Infrastructure Modeling DevBlog

Export DWG to SDF using Autodesk.Gis.Map.ImportExport.Exporter API

By Partha Sarkar

In Exporting DWG to SDF using *.epf file using Map 3D API I showed how to use *.epf file and Map 3D API to export DWG file to SDF file. In this example, I tried to explore how we can export DWG data to SDF (Spatial Data File) using AutoCAD Map 3D API without using a *.epf file.  This sample code uses Map 3D Autodesk.Gis.Map.ImportExport.Exporter class and exports the entities from a specific layer in the DWG file to GeometryType.Line. To find out what all GeometryType you can export, you need to explore the Autodesk:: Gis:: Map:: ImportExport:: GeometryType Enumeration. Details of these are available in the Map 3D SDK API reference documents. Here is the code snippet :

    Editor ed = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;

    try

    {

        Exporter myExporter = null;

        MapApplication mapApp = HostMapApplicationServices.Application;

        myExporter = mapApp.Exporter;

 

        myExporter.Init("FDO_SDF", @"C:\Temp\Test.sdf");

        myExporter.ClassMappingType = ExportClassMappingType.ByLayer;

        myExporter.ClosedPolylinesAsPolygons = true;

 

        string sSourceName = "Line"; // Source DWG file should have a Layer Named "Line"

        string sSchemaName = "ADNSchema";

        string sFeatureClassName = "LineFC";

 

        ExportClassMapping mapping = ExportClassMapping.Create(sSourceName, sSchemaName, sFeatureClassName);

        mapping.AddPropertyMapping(".COLOR", "Color");

        mapping.AddPropertyMapping(".LAYER", "Layer");

        mapping.AddPropertyMapping(".LENGTH", "Length");

 

        myExporter.AddClassMapping(mapping);

        myExporter.SetGeometryTypeForClass(sSchemaName, sFeatureClassName, GeometryType.Line);

        myExporter.TargetCoordinateSystem = "LL84";

        myExporter.ExportAll = true;

        myExporter.Export(true);

        ed.WriteMessage("\nExport Completed !");

 

    }

    catch (Autodesk.Gis.Map.MapImportExportException e)

    {

        ed.WriteMessage("Exception thrown. Error Code = " + e.ErrorCode);

    }

 

 

And here is the resulted output SDF file in Map 3D :

AEC DevCamp 2012

By Partha Sarkar

Just in case you missed to notice this....

Autodesk June DevCamps “Early Bird Discount” Ends April 30 – Register to Attend Now!

If you would like to learn more about customizing Autodesk’s AEC or Manufacturing products and technologies direct from Autodesk engineers in a casual fun learning environment, and take advantage of the early bird discount to save US$ 100, we strongly recommend you register to attend DevCamp by the April 30 early bird registration deadline.  Note, these DevCamps are run only once every two years so if you are interested in attending now is the time.

Learn to customize Autodesk AEC products in Boston, June 6-7, 2012 

The upcoming Autodesk AEC DevCamp is the software developer conference for anyone in the AEC industry considering or actively customizing Autodesk AEC technologies, including Autodesk® Revit® (Architecture, Structure and MEP), AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, AutoCAD® Map 3D, Navisworks® and more.  Open to everyone - Autodesk customers, VARs, and members of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) - the AEC DevCamp features more than 30 software development training classes taught by Autodesk engineers in a casual “fun “Camp” environment.  There are introductory programming classes for people just starting to customize and advanced topics on how to architect and implement state-of-the-art software solutions for professional software developers. In addition, there is a business track for software business owners who want to learn how to expand their business by leveraging Autodesk’s sales and marketing resources.  The cost to attend this two day AEC DevCamp is $500 per attendee till April end ($600 later). Learn more at http://www.cvent.com/events/devcamp-2012/event- summary-56817a3b57614f8eb59ea05fcd59bc32.aspx

Cloud and Mobile Classes

New for this year’s DevCamps are several classes on helping you get started developing apps based on Cloud and Mobile technologies.  Learn how to build your first Cloud app integrated with your favorite Autodesk product – and how you can make it available “everywhere” through browser and mobile user interfaces.  Have you been considering building your first app for the iPhone, iPad or Android device but holding back because of fear of lost hours thrashing while learning the new technology?  DevCamp includes classes that will show you how to quickly and easily create your first “Hello World” app for iOS and Android - with a design and graphics twist. 

