AutoCAD Platform Customization
User Interface, AutoLISP, VBA, and Beyond
Published on 14. April 2015
1152 pages
978-1-118-91741-1 (ISBN)
Description
Take control of AutoCAD for a more efficient, streamlinedworkflow
AutoCAD Platform Customization is the most comprehensiveguide to streamlining and personalizing the AutoCAD platform. TheAutoLISP and VBA programming languages open up a myriad ofcustomization options, and this book provides expert guidancetoward applying them to AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Plant 3D, and otherprograms based on the Autodesk AutoCAD platform. Detaileddiscussions backed by real-world examples and step-by-steptutorials provide user-friendly instruction, and downloadabledatasets allow for hands-on learning. Through customization you canincrease screen real estate, streamline workflows, and create moreaccurate drawings by unleashing powerful programming languages thatallow the user to command the software how to work, instead of theother way around.
AutoCAD customization is commonly performed by systemadministrators and CAD managers, but senior drafters and savvyusers are increasingly taking customization into their own hands.AutoLISP and VBA are two popular and versatile tools that allow forgoing beyond the boundaries of normal user interface customizationoptions, allowing users to:
* Enforce drawing and CAD standards, and automate repetitivetasks
* Customize the workspace, including tool sets, ribbon tabs andpanels, and palettes
* Modify graphical objects, set system variables, integrate withexternal software, and more
* Manage blocks, change the interface, create dialog boxes, andcommunicate with Microsoft Office applications
The ideal design environment puts the tools you need right atyour fingertips, removes unnecessary steps, and fosters precisionthrough good communication. Customizing, including applyingAutoLISP and VBA to AutoCAD, enables all of this and much more. Forthe designer who needs to work smarter because it's impossible towork any harder, AutoCAD Platform Customization provides thekey information, insight, and techniques that will help to increaseyour productivity with AutoCAD.
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Book
06/2015
Sybex Inc.,U.S.
€68.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
LEE AMBROSIUS is a Principal Learning Content Developer for the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT products at Autodesk. He has worked on end-user and API documentation for eight releases, presented customization and programming sessions at Autodesk University for a decade, and has authored and coauthored several AutoCAD related books.
Content
Introduction xxxi
Part I AutoCAD Customization: Increasing Productivity through Personalization 1
Chapter 1 Establishing the Foundation for Drawing Standards 3
Chapter 2 Working with Nongraphical Objects 35
Chapter 3 Building the Real World One Block at a Time 69
Chapter 4 Manipulating the Drawing Environment 99
Chapter 5 Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Windows 121
Chapter 6 Customizing the AutoCAD User Interface for Mac 167
Chapter 7 Creating Tools and Tool Palettes 183
Chapter 8 Automating Repetitive Tasks 201
Chapter 9 Defining Shapes, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns 221
Chapter 10 Using, Loading, and Managing Custom Files 249
Part II AutoLISP: Productivity through Programming 261
Chapter 11 Quick Start for New AutoLISP Programmers 263
Chapter 12 Understanding AutoLISP 277
Chapter 13 Calculating and Working with Values 301
Chapter 14 Working with Lists 333
Chapter 15 Requesting Input and Using Conditional and Looping Expressions 359
Chapter 16 Creating and Modifying Graphical Objects 405
Chapter 17 Creating and Modifying Nongraphical Objects 461
Chapter 18 Working with the Operating System and External Files 489
Chapter 19 Catching and Handling Errors 513
Chapter 20 Authoring, Managing, and Loading AutoLISP Programs 533
Chapter 21 Using the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only) 567
Chapter 22 Working with ActiveX/COM Libraries (Windows only) 587
Chapter 23 Implementing Dialog Boxes (Windows only) 611
Part III AutoCAD VBA: Programming with VBA and ActiveX (Windows only) 643
Chapter 24 Understanding the AutoCAD VBA Environment 645
Chapter 25 Understanding Visual Basic for Applications 665
Chapter 26 Interacting with the Application and Documents Objects 701
Chapter 27 Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects 727
Chapter 28 Interacting with the User and Controlling the Current View 757
Chapter 29 Annotating Objects 795
Chapter 30 Working with Blocks and External References 819
Chapter 31 Outputting Drawings 865
Chapter 32 Storing and Retrieving Custom Data 891
Chapter 33 Modifying the Application and Working with Events 923
Chapter 34 Creating and Displaying User Forms 953
Chapter 35 Communicating with Other Applications 983
Chapter 36 Handling Errors and Deploying VBA Projects 1019
Index 1053
