Another contribution for those looking for help.
This one collects together the pieces from a few examples I came across that eventually helped me do what I wanted to do.
This code will load all the linetypes from a .lin file. If the linetype exists, it will force a reload to ensure that the linetype is correctly defined. This has been important for me as we have been noticing linetypes getting 'corrupted' occassionally with a disconnect between the linetype definition and the shapes being used in the linetype. A reload has usually fixed it.
The 'CheckLinestyleExists' and 'GetLinestyleId' are included in case someone finds them useful. I've got them as separate methods in case I just need that bit for another purpose.
They're all 'static' so that I can be a bit lazy calling them, without having to create an instance of the 'Utilities' class I've got the methods in. It's working for me, I'm happy. :smileyhappy:
Here goes. I hope someone finds it useful.
/// <summary>
/// Load all the linetypes contained in the passed in linetype file.
/// If the linetype exists, a reload will be forced.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="LineTypeFile">Fully formed path to .lin file. This is required for the StreamReader.</param>
public static void LoadAllLinetypesFromFile(string LineTypeFile)
{
// In this case, my CommandFlags are set to 'Session'.
// Therefore the document needs to be locked.
DocumentLock docLock = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.LockDocument();
using (docLock)
{
// Open, read the contents, and let go of the file.
/* Most linetype files are not large enough to
* generate any processing overheads with this method.
*/
StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(LineTypeFile);
string fileContent = sr.ReadToEnd();
sr.Close();
// Split the contents of the file on new line/carriage return and jettison empty lines
List<string> nameList = fileContent.Split(new char[] { '\r', '\n' }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries).ToList();
// Trim the list down to linetype name lines only
for (int i = nameList.Count - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if (nameList[i].StartsWith(";")) // If the line starts with ';' it's a comment
nameList.RemoveAt(i);
else if (nameList[i].StartsWith("A")) // If the line starts with 'A' it's the definition itself.
nameList.RemoveAt(i);
}
// Process each name in the resulting list
foreach (string name in nameList)
{
// Regex out the name from the string. We're not interested in the comment.
/* The 'name' line has the following format
* - *<Name>,<Description/comment>
* We're looking for anything between the '*' and the ','
* The Regex pattern is saying
* - '^' : from the start of the string
* - '\*' : starting with and '*', which needs to be escaped for Regex
* - '(?<Name>.*)' : Open a group called 'Name' accepting any character any number of times
* - ',' : The pattern is closed when a comma is encountered
*/
string ltName = Regex.Match(name, @"^\*(?<Name>.*),").Groups["Name"].Value;
LoadLinetype(LineTypeFile, ltName);
}
}
}
public static void LoadLinetype(string LineStyleFile, string LineStyle)
{
// Connect to the document
Document doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
Database db = doc.Database;
using (Transaction acTrans = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
{
// Open the Linetype table for read
LinetypeTable acLineTypTbl;
acLineTypTbl = acTrans.GetObject(db.LinetypeTableId,
OpenMode.ForRead) as LinetypeTable;
if (!acLineTypTbl.Has(LineStyle)) // If the linetype doesn't exist.
/* A Kean Walmsley example tries to load all linetypes by feeding "*" in as the linetype.
* That fails if the linetype exists.
* Although he captures the exceptions, the remaining linetypes don't get loaded.
*/
db.LoadLineTypeFile(LineStyle, LineStyleFile); // Load the requested Linetype.
else
ForceLinetypeReload(LineStyleFile, LineStyle); // Force an update from the file.
// Commit the changes
acTrans.Commit();
}
}
public static void ForceLinetypeReload(string LineStyleFile, string LineStyle)
{
/* I would like to acknowledge 'Hallex' on the Autodesk discussion forum for parts of this code.
* I stripped out the bits that did what I needed them to do.
*
* It was also the only post I've ever come across that actually demonstrated
* how to use InvokeMember for the command sending. Every other one just said
* to 'use InvokeMember' without providing any context or requirements.
*
* I salute you Hallex. Many thanks.
*/
// Get the current FILEDIA setting for restoration later
Int16 fileDia = (Int16)Application.GetSystemVariable("FILEDIA");
// Set FILEDIA to 0, to force a 'command line' interaction with the linetype command
Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", 0);
// Get an instance of the application object
Object acObj = Application.AcadApplication;
// Get an instance of the document objecy associated with the application
object acDoc = acObj.GetType().InvokeMember("ActiveDocument", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, acObj, null);
// Establish an array for the command
object[] dataArray = new object[1];
// Build the command string and add to the array
dataArray[0] = "-linetype Load " + LineStyle + "\n" + LineStyleFile + "\nYes\n ";
// Send the command to AutoCAD.
acDoc.GetType().InvokeMember("SendCommand", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, acDoc, dataArray);
// Reset the FILEDIA variable.
Application.SetSystemVariable("FILEDIA", fileDia);
}
public static bool CheckLinestyleExists(string LineStyleName)
{
// Connect to the document and its database
Document doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
Database db = doc.Database;
// Transact with the database
using (Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
{
// Get an instance of the line type table
LinetypeTable ltt = (LinetypeTable)tr.GetObject(db.LinetypeTableId, OpenMode.ForRead, true);
// Test if the linetype exists
if (ltt.Has(LineStyleName))
return true; // If it does return true
return false; // If it doesn't return false
}
}
public static ObjectId GetLinestyleID(string LineStyleName)
{
// Initialise a result
ObjectId result = ObjectId.Null;
// Connect to the document and its database
Document doc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
Database db = doc.Database;
// Transact with the database
Transaction tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction();
using (tr)
{
LinetypeTable ltt = (LinetypeTable)tr.GetObject(db.LinetypeTableId, OpenMode.ForRead); // Get an instance of the line type table
if(ltt.Has(LineStyleName)) // IF the linestyle exists
result = ltt[LineStyleName]; // Get the linetype object id
tr.Commit(); // Finish the transaction
}
return result;
}
