Copy Block from another drawing without running another instance of AutoCAD. [.NET]

[Kevin Malone]

I'm trying to create a custom plugin for AutoCAD C3D that will help me in some of my daily routines. I'm ok in C#, so I have chosen .NET API. 

 

My idea was to have template dwg with all my styles, blocks, linetypes, layers and others, and when I need some of them  to simply copy them into my active document. I have created a function to copy block by name from my template dwg and it works, but I don't like that it opens this template drawing (I know I can close it programmatically). I used Application.DocumentManager.Open() and Database..ReadDwgFile(), and in both cases it opens dwg. Is it possible to get objects from another drawing database silently, and then copy them to active document?

[BIGAL]

Have a look at Lee-mac.com,  Steal.lsp can be program driven so can do just that steal a block, and much more. Just load in your code then use the program option.

 

It is like 2 lines of code. 

 

 

[Kevin Malone]

Yes, I know. I've been looking at it before posting here, it's my plan B. However, I wanted to do achieve this by using .NET

[SLW210]

Did you look at this from Kean Walmsley? Import blocks from an external DWG file using .NET - Through the Interface (typepad.com)

[Danielm103]

Database.ReadDwgFile() is correct, you should to construct a new database buildDefaultDrawing = false, noDocument = true before reading the file

Then you can use wblock or wblock clone into to current document’s database...  as the link SLW210 shows

[Kevin Malone]

SLW210, Danielm103

 

Thank you both for your answers, that's it. I have looked at this example and somehow overlooked these two parameters.