This example shows how to insert an external reference to a drawing document.
'-------------------------------------------------------------- 'Preconditions: ' 1. Create a VB.NET Windows console project. ' 2. Copy and paste this example into the VB.NET IDE. ' 3. Add a reference to: ' install_dir\APISDK\tlb\DraftSight.Interop.dsAutomation.dll. ' 4. Start DraftSight and open a new document. ' 5. If C:\Block.dwg exists, then skip this step. ' - or - ' If C:\Block.dwg does not exist, then construct ' some geometry in the drawing, save the drawing ' as C:\Block.dwg, and open a new drawing document. ' 6. Start debugging the project. ' ' Postconditions: A message box pops up when an external reference ' is inserted in the drawing document. '---------------------------------------------------------------- Imports DraftSight.Interop.dsAutomation Module Module1 Sub Main() Dim dsApp As Application Dim dsDoc As Document Dim dsModel As Model Dim dsSketchManager As SketchManager Dim dsExtReference As BlockInstance Dim dsReference as ExternalReference Dim pathName As String Dim insertX, insertY, insertZ, scaleValue, rotation As Double 'Connect to DraftSight dsApp = GetObject(, "DraftSight.Application") dsApp.AbortRunningCommand() ' abort any command currently running in DraftSight to avoid nested commands 'Get active document dsDoc = dsApp.GetActiveDocument() If Not dsDoc Is Nothing Then 'Get model space dsModel = dsDoc.GetModel() 'Get Sketch Manager dsSketchManager = dsModel.GetSketchManager() 'External reference parameters (rotation value should be in radians) pathName = "C:\Block.dwg" insertX = 0.0# insertY = 0.0# insertZ = 0.0# scaleValue = 1.0# rotation = 0.0# 'Add a Block instance dsExtReference = dsSketchManager.InsertExternalReference(pathName, insertX, insertY, insertZ, scaleValue, rotation) If dsExtReference Is Nothing Then MsgBox(pathName & " file was not found.") Else MsgBox("An external reference was added to the drawing.") Dim references As Object Dim reference As Object references = dsDoc.GetExternalReferences reference = references(0) dsReference = reference If Not dsReference Is Nothing Then MsgBox("Name of external reference " & dsReference.Name & ".") End If
End If Else MsgBox("There are no open documents in DraftSight.") End If End Sub End Module