Description
Book SynopsisTake control of AutoCAD for a more efficient, streamlined workflow AutoCAD Platform Customization is the most comprehensive guide to streamlining and personalizing the AutoCAD platform. The AutoLISP and VBA programming languages open up a myriad of customization options, and this book provides expert guidance toward applying them to AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Plant 3D, and other programs based on the Autodesk AutoCAD platform. Detailed discussions backed by real-world examples and step-by-step tutorials provide user-friendly instruction, and downloadable datasets allow for hands-on learning. Through customization you can increase screen real estate, streamline workflows, and create more accurate drawings by unleashing powerful programming languages that allow the user to command the software how to work, instead of the other way around.
AutoCAD customization is commonly performed by system administrators and CAD managers, but senior drafters and savvy users are increas
Table of Contents
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
