Using .

NET in the Land of NOD

James E. Johnson – Synergis Software

CP2146 This class is about working with the Named Object Dictionary (NOD) and other
dictionaries that can exist in an AutoCAD® software drawing database using .NET applications. We will
look at getting and using dictionary keys such as get/add an UnderlayDefinition key for adding DGN,
DWF™ and PDF file underlay references to the active document. The Named Object Dictionary can
contain other dictionaries like the ACAD_MLINESTYLE and ACAD_MATERIAL dictionaries, of which we
will have code samples to show you how to use the data in those and other drawing database
dictionaries. You will leave this class with a good understanding and with code samples for working with
AutoCAD drawing database dictionaries and know what is typically stored in the Named Object
Dictionary.

Learning  Objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
• Describe what the Named Object Dictionary contains and how to work with those dictionary keys
• Add and get underlay definitions in the Named Object Dictionary
• Work with drawing database dictionaries in a .NET application
• Use XRecords in dictionaries to store application information within a drawing

About  the  Speaker

James has worked with CAD products for more than 25 years, involved in many positions from
being a CAD drafter to writing automation applications. In his current position, he is doing CAD
integration for Adept document management system. In previous positions, he has used
Autodesk® RealDWG® to write custom automation to create AutoCAD® drawings of industrial
kitchen equipment, and has worked at Autodesk resellers in software development groups
doing custom applications for Inventor® and AutoCAD®. He has taught AutoCAD® and VBA
classes while working for resellers, and was a CAD instructor at two different community
colleges.

Email: james.e.johnson@me.com
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

AutoCAD® dictionaries...
In an AutoCAD® drawing database a dictionary is a container object which can contain any AutoCAD®
object or an XRecord.

Dictionaries are stored either in the database under the named object dictionary or as an extension
dictionary of a table record or graphical entity. The named object dictionary is the master table for all of
the dictionaries associated with a database. Unlike symbol tables, new dictionaries can be created and
added to the named object dictionary.

Describe what the Named Object Dictionary contains and how to work with those
dictionary keys...
The Named Object Dictionary contains all dictionaries other than extension dictionaries in the drawing
database. Dictionary objects cannot contain drawing entities.

The Named Object Dictionary is where data is placed for the entire drawing to access. This dictionary is
always present in all drawing databases. AutoCAD® uses this dictionary for items such as Material styles
and MLine styles.

An Extension dictionary is a dictionary that is attached to an entity to store Objects/XRecords which are
typically entity specific.

Default dictionary keys in the Named Object Dictionary:

ACAD_CIP_PREVIOUS_PRODUCT_INFO
ACAD_COLOR
ACAD_DETAILVIEWSTYLE In code the Dictionary
ACAD_GROUP entries are handled with the
ACAD_LAYOUT DBDictionaryEntry  class by
ACAD_MATERIAL enumerating through the
ACAD_MLEADERSTYLE contents of a dictionary...
ACAD_MLINESTYLE
ACAD_PLOTSETTINGS
ACAD_PLOTSTYLENAME
ACAD_SCALELIST
ACAD_SECTIONVIEWSTYLE
ACAD_TABLESTYLE
ACAD_VISUALSTYLE
AcDbVariableDictionary

The dictionary is accessed in .NET as an AutoCAD DBDictionary object. To get an instance from the
active drawing database:

DBDictionary  nod  =  tr.GetObject(HostApplicationServices

                                                                                               .WorkingDatabase
                                                                                               .NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                                 OpenMode.ForRead)  as  DBDictionary;

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 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to retrieve Dictionary entries:

[CommandMethod("GetNOD")]
public  void  getNOD()  
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                                                       .MdiActiveDocument                          
                                                       .Editor;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =  HostApplicationServices

                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                       .TransactionManager
                                                                       .StartTransaction())
       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  tr.GetObject(HostApplicationServices
                                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                                       .NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                         OpenMode.ForRead)  as  DBDictionary;

               foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  de  in  nod) In code the Dictionary

               { entries are handled with the
                       ed.WriteMessage("Key:  "  +  de.Key.ToString()  +  "\n"); DBDictionaryEntry  class by
               }
enumerating through the
                               
contents of a dictionary...
       }
}

The Named Object dictionary can also be accessed at the AutoCAD Command
line with AutoLISP:

Command: (setq mainDict (namedobjdict))

Command: (entget mainDict)

Returns:

((-­‐1  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff7038c0>)  (0  .  "DICTIONARY")  (330  .  <Entity  name:  0>)  (5  .  "C")  
(100  .  "AcDbDictionary")  (280  .  0)  (281  .  1)  (3  .  "ACAD_CIP_PREVIOUS_PRODUCT_INFO")  
(350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff705ad0>)  (3  .  "ACAD_COLOR")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff703c30>)  
(3  .  "ACAD_DETAILVIEWSTYLE")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff705b30>)  (3  .  "ACAD_GROUP")  (350  .  
<Entity  name:  7ffff7038d0>)  (3  .  "ACAD_LAYOUT")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff7039a0>)  (3  .  
"ACAD_MATERIAL")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff703c20>)  (3  .  "ACAD_MLEADERSTYLE")  (350  .  
<Entity  name:  7ffff7050f0>)  (3  .  "ACAD_MLINESTYLE")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff703970>)  
(3  .  "ACAD_PLOTSETTINGS")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff703990>)  (3  .  "ACAD_PLOTSTYLENAME")  
(350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff7038e0>)  (3  .  "ACAD_SCALELIST")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  
7ffff705060>)  (3  .  "ACAD_SECTIONVIEWSTYLE")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff705b00>)  (3  .  
"ACAD_TABLESTYLE")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  7ffff703ce0>)  (3  .  "ACAD_VISUALSTYLE")  (350  .  
<Entity  name:  7ffff703e10>)  (3  .  "AcDbVariableDictionary")  (350  .  <Entity  name:  
7ffff703b60>))

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 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to add a Dictionary entry:

[CommandMethod("addToNOD")]
public  void  addToNOD()
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                                                       .MdiActiveDocument
                                                       .Editor;
       using  (Transaction  tr  =  HostApplicationServices
                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                       .TransactionManager
                                                                       .StartTransaction())
       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  tr.GetObject(HostApplicationServices
                                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                                       .NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite)  as  DBDictionary;
               string  newDictName  =  "LandOfNod";
               DBDictionary  newDict  =  new  DBDictionary();
               if  (!nod.Contains(newDictName))
               {
                       nod.SetAt(newDictName,  newDict); Creates a new DBDictionary
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(newDict,  true); and adds it to the database...
               }
               tr.Commit();
       }
}

Sample code to remove a Dictionary entry:

[CommandMethod("removeNOD")]
public  void  removeNOD()
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                                                       .MdiActiveDocument
                                                       .Editor;
       using  (Transaction  tr  =  HostApplicationServices
                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                       .TransactionManager
                                                                       .StartTransaction())
       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  tr.GetObject(HostApplicationServices
                                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                                       .NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite)  as  DBDictionary;
               string  newDictName  =  "LandOfNod";
               DBDictionary  newDict  =  new  DBDictionary();
               if  (nod.Contains(newDictName))
               { Removes the DBDictionary
                       nod.Remove(newDictName);   and all of its contents from the
               } database...
               tr.Commit();
       }
}

4
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

The following example illustrates getting an ObjectID of a dictionary entry in the NOD then iterates
through that dictionary. In this example the “ACAD_LAYOUT” name is used to get the proper dictionary
entry then the value (ObjectID) is used to open the dictionary. This could have also been accomplished
using the layout dictionary ID from the database:

  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.LayoutDictionaryId

Other  Default  dictionaries  can  be  acquired  in  the  same  way:
 
  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.MaterialDictionaryId
  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.MLeaderStyleDictionaryId
  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.MLStyleDictionaryId
  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.ColorDictionaryId

Sample code to get entries in a sub Dictionary:

[CommandMethod("GetNODLayout")]
public  void  getNODLayout()
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                                                       .MdiActiveDocument
                                                       .Editor;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =  HostApplicationServices

                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                       .TransactionManager
                                                                       .StartTransaction())
       {
 
               DBDictionary  nod  =  tr.GetObject(HostApplicationServices
                                                                                       .WorkingDatabase
                                                                                       .NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                       OpenMode.ForRead)  as  DBDictionary;

               if  (nod.Contains("ACAD_LAYOUT"))
               {
                       foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  de  in  nod)
                       {
                               if  (de.Key  ==  "ACAD_LAYOUT")
                               {
                                       DBDictionary  layoutDB  =  (DBDictionary)tr.GetObject(
                                                                                               de.Value,
                                                                                               OpenMode.ForRead);

                                       foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  LOde  in  layoutDB)

                                       {
                                               ed.WriteMessage("Key:  "  +  LOde.Key.ToString()  +  "\n");
                                       }
                               }
                       }
               }
       }
}

5
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Add and get underlay definitions in the Named Object Dictionary...

