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CAD and programming?

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  • 10-12-2007 8:47pm
    #1
    dulpit
    Registered Users Posts: 11,039 ✭✭✭✭


    Hey, quick question.

    I know nothing (at all) about CAD systems, but i was wondering if it's possible to save a simple 2D drawing in CAD, and extract information from this plan (length, breadth, etc.) into a programming language like java or C#?

    Any tips?


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    #2
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    No idea. Maybe this would help?
    http://www.tenlinks.com/CAD/users/AutoCAD/vba.htm


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    #3
    Ella_Guru
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭Ella_Guru


    Yes. Autocad is highly flexible in this regard. I work as a chemical engineer and everything we do stems from P&IDs, these are all drafted in Autocad 2006.

    We are currently developing a system that can extract line details, equipment details, tie-in detials and it also interfaces with Bentleys Autoplant 3-d model. I also hope to develop some stress software that will interface with all this.

    The way we work is by using extended entities in autocad. Things like lines, valves etc.... they can all have properties assigned to them, which can then be extracted. More or less anything you can imagine can be assigned.

    The database was developed using SQL server and VB 6, From chatting to the programmer who developed it he said that Autodesks own help files are probably the best resource.

    If you've any queries let me know.


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    #4
    NeverSayDie
    Registered Users Posts: 515 ✭✭✭NeverSayDie


    On a broader note, different CAD systems will use their own file/drawing formats, so it depends on which one you're targeting. AutoCAD's .dwg file format seems to be a popular and fairly widely supported format for interchanging drawing files, so that might be a good one to aim for if you want to support various different CAD systems.

    Never tried it myself, but these links might be useful:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.dwg
    http://opendesign.com/


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    #5
    spadder
    Closed Accounts Posts: 985 ✭✭✭spadder


    Im not sure if this is any good to you, but I have been playing with the trial version of this:

    http://www.alibre.com/

    I have no experience with cad, but I tried the first few "lessons" and found it good for hobby use.


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    #6
    dulpit
    Registered Users Posts: 11,039 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    Cheers all... I am currently in the middle of exams, but will have a look at end of week, see how i get on...

    I'll let ye know...


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