ObjectARX 2011

[clintonc]

The Autodesk website says that you need vs2010 and ObjectARX 2011 for acad2011, but I have vs2005 and some existing programs that I developed.

Does anyone know if I can still use 2005 or am I out of luck?

[Ed Jobe]

Why not use the free express version. Works just fine.

[sinc]

I think the "requires VS 2010" thing is for C++ users only...

If you are using .NET, you can use the .mgd DLLs in the ObjectARX library from the oldest version of Autocad you want to support. This means you won't have access to new stuff in the newer DLLs, but it lets you write an application that will work in a range of CAD versions without recompiling, and without resorting to a lot of late-binding hoops.

The only issue there might be .NET version... It seems like MS added the ability to target a specific .NET framework in the 2008 version, although I'm not sure... Don't know what sort of issues that might create for you. I know you can use VS 2008 to develop .NET for Autocad 2011 with no issues.

[BlackBox]

I just had Visual Studio 2010 Express installed, and all is working well... just be mindful of compiling to the correct version of .NET (i.e., 3.5 for 2011, etc.) for the application you're developing for.

[dgorsman]

I just had Visual Studio 2010 Express installed, and all is working well... just be mindful of compiling to the correct version of .NET (i.e., 3.5 for 2011, etc.) for the application you're developing for.

Highest version limits, in fact. I've got a couple of 2.0 Framework DLLs developed for AutoCAD 2008 running just fine under AutoCAD 2011.

[BlackBox]

Highest version limits, in fact. I've got a couple of 2.0 Framework DLLs developed for AutoCAD 2008 running just fine under AutoCAD 2011.

That makes sense; given that we use LDC 2009 & C3D 2011, you'd suggest I commonly use .NET 3.0 framework (or is it 2.5)?

Having a Visual LISP background, I've only begun to dabble with the .NET API. Everything is still so new - I only recently finished the 'Hello World!' tutorial with VB.NET.

[dgorsman]

That makes sense; given that we use LDC 2009 & C3D 2011, you'd suggest I commonly use .NET 3.0 framework (or is it 2.5)?

Having a Visual LISP background, I've only begun to dabble with the .NET API. Everything is still so new - I only recently finished the 'Hello World!' tutorial with VB.NET.

Not sure about how the LDC (Land desktop companion?) will like the 3.0 Framework but you can always try. Everything should be targeting 2.0 Framework as a minimum, as I think the v1.1 is officially obsolete. The v3.0 gives you access to a number of goodies like LINQ while V3.5 is the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) which I haven't even *thought* about touching; WPF allows you to make dialogs faster or easier or something.

[BlackBox]

Not sure about how the LDC (Land desktop companion?) will like the 3.0 Framework but you can always try. Everything should be targeting 2.0 Framework as a minimum, as I think the v1.1 is officially obsolete. The v3.0 gives you access to a number of goodies like LINQ while V3.5 is the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) which I haven't even *thought* about touching; WPF allows you to make dialogs faster or easier or something.

Thanks for the information.

WPF seems interesting - the little I've learned about it via AU courses - the instructor for said AU course had a live rss feed & website shown from the ribbon using WPF. Not to mention the 3D graphics... Cool stuff.

I feel I have hijacked this thread for too long, many thanks!