In AutoCAD® Underlays are similar to raster images,but their content is snappable. The
UnderlayDefinition is an abstract class that handles the linkage to external underlay content. An
UnderlayDefinition object is referenced by zero or more UnderlayReferences. The UnderlayReference
class is an abstract class that represents underlays in the drawing.

The UnderlayReference object is responsible for the placement of the content within the drawing, while
the UnderlayDefinition object handles the linkage to the underlay content.

There are three primary classes that Inherit from the UnderlayDefinition class, Instances of
UnderlayDefinition-derived concrete classes are inserted into a dictionary within the named object
dictionary...
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.UnderlayDefinition
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DgnDefinition
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DwfDefinition
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.PdfDefinition

There are three primary classes that Inherit from the UnderlayReference class, Instances of
UnderlayReference-derived concrete classes are inserted into a block table record...
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.UnderlayReference
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DgnReference
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DwfReference
Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.PdfReference

When an UnderlayDefinition is added to the drawing the associated dictionaries are added to the named
object dictionary...

Dictionary added
for DWF underlay,

Dictionary added
for PDF underlay,

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 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to insert a PDF underlay:

[CommandMethod("pdfInsert")]
static  public  void  pdfInsert()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =    doc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                       .GetObject(db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite);
               string  defPDFDictKey  =  UnderlayDefinition
                                                                       .GetDictionaryKey(typeof(PdfDefinition));

               if  (!nod.Contains(defPDFDictKey))
               {
                       using  (DBDictionary  dict  =  new  DBDictionary())
                       {
                               nod.SetAt(defPDFDictKey,  dict);
                               tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(dict,  true);
                       }
               }
               ObjectId  defObjID;
               DBDictionary  pdfDict  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                                       .GetObject(nod.GetAt(defPDFDictKey),
                                                                                                                               OpenMode.ForWrite);

               using  (PdfDefinition  pdfDef  =  new  PdfDefinition()) Adds the definition to the

               { dictionary...
                       pdfDef.SourceFileName  =  @"C:\AU2012\CP2146\LandOfNOD.pdf";
                       defObjID  =  pdfDict.SetAt("LANDOFNOD_PDF",  pdfDef); Path is preset for this
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(pdfDef,  true); example for the file to load...
               }

               BlockTable  bt  =  (BlockTable)tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId,  OpenMode.ForRead);

               BlockTableRecord  btr  =  (BlockTableRecord)tr
                                                                                           .GetObject(bt[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],
                                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite);

               using  (PdfReference  pdf  =  new  PdfReference())

               {
                       pdf.DefinitionId  =  defObjID; Adds a reference
                       btr.AppendEntity(pdf); to the Instance in
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(pdf,  true); the BlockTable...
               }

               tr.Commit();
       }
}

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 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to insert a DWF underlay:

[CommandMethod("dwfInsert")]
static  public  void  dwfInsert()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =  doc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                               .GetObject(db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite);
               string  defDWFDictKey  =  UnderlayDefinition
                                                                               .GetDictionaryKey(typeof(DwfDefinition));

               if  (!nod.Contains(defDWFDictKey))
               {
                       using  (DBDictionary  dict  =  new  DBDictionary())
                       {
                               nod.SetAt(defDWFDictKey,  dict);
                               tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(dict,  true);
                       }
               }

               ObjectId  defObjID;
               DBDictionary  dwfDict  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                                       .GetObject(nod.GetAt(defDWFDictKey),
                                                                                               OpenMode.ForWrite);

               using  (DwfDefinition  dwfDef  =  new  DwfDefinition())

               {
                       dwfDef.SourceFileName  =  @"C:\AU2012\CP2146\LandOfNOD.dwf";
                       defObjID  =  dwfDict.SetAt("LANDOFNOD_DWF",  dwfDef);
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(dwfDef,  true);
               }

               BlockTable  bt  =  (BlockTable)tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId,  OpenMode.ForRead);

               BlockTableRecord  btr  =  (BlockTableRecord)tr
                                                                                       .GetObject(bt[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],
                                                                                               OpenMode.ForWrite);

               using  (DwfReference  dwf  =  new  DwfReference())

               {
                       dwf.DefinitionId  =  defObjID;
                       btr.AppendEntity(dwf);
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(dwf,  true);
               }

               tr.Commit();
       }
}  

8
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to search for PDF underlays:

[CommandMethod("pdfSearch")]
static  public  void  pdfSearch()
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                               .MdiActiveDocument
                               .Editor;

       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

       Database  db  =  doc.Database;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =  doc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                       .GetObject(db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite);
               string  defPDFDictKey  =  UnderlayDefinition
                                                                       .GetDictionaryKey(typeof(PdfDefinition));

               if  (nod.Contains(defPDFDictKey))
               {
                       foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  de  in  nod)
                       {
                               try
                               {
                                       if  (de.Key  ==  defPDFDictKey)
                                       {
                                               DBDictionary  pdfDict  =  (DBDictionary)de.Value
                                                                                                                               .GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead);
                                               foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  pdfDE  in  pdfDict)
                                               {
                                                       PdfDefinition  pdf  =  (PdfDefinition)pdfDE.Value
                                                                                                                               .GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead);

Steps through
                                                       string  pdfPath  =  pdf.SourceFileName;
dictionary looking
                                                       if  ((pdf.ActiveFileName  !=  null)  &&  
for PdfDefinition...
                                                                       (pdf.ActiveFileName  !=  string.Empty))
                                                       {
                                                               pdfPath  =  pdf.ActiveFileName;
                                                       }

                                                       ed.WriteMessage("PDF  File:  "  +  pdfPath);

                                               }
                                       }
                               }
                               catch
                               {
                               }
                       }

               }

       }
}

9
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Sample code to search for DWF underlays:

[CommandMethod("dwfSearch")]
static  public  void  dwfSearch()
{
       Editor  ed  =  Application.DocumentManager
                               .MdiActiveDocument
                               .Editor;

       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

       Database  db  =  doc.Database;

       using  (Transaction  tr  =  doc.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

       {
               DBDictionary  nod  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                       .GetObject(db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId,
                                                                                                                       OpenMode.ForWrite);
               string  defDWFDictKey  =  UnderlayDefinition
                                                                       .GetDictionaryKey(typeof(DwfDefinition));

               if  (nod.Contains(defDWFDictKey))
               {
                       foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  de  in  nod)
                       {
                               try
                               {
                                       if  (de.Key  ==  defDWFDictKey)
                                       {
                                               DBDictionary  dwfDict  =  (DBDictionary)de.Value
                                                                                                                               .GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead);
                                               foreach  (DBDictionaryEntry  dwfDE  in  dwfDict)
                                               {
                                                       DwfDefinition  dwf  =  (DwfDefinition)dwfDE.Value
                                                                                                                               .GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead);

                                                       string  dwfPath  =  dwf.SourceFileName;

                                                       if  ((dwf.ActiveFileName  !=  null)  &&  
                                                               (dwf.ActiveFileName  !=  string.Empty))
                                                       {
                                                               dwfPath  =  dwf.ActiveFileName;
                                                       }

                                                       ed.WriteMessage("PDF  File:  "  +  dwfPath);

                                               }
                                       }
                               }
                               catch
                               {
                               }
                       }

               }

       }
}

10
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Work with drawing database dictionaries in a .NET application...

In an AutoCAD® drawing database dictionaries are accessed with the DBDictionary class which is a
database-resident object dictionary. A DBDictionary maintains a map between text strings and database
objects.
An instance of this class represents a single object...
DBDictionary  nod  =  (DBDictionary)tr.GetObject(db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId,  OpenMode.ForWrite);

Dictionary Entries in an DBDictionary must be unique.

When objects are placed in a dictionary, the dictionary becomes the object's owner.

Dictionary names honor the rules for symbol names.

1. Names may be as long as you need them to be (longer than 32 characters, as defined by previous
versions of AutoCAD).
2. Names may contain additional characters, such as the space character (' '), the apostrophe ('''),
and so on.
3. Names are treated case-insensitively.
4. Names can not contain the following illegal characters:
vertical bar ('|')
asterisk ('*'), except as noted above
backslash ('')
colon (':')
semicolon (';')
angle brackets ('>', '<')
question mark ('?')
double quote ('"')
comma (',')
equal sign ('=')
grave accent ('`')

Objects added to a dictionary must have NULL handles and must not have a presence in the database.
When a dictionary is erased, all the objects within it are erased.
When a dictionary is unerased, all of its contents are unerased.

