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Free .NET CAD Library to Create & Manage AutoCAD 2D/3D Models

A Leading Open Source C# .NET CAD Library for Creating, Editing, Manipulating and Managing 2D/3D Models, Custom Commands, Automate Repetitive Tasks via Free C# API.

What is AutoCADCodePack?

AutoCAD is one of the most widely used computer-aided design (CAD) software applications in the world. It is known for its versatility and ability to create precise 2D and 3D designs. However, automating tasks or extending AutoCAD's functionality often requires programming, which can be challenging for developers. The AutoCAD Code Pack is an open-source library designed to streamline the development of AutoCAD plugins using the AutoCAD .NET API. By re-encapsulating complex and outdated classes into user-friendly static modules and functions, it introduces modern C# features like LINQ and lambda expressions to AutoCAD development, potentially reducing code length by over half.

AutoCADCodePack is a game-changer for AutoCAD .NET developers, making plugin development more accessible and efficient. There are various important features part of the library, such as drawing new modules, in-memory entities creation, adding annotations to drawings, DWG database manipulation, managing user interactions within AutoCAD, mathematical helper functions support, processing across multiple documents, and many more. The library abstracts away repetitive tasks, allowing users to focus on their application’s logic. By simplifying the .NET API and providing utility functions for common tasks, it enables developers to create powerful plugins and applications with ease. Its intuitive API, robust features, and ease of use make it an invaluable tool for automating tasks, creating custom commands, and managing complex drawings.

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Getting Started with AutoCADCodePack

The recommended way to install AutoCADCodePack library is using GitHub. Please use the following command a smooth installation.

Clone AutoCADCodePack GitHub repository

git clone https://github.com/luanshixia/AutoCADCodePack.git

You can also install it manually; download the latest release files directly from GitHub repository.

Create a Basic AutoCAD Plugin

The open source AutoCADCodePack library is an invaluable resource for developers looking to extend AutoCAD’s functionality. It enables developers to create powerful plugins and applications with ease. AutoCAD plugins are typically developed using Command Methods that define custom commands for AutoCAD. Below is a simple example of an AutoCAD command that draws a circle at a user-specified location using AutoCADCodePack.

How to Create a Circle Command using C# .NET Library?

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
using AutoCADCodePack;

public class MyAutoCADPlugin
{
    [CommandMethod("DrawMyCircle")]
    public static void DrawMyCircle()
    {
        // Prompt user for a point
        var point = Interaction.GetPoint("\nSelect circle center:");

        // Create a new circle with a radius of 50
        var circle = new Circle(point, Vector3d.ZAxis, 50);

        // Add circle to the drawing
        Draw.Add(circle);
    }
}

Modify Existing CAD Entities via .NET

The open source AutoCADCodePack library makes is easy for software developers to load and modify existing AutoCAD models and their entities inside .NET applications. Software Developers can easily modify existing AutoCAD entities using the Modify module. Here’s a simple example that demonstrates how to apply changes to the radius of all selected circles using .NET commands.

How to Modify Existing Entities of CAD Model inside .NET Apps?

[CommandMethod("ResizeCircles")]
public static void ResizeCircles()
{
    var ids = Interaction.GetSelection("\nSelect circles", "CIRCLE");
    
    ids.QForEach(circle =>
    {
        circle.Radius += 10; // Increase radius by 10 units
    });
}

Better Error Handling

The AutoCADCodePack library includes robust error-handling mechanisms, ensuring that your code runs smoothly even when unexpected issues arise. The library provides all essential functions for AutoCAD plugin development. Here’s an example that shows how the code attempts to create a circle with an invalid radius. The error is caught and displayed in the command line.

How to Create a Circle with an Invalid Radius via .NET Library?

using AutoCADCodePack;

public class ErrorHandlingExample
{
    [CommandMethod("SAFECOMMAND")]
    public void SafeCommand()
    {
        try
        {
            // Attempt to execute a risky operation
            EntityHelper.CreateCircle(new Point3d(0, 0, 0), -10); // Invalid radius
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            EditorHelper.WriteMessage($"Error: {ex.Message}");
        }
    }
}