ObjectDBX - Open & Save DWG

[BlackBox]

After I "Resave All Sheets" using Sheet Set Manager (SSM), I loose my thumbnails in both the SSM (mouse over), and in the AutoCAD open dialogue window.

Can someone help me complete a simple routine (using ObjectDBX) that will open, then save all drawing in a specified directory?

I can make scripts, but they take too long! After watching an AU course and seeing how fast ObjectDBX is, I think it is exactly what I'm looking for.

I've modified some source code from the above mentioned AU course; here's what I've got so far:
Source Code Attribution: Robert Bell http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=class&session_id=5372

(defun i:CloseDBXDoc  (myDoc)
  (vl-catch-all-apply ‘vlax-Release-Object (list myDoc)))
 
(defun C:Test3  (/ myDoc i fileName)
  (vl-load-com)
  (setq myDoc (vla-activate (vla-open (vla-get-documents (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)))))
  (setq i 1)
  (repeat 103
    (cond
      ((>= 9 i) 
        (setq fileName (strcat "[FilePath]\\[FilePrefix]-00400" (itoa i) ".dwg")))
      ((and (<= 10 i) (> 100 i)) 
        (setq fileName (strcat "[FilePath]\\[FilePrefix]-0040" (itoa i) ".dwg")))
      ((<= 100 i)
        (setq fileName (strcat "[FilePath]\\[FilePrefix]-004" (itoa i) ".dwg"))))
    (vla-open myDoc fileName)
    ;;(vla-saveas myDoc fileName nil)
    (vlax-invoke-method myDoc 'saveas fileName)
    (setq i (1+ i)))
    (setq myDoc (i:CloseDBXDoc myDoc))
    (princ))
 
(C:Test3)

The above cond statment is to filter the filename for my company's naming convention, as I have 100+ drawings in this particular project.

This is my first attempt at ObjectDBX. I'm clearly missing something, as I continuously get this error:

; error: too few actual parameters

Note - When attempting to use the original source code, I get this error:

; error: Automation Error. Description was not provided.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Ed Jobe]

Because ObjectDbx does not use the graphics editor, it cannot save a thumbnail.

[BlackBox]

Because ObjectDbx does not use the graphics editor, it cannot save a thumbnail.

Understood. Thanks for the clarification.

Can you still help me with the request, as I am sure I will need it in the future?

[RobertB]

What version of AutoCAD are you using?

This line is a problem:

  (setq myDoc (vla-activate (vla-open (vla-get-documents (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)))))

I'm not sure what you are trying to do with this. The failure is that you are getting a collection of the open documents, and then attempting to open the collection (a no-no) but you already have the documents open.

But if you are trying to use ObjectDBX, you cannot use the Activate method either. Not to mention that the posted code is not using ObjectDBX.

[BlackBox]

I am using AutoCAD Civil 3D Land Desktop Companion (LDC) 2009.

[RobertB]

I am using AutoCAD Civil 3D Land Desktop Companion (LDC) 2009.

If all you are doing, at this stage, is trying to open and save the each drawing, the following is what you would do. However, as Ed pointed out, ObjectDBX will not save the thumbnails since you are not opening the documents in the editor.

(defun C:Test  (/ fileNames myDoc)
 (vl-load-com)
 (cond ((and (setq fileNames (vl-directory-files "C:\\Temp" "<FilePrefix>-004*.dwg" 1))
             (setq myDoc (vla-GetInterfaceObject
                          (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)
                          (strcat "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument." (substr (getvar 'AcadVer) 1 2)))))
        (foreach fileName  fileNames
         (vla-Open myDoc fileName)
         (vla-SaveAs myDoc fileName))
        (setq myDoc (vl-catch-all-apply 'vlax-Release-Object (list myDoc))))
       (fileNames (princ "\nUnable to create ObjectDBX document."))
       (T (princ "\nNo matching filenames found.")))
 (princ))

[BlackBox]

Robert, for some reason when I replied with my version of AutoCAD this was the only comment that was shown:

What version of AutoCAD are you using?

Even thought this effort would not resave the thumbnails as I had hoped, I am certain that I will have use for the ability to rapidly gether information in the near future.

I'm not sure what you are trying to do with this. The failure is that you are getting a collection of the open documents, and then attempting to open the collection (a no-no) but you already have the documents open.

But if you are trying to use ObjectDBX, you cannot use the Activate method either. Not to mention that the posted code is not using ObjectDBX.

Earlier searches resulted in the deviations from your original code (from your AU course). I regret the butchery of your source code, that certainly was not my intent.

As stated above, this was my first attempt at ObjectDBX, as I do not have working knowledge of the object oriented, or application level components of the language. I am, however, very comfortable at the drawing level and have developed multiple solutions for my, and my coworkers production needs.

If all you are doing, at this stage, is trying to open and save the each drawing, the following is what you would do.

