Autodesk Developer Blog

Innovate. Integrate. Automate

How to run AutoCAD interactive commands and run code after command completes

—

by

Autodesk Alumni
in

By Balaji Ramamoorthy

Issue

I need to run an AutoCAD command from my .NET command and allow the user be able to interactively input data. After I call this command I need to take further action. I am using ActiveX and SendCommand. My code runs before the AutoCAD command is completed by the user. Is there a way to cause my code to wait until the command is finished?

Solution

An approach to consider is to place the .NET code that needs to run after the AutoCAD command finishes in a separate .NET command. This command can be called after the AutoCAD command is complete. Here is a VB.NET example that shows this idea. It runs the LINE command and when the command is finished it runs a command named Test2: 

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common
 
 _
Public Shared Sub wbtest1()
 
    Dim oApp As AcadApplication = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.AcadApplication
    Dim cmdStr As String
 
    'this will allow for an open ended line command
    ' when the line command is finished the .NET command wbtest2 will run
    cmdStr = "(command ""Line"")(while(>(getvar ""cmdactive"")0)(command pause))(command ""test2"") "
    oApp.ActiveDocument.SendCommand(cmdStr)
 
    ' this is called before the LINE command is completed
    MsgBox("From Test1")
 
End Sub
 
 _
Public Shared Sub wbtest2()
    ' this is called after LINE command completes
    MsgBox("From Test2", MsgBoxStyle.Information)
End Sub

Comments

5 responses to “How to run AutoCAD interactive commands and run code after command completes”

  1. Andrey Avatar
    Andrey

    Hi Balaji.
    Are you checked, how this example works?

    I have rewrote this sample to C#:


    using System;
    //Autodesk namespaces ***************
    using acad = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application;
    using AcApp = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
    using AcRtm = Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
    //************************************
    [assembly: AcRtm.CommandClass(typeof(Ac2013Laboratory.Commands))]
    namespace Ac2013Laboratory {
    public partial class Commands {
    [AcRtm.CommandMethod(“Test1”)]
    public void Test1() {
    AcApp.Document doc = acad.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
    String cmdStr = @”(command “”Line””)(while(>(getvar “”cmdactive””)0)(command pause))(command “”test2″”) “;
    doc.SendStringToExecute(cmdStr, true, false, true);
    acad.ShowAlertDialog(“From Test1”);
    }
    [AcRtm.CommandMethod(“Test2”)]
    public void Test2() {
    acad.ShowAlertDialog(“From Test2”);
    }
    }
    }

    Sorry, but it ain’t working correct.
    The actions shall be executed in the following order:
    1. Created Line.
    2. Showed “From Test2” alert.
    3. Showed “From Test1” alert.
    But actually I receive other (incorrect) result:
    1. Showed “From Test1” alert.
    2. Created Line.
    3. Showed “From Test2” alert.
    Regards

    Reply
  2. Andrey Avatar
    Andrey

    I apologise Balaji, I have incorrect translated Issue by this Article. Then your code works correctly. I misunderstood the task.

    Reply
  3. Balaji Avatar
    Balaji

    Hi Andrey,
    Please dont apologise. I am glad you got it working.

    Reply
  4. Oleg Avatar
    Oleg

    Hi, Balaji,
    good point from you again, thanks so much
    I’m using often similar on that,
    cmdStr = “(command \”_pline\”)(while(>(getvar \”cmdactive\”)0)(command pause))(command \”_pedit\” \”_L\” \”_Cl\” \”\”)(command \”test2\”) “;
    Regards,
    Oleg

    Reply
  5. Tony Tanzillo Avatar
    Tony Tanzillo

    If it works or not, sending LISP programs to the command line is not a robust way to solve the problem.
    The problem is easily solved by using acedCmd() or the internal managed wrapper for it (the Editor’s RunCommand method, which can be invoked via reflection).
    acedCmd() is called by the LISP (command) function, so why on Earth would you use that when you can use acedCmd() more directly (either via P/Invoke, or using the Editor’s RunCommand method).

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Tony TanzilloCancel reply

Discover more from Autodesk Developer Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading