Autocad Tutorials » Autocad Custom Commands and Autocad Plugins

Autocad Plugin/Addon and Autocad Mechanical Desktop, Autocad Architectural Desktop.

Superdraftsman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:51:42 +0000

You have probably encountered the Autocad Mechanical Desktop and Autocad Architectural Desktop because they are getting popular these days. Well, these software packages are actually a combination of the typical Autocad software you have in your desktop computer and Autocad plugins . The core autocad engine, programs and dynamic link libraries, are basically the same to make it run and functional as a computer-aided drawing software. The only but most significant difference comes from the power of automation. Simply put, Autocad Mechanical Desktop and Autocad Architectural Desktop contain the tools (autocad plugins or addons) that make drafting way faster and easier.

Unlike typical or third party autocad plugins or addons, the autocad plugins in Autocad Mechanical and Architectural Desktop come built in them. When you buy these softwares, you don’t have to do a separate installation of the plugins/addons. The software package comes with an installer that takes care all the things for you to run a fully functional Autocad Mechanical or Architectural Desktop. With a third party autocad plugin, you have to do a separate installation aside from the usual installation of your autocad software. However, these third party autocad plugins/addons, also come with their installers that automatically set up everything. But there are also third party developers that write plugins which doesn’t have installers. To use the plugin, you have to load it using the command “appload” of autocad and type the custom autocad commmands
that come with it. These are ussually the case for free but fully functional autocad plugins and for those plugins/addons that are under beta release.

What makes the Autocad Mechanical Desktop stand out from your ordinary Autocad program and other CAD systems are the custom commands tailored specially for detailing mechanical drawings. With the Autocad Mechanical Desktop, you don’t have to type long series of commands just to draw a particular mechanical part. You also don’t have to repeat a tedious series of commands just to draw bigger, smaller or extended variation of a mechanical part. All you have to do is hit a custom command (autocad commands specific to this software) for a particular mechanical part and you are done. The same is true with Autocad Architectural Desktop. The only difference is that its custom commands are tailored for drawing architectural objects faster and easier.

Developing a Structural Autocad Plugin

Superdraftsman — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:45:58 +0000

Developing autocad plugins is not only limited architectural or drafting applications, structural autocad plugins can also be developed for the use of structural engineers or architects who want to check their drawings for structural integrity. As you might already observed in the superdraftsman autocad plugin (see my previous posts to know more about this plugin ) that I have developed, most of the custom commands added on it are intended to automate drawing tasks such as pipe, grids/cells, windows, sections etc. These custom commands simply draw objects on your autocad program fast but they don’t help you determine if these objects, which represent real structural sections or members, can withstand a specified load.

In order to take the development of autocad plugins to the next level, I am planning to add structural custom commands to the superdraftsman making it an official structural autocad plugin. The following are the structural custom commands I plan to include:

1. comstren . One of the structural custom commands will let you calculate the strength of given section or structural member. After a section is drawn using the previously developed custom commands of the said plugin, a new structural custom command “comstren”, short for compressive strength, will be entered into the autocad command line. The program will then ask for the kind of material to be used: steel, concrete or aluminum. Since this command calculates the axial compressive strength of a structural member, it asks for the unbraced member length. After this dimension is provided by the user, the autocad plugin calculates the axial compressive strength using the appropriate design codes (see below).

Tools, Programs To Develop
Structural Plugin in Autocad:

2.tenstren. This is short for tensile strength. This structural autocad custom command will calculate the tensile stength of a section drawn using the superdraftsman autocad plugin. When a section is already created, you will simply type the command “tenstren” , you will be prompted to pick the section and enter the type of material. Then, the plugin will calculate the tensile strength of the section. Note that this time, the plugin will not ask for the length of the member since tensile strength is independent of this parameter.

3.benstren. This is short for bending strength. This autocad custom command will calculate the bending strength of a structural member using a given section. Assuming that the section is already drawn on the autocad window, you type the command “benstren”, enter the laterally unbraced length, enter the uniform load throughout the member length and select the section to be used. Then, the plugin will calculate the bending strength using the applicable design code below.

