Developer Center

AutoCAD

AutoCAD® software provides a flexible development platform for specialized design and drafting applications. Its open architecture enables you to customize AutoCAD to suit your unique purposes. Examples of customizations include Autodesk’s industry-specific design software and thousands of add-on applications from members of the Autodesk® Developer Network.

My First AutoCAD Plug-in: Introduction to Programming

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"My First Plug-in" is a self-paced tutorial guide for a smooth introduction into the programming world. This is a "one-stop shop" learning path for users who know Autodesk products but are absolutely new to programming and are thinking about taking the plunge. In this guide, you will be working with the AutoCAD .NET Application Programming Interface (API) and the Visual Basic .NET programming language to create a ‘plug-in’ – a module that loads into AutoCAD to extend its functionality. Once you have finished this tutorial, you will understand the basics of .NET programming and how they are applied to AutoCAD.

Programming Tools

ObjectARX
Use the ObjectARX® programming environment to customize and extend AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based products with direct access to AutoCAD database structures, the graphics system, and native command definition. ObjectARX provides object-oriented C++ programming interfaces for developers to use, customize, and extend AutoCAD software and AutoCAD-based products like AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD® Mechanical, and AutoCAD® Land Desktop software.

.NET

The ObjectARX SDK also includes a managed API, more commonly referred to as the AutoCAD .NET API. Use any .NET supporting language to customize and extend AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based products with direct access to AutoCAD database structures, native command definition, and more. Get the power of ObjectARX with the ease of learning and use of Microsoft® Visual Basic.NET (VB.NET). Learn how to use AutoCAD's .NET interface in the online AutoCAD .NET Developer's Guide.

Visual LISP
Customize AutoCAD as well as its runtime engine with the complete Visual LISP® development environment.

ActiveX (COM Automation)

Use the ActiveX® interface in AutoCAD software to automate AutoCAD from other applications via COM automation—for example from stand-alone applications built using Microsoft® Visual C++® or the Microsoft .NET framework, or from VBA-enabled applications such as Microsoft Office. The AutoCAD ActiveX® interface can also be used from AutoCAD add-ins built using the Visual LISP, ObjectARX, or AutoCAD .NET APIs.

Samples and Documentation

The AutoCAD help file includes extensive information about the AutoCAD software programming interfaces as well as several application samples. Documentation and embedded samples are available for most programming interfaces, in the following AutoCAD directories:

  • For Visual LISP source code samples, go to \AutoCAD 2012\Support.
  • For CAO source code samples for Visual LISP, go to \AutoCAD 2012\Sample\Database Connectivity.

ObjectARX and .NET samples and documentation are contained in the ObjectARX SDK.

The ObjectARX Wizards for AutoCAD 2012 now support Visual Studio 2010 in addition to Visual Studio 2008:

ObjectARX 2012 Wizard (zip - 3903Kb)

An installer for integrating the ObjectARX helpfiles with the Visual Studio 2008 help system is included in the ObjectARX SDK. The following installer integrates the helpfiles with Visual Studio 2010:

ObjectARX 2012 Documentation - VS2010 (zip - 71129Kb)

The self-paced ObjectARX training labs are compatible with AutoCAD 2010, 2011 and 2012:

ObjectARX 2010 Training (zip - 6015Kb)

The following additional resources will help you get started with the AutoCAD .NET API:

The online AutoCAD .NET Developers Guide

DevTV: Introduction to AutoCAD .NET Programming
A self-paced video tutorial demonstrating how to get started developing with AutoCAD .NET.
View Online | Download

AutoCAD .NET Labs

AutoCAD.Net Training.zip (zip - 4869Kb)
(Compatible with AutoCAD 2011 and 2012)
DevTV - AutoCAD.Net Training.zip (zip - 322623Kb)
A screencast walthrough of the .NET Labs training material.

AutoCAD .NET Wizards

AutoCAD 2010-2012 dotNet Wizards.zip (zip - 6866Kb)

The ObjectARX and Managed Class (.NET) Class Maps in DWF format:

ObjectARX C++ Classes (dwf - 40Kb)
ObjectARX Managed Classes (dwf - 37Kb)

Cloud Computing - NEW
Find out how to develop and integrate Cloud Computing (Software as a Service) solutions with your AutoCAD plug-in application.

Training
Visit our API training pages for our current training schedule or to request additional training.

Support

Blogs and public discussion groups provide open forums for sharing knowledge and receiving support.

AutoCAD Customization Blog

Autodesk Developer Network

Membership in the Autodesk Developer Network gives you access to the AutoCAD developer knowledge base—including answers to frequently asked development questions and lots of sample code—as well as direct professional support from Autodesk.