Autodesk 00128-051462-9310 User Guide - Page 1790

Setting up required assembly references 6 In order to create an area calculation standard plug-in, the .NET class library created in the previous steps needs to reference the .NET API that AutoCAD Architecture provides. This API is implemented in the AecSpaceOffsetRuleManager.dll assembly which you need to reference in your new project. Adding references to the project 7 If you are working with Microsoft Visual Studio, you can add the assembly reference to AecSpaceOffsetRuleManager.dll to your class library project by right-clicking References in the Solution Explorer of the project, and selecting Add Reference. 8 Navigate to the Browse page on the property sheet and search for the AecSpaceOffsetRuleManager.dll assembly under C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Architecture 2008 (or the path you chose during installation). Referencing the AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD .NET API 9 Add references to the following assemblies of your installation: ■ acdbmgd.dll (AutoCAD .NET API) ■ aecbasemgd.dll (AutoCAD Architecture base classes) ■ aecarchmgd.dll (AutoCAD Architecture objects) These DLLs are found in the same folder as the AecSpaceOffsetRuleManager.dll assembly. 10 Right-click each reference in the Solution Explorer tree under References, and click Properties to verify that the Copy Local reference property is set to False for each of the references. Setting up copying the .dll so that AutoCAD Architecture can reference it AutoCAD Architecture searches for custom area calculation standard assemblies in C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Architecture 2008\Space Calculation Standards, or the path you chose during installation (see "Usage of a New Standard" on page 1761). Each time you compile the .dll you need to restart AutoCAD Architecture in order to load and test it. Do the following to set up copying the .dll to the appropriate folder each time it is compiled: 11 Select the project in the Solution Explorer. 12 Right-click, and click Properties. 13 Click the Build Events tab. 14 On the Post-build event command line, enter the following: @if exist $(TargetPath) @copy $(TargetPath) "C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Architecture 2008\Space Calculation Standards\" @if exist $(TargetDir)$(TargetName).pdb @copy $(TargetDir)$(TargetName).pdb "C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Architecture 2008\Space Calculation Standards\" Creating a Space Standard Class You must define a new class derived from AecSpaceOffsetStandard. This class will be the framework that manages the individual rules and the entry point that AutoCAD Architecture calls into when loading and applying the standard. Adding a new class derived from AecSpaceOffsetStandard 1 If you have created a new project, as described in "Setting up a New Project" on page 1749, the project will include one source file similar to this: using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Text; namespace AecSpaceOffsetStandardBasic { public class Class1 { } 1750 | Chapter 36 Spaces