AutoCAD DevBlog

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop, Version=18.0.0.0

By Adam Nagy

Issue

My AddIn is referencing the Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop version 18.0.0.0 assembly from the ObjectARX 2010 SDK, so that it works with AutoCAD 2010, 2011 and 2012. Unfortunately, if my application is run on a computer where only AutoCAD 2011 is installed I get a FileNotFoundException:

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop, Version=18.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=eed84259d7cbf30b' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
File name: 'Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop, Version=18.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=eed84259d7cbf30b'

Solution

Unfortunately, the AutoCAD 2011 installer does not install the AutoCAD 2010 version (18.0.0.0) of the Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.dll. This issue is supposed to be remedied in Update 1.1 for AutoCAD 2011.

You could also work around the issue by creating your own version of the interop assembly using tlbimp, reference that in your application and distribute this interop assembly with your application. It's recommended to use a different name for it, e.g. My.Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.dll
In the Visual Studio Command Prompt navigate to the appropriate ARX SDK include folder and type tlbimp acax18enu.tlb /out:My.Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.dll

We have the same issue on x64 OS's as well, that the 64 bit interop dll's are not installed - this would require the same workaround as described above. This issue is supposed to be fixed in AutoCAD 2012.

Note: you can simply start explorer and type %WINDIR%\assembly in the Address field to see which assemblies are installed on your system. 

Enabling the text Search window in AutoCAD 2013 OEM help CHM

by Fenton Webb

Leading on from the How to create your own AutoCAD OEM Help CHM from the 2012/2013 HTML source – here’s how to add the Search box into your OEM Help file.

Simply base your OEM Help on this starter OEM hhp definition and it should work…

Using AutoLISP to read an access database via ADO

By Xiaodong Liang

Issue
How can you access the data in a database rows using Visual LISP functions ?

Solution
Although there are no direct Visual LISP functions to read databases, you can use Microsoft's ActiveX ADO technology from AutoLISP to do this.

The following code illustrates how to read the Customer table from the NorthWind sample database in the Office products using either the Microsoft Access drivers or ODBC.

 

(vl-load-com)

(defun ADOreadNorWndDB ( / MDB_File SQLStatement ADO_DLLPath ConnectionObject
aCommandObject supp rsState
          recno RecordSetObject aBOF aEOF fieldsObj reccnt afield i
fvalue coState)

;; You'll Need To Change the Path to the Northwind.mdb file
;;  L:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Samples 
;;; Set MDB_File to a locatable Access Database file ->
 
(if (setq MDB_File (findfile "c:\\Northwind.mdb"))
    (setq MDB_File "c:\\Northwind")
    (progn
     (princ "\nNorthWind Database was not found, Exiting.")
     (exit)
    )
)
   
;;; Setup a SQL statement ->
 (setq SQLStatement "SELECT * FROM CUSTOMERS")

;;; Normal path to the ADO DLL, change as needed:
(setq ADO_DLLPath "c:\\program files\\common files\\system\\ado\\")

(if (null adom-Append)
 (if (findfile (strcat ADO_DLLPath "msado15.dll"))
   (vlax-import-type-library
     :tlb-filename
     (strcat ADO_DLLPath "msado15.dll")
     :methods-prefix
     "adom-"
     :properties-prefix
     "adop-"
     :constants-prefix
     "adok-"
   )
   (progn
     (alert (strcat "Exiting - Can't find \"" ADO_DLLPath "msado15.dll\""))
     (exit)
   )
 )
)

;;; Proceed if Type Library has been loaded.
 (if adom-Append
   (progn
;;; Create A Connection Object
     (setq ConnectionObject (vlax-create-object "ADODB.Connection"))

;;; Check the mode of the Connection Object
     (setq coMode (vlax-get-property ConnectionObject 'Mode)) ; = 0
;;; Valid Mode values are:
;;;  adok-adModeUnknown = 0
;;;  adok-adModeRead = 1
;;;  adok-adModeWrite = 2
;;;  adok-adModeReadWrite = 3
;;;  adok-adModeShareDenyRead = 4
;;;  adok-adModeShareDenyWrite = 8
;;;  adok-adModeShareExclusive = 12
;;;  adok-adModeShareDenyNone = 16

     (setq coState (vlax-get-property ConnectionObject 'State))

    (if (= coState adok-adStateClosed)
       (vlax-put-property ConnectionObject 'Mode adok-adModeReadWrite)
    )
 
;;; Use the direct Microsoft Access Drivers Creates a LDB Locking file here after this executes
;;;    (vlax-invoke-method
;;;     ConnectionObject
;;;    "Open"
;;;    (strcat "Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};DBQ="
;;;       MDB_File
;;;    )
;;;    "admin"
;;;    ""
;;;    adok-adConnectUnspecified
;;;    )

