Get the COM object for AutoCAD 2011

I have spent the past few days googling this problem and have not come up with a solution. I searched here as well, so I hope I didn't just miss it....

The Scenario: I am writing a C# program that I am trying to use to start and then control AutoCAD 2011.

The Problem: Even though AutoCAD will start every time, it will not return the COM object always, instead it will error inside the calling function. I haven't been able to determine why this is, it seems random. The error code is 8001010a.

Notes:

1) Sometimes, if I put a break point before the calling function and step over it, it will work better than without using a break point.

2) On other forums, people seem to say that the issue is sometimes caused by norton or antivirus programs, but I don't have an antivirus installed.

3) If I try the same thing using AutoCAD 2000, I have zero problems...

4) I'm using Visual Studio C# 2008 Express Edition, AutoCAD 2011, Windows XP, no antivirus.

The code I'm using to activate AutoCAD:

public static object StartAutoCAD_2011()
{
 string progID = "AutoCAD.Application.18.1";
 Type acType = Type.GetTypeFromProgID(progID);
 Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadApplication ACAD = null;
 ACAD = (Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.AcadApplication)Activator.CreateInstance(acType);
 return ACAD;
}

Thanks for taking the time to look at this.

I forgot to mention that one alternative I was looking into was obtaining the Process ID for the launched AutoCAD 2011 and then attempting to get its COM object that way. I googled how to accomplish getting the COM object from the process ID or using the Main Window Handle (which I can get from the process), but was also unsuccessful in coming up with a working solution.

I got an idea that I could use the GetActiveObject function. By making active the instance that I want, I can use that function to get the one I want. It's a bit of a kluge, but I think it could work....If it's possible to change the active object--which I don't know how to do. Any thoughts....?

Alright, no thoughts I guess

Does anyone have suggestions for other sites/forums I could ask my question in?

Thank you

It is a shame that a question from a new member happens to be in an area in which there isn’t much readily available advise. The only routine I’ve worked on where I’ve tried to interact with AutoCAD files from an outside executable was posted mid way through this thread:

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?39166

Unfortunately I don’t think it will be any help because I wasn’t trying to interact with an active AutoCAD session.

You will find much more AutoCAD programming discussion over at http://www.theswamp.org/

You could check theswamp.org

See if this works

Here is a example that will draw a circle

If acad is not running it will start it or if it is runnig it will grab it

uses

Marshal.GetActiveObject()

[color=blue]using[/color] System;
[color=blue]using[/color] System.IO;
[color=blue]using[/color] Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop.Common;
[color=blue]using[/color] Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop;
[color=blue]using[/color] System.Runtime.InteropServices;
[color=blue]namespace[/color] ConsoleApplication1
{
   [color=blue]class[/color] [color=#2b91af]Program[/color]
   {
       [color=blue]const[/color] [color=blue]string[/color] progIDstr = [color=#a31515]"AutoCAD.Application.18.1"[/color];
       [color=blue]static[/color] [color=blue]void[/color] Main([color=blue]string[/color][] args)
       {
           
           [color=#2b91af]AcadApplication[/color] app = [color=blue]null[/color];
           
           [color=blue]try[/color]
           {
               [color=blue]try[/color]
               {
                   app = ([color=#2b91af]AcadApplication[/color])[color=#2b91af]Marshal[/color].GetActiveObject(progIDstr);
                   app.Visible = [color=blue]true[/color];
               }
               [color=blue]catch[/color]
               {
                   app = [color=blue]new[/color] [color=#2b91af]AcadApplicationClass[/color]();
                   app.Visible = [color=blue]true[/color];
               }
           }
           [color=blue]catch[/color] ([color=#2b91af]Exception[/color] ex)
           {
               [color=#2b91af]Console[/color].WriteLine([color=#a31515]"Canot start AutoCAD: "[/color] + ex.Message);
               [color=blue]return[/color];
           }

           

           [color=#2b91af]AcadDocument[/color] doc = [color=blue]null[/color];
          
           [color=blue]if[/color] (app.Documents.Count > 1)
           {
               doc = app.ActiveDocument;
           }
           [color=blue]else[/color]
           {
               doc = app.Documents.Add([color=#a31515]"acad.dwt"[/color]);
           }

           [color=blue]if[/color] (doc == [color=blue]null[/color])
           {
               [color=#2b91af]Console[/color].WriteLine([color=#a31515]"No drawing is open"[/color]);
               [color=blue]return[/color];
           }

           [color=blue]try[/color]
           {
               doc.SendCommand([color=#a31515]"C 0,0,0 10 "[/color]);
           }
           [color=blue]catch[/color] ([color=#2b91af]Exception[/color] ex)
           {
               [color=#2b91af]Console[/color].WriteLine([color=#a31515]"Importing failed: "[/color] + ex.Message);
               [color=#2b91af]Console[/color].ReadLine();
               [color=blue]return[/color];
           }
          
       }
   }
}

OK, thanks for the site suggestion.

I'm using VS2008/VB. But I use this code to start my AutoCad.

Dim acadProcess As New Process

acadProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "path/Acad.Exe"

acadProcess.StartInfo.Arguments = "file.dwg"

acadProcess.Start()

acadProcess.WaitForExit()

You can also write a script file that automatically loads and runs a VBA program. Something like the following:

Dim strProcess As String = _

" /b " & Chr(34) & CAD_Script & Chr(34) & _

" /t " & Chr(34) & CAD_Template & Chr(34)

' create the AutoCad Script Data

Dim strScript As String = _

"SAVEAS" + vbCrLf + _

"2000" + vbCrLf + _

Chr(34) & CAD_GusDwgPath & CAD_DwgNo & ".dwg" & Chr(34) + vbCrLf + _

"vbaload " & Chr(34) & CAD_VBAPath & CAD_VBCode & Chr(34) + vbCrLf + _

"vbarun " & Chr(34) & CAD_VBAPath & CAD_VBCode & _

"!Module1.MainSub" & Chr(34) + vbCrLf

This is only partially tested as I am in the process of moving from VB6/AutoCad2002/VBA to VS2008/Autocad2010/.Net.

Hope this is helpful.

Rose Anna