How to get an instance of BricsCAD18 by calling Activator.CreateInstance from C#.NET?

Samuel Dicke

We move from BricsCAD16 to 18. Our C#.NET-Application calls BricsCAD16 by Activator.CreateInstance.
internal static object CreateInstanceFromProgId16(string progId) { try { Type objectType = Type.GetTypeFromProgID(progId); return Activator.CreateInstance(objectType, true); } catch (ArgumentNullException) { throw new FileNotFoundException("Missing BricsCAD-Executable"); } }
Using BricsCAD18 the process is started but only the control to select the view is shown. The only workaround I got is using Process.Start and fishing for the instance. Rather a hack than a solution...

internal static object CreateInstanceFromProgId18(string progId) { RegistryKey bricsCadProgId = Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey(progId + "\\CLSID"); RegistryKey bricsCadLocalServer = Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("CLSID\\" + bricsCadProgId.GetValue("") + "\\LocalServer32"); string executablePath = bricsCadLocalServer.GetValue("").ToString().Replace("/Automation", String.Empty).Trim(); var bricsCadProcess = new Process { StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo { FileName = executablePath } }; bricsCadProcess.Start(); object bricsCadInstance = null; for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) { try { bricsCadInstance = GetInstanceFromProgId(progId); break; } catch {} Thread.Sleep(30); } return bricsCadInstance; }
I suppose this is caused by the /Automation Parameter set in the windows registry. Is there a possibility to use the nice old Activator-way?

Mathieu

Better check with the developers with a support ticket: https://www.bricsys.com/en-eu/support/#51

abeltello

here is an example

public static void ConnectToAcad()
{

    AcadApplication acAppComObj = null;
   //The PROGID for BRICSCAD
    const string strProgId = "BricscadApp.AcadApplication";

    // Get a running instance of BRICSCAD
    try
    {
        acAppComObj = (AcadApplication)Marshal.GetActiveObject(strProgId);
    }
    catch // An error occurs if no instance is running
    {
        try
        {
          // Create a new instance of BRICSCAD
          acAppComObj = (AcadApplication)Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(strProgId), true);
        }
        catch
        {
            // If an instance of AutoCAD is not created then message and exit
            System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Instance of 'AutoCAD.Application'" +
                                               " could not be created.");
            return;
        }

        // Display the application and return the name and version
        acAppComObj.Visible = true;
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Now running " + acAppComObj.Name + 
                                           " version " + acAppComObj.Version);

        // Get the active document
        AcadDocument acDocComObj;
        acDocComObj = acAppComObj.ActiveDocument;
    }
 }