Rotate block on insert (while being able to see what rotated block would look like)

Hi, I want to be able to insert a block using vb.net and rotate that block during insertion, while being able to see what the rotation would look like.

The old Macro we used to do this was this *^C^C(command "layer" "m" "CSVGSYM" "ltype" "continuous" "" "color" "150" "" "")(command "insert" "221" "S" msf (getpoint))

This would insert the block on the layer and allow the user to rotate it after picking the insertion point, showing the user what the rotation would look like.

If I use this:
acedPostCommand("(command ""layer"" ""m"" ""CSVGSYM"" ""ltype"" ""continuous"" """" ""color"" ""150"" """" """") ")
acedPostCommand("(command ""insert"" ""221"" ""S"" msf (getpoint))")

It works properly but I cannot put it in a loop as it does not wait for a user response before looping again.

If I put it in a loop like this the problem is that I don't get to see what the rotated image would look while selecting the rotation angle.

Code:

---

     
insertRotatedBlock("X:\\Blocks\\221.dwg", "CSVGSYM", 150, "continuous")
     
Private Sub insertRotatedBlock(location As String, layer As String, color As String, linetype As String)
        ThisDrawing = CType(Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.DocumentExtension.GetAcadDocument(Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument), Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadDocument)
        Dim tempBlock As AcadBlockReference
        Dim userPoint As Object

        Do
            Try
                userPoint = ThisDrawing.Utility.GetPoint(, "Specify insertion point:")
                checkNewLayer(layer, color)
                tempBlock = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.InsertBlock(userPoint, location, (drawingSetting.getScale() / 1000), (drawingSetting.getScale() / 1000), (drawingSetting.getScale() / 1000), ThisDrawing.Utility.GetAngle(userPoint, "Select Rotation Angle: "))
                tempBlock.Layer = layer
                tempBlock.Linetype = linetype
            Catch ex As System.Runtime.InteropServices.ExternalException
                Exit Do
            Catch exs As Exception
                Exit Do
            End Try
        Loop
    End Sub

---

Any help would be appreciated, thanks

I'm confused... I do not understand why such a simple macro is being redone in VB.NET when a far simpler LISP would suffice, and still be callable via your existing Toolbar/Menu macro?

Code:

---

(vl-load-com)

(defun c:FOO (/ *error* layerName oldClayer)

  (defun *error* (msg)
    (and oldClayer (setvar 'clayer oldClayer))
    (cond ((not msg))                                                  ; Normal exit
          ((member msg '("Function cancelled" "quit / exit abort")))    ; <esc> or (quit)
          ((princ msg))                                                ; Fatal error, display it
    )
    (princ)
  )

  ;; layer check
  (if (not (tblsearch "layer" (setq layerName "CSVGSYM")))
    (vla-put-color
      (vla-add (vla-get-layers
                (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
              )
              layerName
      )
      150
    )
  )

  ;; set the desired layer
  (setq oldClayer (getvar 'clayer))
  (setvar 'clayer layerName)

  ;; loop block insertion
  (while (vl-cmdf "._-insert" "221" pause 1.0 1.0 pause))

  ;; exit
  (*error* nil)
)

---

** Edit - You might also consider the acet-ss-drag-rotate function, if you do not care for my implementation above.


Further perplexing, and please forgive my saying so as I know nothing of your proficiency at .NET development, but I really do not understand why if you're going to step up into the .NET API, you'd still be performing simple tasks such as adding a Layer via acedPostCommand, SendStringToExecute, or the like... Instead, just Create and Name Layers.

Cheers

Another way is to use acedCmd instead as this is
well explained in this article:
http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autoca...ing-c-net.html

Hi,

If you want/need to do it in plain .NET you'll have to use Jigs (if you don't, you'd rather keep on using command macros and/or AutoLISP instead of trying to script with .NET and the COM interop).

Here's a little example using to classes derived from EntityJig. The first one is used to insert the block, the second to rotate it.

VB

Code:

---

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime

<Assembly: CommandClass(GetType(InsertRotateJigSample.CommandMethods))>

Namespace InsertRotateJigSample

    Public Class CommandMethods

        <CommandMethod("Test", CommandFlags.Modal)> _
        Public Sub Test()
            Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            Dim db As Database = doc.Database
            Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor

            Dim pr As PromptResult = ed.GetString(vbLf & "Enter the block name: ")
            If pr.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                Return
            End If
            Dim blkName As String = pr.StringResult

            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                Dim bt As BlockTable = _
                    DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                If Not bt.Has(blkName) Then
                    ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "Block '{0}' not found.", blkName)
                    Return
                End If
                Using br As New BlockReference(Point3d.Origin, bt(blkName))
                    br.TransformBy(ed.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem)

                    ' Using InsertBlockJig class to insert the block
                    Dim insertJig As New InsertBlockJig(br)
                    pr = ed.Drag(insertJig)
                    If pr.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return
                    End If

                    ' Using RotateBlockJig class to rotate the block
                    Dim rotateJig As New RotateBlockJig(br)
                    pr = ed.Drag(rotateJig)
                    If pr.Status <> PromptStatus.OK Then
                        Return
                    End If
                    rotateJig.UpdateRotation()

                    Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = _
                        DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.CurrentSpaceId, OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                    btr.AppendEntity(br)
                    tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(br, True)
                End Using
                tr.Commit()
            End Using
        End Sub