Tools, Programs To Develop
Structural Plugin in Autocad:

AISC(American Institute for Steel Construction) 2005 for Steel
ADM(Aluminum Design Manual) for aluminum
ACI (American Concrete Institute)

That’s all for now. But I am planning more structural custom autocad commands to be added in the plugin.

What is an Autocad Plugin?

Superdraftsman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:09:18 +0000

Just like any software plugin, an autocad plugin is a computer program that extends the capability of the autocad software. In windows softwares, plugins are computer programs that have an extension ‘.dll’ which stands for dynamic link libraries. In autocad, autocad plugins have extension ‘.arx’ which stands for Autocad Runtime Extension.

Tools, Programs To Develop
Structural Plugin in Autocad:

Actually, ‘.arx’ programs are also dynamic link libraries. In fact when these programs are compiled from C++ programming language, the compiler outputs a default file with ‘.dll’ file extension. Autocad plugin programmers are encouraged to replace the extension with ‘.arx’ to distinguish the program as an autocad runtime extension. These autocad plugins are also called ObjectArx programs.

There are actually other types of computer programs that can extend autocad capability aside from ObjectArx programs. These are the LISP and VB programs. However, these programs don’t have as much power as the ObjectArx programs. In fact, these programs are not called plugins but simply autocad automation scripts. Though they can also be compiled into
binary files, their script form is more than enough to serve its purpose. ObjectArx applications are strictly in binary file because they must be written in C++ language and therefore must be compiled into binary files.

Autocad plugin programmers use the Microsoft Visual C++ IDE to write and complile their plugins. They also have an above-average level of mastery of the C++ language. Most importantly, they master the ObjectArx API (application programming interface) which contains the classes and functions needed to control autocad and add more powerful functionality to it.

So what are the capabilities that an autocad plugin add to an existing autocad software? Well, it simply adds custom commands to your favorite autocad command list. How long does it take you draw a grid of horizontal and vertical lines

Tools, Programs To Develop
Structural Plugin in Autocad:

that vary in spacing? Using the primitive command, you will draw a line, type offset command, enter distance, offset, enter distance, offset…you do this long, boring and tiresome routine over and over. With an autocad plugin, you just type the custom command (say ‘cells’ for the superdraftsman_commands.arx found in this blog/website) of an autocad plugin and enter the different dimensions and you are done!. The grid lines with varying spacing are on the screen just like magic! Do you want to draw a window elevations? Just type custom command ‘window’ of an autocad plugin, enter the required dimensions and voila your window elevation appears right there on the center of your computer screen! The amount of time and effort save is so big that instead of spending time on drafting, you will now spend more time on your design!

“Cells” : Draw rectangular cells or grid with varying spacing quickly

Superdraftsman — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:03:53 +0000

New Superdraftsman’s Autocad Command: “Cells”

Here’s another custom command which, I believe, you will find very useful. This command lets you draw cells or grid using horizontal and vertical lines. The great thing about this command is its ability to let you draw cells or grid with spacing that varies in both horizontal and vertical direction. The image below shows a sample cells drawing:

Instruction:

1. Download Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Commands plugin/autocad runtime extension.

2. Run your autocad program.

3. Type “appload” in the command line and load the file named “superdraftsman_commands.arx” you’ve just downloaded.

4. Type “cells” (no qoutes) and follow the prompt by entering the dimensions asked.

Example: Draw a grid with height = 3000 mm, 5 horizontal spacings and 4 vertical spacings.

1. Type “cells” in the command line.

2. Enter the height.

Enter height: 3000

3. Specify top-left corner point. After height is entered, autocad prompts you to enter the top-center corner point. Just point on the screen where you want the top-left corner point of the grid should be located.

Select center point: (click on the screen where the top-left corner point must be located)
(A vertical line 3000mm long will now appear on screen)

4. Enter horizontal spacings. After you have entered a horizontal dimension, a second line will be drawn x units (x = value entered) away from the first line. To add another line next to the second line with the same spacing, just press the space bar or press enter. To change the spacing for the next lines, enter the new horizontal dimension and press the space bar or press enter.

