AutoCAD Platform Customization. Ambrosius Lee

information about the object. When working with the objects in a drawing, you can get a single object or step through all objects in a drawing.

       Chapter 28 : Interacting with the User and Controlling the Current View In this chapter, you'll learn to request input from an end-user and manipulate the current view of a drawing. Based on the values provided by the end-user, you can then determine the end result of the program. You can evaluate the objects created or consider how a drawing will be output, and use that information to create named views and adjust the current view in which objects are displayed.

       Chapter 29 : Annotating Objects In this chapter, you'll learn how to create and modify annotation objects. Typically, annotation objects are not part of the final product that is built or manufactured based on the design in the drawing. Rather, annotation objects are used to communicate the features and measurements of a design. Annotation can be a single line of text that is used as a callout for a leader, a dimension that indicates the distance between two drill holes, or a table that contains quantities and information about the windows and doors in a design.

       Chapter 30 : Working with Blocks and External References In this chapter, you'll learn how to create, modify, and manage block definitions. Model space in a drawing is a special named block definition, so working with block definitions will feel familiar. Once you create a block definition, you will learn how to insert a block reference and work with attributes along with dynamic properties. You complete the chapter by learning how to work with externally referenced files.

       Chapter 31 : Outputting Drawings In this chapter, you will learn how to output the graphical objects in model space or on a named layout to a printer, plotter, or electronic file. Named layouts will be used to organize graphical objects for output, including title blocks, annotation, floating viewports, and many others. Floating viewports will be used to control the display of objects from model space on a layout at a specific scale. After you define and configure a layout, you learn to plot and preview a layout. The chapter wraps up with learning how to export and import file formats.

       Chapter 32 : Storing and Retrieving Custom Data In this chapter, you will learn how to store custom information in a drawing or in the Windows Registry. Using extended data (Xdata), you will be able to store information that can be used to identify a graphical object created by your program or define a link to a record in an external database. In addition to attaching information to an object, you can store data in a custom dictionary that isn't attached to a specific graphical object in a drawing. Both Xdata and custom dictionaries can be helpful in making information available between drawing sessions; the Windows Registry can persist data between sessions.

       Chapter 33 : Modifying the Application and Working with Events In this chapter, you will learn how to customize and manipulate the AutoCAD user interface. You also learn how to load and access externally defined custom programs and work with events. Events allow you to respond to an action that is performed by the end-user or the AutoCAD application. There are three main types of events that you can respond to: application, document, and object.

       Chapter 34 : Creating and Displaying User Forms In this chapter, you will learn how to create and display user forms. User forms provide a more visual approach to requesting input from the user.

       Chapter 35 : Communicating with Other Applications In this chapter, you will learn how to work with libraries provided by other applications. These libraries can be used to access features of the Windows operating system, read and write content in an external text or XML file, and even work with the applications that make up Microsoft Office.

       Chapter 36 : Handling Errors and Deploying VBA Projects In this chapter, you will learn how to catch and handle errors that are caused by the incorrect use of a function or the improper handling of a value that is returned by a function. The Visual Basic Editor provides tools that allow you to debug code statements, evaluate values assigned to user-defined variables, identify where within a program an error has occurred, and determine how errors should be handled. The chapter wraps everything up with learning how to deploy a VBA project on other workstations for use by individuals at your company.

      Bonus Chapter 1: Working with 2D Objects and Object Properties In this chapter, you build on the concepts covered in Chapter 27, “Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects.” You will learn to create additional types of 2D objects and use advanced methods of modifying objects, you also learn to work with complex 2D objects, such as regions and hatch fills. The management of layers and linetypes and the control of the appearance of objects are also covered.

      Bonus Chapter 2: Modeling in 3D Space In this chapter, you learn to work with objects in 3D space, and 3D objects. 3D objects can be used to create a model of a drawing which can be used to help visualize a design or detect potential design problems. 3D objects can be viewed from different angles and used to generate 2D views of a model that can be used to create assembly directions or shop drawings.

      Bonus Chapter 3: Development Resources In this chapter, you discover resources that can help expand the skills you develop from this book or locate an answer to a problem you might encounter. I cover development resources, places you might be able to obtain instructor-led training, and interact with fellow users on extending AutoCAD. The online resources sites listed cover general customization, AutoLISP, and VBA programming in AutoCAD.

      NOTE

      Bonus Chapters 1, 2, and 3 are located on the companion website.

      Companion Website

      An online counterpart to this book, the companion web page contains the sample files required to complete the exercises found in this book, in addition to the sample code and project files used to demonstrate some of the programming concepts explained in this book. In addition, the web page contains resources that are not mentioned in this book, such as the bonus chapters. The companion web page can be found at www.sybex.com/go/autocadcustomization.

      Other Information

      This book assumes that you know the basics of your operating system – Windows or Mac OS X – and AutoCAD 2009 or later. When appropriate, I indicate when a feature does not apply to a specific operating system or release of AutoCAD. Most of the images in this book were taken using AutoCAD 2014 in Windows 8 and AutoCAD 2014 in Mac OS X 10.7. While the images were taken in AutoCAD 2014 for consistency across the book, the content still applies to AutoCAD 2015, which was the latest release available when the content was completed.

      NOTE

      Part II doesn't apply to AutoCAD LT^®, and Part III doesn't apply to either AutoCAD LT on Windows or Mac OS or AutoCAD running on Mac OS.

      Styles and Conventions of This Book

      This book uses a number of styles and character formats – bold, italic, monotype face, all uppercase or lowercase letters, among others – to help you distinguish between the text you read, sample code you can try, text that you need to enter at the AutoCAD Command prompt, or the name of an object class or method in one of the programming languages.

      As you read through this book, keep the following conventions in mind:

      • User interface selections are represented