AutoCAD Clipboard

Hi,

I'm trying to find a way to insert some drawing entities on AutoCAD. I would
like to be compatible with all AutoCAD so I cannot use ActiveX or something
like that.

I found two way: send messages to command lines with the commands that draw
the entities but I don't like this solution because it is not so fast; a
similar way is to write the drawing commands in a Script file and then tell
to AutoCAD to run the script.

Then I've tried to check what happens when AutoCAD copy the selected objects
to a clipboard. I found several formats but one of this contain a text with
the path of a temporary dwg file: this dwg file contain exactly the selected
objects. Then I've tried to put, by code, in the clipboard a new format,
with the same number, with the path of a my dwg file: when I've used the
paste command in AutoCAD it paste my file.

All well, but the problem is the number of the format in the clipboard. I've
tried with AutoCAD 2002 and the format to use if 49880, with AutoCAD LT 2000
is 49782.

Someone of you knows which format number have to be used for the different
AutoCAD versions ?

Do you know other ways to export to AutoCAD directly ?

Thank you in advance.

Keven Corazza

 

What kind of data, from what kind of program, to what program?

 

Of course I need drawing data, not image, metafile and similar things. I
don't know how they save the data in the clipboard, I don't know if they
put, for example, in the clipboard a copy of the temporary dwg.

Keven.

 

You only answered part of the question. You may not need to use the
clipboard at all. List *all* (applications, versions, etc) your requirements
so we can tell you the best method.

 

Where Ed is going is to not use the clipboard. If it is drawing entities
you can use the CopyFrom method. If it is geometric data from say a
spreadsheet [x/y coords] you draw the entity thru the API not SendCommand
or scripts.

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

Sorry Ed - didn't see your reply =)

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

I read somewhere that the Clipboard is only accurate
up to 8 places I think. True???

 

I read somewhere that the Clipboard is only accurate

I'm not sure but that rings a bell =)

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

If you copy double-precision floating point numbers
to the clipboard, they remain double precision floating
point numbers (what AutoCAD uses), and if the
medium you're pasting them into supports that same
type, then there should be no loss of precision.

If there is a loss, it's likely the fault of the application
that copied the data to the clipboard, which could
mean Excel for example, may not be treating values
as doubles.

 

There is a misunderstood.

I know that I am in the VBA forum but I cannot use VBA. I have my graphic
application that read and write DXF-DWG through external libraries
(OpenDWG). I don't know other forums where I ask this information but I hope
that someone of you can help me.

The problem is that I would like to offer to my customers a more fast way to
put a drawing in AutoCAD without export file from my application and import
in AutoCAD. I know that I can use VBA but I cannot because I would like to
support all AutoCAD versions even LT.

Now I'm trying to study what happens with clipboard to see if it is possible
to put the drawing information in the clipboard and then paste them in
AutoCAD.

Well I've used this sample Delphi code to see the different format AutoCAD
put in the clipboard after a copy on it.

This is the code:

for I := 0 to Clipboard.FormatCount-1 do
ListBox1.Items.Add(IntToStr(Clipboard.Formats));


The results are several formats everyone with one "ID" (we can call in this
way...). With this ID I can see the contents of the clipboard. One this ID
tell me the path of a DWG file that is exactly the DWG file with the
elements selected.

This is the code to get the data in the clipboard:

ClipBoard.Open;
try
MyHandle :=
Clipboard.GetAsHandle(StrToInt(ListBox1.Items[ListBox1.ItemIndex]));
TextPtr := GlobalLock(MyHandle);
MyString := StrPas(TextPtr);
Memo1.Lines.Add(MyString);
GlobalUnlock(MyHandle);
finally
Clipboard.Close;
end;

So I've tried to use the same ID to put in the clipboard the path of my DWG
file and then execute the paste command in AutoCAD and it works! I can paste
in AutoCAD my DWG!

Well the problem that I notice is that this special ID is different for the
different AutoCAD version and it is different from machine.

The final question is: someone of you know which are the constant ("ID")
used by AutoCAD to put the information in the Clipboard ?

Another question is: this is the solution that I found but I'm asking if it
is possible to use other formats in the clipboard to get/set directly the
drawing information.

Thank you for the attention.

Keven Corazza

 

Okay Keven, but what is the overall process you are looking to accomplish?
You already have drawings so what are you copy/pasting?

This thread is steering you in the direction of using ObjectDBX to open the
source drawing in DBX [non-graphic mode] and copying the geometry that way.
You may also be able to do it with a similar method in OpenDWG, but its
been a while since I've looked at it. You have more control and no possible
memory limits as compared to the clipboard. The downside is that it won't
work with LT but is iterfacing with LT a requirement or a desire? Any kind
of interface with it is going to be cludgy and unreliable since you can
only use DDE and SendKeys. So if LT is not required, then move forward with
DBX and you can use any language not just VBA.

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

I need to work with AutoCAD LT because most of my customers use this
version.

But I'm not sure if you have understand what I want to obtain. I would like
to create a solution that the customer select the drawing objects in my
external graphic application (line, ...) and paste them to AutoCAD.

I'm using OpenDWG to create DXF,DWG and I don't have problem on this sense.
The problem is find a way to use to move dinamically the drawing from my cad
system to AutoCAD, anytype of AutoCAD.

Thank you.

Keven.

 

Keven,

Two of their projects give you everything your looking for.

The OdxTest project exposes all objects that your looking for. Select your Line,yadaya from the listbox....

Then look at the Converter project...between the lines you should see your solution.

Good luck,

Bob Coward
CADS, Inc

800-366-0946

 

Thank you for the suggestion but I didn't find these examples. Could you
send me please ?

Thank you.

Keven.

your Line,yadaya from the listbox....

 

Keven -

This is an Autodesk sponsored discussion group. Please go to an
Open Drawing site for help with that software. It is not
supported here.

 

What is OpenDWG?