Database application based on AutoCAD drawing ???

I want to create an application that displays a drawing in one pane
and some database information in another (side pane).
The drawing should have on it some images that represent records in a
database and are "hotspots".
When a image is mouse-clicked the information in the side pane is
changed to show information relivant to that database record (or
image).

I have no idea where to start, I need some expert guidance.

Is this possible using something like AutoCAD or should I be looking
at writing something from scratch using VB.Net (for example)??


Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in adavnce, SKIP

 

Hi Skip,

Such functionality is typically used in things like electronic parts
catalogs and Illustrated Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs). There
are several vendors out there who sell software for such, mostly
Web-based, systems.

Basically, doing so means getting your (Auto)CAD drawing out of the
engineering space and into the publishing space. One of the
industry-standard file formats to use for such systems is CGM.

Another one is XML-standard SVG. Corel has developed a suite of tools
around this format specifically designed for applications such as you
describe.

My company makes software to get technical graphics such as CAD
drawings into file formats like CGM and SVG, using PS/EPS/PDF as the
intermediate formats. For example, you save your AutoCAD drawings as
EPS using the EPSOUT command, and then use our software (a standalone
batch conversion tool) to convert them all to CGM or SVG. You can then
add hotspots to them and start building your application around it,
using e.g. ODBC connections to your database.

I'll be glad to convert a sample drawing for you, or to put you in
touch with the SVG folks at Corel.

Regards,

Jeroen Dekker