Adds a dictionary to the Named object dictionary:

                 using  (DBDictionary  dict  =  new  DBDictionary())
                 {
                         nod.SetAt(defPDFDictKey,  dict);
                         tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(dict,  true);
                 }

Removes a dictionary to the Named object dictionary:

                 nod.Remove(newDictName);

11
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Use XRecords in dictionaries to store application information within a drawing...

XRecords provide storage for information in AutoCAD entities and dictionaries. The XRecord class is a
data storage class to allow programs a means to store data. Each XRecord object is capable of storing up
to 2GB. By establishing an object's extension dictionary as the XRecord's owner, it's possible to associate
large amounts of data with that object.

An XRecords structure for data input and output is done with a linked list of Resultbuffer structures, which
is a list of TypedValue items. TheTypedValue object pairs a DXF Code with its associated data.

Typical Resultbuffer code sample:

                               ResultBuffer  resbuf  =  new  ResultBuffer(

                                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Text,  "HELLO"),
                                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Int16,  256),
                                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Real,  25.4));

Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.DxfCode Enumeration values:

Alpha = 440, Angle = 50, ArbitraryHandle = 320, AttributePrompt = 3, AttributeTag = 2, BinaryChunk =
310, BlockName = 2, Bool = 290, CircleSides = 0x48, CLShapeName = 4, CLShapeText = 9, Color =
0x3e, ColorName = 430, ColorRgb = 420, Comment = 0x3e7, ControlString = 0x66, DashLength = 0x31,
Description = 3, DimBlk1 = 6, DimBlk2 = 7, DimensionAlternativePrefixSuffix = 4, DimensionBlock = 5,
DimPostString = 3, DimStyleName = 3, DimVarHandle = 0x69, Elevation = 0x26, EmbeddedObjectStart =
0x65, End = -1, ExtendedDataAsciiString = 0x3e8, ExtendedDataBinaryChunk = 0x3ec,
ExtendedDataControlString = 0x3ea, ExtendedDataDist = 0x411, ExtendedDataHandle = 0x3ed,
ExtendedDataInteger16 = 0x42e, ExtendedDataInteger32 = 0x42f, ExtendedDataLayerName = 0x3eb,
ExtendedDataReal = 0x410, ExtendedDataRegAppName = 0x3e9, ExtendedDataScale = 0x412,
ExtendedDataWorldXCoordinate = 0x3f3, ExtendedDataWorldXDir = 0x3f5, ExtendedDataWorldXDisp =
0x3f4, ExtendedDataWorldYCoordinate = 0x3fd, ExtendedDataWorldYDir = 0x3ff,
ExtendedDataWorldYDisp = 0x3fe, ExtendedDataWorldZCoordinate = 0x407, ExtendedDataWorldZDir =
0x409, ExtendedDataWorldZDisp = 0x408, ExtendedDataXCoordinate = 0x3f2,
ExtendedDataYCoordinate = 0x3fc, ExtendedDataZCoordinate = 0x406, ExtendedInt16 = 400,
FirstEntityId = -2, GradientAngle = 460, GradientColCount = 0x1c5, GradientColVal = 0x1cf,
GradientName = 470, GradientObjType = 450, GradientPatType = 0x1c3, GradientShift = 0x1cd,
GradientTintType = 0x1c4, GradientTintVal = 0x1ce, Handle = 5, HardOwnershipId = 360, HardPointerId =
340, HasSubentities = 0x42, HeaderId = -2, Int16 = 70, Int32 = 90, Int64 = 160, Int8 = 280, Invalid =
-9999, LayerLinetype = 0x3d, LayerName = 8, LayoutName = 410, LinetypeAlign = 0x48,
LinetypeElement = 0x31, LinetypeName = 6, LinetypePdc = 0x49, LinetypeProse = 3, LinetypeScale =
0x30, LineWeight = 370, MlineOffset = 0x31, MlineStyleName = 2, NormalX = 210, NormalY = 220,
NormalZ = 230, Operator = -4, PixelScale = 0x2f, PlotStyleNameId = 390, PlotStyleNameType = 380,
PReactors = -5, Real = 40, RegAppFlags = 0x47, RenderMode = 0x119, ShapeName = 2, ShapeScale =
0x2e, ShapeXOffset = 0x2c, ShapeYOffset = 0x2d, SoftOwnershipId = 350, SoftPointerId = 330, Start = 0,
Subclass = 100, SymbolTableName = 2, SymbolTableRecordComments = 4, SymbolTableRecordName =
2, Text = 1, TextBigFontFile = 4, TextFontFile = 3, TextStyleName = 7, Thickness = 0x27, TxtSize = 40,
TxtStyleFlags = 0x47, TxtStylePSize = 0x2a, TxtStyleXScale = 0x29, UcsOrg = 110, UcsOrientationX =
0x6f, UcsOrientationY = 0x70, ViewBackClip = 0x2c, ViewBrightness = 0x8d, ViewContrast = 0x8e,
ViewFrontClip = 0x2b, ViewHeight = 0x2d, ViewLensLength = 0x2a, ViewMode = 0x47, ViewportActive =
0x44, ViewportAspect = 0x29, ViewportGrid = 0x4c, ViewportHeight = 40, ViewportIcon = 0x4a,
ViewportNumber = 0x45, ViewportSnap = 0x4b, ViewportSnapAngle = 50, ViewportSnapPair = 0x4e,
ViewportSnapStyle = 0x4d, ViewportTwist = 0x33, ViewportVisibility = 0x43, ViewportZoom = 0x49,
ViewWidth = 0x29, Visibility = 60, XCoordinate = 10, XDataStart = -3, XDictionary = -6, XInt16 = 170,
XReal = 140, XRefPath = 1, XTextString = 300, XXInt16 = 270, YCoordinate = 20, ZCoordinate = 30

