VBA Drawing Preview

HI guys,
Is there a quick and easy way to create a drawing preview similar to the one in the open drawing dialog box? And before you ask NO I cannot use the common dialog control and access the open dialog box, well I can but that's not what my engineering manager wants. (too many "clicks")
So what I would like to do is to create an Image control that will show the preview of the drawing that has been selected.

Thanks

Dave. K

 

OH YEAH,
I should probably mention that I am using VB6 and not VBA. With AutoCAD 2002.

Thanks.

Dave. K

 

Depends upon your version of AutoCAD. You can use either the Thumbnail or
VoloView Express controls. If pre-2004, you can also use the Preview
control - I'm not sure if it has been updated for 2004.

 

Try the "DrawingThumbnail.ocx". You can embed one or more previews in a VB6 form using this OCX. I believe the control is available in the Customer Files newsgroup. Version 1.9 was the last one I got, but there may be newer ones by now.

...Colin French

 

Okay I Found the DwgThumbnail,ocx and it works "okay" but Now I would have to got to each computer and install, and register it. Plus if I make the preview larger the picture "SUCKS" any way around these two things??

Thanks

Dave. K

 

the volo view control will be better for you if you are making it larger

Kevin

to got to each computer and install, and register it. Plus if I make the
preview larger the picture "SUCKS" any way around these two things??

 

Okay, where do I , How do I, What do I. I do not currently have voloview installed, so I will need to do that first?? and then what??

Thanks.

Dave. K

 

Voloview Express should be on your AutoCAD cd. Just install it and go back
into your project and reference the control. To load the file, make sure
you set the SRC property. From there, use a freeware install program such
as InnoSetup to deploy your solution.

 

SRC!? How the heck do you get drawing name out of that?/ Oh well it works. ONE more question how would I set it up to zoom all when it opens the drawing, it currently defaults to some zoomed out view.

Thanks for all the help.

Dave. K

 

Well Dave, it depends entirely on the build. As each build was released,
commands changed. Here are two methods that I used:

AvViewX1.SetFocus
SendKeys "+{F10}Z+A"

Public Sub ViewChange()
'Programmed ZoomExtents feature
AvViewX1.SetFocus
Dim dLeft As Double
Dim dRight As Double
Dim dBottom As Double
Dim dTop As Double
AvViewX1.GetDrawingExtents dLeft, dRight, dBottom, dTop
AvViewX1.NamedView = "View=(" + Str(dLeft) + "," + _
Str(dBottom) + ")" + "(" + Str(dRight) + "," + Str(dTop) + ")"
AvViewX1.Update
End Sub

In the help file, there should be some info on api stuff as well as using
the object browser once you have the reference in place.

 

Thanks Mike I'll figure it out from here. Thanks a whole heapin' Helpin' for the help!

Dave. K