(defun C:Test  (/ fileNames myDoc)
 (vl-load-com)
 (cond ((and (setq fileNames (vl-directory-files "C:\\Temp" "<FilePrefix>-004*.dwg" 1))
             (setq myDoc (vla-GetInterfaceObject
                          (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)
                          (strcat "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument." (substr (getvar 'AcadVer) 1 2)))))
        (foreach fileName  fileNames
         (vla-Open myDoc fileName)
         (vla-SaveAs myDoc fileName))
        (setq myDoc (vl-catch-all-apply 'vlax-Release-Object (list myDoc))))
       (fileNames (princ "\nUnable to create ObjectDBX document."))
       (T (princ "\nNo matching filenames found.")))
 (princ))

I understand that my request is very general, and lacking specificity. I appreciate your willingness to provide me with the stepping stone in the code above.

Also Robert, if I may, I'd like to thank you personally. Much of my learning*** has come from your materials directly, both here on AUGI, and from Autodesk University. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with you in this manor. Your reputation is highly respected, and given much credence, among the senior CAD staff in my office.

*** DISCLAIMER: For anyone else who may be new to coding, this thread should not reflect upon the quality of instruction, but rather upon the student.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request, Cheers!

[RobertB]

Also Robert, if I may, I'd like to thank you personally. Much of my learning*** has come from your materials directly, both here on AUGI, and from Autodesk University. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with you in this [manner]. Your reputation is highly respected, and given much credence, among the senior CAD staff in my office.

*** DISCLAIMER: For anyone else who may be new to coding, this thread should not reflect upon the quality of instruction, but rather upon the student.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request, Cheers!

Thanks. If there is anything further I can help with I'm usually here.

P.S. The reason you didn't see the rest of my initial reply was because I edited it right after I posted it.

[TimSpangler]

If you are looking for some objectdbx code, here is some great example from jbuzbee to open a close a document

;;; ------------ OPEN A DBXDOCUMENT
(defun BLOCK_OpenDbx (dbxDrawingName / Application Document dbxDocument dbxOpen)
	
	(setq Application (vlax-get-acad-object))
	(setq Document (vla-get-activedocument Application))
	(if (/= dbxDrawingName (vla-get-fullname Document))
		(progn 
			(cond 
				((= (substr (getvar "ACADVER") 1 5) "15.06")
					(setq dbxDocument (vla-GetInterfaceObject Application "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument"))
					(setq dbxOpen (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-open (list dbxDocument dbxDrawingName)))
				)
				(T
					(setq dbxDocument (vla-GetInterfaceObject Application (strcat "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument." (substr (getvar "acadver") 1 2))))
					(setq dbxOpen (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-open (list dbxDocument dbxDrawingName)))
				)
			)
			(if (vl-catch-all-error-p dbxOpen)
				(setq dbxDocument nil)
			)
		)
	)
	(vlax-release-object Application)
	(vlax-release-object Document)
	dbxDocument
)
;;; ------------ CLOSE DBXDOCUMENT
(defun BLOCK_CloseDbx (dbxDocument / dbxDocument)
	
	(if (= (type dbxDocument) 'VLA-OBJECT)
		(progn 
			(vlax-release-object dbxDocument)
			(setq dbxDocument nil)
		)
	)
)

If you are looking to just do a quick save as then I suggest that you rename your old acaddoc.lsp. to acaddoc.lsp.old then save this:

(command "zoom" "e")
(command "qsave")
(command "close")

as acaddoc.lsp. Then open the drawings that you want to save. This will step through every drawing, zoom it, save it, and close it. Then it will move onto the next one.

Quick and painless. When you are done, just delete it and rename you old acaddoc.lsp.

[BlackBox]

If you are looking for some objectdbx code, here is some great example from jbuzbee to open a close a document

 *** Code in previous post *** 

Tim, thanks for the feedback. I've not yet had the opportunity to test either Robert's or your code snippets.

If you are looking to just do a quick save as then I suggest that you rename your old acaddoc.lsp. to acaddoc.lsp.old then save this:

(command "zoom" "e")
(command "qsave")
(command "close") ; Not available in SDI mode
 
; This closes the drawing, but how do you "Open" another...?

as acaddoc.lsp. Then open the drawings that you want to save. This will step through every drawing, zoom it, save it, and close it. Then it will move onto the next one.

Quick and painless. When you are done, just delete it and rename you old acaddoc.lsp.

I am confused on this part ... Even without ObjectDBX, why would I ever want to do this?

First, I already have a macro that does quick saves. However, both my macro, and your suggested method (replacing acaddoc.lsp) still requires manual selection of the "Next" drawing, lacking automation altogether.

Command Name:  Next
Macro:  ^C^C._qsave;._open
Keyboard Shortcut: N, or CTRL+N
(May require defun, and/or .PGP file modification)

Second, why not just make a script (.SCR)? This is what I do presently, when I want to conduct repetitive action(s) on numerous drawings.

_open  -tab-  [Filepath]\[Filename01]  -tab-  _save
_open  -tab-  [Filepath]\[Filename02]  -tab-  _save
_open  -tab-  [Filepath]\[Filename03]  -tab-  _save
...etc

Presto! In Ten to Fifteen minutes those 100+ drawings in my small project are done, and I can use AutoCAD again. My larger plan sets (550+ drawings) take even longer!

This may provide the automation, but is still very slow, as compared to the speed provided by ObjectDBX. This is why i made my initial request.

Cheers!