12
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Code sample to write an XRecord to an extension dictionary:

public  void  writeXRecord(ObjectId  id,  string  key,  ResultBuffer  resbuf)
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       using  (Transaction  tr  =  db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
       {
               Entity  ent  =  tr.GetObject(id,  OpenMode.ForWrite)  as  Entity;
               if  (ent  !=  null)
               {
                       if  (ent.ExtensionDictionary  ==  ObjectId.Null)                        { Looks for an Extension dictionary,
                               ent.CreateExtensionDictionary(); which is where XRecords are
                       } stored...
                       DBDictionary  xDict  =  (DBDictionary)  
                                                                                       .GetObject(ent.ExtensionDictionary,
                                                                                               OpenMode.ForWrite);
                       Xrecord  xRec  =  new  Xrecord();
                       xRec.Data  =  resbuf;
                       xDict.SetAt(key,  xRec);
                       tr.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(xRec,  true);
               }
               tr.Commit();
       }
}

Code sample to read an XRecord from an extension dictionary:

public  ResultBuffer  readXRecord(ObjectId  id,  string  key)
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       ResultBuffer  result  =  new  ResultBuffer();
       using  (Transaction  tr  =  db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
       {
               Xrecord  xRec  =  new  Xrecord();
               Entity  ent  =  tr.GetObject(id,  OpenMode.ForRead,  false)  as  Entity;
               if  (ent  !=  null)
               {
                       try
                       {
                               DBDictionary  xDict  =  (DBDictionary)tr
                                                                                               .GetObject(ent.ExtensionDictionary,
                                                                                                               OpenMode.ForRead,  false);
                               xRec  =  (Xrecord)tr.GetObject(xDict.GetAt(key),  
                                                                                               OpenMode.ForRead,  false);
                               return  xRec.Data;
                       }
                       catch
                       {                                 Gets the XRecord object and
     return  null; returns its Data property which is a
                       } ResultBuffer...
               }
               else  return  null;
       }
}

13
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Code sample of command to write an XRecord to an extension dictionary:

[CommandMethod("addXRecordToEntity")]
public  void  addXRecord()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       Editor  ed  =  doc.Editor;
       PromptEntityOptions  pEntOp  =  new  PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect  an  entity:  ");
       pEntOp.AllowNone  =  false;
       PromptEntityResult  per  =  ed.GetEntity(pEntOp);
       if  (per.Status  ==  PromptStatus.OK)
       {
               ObjectId  id  =  per.ObjectId;
Creates a new ResultBuffer and
               ResultBuffer  resbuf  =  new  ResultBuffer(
assigns some values...
                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Text,  "HELLO"),
                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Int16,  256),
                       new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Real,  25.4));
               writeXRecord(id,  "hello",  resbuf);
       }
}

