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GREATER CUSTOMIZATION AND EXTENSIBILITY

Contract CADD Group - Phone: (604) 591-1140 Email: frank.zander@contractcaddgroup.com

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GREATER CUSTOMIZATION AND EXTENSIBILITY

Connecting AutoCAD to your needs has never been easier

AutoCAD software has always been open and easily extensible, but never more so than with AutoCAD 2000. The addition of the Visual LISP API to AutoCAD 2000 software, for example, not only updates the AutoLISP environment, it also greatly expands AutoCAD ActiveX support by including additional ActiveX objects and events. AutoCAD 2000 has also enhanced its VBA functionality, supporting multiple VBA projects and providing the ability to embed VBA projects inside AutoCAD drawing files. Developers can now use ObjectARX 3.0 to derive from base classes in the ObjectARX database for all AutoCAD objects.

Integrated Visual LISP Development Environment

The modern Visual LISP integrated development environment (IDE) makes it easier and faster for users and developers alike to create, debug, and deliver AutoLISP-based applications. With the extensive Visual LISP feature set, LISP function set, object reactors, LISP access to AutoCAD ActiveX objects, and other functionality, customizing AutoCAD has never been simpler.

Major Visual LISP features and benefits include:

  • Performance. Visual LISP provides new ways to develop LISP customization by using objects. These new methods of using ActiveX offer significant performance gains over the conventional "procedural" methods utilized in AutoLISP.

 

  • Ease of Use. The Visual LISP IDE has:
  • An AutoLISP code editor with color-coded source display for easier-to-read code.
  • A source syntax checker that reduces syntax errors.
  • Autoformat and Smart Indent features that promote standardization and readability.
  • Dynamic symbol completion that saves time and reduces errors.
  • Program structure navigation for easier editing.
  • Direct LISP function evaluation that reduces code errors.
  • Unlimited number of opened source files for more-efficient code development.
  • Security. You can compile LISP source code into object code, which provides a non-ASCII P-code format that protects your software, algorithms, and intellectual property from theft, tampering, and unauthorized editing.

Visual LISP Editor Provides a Complete Development Environment

  • Windows Integration. Visual LISP provides the following Windows integration and feature extensions:
  • ActiveX automation interface for AutoLISP.
  • Visual LISP reactors that respond to AutoCAD events.
  • Additional operating system file-operation functions.
  • Additional AutoLISP functions for list processing.

Full Objectification

In AutoCAD 2000 software, developers can now derive from all AutoCAD object classes in the ObjectARX AcDb database. This enables fundamental custom object development built from existing AutoCAD database objects. The transition to object-oriented architecture, begun in AutoCAD Release 13 and carried forward in Release 14, is now completed in AutoCAD 2000.

 

ActiveX Extensions and Events

AutoCAD 2000 users and developers have a larger set of AutoCAD ActiveX objects from which to choose in customizing and programming the software. That means you can create and manipulate more objects and program in object-based environments such as VBA and the new Visual LISP.

AutoCAD 2000 software also offers developers an increased set of ActiveX events that can trigger applications to either launch or react to the AutoCAD environment. Some 22 application-level and document-level events have been added to AutoCAD 2000 software. This enhancement gives developers more flexibility in structuring customization efforts that would otherwise have to "synchronize" with the AutoCAD editor or database. This expanded capability gives you the freedom to "mold" AutoCAD 2000 through object-based environments such as VBA and Visual LISP so that it works the way you want to work.

VBA Projects

With AutoCAD 2000 software, users and developers can build, load, and embed multiple VBA projects in AutoCAD, a great improvement over the single-project limit of Release 14. This enhanced functionality also lets users and developers rapidly distribute customized solutions built in VBA that need to remain with the drawing file.

VBA Manager Dialog

 

Options (Preferences) Dialog

The new Options dialog provides easy access to new AutoCAD 2000 controls while incorporating options from the former Preferences dialog. Together these improvements enhance software learnability, improve system management, and give you the control you need over your drawing environment. The Options dialog

  • Displays the current Profile name in the Options dialog title bar. This lets you positively identify which profile any changes to the various options will be saved to¾ especially helpful when you have multiple files open and/or multiple profiles created.
  • Has a more user-intuitive interface with a redesign of former Preferences controls.
  • Displays system variable locations. Settings stored in the drawing are identified with a drawing icon; other settings are stored in the profile.
  • Is completely resizable. The Files tab gains the most from this functionality, since the tree view control gains space when the dialog size is increased, making it possible to see longer paths in the tree view when looking at support file paths.
  • Is extensible. It lets you add your own tabs to the Options dialog to give you one central location for setting up your AutoCAD and third-party settings.

Options Dialog—User Preferences Tab

Toolbar and UI API

Release 14 introduced ActiveX Automation as an AutoCAD API. AutoCAD 2000 software leverages this interface by adding two new objects¾ MenuBar and MenuGroup¾ to the ObjectARX database. These additions provide a seamless integration of APIs, especially where toolbars are the preferred method of user interaction with the program.

API Extensions

Many new features in AutoCAD 2000 have application programming interfaces (APIs), extensions that give users and developers more flexibility and control over the AutoCAD environment and database object set. Some of the more prominent features that are accessible through AutoCAD APIs include the following:

  • Context (right-click) menus
  • AutoCAD DesignCenter
  • DXF enhancements
  • Extended symbol names
  • IntelliMouse®
  • Lineweight
  • Object Property Manager
  • OSNAP custom modes
  • Shortcut menu and toolbars
  • Solids editing
  • Drawing Properties
  • AutoSnaps

Although not exhaustive, this list is indicative of the wide scope both users and developers have in developing customized features and extended functionality for AutoCAD 2000 software.

CORBIMITE Web Solutions
Website created By Frank Zander
Phone: (604) 591-1140
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Contract CADD Group
All rights reserved.


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