Infrastructure Modeling DevBlog

Using Civil 3D 2015 via console

By Augusto Goncalves

Since release 2013, we can use AutoCAD in console mode. This is intended to developers, there is no graphical interface and only the command line is available through the console window or via programming.

Back on Autodesk University 2012, this class covered the basics on how use and automate AutoCAD Console, including how to load custom .NET applications. Is this possible on Civil 3D? Yes!

To use the console with Civil 3D 2015 .NET API we just need to launch the console and load an additional .NET assembly: AeccDbMgd.dll. After that, a custom .NET DLL should work. The image below show the result. Note how we NETLOAD the AeccDbMgd, then NETLOAD a custom DLL C3D_2015_CS.dll that contains a simple command that count alignment styles.

Of course the AutoCAD Console was not designed to be used like this (via Windows Console), this is just a test. To take full advantage, you can use .bat files (simplest approach) or a full .NET application that will manage and control instances of it. As mentioned above, the AU class show several samples and ideas, just need to include the additional NETLOAD AeccDbMgd.

 

Tip: AutoCAD is now blocking DLLs that are not on the trusted folders. On the UI we can simply include our folders on the trusted path list. Via console this can take extra time, that’s why I copied my custom DLL to Program Files folder (which is trusted by default).

The console approach can significantly reduce batch processing time and, as you can launch one instance per drawing, also improve error handling (if one instance freeze, just kill the process and start again). In summary, at least consider and evaluate this option!

Is a Civil 3D instance?

By Augusto Goncalves

This is a .NET version of the code posted by a colleague, see original here, redesigned to Civil 3D naming.

When we get a running instance of AutoCAD, we don’t know which vertical is actually running as all of them are basically the same root object. To determine which version we have, we need to try. And that’s what this code is doing.

' get the running instance of AutoCAD (or any vertical)
Dim acadApp As Object = GetObject(, "Autocad.Application")
' is it a Civil 3D? let's try!
Dim civilLandApp As Object
Try
  ' the 10.4 stands for 2015 release
  civilLandApp = acadApp.GetInterfaceObject
                 ("AeccXUiLand.AeccApplication.10.4")
Catch ex As Exception
  Return ' not Civil 3D
End Try
 
' now we know is Civil 3D
' do something

And in C# it’s basically the same, except that you need to decide whenever to use var or dynamic. The above code uses Object, that enables late-binding. If that is your option, then use the C# equivalent: dynamic

Network Pipe/Structure data fields

By Augusto Goncalves

Civil 3D has different ways to store custom data on different objects. On the specific case of Network Parts (Pipe or Structure), a user can store custom property values as described on this blog post. In this case, the information is stored under the Part.PartData property, that contains a list/array of PartDataField objects. An easy way to output this data is using the code below:

[CommandMethod("pipedatafield")]
public static void CmdSelectPipe()
{
  Editor ed = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor;
  PromptEntityOptions peo = new PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect network part: ");
  peo.SetRejectMessage("\nOnly network parts");
  peo.AddAllowedClass(typeof(Part), false);
  PromptEntityResult per = ed.GetEntity(peo);
  if (per.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;
  ObjectId partId = per.ObjectId;
 
  Database db = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Database;
  using (Transaction trans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
  {
    Part p = trans.GetObject(partId, OpenMode.ForRead) as Part;
    PartDataField[] fields = p.PartData.GetAllDataFields();
    foreach(PartDataField field in fields)
    {
      ed.WriteMessage("\n{0}: {1}", field.Description, field.Value);
    }
  }
}

Formatting Stations with .NET Extension

By Augusto Goncalves

Format stations like Civil 3D using, for instance, 3+1.00 for a number like 61.00, can be easy with .NET, and even more easier with .NET Extensions. Here it is: first define a module class that contains your utility functions, something like

Public Module Utils   <System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension()>   Public Function ToStationString(station As Double) As String     Dim fractionPart As Double = station Mod 20
    Dim integerPart As Double = (station - fractionPart) / 20
    Return String.Format("{0:0}+{1:0.00}", integerPart, fractionPart)
  End Function
End Module

The above code assumes the distance between stations as 20 and, for simplicity, this number was hard coded. Note the Extension attribute that does the trick to add it for all doubles. Now we can use like:

Dim stationDouble As Double = ' some number here
Dim stationString As String = stationDouble.ToStationString()

Isn’t that nice?

Hope you enjoyed.

Important: this simple code is not taking Civil 3D styles into consideration, but can be a nice addition to it.