Accompanying CD-ROM ... "includes files unde in the exercises of this book ... other examples and programs ... [and] link[s] to AutoCAD on the Internet" ... p. xxv.

* Major update of Sutphin’s successful AutoCAD 2000 Programmer’s Reference. * Introduction to Visual Basic allows use by experienced AutoCAD developers who are new to programming. * Comprehensive coverage of the AutoCAD object model. * New coverage of AutoCAD 2000 features including file and security programming, customizing the IDE and accessing the Win32 API.

VBA is the Key to Automating Your Work and Reusability in AutoCAD... ...and Mastering AutoCAD VBA unlocks the secrets to VBA programming, teaching you everything you need to know to write macros, customize your interface, and even develop independent applications that will speed your work and enhance your results. Written specifically for AutoCAD users, this book is filled with detailed examples that often walk you through the manual approaches to tasks, then show you—step by step—the VBA techniques that can get you there faster. Coverage includes: Creating, debugging, and editing code using the Visual Basic Editor Using variables and constants to store information Writing code using AutoCAD object properties, methods, and event procedures Repeating sections of code and designing code to be run conditionally Creating drawings from macros Automating tasks with templates and VBA macros Developing Windows applications to interface with AutoCAD Adding new menu commands to your AutoCAD environment Setting grid and snap spacing from a macro Combining primitive solids using union, intersection, and subtraction Creating solids using extrusion and revolution Performing hidden-line removal and rendering Creating ActiveX controls for exchanging data with other applications Using AutoCAD 2000i's Internet features to upload/download web files Readying drawings for the Internet using the "Publish to Web" wizard Using hyperlinks in drawings that lead to local or Web

Customizing AutoCAD is easy when you know how to use Visual Basic for Application (VBA), the powerful programming language which Autodesk has integrated into AutoCAD R14.01. The book reveals the vast opportunities for creating customized applications with these two products including everything from customizing AutoCAD commands to creating stand-alone applications that work both inside and outside of AutoCAD.

Take 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 increasingly taking customization into their own hands. AutoLISP and VBA are two popular and versatile tools that allow for going beyond the boundaries of normal user interface customization options, allowing users to: Enforce drawing and CAD standards, and automate repetitive tasks Customize the workspace, including tool sets, ribbon tabs and panels, and palettes Modify graphical objects, set system variables, integrate with external software, and more Manage blocks, change the interface, create dialog boxes, and communicate with Microsoft Office applications The ideal design environment puts the tools you need right at your fingertips, removes unnecessary steps, and fosters precision through good communication. Customizing, including applying AutoLISP and VBA to AutoCAD, enables all of this and much more. For the designer who needs to work smarter because it's impossible to work any harder, AutoCAD Platform Customization provides the key information, insight, and techniques that will help to increase your productivity with AutoCAD.

A programmer can create an application using the components provided by the Visual Basic program itself. Over time the community of programmers have developed new third party components, keeping this programming language to modern standards. Programs written in Visual Basic can also use the Windows API, which requires external function declarations. Furthermore, new third party functions (which are open source) using part VB6 source code and part embedded machine code, make the Visual Basic 6.0 applications faster than those designed in C++.

This book opens the door to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in AutoCAD--including the robust new functions in AutoCAD 2000. You get an in-depth tour of all the basics, plus the more advanced areas such as using the Windows APIs, working with multiple

* Second Edition of the comprehensive and highly respected guide to the AutoCAD VBA language. * Suitable for all skill levels, novice and advanced power users. * A complete reference for the AutoCAD 2006 object model, it shows you how to connect to other VBA-enabled applications, such as Word and Excel, and use the using the Win32 API to further extend your applications.