DevLabs

Don’t forget about the DevLabs we’re running to coincide with the DevCamps!

DevLabs provide an ideal opportunity to work on your code with the help of an Autodesk expert. Bring your laptop and work on your code as you’d normally do in your own office – the difference is that you have a team of DevTech experts (the same people who answer your questions through DevHelp Online) available to review your code if you’d like, answer your questions, and make suggestions.

AEC – Waltham, MA

DevCamp – June 6-7

DevLab – June 8 – click here to register

Restore view panel position to top when opening in Mobile Viewer

By Daniel Du

In Mobile Viewer, if you open a view panel, let’s say the properties panel, scroll down to bottom then close it. Next time you open the same view panel you will found it still show the bottom part of the panel, it does not go back to the page top. It may be not the expected behavior for some users, they prefer to go the page top every time when opening the view panel. How do we do?

This topic is raised by Nivashini from V3 Teletech Pte Ltd and he finds out a solution too. He is very kind to share his solution to help others who are trying to do the same thing.

The solution is simple, open C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension 2012\www\MobileViewer\lib\mobileviewer_viewpanel.js, around line 110, change it as below:

    showPanel: function()

    {

        if(this.parentDiv)

        {

            this.parentDiv.style.visibility = 'visible';

            this.scrollPanelDiv.style.top = 0;

        }

    },

You need to change to script reference to “lib/mobileviewer.js" to make it work, please check out this post to get more information

Thank you Nivashini for sharing this!

Down-loadable version of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 & 2012 API Reference document

By Partha Sarkar

Since 2012 release, Civil 3D API Developer's Guide and API reference document is available online. Here are the relevant links -

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 API Developer's Guide & API Reference online

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 API Developer's Guide & API Reference online

If you are looking for a down-loadable copy of the Civil 3D API Reference document, here you go -

Download AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 API Reference Document

Download AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 API Reference Document

Please note that, down-loadable versions are one-time only post and they won't be updated on regular basis. Hence we suggest to refer the Online API Reference document for up-to date version.

Want to use only StartPoint and EndPoint as input to .NET API SampleElevations()?

By Partha Sarkar

This is in continuation of my previous post on using SampleElevations() in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 .NET API. I was exploring if we have to mimic Civil 3D COM API AeccSurface::SampleElevations(X1,Y1, X2,Y2) which takes a StartPoint and EndPoint and returns an array of doubles consisting of points derived from the surface along the line, how do we achieve this using the new .NET API. 

The new .NET API (2013) TinSurface.SampleElevations(curveId) takes an ObjectId. To get an ObjectId, we need to add the new entity (Line / Pline) from a set of Points (StartPoint and EndPoint) and later dispose it. Here is a code snippet which demonstrates the same :

    // Get the AutoCAD Editor

    Editor ed = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;

 

    //select a surface

    PromptEntityOptions selSurface = new PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect a Tin Surface: ");

    selSurface.SetRejectMessage("\nOnly Tin Surface is allowed");

    selSurface.AddAllowedClass(typeof(TinSurface), true);

    PromptEntityResult resSurface = ed.GetEntity(selSurface);

    if (resSurface.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;

    ObjectId surfaceId = resSurface.ObjectId; 

 

    // Select two points

    PromptPointOptions getPointOptions1 = new PromptPointOptions("\nPick A Point Inside the Surface Boundary : ");

    PromptPointResult getPointResult1 = ed.GetPoint(getPointOptions1);

 

    PromptPointOptions getPointOptions2 = new PromptPointOptions("\nPick 2nd Point Inside the Surface Boundary : ");

    PromptPointResult getPointResult2 = ed.GetPoint(getPointOptions2);

 

    Database db = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Database;

 

    using (Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

    {

        TinSurface surface = trans.GetObject(surfaceId, OpenMode.ForRead) as TinSurface;

 

        // create a polyline from the two points to use in SampleElevations(ObjectId curveId)

        Polyline pline = new Polyline();

        Point2d pt1 = new Point2d(getPointResult1.Value.X, getPointResult1.Value.Y);

        Point2d pt2 = new Point2d(getPointResult2.Value.X, getPointResult2.Value.Y);

        pline.AddVertexAt(0, pt1, 0, 0, 0);

        pline.AddVertexAt(1, pt2, 0, 0, 0);

 

