Help with inserting blocks

[cmccartney]

New to .NET, here's the the setup, windows form with 4 buttons each inserting a different block. I'm attempting to pass the block name from the button click event to a sub routine that checks if block exists. Then insert if yes, or insert source dwg with block and then insert if no. So far if the block exists all t works but throws self reference exception. if it does not, then code is failing at inserting the source drawing, it throws security exceptions and a self reference issue. any thoughts? maybe move the insertion portion up to the sub routine instead of button click event? anyways heres the code so far:

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

Public Class StallCounterInterface

    Public Sub blocktest(ByVal BlockName As String)
        Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database
        Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor
        Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
            Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
            If bt.Has(BlockName) Then
                MsgBox("Yon Block Doth Exist-eth!")
            Else
                Dim id As ObjectId
                Dim stallblk As New Database(False, True)
                stallblk.ReadDwgFile("C:\\mkacadd_Hybrid\\Civil3D\\CAD data\\Support\\Blocks\\StallCount.dwg", IO.FileShare.Read, True, "")
                id = db.Insert(BlockName, stallblk, True)
                stallblk.Dispose()
            End If
        End Using
    End Sub


    Private Sub StdBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles StdBtn.Click
        Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database
        Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor
        Dim BlockName As String
        BlockName = "Standard"
        Call blocktest(BlockName)
        Dim loopcontrol As Boolean = True
        Do While loopcontrol
            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                'get insertion point
                Dim ppo As New PromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Specify insertion point: ")
                Dim ppr As PromptPointResult = ed.GetPoint(ppo)
                Dim pt As Point3d = ppr.Value
                'create block ref
                Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                Dim br As New BlockReference(pt, bt("Standard"))
                Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(bt(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                btr.AppendEntity(br)
                tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(br, True)
                tr.Commit()
            End Using
        Loop
    End Sub

[fixo]

Think you may want to use this possible way,
You can add a boolean variable inside your class,
then use it after in your subs:

Public Class StallCounterInterface
private blockexist as boolean=true
    Public Sub blocktest(ByVal BlockName As String)
        Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database
        Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor
        Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
            Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
            If bt.Has(BlockName) Then
blockexists=true
                MsgBox("Yon Block Doth Exist-eth!")
            Else
blockexists=false
                Dim id As ObjectId
                Dim stallblk As New Database(False, True)
                stallblk.ReadDwgFile("C:\\mkacadd_Hybrid\\Civil3D\\CAD data\\Support\\Blocks\\StallCount.dwg", IO.FileShare.Read, True, "")
                id = db.Insert(BlockName, stallblk, True)
                stallblk.Dispose()
            End If
        End Using
    End Sub

Or you can rewrite you Sub blocktest as function to retrieve boolean variable

~'J'~

[cmccartney]

fixo, thanks for the response not quite what i was going for, but i had other problems to begin with. So i re-wrote the code and have since solved my original problem, so on to the next problem! so now i want to grab the current layer, set it to something else, insert my blocks and then restore the original layer upon exiting the program (with an exit button) so heres the code i have so far:

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

' This line is not mandatory, but improves loading performances
<Assembly: CommandClass(GetType(Stall_Counter_Redux.StallCount))> 

Namespace Stall_Counter_Redux
    Public Class StallCount
        <CommandMethod("Staller")> _
        Public Sub GUI()
            'gets current doc and database
            Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            Dim db As Database = doc.Database
            'start transaction, access layertable, grab current layer, change to c-vprt.
            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                Dim LayTable As LayerTable = tr.GetObject(db.LayerTableId, OpenMode.ForRead)
                Dim ltr As LayerTableRecord = CType(tr.GetObject(db.Clayer, OpenMode.ForRead), LayerTableRecord)
                Dim curlay As String = "C-VPRT"
                If LayTable.Has(curlay) = True Then
                    db.Clayer = LayTable(curlay)
                    tr.Commit()
                End If
            End Using
            'initiate form
            Dim myform As New StallCounterInterface
            Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.ShowModalDialog(myform)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

and then the actual form/user interface:

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

Public Class StallCounterInterface

    Public Sub blocktest(ByVal BlockName As String)
        Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database
        Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor
        'test if block exists
        Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
            Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
            If bt.Has(BlockName) Then
                ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "block exists, now inserting!")
            Else
                MsgBox("not found, insert source file")
                Exit Sub
            End If
        End Using
        Dim LoopControl As Boolean = True
        Do While LoopControl
            doc.LockDocument()
            Me.Hide()
            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)
                Dim id As ObjectId = bt(BlockName)
                ' Get insertion point
                Dim ppo As New PromptPointOptions(vbLf & "Specify insertion point, press [ESC] to return:")
                Dim ppr As PromptPointResult = ed.GetPoint(ppo)
                ' Exit if the user presses ESC or cancels the command
                If ppr.Status = PromptStatus.Cancel Then Exit Do
                If ppr.Status = PromptStatus.OK Then
                    Dim pt As Point3d = ppr.Value.TransformBy(ed.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem)
                    ' Create a block reference
                    Dim br As New BlockReference(pt, id)
                    ' Get Model space
                    Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(bt(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), OpenMode.ForWrite), BlockTableRecord)
                    ' Add the block reference to Model space
                    btr.AppendEntity(br)
                    tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(br, True)
                    tr.Commit()
                End If
            End Using
        Loop
        Me.Show()
        BlockName = Nothing
    End Sub

