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AdocScrx - batch process files
Basics
The Script File
The COM Interface
Directory
Clear database button
Scan button
Execute button
The Browse Tab
The Settings Tab
Terminate/Restart hanging
AutoCAD
The Log File
The Inspect AutoCAD button
Version information
FAQ
AdocScrx searches for files and can execute AutoCAD commands
for each file found.
1. Search for files, add files to database
2. Execute Autocad commands
First of all, if everything was working without problems, there
would be no need for the database.
But, since computers tend to do what you tell them to do, not
want you want them to do, we do need the database.
The database makes it possible to restart whatever we were
doing, if something unexpected happened. Beside this, it makes it
possible to see what we are about to do, as well as see what we
have done...
The script file is a series of commands, sent to Autocad, as if
you typed them on the command prompt in Autocad.
Sample:
zoom e
qsave
Simple as that, zoom extents and save.
The script file is a plain text file, saved with the suffix .scr
and will be used by AdocScrx, for each drawing file in the
database.
Tip: To create a new script file from an old, right click, open
a file, then use "Save as" and a new name.
Script files are ancient history, but the work and they have
been around for many years.
One important rule is "If it ain't broken, don't fix
it!"
So, we has "simply" added the new COM or OLE
automation feature in Autocad to AdocScrx!
Any command in the script file starting with a hash symbol -
# - will be interpreted as a COM object or a COM
method. The "dot notation" is used to separate each
object, starting from the Autocad object (called oAcad).
Sample
To create a DWF file from via COM:
#ActiveDocument.Plot.PlotToDevice("xxxxx")
The ActiveX/COM documentation can be found in Autocad's help
files. You can also use the "Inspect AutoCAD" button to
browse the Autocad object directly to see each object, event and
method!
Enter (or browse to) the directory of your choice. If you check
the "Include subdirectories" checkbox, AdocScrx will
iterate through every subdirectory found, searching for files. You
will also have an entry in the log file with the number of files
found in every subdirectory.
Erases every row in the database, use this one to start from
scratch.
Starts searching the directory and subdirectories. All files
found are added to the database and a total will be displayed on
the status bar (lower left).
Subdirectories will be added as well, if the "Include
subdirectories" checkbox is marked.
Loads and starts AutoCAD. Applies all commands specified in the
script file to AutoCAD. The behavior of Autocad is partly
depending on the configuration, see also the Settings tab.
The Browse tab displays the database, and is pretty
straightforward.
You do not have to scan directories for drawings, you can use
Explorer and drag & drop files as well.
If the files dropped on the database has a suffix (dwg, dxf,
etc) specified in the configuration file, then the file will be
added to the database.
Another option is to use a text file, i.e. a file with a .txt
suffix, containing the the full file specification for each file
that should be added, dropping such a text file on the database
will add all found files as specified in the text file (again,
each file must have a suffix as specified in the configuration
file).
Sample text file:
C:\Drawings\123.cal
C:\Drawings\123132.dwg
C:\Drawings\123133.dwg
C:\Drawings\123134.dwg
C:\Drawings\123135.dwg
C:\Drawings\2000.ls.cal
C:\Drawings\200000.bak
C:\Drawings\200000.cal
C:\Drawings\200002-Layout1.cal
C:\Drawings\200002-Model.cal
C:\Drawings\200002.bak
C:\Drawings\200002.cal
C:\Drawings\200002.cls.dwf
C:\Drawings\200002.DWG
C:\Drawings\20000301.bak
C:\Drawings\20000301.DWG
C:\Drawings\20000401.DWG
C:\Drawings\20000601.bak
C:\Drawings\20000601.DWG
C:\Drawings\200007.bak
Simple drop the text file on the database, each line will be
evaluated and valid files are added.
When a drawing file is processed by AutoCAD, it is marked as
"Processed".
You can change any field (like "Processed") if you
like to...
If you would like to use the database for other purposes, see
the FAQ!
You have probably guessed it, this is where the configuration
is done.
Default is to process DWG files.
If you wish to process DXF files, mark the corresponding
checkbox.
If you would like to process other files than DWG or DXF files,
see the FAQ!
This option starts another application, AdocScrx Server Proxy,
which will monitor Autocad and send appropriate commands to
Autocad to let the execution continue. There are a number of -
quite annoying - dialogs, which are displayed when AutoCAD loads
some drawings.
Version 1.6 of AdocScrx Server Proxy will handle following
"issues":
Genius
AutoCAD Message
AutoCAD Alert
AutoCAD Error Aborting
acad.exe - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
AutoCAD Error-abort
Error Report Cancelled
AutoCAD Mechanical Error Report
AutoCAD Application
New Xref Path
Unsupported Operation
Proxy Information
The log file is called
LogFile.txt and shows the
number of files found in each and every subdirectory found.
Logfile created 20060901.
Checking directory: C:\Drawings\*.dwg Number of files: 4
Checking subdirectory: C:\Drawings\Docs\*.dwg Number of files: 1
This button loads and starts AutoCAD as a child object.
The function can be used to inspect AutoCAD's Properties, Events
and Methods:
Sometimes, it is difficult to remember each and every command,
and this might be easier than to look in the documentation....
Sample:
Open a drawing in AutoCAD (Here C:\Drawings\22020.dwg).
Double-click the property "ActiveDocument":
Double-click the property "Plot":
Click on the "Methods" Tab:
So, the method for PlotToDevice is apparently
ActiveDocument.Plot.PlotToDevice(<with some arguments>)
To find more info, look in the documentation in Autocad:
Help | Additional Resources | Developer Help
then search for "PlotToDevice"
There we see that the "argument" is the plot
configuration (could have guessed that, right?)
So, to make a default plot to a DWF file, the command would be:
ActiveDocument.Plot.PlotToDevice("DWF6 ePlot.pc3")
The corresponding script file would look like this:
_z _e
#ActiveDocument.Plot.PlotToDevice("DWF6 ePlot.pc3")
Instead of the "traditional" "Zoom,
Extents" at line #1, we could have used a OLE
command....
S line #1 zooms extents and line #2 publishes the drawing as a DWF
file.
Simple as that....
Version information can be found in the "About..."
dialog, accessible from the menu.
AdocScrx operates in SDI (single document mode) internally.
Some erroneous drawing files seems to hang AutoCAD 2006 if
the system variable ERRORREPORT has been set to 0!
AdocScrx does not send log files, problems are only added to
the log file, LogFile.txt.
Q1. Can I use AdocScrx to scan my disk for other files than
AutoCAD related drawing files? If so, how?
A1. Yes. Edit the configuration files, AdocScrx.ini. Locate
Section [Misc], and the line SuffixList. Add the suffix you want
to include (AdocScrx defaults to "dwg" files, so if you
do not have the line SuffixList, AdocScrx will look for dwg
files...)
[Misc]
SuffixList=dxf,dwg,
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Q2. Can I use the database for other purposes? What fields and
data does AdocScrx store?
A2. Yes, why not? The structure is:
Table type DBASE, Version 7
| Field |
Field Name |
Type |
Length |
Dec |
Index |
| 1 |
Processed |
LOGICAL |
1 |
|
N |
| 2 |
FileName |
CHARACTER |
40 |
|
Y |
| 3 |
Path |
CHARACTER |
250 |
|
N |
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©
Mora Teknikutveckling AB 2006-2010
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