AutoCAD DevBlog: April 2024

Integrating gRPC.NET with AutoCAD

Microsoft deprecated WCF with the release of .NET 5 and recommends developers transition to more modern technologies. This can be a challenge for those with existing WCF applications who want to migrate to .NET 8.0.

Recently, I received a question about integrating gRPC.NET, a popular modern alternative to WCF, with AutoCAD 2025.

In response, I've created a small application that demonstrates how to interact with a gRPC server from an AutoCAD client.

This sample provides a starting point for developers interested in exploring this integration approach.

The provided code showcases a basic example using a GreeterService.

Let's break it down:

Client-Side (AutoCAD Plugin):
- The TestGrpc method establishes a gRPC channel to a server running on localhost:8080.
- It creates a GreeterClient object to interact with the gRPC service.
- An asynchronous SayHelloAsync call is made, sending a HelloRequest message with the name "GreeterClient".
- The response (HelloReply) containing the server's greeting is received and written to the active AutoCAD document.
gRPC Service Definition (Protobuf):
- Defines a Greeter service with a SayHello RPC method.
- Clients send a HelloRequest message with their name.
- The server responds with a HelloReply containing a greeting.
Server-Side:
- Exposes the GreeterService as a gRPC service.
- The SayHello method receives a HelloRequest, extracts the name, and constructs a personalized greeting in the HelloReply message.

Running the Application

This code creates a combined gRPC and HTTP server. Clients can use gRPC to interact with the GreeterService, while a basic HTTP endpoint provides a simple test or informational message.

Source Code : https://github.com/MadhukarMoogala/GrpcToAcad/blob/main/README.md

Posted at 09:46 PM in .NET | Permalink | Comments (0)

How to Run Javascript Routines in AutoCAD .NET Plugin Using ClearScript Library

By Madhukar Moogala

This code demonstrates how to execute JavaScript functions or routines in your AutoCAD .NET plugin using ClearScript library from Microsoft.

This project is targeted to work with .NET 8.0 platform in AutoCAD 2025.

Exposing AutoCAD .NET Classes:

Enables access to AutoCAD functionality from JavaScript scripts.

Executing JavaScript Functions:

Allows you to run JavaScript functions within your AutoCAD application.

Calling C# Functions from JavaScript:

Facilitates interaction between your JavaScript code and C# functions.

//Exposing AutoCAD .NET classes to JavaScript
public class PrintMessage
{
    private static Editor? _ed
    {
        get
        {
            Document doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
            if (doc != null)
            {
                return doc.Editor;
            }
            return null;
        }
    }
    public static void Print(string message)
    {
        _ed?.WriteMessage($"{message}\n");
    }
}

public class Commands
{
    private const string _script = @"
                        function square(x) {
                            return x*x;
                        }";
        
    //Execute JS functions in DotNet runtime


    [CommandMethod("JSRoutine")]
    public static void JSRoutine()
    {
        Document doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
        if (doc is null) return;
        Editor ed = doc.Editor;

        // Create aV8ScriptEngine instance, 
        using (var engine = new V8ScriptEngine())
        {
            engine.AccessContext = typeof(Commands);

                //Now expose the PrintMessage class from .NET to the script engine,
            // and then execute a JavaScript statement that writes a message to the AutoCAD Editor.
            engine.AddHostType("PrintMessage", typeof(PrintMessage));              
            engine.Execute("PrintMessage.Print('Hello from JavaScript!');");

            //Call the JS function square and retrieve the result.
            engine.Execute(_script);
            dynamic? result = engine.Script.square(5);
            ed.WriteMessage($"{Convert.ToString(result)}\n");
                

            //Execute the JS code and print the result to the AutoCAD Editor                
            engine.Execute("function print(x) {PrintMessage.Print(x); }");
            engine.Script.print(DateTime.Now.DayOfWeek.ToString());

            //Calling C# Functions from JavaScript:              
            engine.AddHostObject("Greet", new Func((name) => $"Hello, {name}!"));              
            engine.Execute("var message = Greet('World'); PrintMessage.Print(message);");

            // examine a script object            
            engine.Execute("var person = { name: 'Fred', age: 5 }");
            ed.WriteMessage($"From Script: \n{Convert.ToString(engine.Script.person.name)}");
        }
    }
}

Source Code: https://github.com/MadhukarMoogala/AcadPlugin/blob/main/README.md

Posted at 07:53 PM in .NET, Madhukar Moogala | Permalink | Comments (0)