        // open the current space for write

        BlockTableRecord btr = (BlockTableRecord)trans.GetObject(db.CurrentSpaceId, OpenMode.ForWrite);                               

        btr.AppendEntity(pline);

 

        // SampleElevations(ObjectId curveId) returns a Point3dCollection

        Point3dCollection intPts = new Point3dCollection();

        intPts = surface.SampleElevations(pline.ObjectId);

        if (intPts.Count != 0)

        {

            foreach (Point3d pt in intPts)

            {

                ed.WriteMessage(string.Format("{0} {1}", Environment.NewLine, pt.ToString()));

            }

        } 

    }

Debugging Fusion Viewer or Mobile Viewer of AIMS in Firebug

By Daniel Du

Have you ever started programming on Fusion viewer --as known as flexible web layout in Infrastructure Studio -- or Mobile viewer of Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server? If yes, this post may be helpful for you.

Fusion viewer and Mobile viewer are implemented with heavy JavaScript at client side and some PHP code at server side.  At most time, you will be fighting with JavaScript when extending the functionalities of Fusion Viewer or Mobile Viewer.  To debug JavaScript, a good toolset is Firefox + Firebug.

To improve performance, Fusion Viewer or Mobile Viewer are referencing a compressed version of JavaScript lib, which is created by ant + YUICompressor, but for debugging purpose, you will need the uncompressed version.

 

For Fusion Viewer, let’s say you are using the “slate” template, please open C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension 2013\www\fusion\templates\mapguide\slate\index.html with your favorite text editor, I am using notepad++, change following code:

<script type="text/javascript" 
src="../../../lib/fusionSF-compressed.js"></script>

to

<script type="text/javascript" 
src="../../../lib/fusion.js"></script>

 

For Mobile Viewer, please open C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension 2012\www\MobileViewer\index.html and change JavaScript and CSS file references as indicated in the comment:

<!-- For debugging, use these links-->
<link href="css/mobileviewer.css" 
  rel="stylesheet" media="screen" type="text/css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="lib/mobileviewer.js">
</script>

 

 

Now you are ready to open your webpage in Firefox and enable Firebug to debug. You can setup break points in JavaScript code and check the runtime value of objects in monitoring window. It also to step into or step over by pressing F11 or F10 to run through your JavaScript code. There are many other interesting functionalities provided by Firebug, so please give it a try and find more.

 

Mobile Viewer is targeting the safari browser on iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, but it runs on Firefox on PC as well, so you can debug your extension on PC and check it on mobile devices. On the Apple^®iPhone^® itself, the settings for the Apple^® Safari^® app allow the debug console to be enabled (look under the 'Developer' menu in the settings) which is useful in determining errors that cannot be reproduced on the desktop.

 

Of cause, the recent versions of other browsers also have developer tools, like IE9 or Google Chrome, which one do you prefer?

Renaming the ‘Industry Data Model’ aka ‘Topobase’ API assemblies and namespace in AutoCAD Map 3D 2013

By Partha Sarkar

This article is in continuation of previous post related to AutoCAD Map 3D 2013 and change in API namespaces / assemblies. In AutoCAD Map 3D 2013, all the namespaces and assemblies starting with "Topobase.xxx" is renamed to "Autodesk.Map.IM.xxx", e.g. Topobase.AreaTopology.dll is renamed to Autodesk.Map.IM.AreaTopology.dll and the Topobase.AreaTopology namespace is renamed to Autodesk.Map.IM.AreaTopology Namespace. If you have an existing application for AutoCAD Map 3D 2012, which is using Topobase assemblies and namespaces, you need to update the assemblies and namespaces per AutoCAD Map 3D 2013.

AutoCAD Map 3D 2013 SDK is available for download from Map 3D Developer Center page. AutoCAD Map 3D 2013 Developer Guide is available online and you can download the related API Reference documents from here.

 

COM References on Civil 3D 2013

By Augusto Goncalves

Now with this new release, the COM references are not registered on the system, therefore we cannot add the from the traditional ‘COM’ tab we adding references, but use the ‘Browse’ tab to search them at the Civil 3D install folder. To seem the references, go to the folder and search for *interop*.dll, like shown below.

To use if on your .NET project, go to ‘Add reference’, then select ‘Browse’ tab, then locate the required assemblies at the Civil 3D folder. By default, Visual Studio 2010 (all versions) mark these references as ‘Embed Interop Types’ by leaving it as True. This is required, as the references as not registered, the plug-in DLL must include the type definitions.