;;; Or Use a ODBC Connection, but set it up first ->
  (vlax-invoke-method ConnectionObject
               "Open"
               "DSN=myMDB;"
               "admin"
               ""
               adok-adConnectUnspecified
  )

 
;;; Create the RecordSet Object

    (setq RecordSetObject (vlax-create-object "ADODB.RecordSet"))

;;; Set the CursorType, and Locking Type

    (vlax-put-property RecordSetObject 'CursorType adok-adOpenDynamic)
;;; Where the property values are:
     
;;;    adok-adOpenForwardOnly = 0
;;;    adok-adOpenKeyset = 1
;;;    adok-adOpenDynamic = 2
;;;    adok-adOpenStatic = 3

    (vlax-put-property RecordSetObject 'LockType   adok-adLockOptimistic)
;;; Where the property values are:

;;;  adok-adLockReadOnly = 1
;;;  adok-adLockPessimistic = 2
;;;  adok-adLockOptimistic = 3
;;;  adok-adLockBatchOptimistic = 4

;;; The following code will not work, do not use it.
;(setq RecordSetObject
;;; The following fails with a "Type mismatch" error
;      (vlax-invoke-method
;        ConnectionObject "Execute" SQLStatement 'RecordsAffected
;        adok-adCmdText
;       )
;  )

;;; Create a Command Object and Connect it to the Connection Object
    (setq aCommandObject (vlax-create-object "ADODB.Command"))
    (vlax-put-property aCommandObject 'ActiveConnection ConnectionObject)

;;; Setup the Command Object, and Execute the SQL query
    (vlax-put-property aCommandObject 'CommandText SQLStatement)
    (vlax-put-property aCommandObject 'CommandType adok-adCmdText)
;;; adok-adCmdText = 1
;;; adok-adCmdTable = 2
;;; adok-adCmdTableDirect = 512
;;; adok-adCmdStoredProc = 4
;;; adok-adCmdUnknown = 8
;;; adok-adCommandFile = nil
;;; adok-adExecuteNoRecords = 182
 
    (setq RecordSetObject (vlax-invoke-method aCommandObject "Execute" nil nil
nil))
    (setq supp (vlax-invoke-method RecordSetObject 'Supports adok-adAddNew))

;;; Check to see that the RecordSet is available here ->
    (setq rsState (vlax-get-property RecordSetObject 'State))
;;;   adok-adStateClosed = 0
;;;   adok-adStateOpen = 1
;;;   adok-adStateConnecting = 2
;;;   adok-adStateExecuting = 4
;;;   adok-adStateFetching = 8
 
    (if (= rsState adok-adStateOpen)
      (progn
     (setq recno 0)
     (while (and
          (=
            (setq aBOF (vlax-get-property RecordSetObject 'BOF))
             :vlax-false
            )
          (=
            (setq aEOF (vlax-get-property RecordSetObject 'EOF))
            :vlax-false
          )
        )
        (setq fieldsObj (vlax-get-property RecordSetObject 'Fields))

        (setq reccnt (vlax-get-property fieldsObj 'Count) i 0)
        (princ (strcat "\nRecord " (itoa recno) ":\n"))
        (while (< i reccnt)
           (setq afield (vlax-get-property fieldsObj 'Item i))
           (princ (setq fvalue (vlax-variant-value (vlax-get-property
afield 'Value))))
           (princ "\t")
           (setq i (1+ i))
        )
        (princ "\n")
        (setq recno (1+ recno))
        (vlax-invoke-method RecordSetObject 'MoveNext)
     )
      )
      (princ (strcat "\nRecord Set NOT Available, Record Set State = " (itoa
rsState)))
    )

;;; Close only works if it's Opened !, this can usually be tested by checking if
a LDB file exists.
;;; Check to see that the Connection Object is open here ->
    (setq coState (vlax-get-property ConnectionObject 'State))
    (if (and (findfile (strcat MDB_File ".ldb")) (= coState adok-adStateOpen))
      (vlax-invoke-method ConnectionObject "Close")
      (princ "\nConnection Object is not Open, please delete the LDB file if
needed.")
    )
    (Clean_Up)
   )
;;; Exit if Type Library has NOT been loaded.
   (progn
     (alert (strcat "Exiting - Type Library was Not Loaded: \"" ADO_DLLPath
"msado15.dll\""))
     (exit)
   )
 )
)


(defun Clean_Up ()
 (if (and aField (null (vlax-object-released-p aField)))
      (vlax-release-object aField)
 )
 (if (and fieldsObj (null (vlax-object-released-p fieldsObj)))
      (vlax-release-object fieldsObj)
 )
 (if (and aCommandObject (null (vlax-object-released-p aCommandObject)))
      (vlax-release-object aCommandObject)
 )
 (if (and RecordSetObject (null (vlax-object-released-p RecordSetObject)))
      (vlax-release-object RecordSetObject)
 )
 (if (and ConnectionObject (null (vlax-object-released-p ConnectionObject)))
      (vlax-release-object ConnectionObject)
 )
 (setq ConnectionObject nil RecordSetObject nil aCommandObject nil fieldsObj
nil aField nil)
 (princ "\n\nRemoving and Releasing Connection Objects.")
 (princ)
)

(princ "\nADOreadNorWndDB loaded, type (ADOreadNorWndDB) to run.")
(princ)

Getting Started with JavaScript API on AutoCAD 2014

By Philippe Leefsma

As you may have seen already, AutoCAD 2014 is coming with a brand new JavaScript API that will allow a new wave of programmers to interact with it.

