Changing code from SDI to MDI (SDI=1 to SDI=0)

We have a batch processor that does a lot of really great stuff. The
drawback is that it was originally created in R14 and modified for R2000 by
adding SDI toggles. The way it it basically works is using the input from
the form, it writes a script that runs when AutoCAD is opened using the
'acad.exe /b' switch. And it opens and closes AutoCAD for each drawing it
processes. I'd like to change this so it opens acad once, then opens a
drawing, runs the script, closes that drawing, opens the next drawing, runs
the script, closes, etc - Multiple Document Interface.

Could someone show me how to do this? I can't imaging it's that difficult.
(famous last words from an optimistic newbie)

Here's what we're using now:

Temp = Shell("c:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2004\acad.exe /b c:\temp\DLPlot",
vbMaximizedFocus)

Thanks for any help!

 

Here is an example. It works from excel vba. Be sure to add reference to
acad.tlb.

************************code***********************

Option Explicit

Public Sub test()
Dim acad As New AcadApplication
Dim dwg As AcadDocument
Dim strDwgs(3) As String
Dim I As Integer

strDwgs(0) = "c:\dwg\temp\aborder.dwg"
strDwgs(1) = "c:\dwg\temp\bborder.dwg"
strDwgs(2) = "c:\dwg\temp\cborder.dwg"
strDwgs(3) = "c:\dwg\temp\dborder.dwg"

For I = LBound(strDwgs) To UBound(strDwgs)
Set dwg = acad.Documents.Open(strDwgs(I), False)
dwg.SendCommand ("line 0,0 5,5 ")
dwg.SendCommand ("circle 5,5 9 ")
dwg.Save
dwg.Close
Next I

acad.Quit
Set acad = Nothing
Set dwg = Nothing
End Sub

************************code***********************

Tim Riley

 

I forgot that you wanted to run a script :/

Here is the revised code:

*************************Code*************************************

Option Explicit

Public Sub test()
Dim acad As New AcadApplication
Dim dwg As AcadDocument
Dim strDwgs(3) As String
Dim I As Integer

strDwgs(0) = "c:\dwg\temp\aborder.dwg"
strDwgs(1) = "c:\dwg\temp\bborder.dwg"
strDwgs(2) = "c:\dwg\temp\cborder.dwg"
strDwgs(3) = "c:\dwg\temp\dborder.dwg"

For I = LBound(strDwgs) To UBound(strDwgs)
Set dwg = acad.Documents.Open(strDwgs(I), False)
dwg.SetVariable "filedia", 0
dwg.SendCommand ("script c:\dwg\150.scr" & vbNewLine)
dwg.SetVariable "filedia", 1
dwg.Save
dwg.Close
Next I

acad.Quit
Set acad = Nothing
Set dwg = Nothing
End Sub

*************************Code*************************************

Tim Riley

 

Thanks Tim! I have a couple questions if you have a couple minutes:
1) Dim strdwgs(3) As String - is the '3' a limiter? Can I pass it another
variable like a 'Count' - our processor provide a complete list of drawings
that it gets from an INI file exported from Excel. Each item in the list
has a check box and the routine sees the checked items and adds them to the
processing list.

2) If I wanted to just *open* the drawings and not run a script, I could do
this:

If chkOpenOnly.Value = Checked
dwg.SetVariable "filedia", 0

End If

Right?

Thanks again for your help!!