VB.Net Netload DLL and Windows forms (EXE)

[KevinBarnett]

I know I know that title does not make sense. I need help, or even a gentle hint of the right direction.

I successfully made a Class in VB.Net and compiled a DLL that loaded with AutoCAD's Netload command (references to acdbmgd.dll and acmgd.dll):

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Public Class Class1
<CommandMethod("HelloWorld")> _
Public Sub HelloWorld()
Dim ed As Editor = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor
ed.WriteMessage("Hello World")
End Sub
End Class

In a seperate VB.Net project I used a Windows form to search our SQL database for standard drawings records - it compiles to an exe.

Now I want to merge the two and make a DLL that can be loaded by Acad's netload, making a command that will display the windows form.

I opened the project that includes the windows form and added a class similar to the one above except the command code inside the CommandMethod is:
dim Frm as New Form1
frm.show()

I just cant locate where to compile it to a DLL, so I can load it with Netload.

It's ok I can take it, tell me just how many things I did wrong.

Thx.

Kevin.

[ntaylor]

In the Solution Explorer right click your project, select Properties then in the dialog change the Output type from Windows Application to Class Library.

Regards - Nathan

[brand]

According to Clayton Hotson and his class on .NET at AU, he said that when using forms you should be using the .ShowModalDialog() or .ShowModelessDialog() methods rather than .Show() which is not supported in Acad. Additional benefits of using the preferred methods include forms remembering sizing and positioning changes throughout the session.

Ben Rand
CAD Manager
CEntry Constructors & Engineers
brand@centry.net