Running a Tool from ToolPalette

By Balaji Ramamoorthy

Here is a sample code to run the “Anchor Rod – Imperial” tool available in the “Mechanical” ToolPalette in AutoCAD. It iterates the catalog items and executes the tool. It is similar to what a left mouse button click on the tool would do using the AutoCAD UI.

AcString toolName2Run = "Anchor Rod - Imperial";
 
INT_PTR catalogCount = AcTcGetManager()->GetCatalogCount();
for( int catIndex = 0 ; 
    (catIndex < catalogCount) && ! toolExecuted ; 
     catIndex ++) 
{
    AcTcCatalogItem *pCatItem 
                    = AcTcGetManager()->GetCatalog(catIndex);
 
    INT_PTR nChildren1 = pCatItem->GetChildCount();
    for( int childIndex1 = 0 ; 
         (childIndex1 < nChildren1) && ! toolExecuted; 
         childIndex1++ ) 
    {
        AcTcCatalogItem *pCatItem1 
                            = pCatItem->GetChild(childIndex1);
 
        INT_PTR nChildren2 = pCatItem1->GetChildCount();
        for( int childIndex2 = 0; 
            (childIndex2 < nChildren2) && ! toolExecuted ; 
            childIndex2++ ) 
        {
            AcTcCatalogItem *pCatItem2 
                        = pCatItem1->GetChild(childIndex2);
 
            CatalogItemType ItemType = pCatItem2->GetType();
            if(ItemType == kItemTool ) 
            {
                AcTcTool *pTool 
                        = static_cast(pCatItem2);
                if (pTool != NULL)
                {
                    ACHAR szToolName[MAX_PATH]; 
                    pTool->GetName(szToolName, MAX_PATH); 
                    if(toolName2Run.compareNoCase(
                                   AcString(szToolName)) == 0) 
                    { 
                        int nFlag = 0; // LButton clicked
                        HWND hWnd = NULL;
                        POINT point;
                        point.x = 0; point.y = 0; 
                        DWORD dwKeyState = 0; 
                        toolExecuted 
                            = pTool->Execute( nFlag, 
                                              hWnd, 
                                              point, 
                                              dwKeyState
                                            ); 
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}