, it also provides some more wonderful features such as opening a test drawing and running a test command defined in the .NET assembly (thus the current .NET Visual Studio project) right after the drawing is being opened. All these can be done in a moment only by pressing the F5 button. It provides far more, such as various project wizards, item wizards, coders and widgets, as introduced in early posts.