Enter horizontal spacing: 500
Enter horizontal spacing: (To repeat, simply press the space bar or enter )
Enter horizontal spacing: (To repeat, simply press the space bar or enter )
Enter horizontal spacing: 1000
Enter horizontal spacing: (To repeat, simply press the space bar or enter )

5. Enter the vertical spacings. To draw the horizontal lines, press “Esc” and you will be prompted to enter the vertical spacings.

Enter vertical spacing: 500
Enter vertical spacing: (To repeat, simply press the space bar or enter )
Enter horizontal spacing: 1000
Enter horizontal spacing: (To repeat, simply press the space bar or enter )

To request a free autocad custom command click here

New Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Command: Pipe – Use this command to draw pipe sections quickly.

Superdraftsman — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:47:42 +0000

New Autocad Custom Command: Pipe

1. Download Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Commands plugin/autocad runtime extension.

2. Run your autocad program.

3. Type “appload” in the command line and load the file named “superdraftsman_commands.arx” you’ve just downloaded.

4. Type “pipe” (no qoutes) and follow the prompt by entering the dimensions asked.

Example: Draw a pipe with 75 mm diameter and 6 mm thickness.

1. Type “pipe” in the command line.

2. Enter the diameter of pipe.

Enter diameter: 75

3. Enter the thickness.

Enter thickness: 6

4. Select the center point.

Select center point: (click on the screen where the center of the pipe section must be located)

To request a free autocad custom command click here

New Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Command: Window – Use this command to draw window elevations quickly!

Superdraftsman — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:36:58 +0000

New Autocad Custom Command: Window

Download Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Commands . Use this command to draw window elevations quickly.

1. Run your autocad program.

2. Type “appload” in the command line and load the superdraftsman_commands.arx you’ve just downloaded.

3. Type “window” (no qoutes) and follow the prompt and enter the dimensions asked.

Example : Draw a window with 4 panels horizontal and 3 panels vertical.
1. First run autocad and draw a vertical line 5000 mm long, then zoom extent ( enter z then enter e) so you can see the entire line. This is for preparation only so that you can see as the window is drawn on screen in real time while using the “window” command. Now, delete the line.
2. Type “window” in the command line.
3. Follow the prompt:
Enter mullion width: 50 (enter the mullion width say 50 mm )
Enter mullion length: 2000 (enter mullion length say 2000 mm )
Specify point : (click a point on the screen, a mullion will appear with a dimension )
Enter mullion spacing: 1000 ( say 1000 mm)
(Enter mullion spacing 4 times to draw another 4 transoms. This time you’ll see 4 mullions drawn on screen with dimensions. Then press ESC to stop entering mullion spacing)
Enter transom width : 50 (say 50 mm )
Enter transom spacing: 500 (say 500mm)
(Enter transom spacing 4 times to draw. This time 4 transoms are drawn on screen. Then press ESC to stop entering transom spacing)
Click on windows that will be operable: (click on inside the rectangular window panels that will be operable. Select 3 panels to be operable. To end, press ESC. )

New Superdraftsman’s Autocad Custom Commands: Angle, Isection, Tube, Channel. Use these commands to draw sections fast!

Superdraftsman — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:57:14 +0000

Download superdraftman’s autocad custom commands . To use the plugin, follow the following step : 1. open autocad
2. Type “appload” (no qoutes ) and load superdraftsman_commands.arx you just downloaded 3. Type the commands : “angle” ( no qoutes) to draw angle sections, “tube” to draw tubular sections, “channel” to draw channel sections and “Isections” to draw I or wide flange sections. Just follow the prompt and enter the appropriate dimensions asked.

Welcome to the site that will make you a super autocad user!

Superdraftsman — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:11:35 +0000

This is a blog that draftmen, autocad users, architects and engineers can visit everyday for custom commands that help make drafting easier and faster. You no longer work with lower level primitive commands such as line or curve just to draw figures/objects like angle, i-beam, wide flange sections etc. Just type angle , follow the prompt by entering the thickness and width and you’re angle section will appear on the screen like magic! You do the same thing when you draw wide flange sections, channels, window elevations, screws, bolts, plates, bars, beams, columns and many many more! You can have them for free! You can also request for commands and visit this site on the next day or two to download it .