Code sample of command to read an XRecord to an extension dictionary:

[CommandMethod("getXRecordFromEntity")]
public  void  getXRecord()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       Editor  ed  =  doc.Editor;
       PromptEntityOptions  pEntOp  =  new  PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect  an  entity:  ");
       pEntOp.AllowNone  =  false;
       PromptEntityResult  per  =  ed.GetEntity(pEntOp);
       if  (per.Status  ==  PromptStatus.OK)
       {
               ObjectId  id  =  per.ObjectId;
               ResultBuffer  resbuf  =  readXRecord(id,  "hello");
               if  (resbuf  ==  null)
                       ed.WriteMessage("\nNo  XRecord  found...");
               else
               {
                       TypedValue[]  result  =  resbuf.AsArray();
                       ed.WriteMessage("{0}  {1}  {2}",  result[0],  result[1],  result[2]);
               }
       }
}

14
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

The Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR) is used to implement dynamic languages like Python and Ruby
on the .NET Framework.
In Visual Studio 2010 C# a new type of 'dynamic' was introduced. This is a static type that bypasses static
type checking and functions like it has a type of object. A dynamic type at compile time assumes support
for any operation, whether its value comes from a COM API, a dynamic language, an HTML Document
Object Model (DOM), reflection, or somewhere in the program. Errors are caught at run time for invalid
code.
The equivalent to the dynamic keyword is object in VB.NET but with ‘Option Strict Off’, with ‘Option Strict
On’ there is no equivalent.

Code sample to read an XRecord using Dynamic Type:

static  public  void  dynamicXRecordRead(string  dictName,  string  xRecName)

{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       Editor  ed  =  doc.Editor;

       dynamic  nod  =  db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId;

       try
       {
               var  xr  =  nod[dictName][xRecName];
               ed.WriteMessage("\n  -­‐  "  +  xr.Data.ToString());
       }
       catch  (Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Exception  acadEx)
       {
               if  (acadEx.ErrorStatus  ==  ErrorStatus.KeyNotFound)
                       ed.WriteMessage("\nDictionary  or  record  does  not  exist");
       }
}

Code sample to write an XRecord using Dynamic Type:

static  public  void  dynamicXRecordWrite(string  dictName,  string  xRecName,  string  value)

{
       Database  db  =  HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase;

       dynamic  nod  =  db.NamedObjectsDictionaryId;

       dynamic  newdict  =  nod.SetAt(dictName,  new  DBDictionary());

       dynamic  record  =  newdict.SetAt(xRecName,  new  Xrecord());

       ResultBuffer  rb  =  new  ResultBuffer();

       rb.Add(new  TypedValue((int)DxfCode.Text,  value));

       record.Data  =  rb;
}

15
 Using .NET in the Land of NOD

Code sample of command to write an XRecord using Dynamic Type:

[CommandMethod("addXRecordDynamic")]
public  void  addXRecordDynamic()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       Editor  ed  =  doc.Editor;
       PromptEntityOptions  pEntOp  =  new  PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect  an  entity:  ");
       pEntOp.AllowNone  =  false;
       PromptEntityResult  per  =  ed.GetEntity(pEntOp);
       if  (per.Status  ==  PromptStatus.OK)
       {
               dynamic  ent  =  per.ObjectId;
               dynamicXRecordEntWrite(ent,  "hello",  "Hello");
       }
}

Code sample of command to read an XRecord using Dynamic Type:

[CommandMethod("getXRecordDynamic")]
public  void  getXRecordDynamic()
{
       Document  doc  =  Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
       Database  db  =  doc.Database;
       Editor  ed  =  doc.Editor;
       PromptEntityOptions  pEntOp  =  new  PromptEntityOptions("\nSelect  an  entity:  ");
       pEntOp.AllowNone  =  false;
       PromptEntityResult  per  =  ed.GetEntity(pEntOp);
       if  (per.Status  ==  PromptStatus.OK)
       {
               dynamic  ent  =  per.ObjectId;
               dynamic  xrec  =  dynamicXRecordEntRead(ent,  "hello");
               if  (xrec  ==  null)
                       ed.WriteMessage("\nNo  XRecord  found...");
               else
               {
                       ed.WriteMessage("\n  -­‐  "  +  xrec.Data.ToString());
               }
       }
}

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