Whether you are an experienced web developer or a complete newbie in that area, this DevTv will take you through the steps required to get started programming AutoCAD in JavaScript. A previous experience with one of the existing AutoCAD API, such as ObjectARX or .Net is however a plus.

Here are the topics I cover during the presentation:

I. Introduction to JavaScript

II. JavaScript API in AutoCAD

III. Extending AutoCAD JavaScript API

You will also find the samples that I am demo-ing as part of the attached material below. Note: Firefox or Chrome are recommended browsers if you are playing the video using the html link, IE may behave strangely.

Download AutoCAD_2014_Getting_started_with_JavaScript_API

April 1st +1

By Stephen Preston

Yesterday was our first April Fool's Day since we started our DevBlogs, so we had some fun picking up the gauntlet laid down over the years by Kean Walmsley by writing a few of our own April Fool's blog posts. In case you missed some, here is the full list:

• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/infrastructure/2013/04/how-green-and-sustainable-is-my-civil-3d-infrastructure-project.html
• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2013/04/autodesk-orbital-movement-epoch-notification-system.html
• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/aec/2013/04/d-for-developers-.html
• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/manufacturing/2013/04/inventor-for-ipad-is-now-available.html
• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2013/04/autocad-2014s-incredible-easter-egg-surprise.html
• http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2013/04/introducing-the-autodesk-layout.html
• http://around-the-corner.typepad.com/adn/2013/03/kinect-leapmotion-mocap-all-legacy-tools-.html
• http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2013/04/cloud-based-restaurant-seating-arrangement-and-cleaning.html

And, of course, there was also Kean's own post - http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2013/04/taking-reality-capture-to-the-next-level-3d-scentsing.html.

For completeness here are links to Kean's April Fool's posts from previous years:

• http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2008/04/unpublished-aut.html
• http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2009/04/through-the-interface-moving-from-typepad-to-twitter.html
• http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2010/04/childs-play-a-new-tool-for-generating-3d-models-from-childrens-drawings.html
• http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2011/03/autocad-for-dos-2012.html
• http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2012/03/360-convergence.html

We hope you enjoyed the articles, and that those of you from countries that don't have an April Fool's tradition didn't think we'd gone completely mad.

If you didn't like them, then I'll leave you with this advice from an old friend of mine:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

(Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream, closing speech - William Shakespeare).

 

 

AutoCAD 2014 API

By Virupaksha Aithal

Philippe Leefsma has created a DevTV on the new AutoCAD 2014 API's. You can download this DevTV from here. This DevTV includes Migration of your AutoCAD 2013 plug-ins to AutoCAD 2014 and  the new APIs and developer features in AutoCAD 2014. Also,

Visit http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/2013/04/getting-started-with-javascript-api-on-autocad-2014.html for Getting Started with JavaScript API on AutoCAD 2014.

ObjectARX 2014 & AutoCAD 2014 .Net Training materials

By Virupaksha Aithal

We have posted the ObjectARX 2014 and AutoCAD 2014 .NET Training materials to AutoCAD developer page under Learning section.  Visit http://www.autodesk.com/developautocad for downloading the Training materials . 

ObjectARX 2014 Wizard & AutoCAD 2014 DotNet Wizard

By Virupaksha Aithal

We have posted the ObjectARX 2014 wizard and AutoCAD 2014 DotNet Wizard to AutoCAD developer page under tools section.  Visit http://www.autodesk.com/developautocad for downloading the wizards. 

Introducing the Autodesk Layout

By Stephen Preston

Autodesk announced today a call for Beta testers for the newest addition to our product line – the Autodesk Layout - an Android-based tablet designed specifically for drafting.

Tablet devices targeted at specific markets are nothing new – as witnessed by the success of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and the Barnes & Noble Nook HD in the ‘eReader’ domain. With the Layout, Autodesk plan to do the same for drafting.

Readers of Kean Walmsley’s blog will be familiar with the AutoCAD “Big Split” project. This was a very significant architectural refactoring of AutoCAD to isolate the AutoCAD ‘application logic’ (AcCore) from the user interface, which has led to the creation of a number new ‘AcCore-based’ products, such as AutoCAD for Mac, AutoCAD WS, and (of course) the AcCoreConsole ‘scripting engine’ that ships as part of the AutoCAD 2013 console.