Update

There is a change on Civil 3D 2013: some of the COM types now have GUIDs, therefore you need to compile using 64 bit references for 64 bit OS, and replace the references and compile again for 32 bit. A common symptom of these wrong references is the runtime error showing 'Unable to cast COM object'.

This blog post was changed to reflect this updated information.

Using SampleElevations() in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 .NET API

By Partha Sarkar

.NET version of SampleElevations() was not included in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 release. However, in 2013 release, it's included :  public Point3dCollection SampleElevations(ObjectId curveId);

It takes an ObjectId of Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.Curve and the curve can be a line, arc and so on. Here is a C# code snippet which demonstartes usage of this API function in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 :

public static void DemoSurfaceSampleElevations2013()

{

    // Get the AutoCAD Editor

    Editor ed = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;

 

    //select a surface

    PromptEntityOptions selSurface = new PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect a Tin Surface: ");

    selSurface.SetRejectMessage("\nOnly Tin Surface is allowed");

    selSurface.AddAllowedClass(typeof(TinSurface), true);

    PromptEntityResult resSurface = ed.GetEntity(selSurface);

    if (resSurface.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;

    ObjectId surfaceId = resSurface.ObjectId;

 

    //select a polyline

    PromptEntityOptions selPline = new PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect a polyline: ");

    selPline.SetRejectMessage("\nOnly polylines allowed");

    selPline.AddAllowedClass(typeof(Polyline), true);          

    PromptEntityResult resPline = ed.GetEntity(selPline);

    if (resPline.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;

    ObjectId plineId = resPline.ObjectId;

 

    Database db = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Database;

    using (Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

    {

        TinSurface surface = trans.GetObject(surfaceId, OpenMode.ForRead) as TinSurface;

 

        // SampleElevations(ObjectId curveId) returns a Point3dCollection

 

        Point3dCollection intPts = new Point3dCollection();

        intPts = surface.SampleElevations(plineId);

        if (intPts.Count != 0)

        {

            foreach (Point3d pt in intPts)

            {

                ed.WriteMessage(string.Format("{0} {1}", Environment.NewLine, pt.ToString()));                         

            }

        }

 

        trans.Commit();

    }

 

}

Activate hyperlink by double click in Ajax viewer of AIMS 2013

By Daniel Du

As you know, it is possible to set up a hyper link for features, and open a link by ctrl+click. For those who does not know, you can open a layer by double clicking the layer from Site Explorer of Infrastructure Studio, and click the … button to set a hyperlink expression for “URL activated for feature”:

With this setting, user can activate an URL by clicking one feature while pressing CTRL key.

But many users, especially users who are used to MapGuide 6.5, are willing to change this behavior to double click, it is possible? The answer is yes. here is a thread on MapGuide Open Source discussion group,, and it applies to AIMS 2013 as well. I presume it works for other versions of MapGuide Enterprise or AIMS with or without minor changes.

Here it goes. Open C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension 2013\www\viewerfiles\ajaxmappane.templ and search “OnDblClick”, around line 867, and implement the “OnDblClick” function as below:

function OnDblClick(e)

{

    // Override this method in an external script to implement

    // your own double-click handler.

    // e.g. mapFrame.OnDblClick = MyOnDblClick

    // where MyOnDblClick() is a function in your script.

 

    hidePopup(tbMenu)

    hidePopup(infoMenu)

    hidePopup(ctxMenu)

    parent.ForwardMouseDown(document, e);

 

    var x = e.clientX - mapPosX;

    var y = e.clientY;

 

    if(x < 0) {

        if(safari && x > -5) {

            moveType = RESIZING;

            return false;

        }

        return false;

    }

 

    var processed = parent.ClickMap(x,y);

    if (msie) {

        e.cancelBubble = true;

    }

    else {

        e.stopPropagation();

    }

 

    if (!processed) {

        HideHyperlinkTip();

        if(tool != 6) {

            if(hlData.url != "") {

                ExecuteHyperlink(hlData.url);

            }

            else {

                hlData.curx = x; hlData.cury = y;

                RequestHyperLinkData(++ hlData.reqId,

                    hlData.curx, hlData.cury, true);

            }

        }

     }

}

 

Hope this helps.