Step-by-step review: a single MultiCAD.NET application in nanoCAD, AutoCAD, ZWCAD

One of the important features of applications written on the MultiCAD.NET API is their cross-CAD platform. Simply put, applications written once can work in any of the supported CAD systems without recompilation.

MultiCAD.NET is the “native” API for nanoCAD, applications can be loaded using the standard APPLOAD or NETLOAD commands. In AutoCAD or ZWCAD, you must first download the MultiCAD Object Enabler, then MultiCAD.NET applications are loaded with the NETLOAD command.

Under the cat, a step-by-step guide in which we will demonstrate the process of loading a MultiCAD.NET application into nanoCAD, AutoCAD and ZWCAD, create a drawing with it and edit it in all three systems.

Download MultiCAD.NET application in nanoCAD

We begin our review by creating an example drawing in nanoCAD, the native platform for MultiCAD.NET applications. For experiments, both free nanoCAD 5.0 ​​and paid nanoCAD Plus 6.0 in demo mode are suitable, both versions are available for download at nanocad.ru . As an example, we will work with an application that creates custom TextInBox primitives that are already familiar from previous articles.

1. Download and unzip the TextInBoxSample_RU.zip archive containing the compiled example assembly to your hard drive .
2. Make sure that after unpacking the TextInBoxSample.dll file is unlocked for reading (right-click on the file -> Properties -> General -> Unlock)
3. Load TextInBoxSample.dll into nanoCAD in the standard way using the NETLOAD or APPLOAD commands.
4. Create a new drawing.
5. Run the TextInBox command and create a new TextInBox primitive.
6. Save the drawing in a file named TextInBox.dwg.

Download MultiCAD.NET application in AutoCAD

Now open the saved file in AutoCAD 2010-2014 (32- or 64-bit version) and edit the drawing. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Download and unzip the MultiCAD_Enabler_1603_RU.zip archive with the MultiCAD Object Enablers set.
2. Using the APPLOAD command, load the ALoader.arx application file (enabler for AutoCAD) from the appropriate subdirectory:
   
   • mg9 / mg9x64 (for AutoCAD 2010-2012),
   • mg10 / mg10x64 (for AutoCAD 2012-2014).
   
   
3. Use the NETLOAD command to load the sample assembly. Please note that this is the same .dll file that is downloaded on all supported platforms: nanoCAD, AutoCAD or ZWCAD, regardless of the version bitness.
4. Open the TextInBox.dwg file.
5. Select the primitive and change its text string in the object properties window:
   
6. Move and resize the object using the handles.
7. Save the drawing.

Download MultiCAD.NET application in ZWCAD

Now we will continue to edit the drawing, uploading it to ZWCAD 2014, build 2014.06.25 (24082).

1. APPLOAD ZLoader.arx (enabler for ZWCAD) from the mg10 subdirectory.
2. NETLOAD TextInBoxSample.dll.
3. Open the TextInBox.dwg file.
4. Run the TextInBox command and create another TextInBox primitive.
5. Select a new primitive and change its text in the object properties window:
   
6. Save the drawing.

And again nanoCAD

Back to nanoCAD. This time we will use the 64-bit version - nanoCAD x64 Plus 6.

1. Run nanoCAD x64 Plus 6 in demo mode and use the NETLOAD command to download the sample assembly TextInBoxSample.dll.
2. Open our drawing file TextInBox.dwg and edit the objects as you like.
3. Run the TextInBoxEdit command, select the primitives, and verify that the values ​​of all text components have changed. Actually, this command in the example will change the text to “New text”, but in the illustration we will show objects with a more beautiful text line:
   

Thus, MultiCAD.NET applications work in all supported CAD systems, and drawings created with their help can be opened, edited and saved in any of these programs without loss of functionality.

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Article translation into English: MultiCAD Enabler for AutoCAD and ZWCAD