Autodesk Layout uses AcCore to implement an Android native version of AutoCAD. This in turn sits on top of an enhanced Android operating system, and includes the following enhanced features:

• All the functionality of AutoCAD on a tablet device.
• The ability to work with DWG files stored locally (LS mode) or with files stored on the Autodesk 360 server (WS mode).
• Full ObjectARX, .NET and LISP emulation, allowing Layout to load almost any app designed for AutoCAD.
• Seamless integration with the Autodesk Exchange Apps store.

But that’s just the software. The device itself boasts a groundbreaking flexible (foldable) OLED dsplay incorporating ultra-high precision touch sensitivity. The OLED screen unfolds from the tablet body and can be laid flat on a traditional drafting board to create a comfortable and intuitive drafting environment in the office.

Image: Using the Layout flexible OLED display.

For ease of input, the Layout offers a range of 'touch' input devices:

Image: Layout input device options.

In the field, the ‘hard’ screen can be used for lower precision markup.

The Autodesk Layout will initially ship in 3 variants, the model numbers reflecting the size of the foldable OLED screen (conforming to ISO 216 standards for easy drafting):

• Layout A4 – 210mm x 297 mm OLED screen.
• Layout A3 – 297mm x 420mm OLED screen.
• Layout A2 – 420mm x 594mm OLED screen.

Future A1 and A0 versions are planned.

Asked about this announcement at a press conference this morning, Autodesk representative Cal Brass stated “Autodesk have a long and proud history of offering best in class solutions for the design community. However, I make a point of never commenting on technology articles on April 1^st”.

Please sign up here if you’re interested in becoming a Beta tester.

AutoCAD 2014's Incredible Easter Egg Surprise

by Fenton Webb

I was totally stunned with awe when an engineer at Autodesk showed me the AutoCAD 2014 Easter Egg that they had implemented as a nice surprise for everyone, basically geared to show off the latest 3D graphics engine.

After some rather convoluted keystrokes and mouse movements (it took me a few attempts which is of course part and parcel of all computer Easter Eggs) I was able to play, wait for it, a full emulation version of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3!! Absolutely incredible, I'm sure you agree!!!! I LOVE THIS GAME SO MUCH!

What really surprised me was how all this happened just from a passing conversation with one of the AutoCAD Architects in the tea room a few months back. I had mentioned to him that I had got into a lot of trouble with my wife after receiving the game on PS3 for my birthday a couple of years back and how I then got sucked into played the game every evening for hours on end, for months and months...

All was fine with me playing the game in the beginning, however, my lack of attention towards my better half started to wear thin. The long evenings where I was online using my headset and microphone for the team matches started enduring those heated/embarrassing online "world-wide broad-casted" boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife confrontations. This was where my wife could be heard shouting at me from another room in the house, basically, to "stop playing that game", etc etc and I'd reply by saying "This is the last game honey...I promise...". Of course, this was followed by all the other gamers empathetically laughing at what they were hearing...

Back to the tea room discussion with the AutoCAD architect - so, I had mentioned over tea how it would be great to be able to play at home and then carry on my score the next day at work somehow. Unbelievably, they actually made it happen!! Not only did the game run perfectly (albeit using my keyboard and mouse via the Unreal Tournament setup), I was even prompted for my PS3 log-in details, which to my surprise actually logged me into the PS3 network (which I thought needed some PS3 hardware to verify...?) Hmm, not sure I should really be talking about this on here... 

Anyway, there's no sound, but everything else works a treat!! I'm running Windows 8 64bit but found that on my laptop I did have to re-size my drawing window a little to make it run smoothly, check it out... 

OK Now; here are the keystrokes and mouse moves that you have to input in order to initialize and run the Egg… Have fun!!!! 

1. <CAPS ON>
2. ‘A’
3. Move Mouse about 3 inches to the right
4. Now Move Mouse about 3 inches down
5. Move the mouse directly up to form a ‘P’ shape fairly quickly (then don’t touch the mouse again)
6. <CAPS OFF>
7. ‘r’
8. <CAPS ON>
9. ‘I’
10. Now move the mouse directly down about 2 inches and to the right 2 inches making an ‘L’ shape (again, once done don’t touch the mouse again)
11. <SPACE BAR>
12. ‘F’
13. Number zero
14. Number zero
15. Finally, move the mouse directly down about 2 inches and to the right 2 inches making the ‘L’ shape in one continuous movement (don’t touch the mouse and wait 5 seconds)
16. You'll see some text appear on the command line "Egg Initializing, please wait...and up pops the game! 

What an amazing Easter Egg... Enjoy! :-)