    Private Sub StdBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles StdBtn.Click
        Dim BlockName As String = "Standard"
        blocktest(BlockName)
    End Sub

    Private Sub CompBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CompBtn.Click
        Dim BlockName As String = "Compact"
        blocktest(BlockName)
    End Sub

    Private Sub VanBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles VanBtn.Click
        Dim BlockName As String = "Van"
        blocktest(BlockName)
    End Sub

    Private Sub HandBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles HandBtn.Click
        Dim BlockName As String = "Handicap"
        blocktest(BlockName)
    End Sub
' This where i want to reset the layer to before the app was started.
    Private Sub ExitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExitBtn.Click
        Me.Close()
    End Sub
End Class

so what i need help with is passing "ltr" between classes, finding alot on passing between forms, but not classes.

[fixo]

You may want to use next method
Add Module in your project:

    Module Module1
        Public ltr As String = "C-VPRT"     '<-- change layer name or kept them as empty string
    End Module

Inside your working process you can set this value as you need.

Then after you've finish your job, add this sub on form code module:

    Private Sub Form1_FormClosing(sender As Object, e As FormClosingEventArgs)
        If e.CloseReason = CloseReason.UserClosing Then
            Dim result = MessageBox.Show("Do you want to reset the current layer?", "Question", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)
            If result <> System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Yes Then
                Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("clayer", ltr)
                e.Cancel = True
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

Not tested, just from the top of my head

~'J'~

[cmccartney]

Hrmm we're on the right path, but i need to access that module immediateily after the command method, and before i change the current layer.
module code:

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Public Module Laycurrent
    Public laycur As String = Application.GetSystemVariable("Clayer")
End Module

app intialization:

Namespace Stall_Counter_Redux
    Public Class StallCount
        <CommandMethod("Staller")> _
        Public Sub GUI()
            'gets current doc and database
            Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            Dim db As Database = doc.Database
            'start transaction, access layertable, grab current layer, change to c-vprt.
            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                Dim LayTable As LayerTable = tr.GetObject(db.LayerTableId, OpenMode.ForRead)
                Dim ltr As LayerTableRecord = CType(tr.GetObject(db.Clayer, OpenMode.ForRead), LayerTableRecord)
 access module and set Laycur before SetLay
                Dim SetLay As String = "C-VPRT"
                If LayTable.Has(SetLay) = True Then
                    db.Clayer = LayTable(SetLay)
                    tr.Commit()
                End If
            End Using
            'initiate form
            Dim myform As New StallCounterInterface
            Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.ShowModalDialog(myform)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

and finally the close button:

Private Sub ExitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExitBtn.Click
        Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("clayer", Laycurrent.laycur)
        Me.Close()
    End Sub

Now i could jsut scrap this bit and set a static layer name and the button, but why not be extra spiffy about it if i can

[cmccartney]

fixo i got it (yay me!)

  Public Class StallCount
        <CommandMethod("Staller")> _
        Public Sub GUI()
            'gets current doc and database
            Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
            Dim db As Database = doc.Database
call to module 
            Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("clayer", Laycurrent.lay2)
            'start transaction, get current layer, set layer to c-vprt.
            Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
                Dim LayTable As LayerTable = tr.GetObject(db.LayerTableId, OpenMode.ForRead)
                Dim SetLay As String = "C-VPRT"
                If LayTable.Has(SetLay) = True Then
                    db.Clayer = LayTable(SetLay)
                    tr.Commit()
                End If
            End Using
            'initiate form
            Dim myform As New StallCounterInterface
            Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.ShowModalDialog(myform)
        End Sub
    End Class

module sets clayer to static lay2

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Public Module Laycurrent
    Public laycur As String = Application.GetSystemVariable("Clayer")
    Public lay2 = laycur
End Module

then exit button calls on lay2

Private Sub ExitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExitBtn.Click
        Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.SetSystemVariable("clayer", Laycurrent.lay2)
        Me.Close()
    End Sub
End Class

[fixo]

Hey, sounds good, I often use same way
Happy coding
Cheers

~'J'~