Why do viewports created using commands in ObjectARX not save to the database?

Question

Summary

I'm trying to write a C# ObjectARX script to create a viewport that fits the extents of the layout using the -VPORTS Fit command, but for some reason the new viewport shows in AutoCAD but is never saved to the output drawing.

Some things I've tried

Using acDoc.SendStringToExecute() instead of acDoc.Editor.Command()
Using -VPORTS instead of ._VIEWPORTS
Running the commands before commiting the transaction
- Caused AutoCAD to freeze and crash. I think I have to commit the new layout before I can make the viewport

Code Snippet

[CommandMethod("CreateViewport")]
public static void CreateViewport()
{
    // Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
    Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
    Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

    try
    {
        Entity acObj = null;

        using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
        {
            // Omitted code for opening block record ...

            // Switch to the previous Paper space layout
            Application.SetSystemVariable("TILEMODE", 0);
            acDoc.Editor.SwitchToPaperSpace();

            // Omitted code for creating a polyline in model space to focus on (acObj) ...
            // Omitted code for creating a new layout ...

            // Save the new objects to the database
            acTrans.Commit();
        }

        // This is the part that shows in AutoCAD but doesn't save
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._VIEWPORTS", "Fit");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._MSPACE");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._ZOOM", "_O", SelectionSet.FromObjectIds(new ObjectId[] { acObj.ObjectId }), "");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._PSPACE");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._ZOOM", "E");

        acCurDb.SaveAs("OutputDrawing.dwg", DwgVersion.AC1027);
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.WriteMessage(ex.ToString());
    }
}

What results are you getting when you test in AcCoreConsole ? — Madhukar Moogala, Jan 22 '21 at 07:37
I may be wrong, but does not all of the `acDoc.Editor.Command` lines need to be in the `Transaction` ? — Jeff, Feb 12 '21 at 05:50

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 08 '21 at 21:58

I have spoken directly with Autodesk on this, and it looks like my issue was the way I was deleting old viewports and creating a new one. They provided the following change to my code with works as intended

[CommandMethod("CreateViewport")]
public static void CreateViewport()
{
    // Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
    Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
    Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;
    try
    {
        Entity acObj = null;
        using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
        {
            // Open the Block table for read
            BlockTable acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;
            // Open the Block table record Model space for write
            BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace], OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;
            // Draw the desired viewport on the default layer
            // Create a circle that is at 2,3 with a radius of 4.25
            Circle acCirc = new Circle();
            acCirc.SetDatabaseDefaults();
            acCirc.Center = new Point3d(2, 3, 0);
            acCirc.Radius = 4.25;
            acObj = acCirc;
            acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acObj);
            acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acObj, true);
            // Set current layer to 0
            acCurDb.Clayer = acObj.LayerId;
            // Switch to the previous Paper space layout
            Application.SetSystemVariable("TILEMODE", 0);
            acDoc.Editor.SwitchToPaperSpace();
            // List Layouts
            DBDictionary layoutDic = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LayoutDictionaryId, OpenMode.ForRead, false) as DBDictionary;
            LayoutManager acLayoutMgr = LayoutManager.Current;
            Layout acLayout = null;
            foreach (DBDictionaryEntry entry in layoutDic)
            {
                ObjectId layoutId = entry.Value;
                Layout currentLayout = acTrans.GetObject(layoutId, OpenMode.ForRead) as Layout;
                if (currentLayout.LayoutName == "Layout1")
                {
                    acLayout = acTrans.GetObject(layoutId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Layout;
                    // Delete any existing view ports
                    ObjectIdCollection acViewports = acLayout.GetViewports();
                    foreach (ObjectId acViewportID in acViewports)
                    {
                        Viewport acVport = acTrans.GetObject(acViewportID, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Viewport;
                        acVport.Erase();
                    }
                    //create a blank viewport, we need at least one viewport
                    var btr = (BlockTableRecord)acTrans.GetObject(acLayout.BlockTableRecordId, OpenMode.ForWrite);
                    var vp = new Viewport();
                    btr.AppendEntity(vp);
                    acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(vp, true);
                    break;
                }
            }
            // If layout wasn't found, make it
            if (acLayout == null)
            {
                ObjectId objID = acLayoutMgr.CreateLayout("Layout1");
                acLayout = acTrans.GetObject(objID, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Layout;
            }

            // Set the layout current if it is not already
            if (acLayout.TabSelected == false)
            {
                acLayoutMgr.CurrentLayout = acLayout.LayoutName;
            }
            PlotSettings acPlSet = new PlotSettings(acLayout.ModelType);
            acPlSet.CopyFrom(acLayout);
            // Update the PlotConfigurationName property of the PlotSettings object
            PlotSettingsValidator acPlSetVdr = PlotSettingsValidator.Current;
            acPlSetVdr.SetPlotConfigurationName(acPlSet, "DWG To PDF.pc3", "ANSI_B_(11.00_x_17.00_Inches)");
            // Zoom to show the whole paper
            acPlSetVdr.SetZoomToPaperOnUpdate(acPlSet, true);
            // Update the layout
            if (!acLayout.IsWriteEnabled)
            {
                acLayout.UpgradeOpen();
            }                    

            acLayout.CopyFrom(acPlSet);
            // Save the new objects to the database
            acTrans.Commit();
        }
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._VIEWPORTS", "Fit");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._MSPACE");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._ZOOM", "_O", SelectionSet.FromObjectIds(new ObjectId[] { acObj.ObjectId }), "");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._PSPACE");
        acDoc.Editor.Command("._ZOOM", "E");
        string dwgPath = @"D:\Work\Cases\8360\OutputDrawing_.dwg";
        dwgPath = dwgPath.Insert(dwgPath.IndexOf(".dwg"), DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmssffff"));
        acCurDb.SaveAs(dwgPath, DwgVersion.AC1032);
    }
    catch (System.Exception ex)
    {
        Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.WriteMessage(ex.ToString());
    }
}

Why do viewports created using commands in ObjectARX not save to the database?

Summary

Some things I've tried

Code Snippet

1 Answers1