    End Class

    Class InsertBlockJig
        Inherits EntityJig

        ' Protected fields
        Protected position As Point3d
        Protected br As BlockReference

        ' Constructor (fields initialization)
        Public Sub New(br As BlockReference)
            MyBase.New(br)
            Me.br = br
            Me.position = br.Position
        End Sub

        ' Prompts the user to specify the insertion point (EntityJig implementation)
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Dim msg As String = vbLf & "Specify the insertion point: "
            Dim jppo As New JigPromptPointOptions(msg)
            jppo.UserInputControls = (UserInputControls.Accept3dCoordinates Or _
                                      UserInputControls.NullResponseAccepted)
            Dim ppr As PromptPointResult = prompts.AcquirePoint(jppo)
            If Me.position.DistanceTo(ppr.Value) < Tolerance.[Global].EqualPoint Then
                Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
            Else
                Me.position = ppr.Value
            End If
            Return SamplerStatus.OK
        End Function

        ' Updates the bloc position (EntityJig implementation)
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            Me.br.Position = Me.position
            Return True
        End Function
    End Class

    Class RotateBlockJig
        Inherits EntityJig

        ' Private fields
        Protected br As BlockReference
        Protected rot As Double, ucsRot As Double

        ' Constructor
        Public Sub New(br As BlockReference)
            MyBase.New(br)
            Me.br = br
            Me.ucsRot = br.Rotation
        End Sub

        ' Prompts the user to specify the rotation (EntityJig implementation)
        Protected Overrides Function Sampler(prompts As JigPrompts) As SamplerStatus
            Dim jpao As New JigPromptAngleOptions(vbLf & "Specify the rotation: ")
            jpao.DefaultValue = 0.0
            jpao.UseBasePoint = True
            jpao.BasePoint = Me.br.Position
            jpao.Cursor = CursorType.RubberBand
            jpao.UserInputControls = (UserInputControls.Accept3dCoordinates Or _
                                      UserInputControls.UseBasePointElevation Or _
                                      UserInputControls.NullResponseAccepted)
            Dim pdr As PromptDoubleResult = prompts.AcquireAngle(jpao)

            If Me.rot = pdr.Value Then
                Return SamplerStatus.NoChange
            Else
                Me.rot = pdr.Value
                Return SamplerStatus.OK
            End If
        End Function

        ' Updates the bloc rotation (EntityJig implementation)
        Protected Overrides Function Update() As Boolean
            UpdateRotation()
            Return True
        End Function

        ' Updates the bloc rotation (mandatory for the 'default' option)
        ' This method is called from the method where the jig is created
        Friend Sub UpdateRotation()
            Me.br.Rotation = Me.rot + Me.ucsRot
        End Sub
    End Class

End Namespace

---

If you realy want/need scripting with .NET, you can use the following Editor extension method shared by Tony Tanzillo.
This method wraps the undocumented RunCommand() method which works the same as the AutoLISP 'command' function and accepts managed types as arguments.

C#

Code:

---

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput;

namespace InsertRotateJigSample
{
    // From Tony Tanzillo (using reflection)
    // http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=43113.msg483306#msg483306
    public static class EditorExtensions
    {
        public static PromptStatus Command(this Editor ed, params object[] args)
        {
            if (Application.DocumentManager.IsApplicationContext)
                throw new InvalidOperationException("Invalid execution context for Command()");
            if (ed.Document != Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument)
                throw new InvalidOperationException("Document is not active");
            return (PromptStatus)runCommand.Invoke(ed, new object[] { args });
        }

        static MethodInfo runCommand = typeof(Editor).GetMethod(
            "RunCommand", BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Public);
    }
}

---

VB

Code:

---

Imports System.Reflection
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput

Namespace InsertRotateJigSample

    ' From Tony Tanzillo (using reflection)
    ' http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=43113.msg483306#msg483306
    Module EditorExtensions

        <System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension> _
        Public Function Command(ed As Editor, ParamArray args As Object()) As PromptStatus
            If Application.DocumentManager.IsApplicationContext Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException("Invalid execution context for Command()")
            End If
            If ed.Document <> Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException("Document is not active")
            End If
            Return DirectCast(runCommand.Invoke(ed, New Object() {args}), PromptStatus)
        End Function

        Dim runCommand As MethodInfo = GetType(Editor).GetMethod( _
            "RunCommand", BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.NonPublic Or BindingFlags.[Public])

    End Module

End Namespace

---

Adding this module to your project, you'd be able to use the Editor.Command() method as the AutoLISP 'command' function:

Code:

---

Dim ed As Editor = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
ed.Command("_insert", "221", "\", 1.0, 1.0, "\")

---

Gile -

You and Tony never fail to amaze, and are both incredibly kind to continue to offer this community all that you do.

Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlackBox

Gile -

You and Tony never fail to amaze, and are both incredibly kind to continue to offer this community all that you do.

Cheers

---

Subscribe to your opinion,
Regards

Blackbox - you vla code works well - that block insert is very useful for me :)

Thank you for sharing it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brian C

Blackbox - you vla code works well - that block insert is very useful for me :)

Thank you for sharing it.

---

You're welcome, Brian - I'm always happy to help. :beer:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fixo

Subscribe to your opinion,
Regards

---

I too second the motion.

much appreciated.

I hope to contribute to the community as well.

how? i have no idea. but i'll find a way :)