A library that aims to simplify AutoCAD .NET plugin code. Available for AutoCAD 2015 and later.

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Linq2Acad-2024 is now available on NuGet.

Linq2Acad is a library that aims to simplify AutoCAD .NET plugin code. It should be a more intuitive API for working with the drawing database, making the learning curve for beginners less steep.

using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  var layerNames = db.Layers.Select(l => l.Name);
  MessageBox.Show(string.Join(", ", layerNames));
}

using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  foreach (var br in db.ModelSpace
                       .OfType<BlockReference>()
                       .UpgradeOpen())
  {
    br.Erase();
  }
}

using (var sourceDb = AcadDatabase.OpenReadOnly(@"C:\Blocks\Shapes.dwg"))
using (var targetDb = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  var block = sourceDb.Blocks.Element("TRIANGLE");
  targetDb.Blocks.Import(block);
}

var entityId = GetEntity("Pick an Entity");
var key = GetString("Enter key");
var str = GetString("Enter string to save");

// We first write the data (it is stored in the Entity's extension data)
using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  db.CurrentSpace
    .Element(entityId)
    .SaveData(key, str);

  WriteMessage($"Key-value-pair {key}:{str} saved on Entity");
}

// Then we read it back
using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  var str = db.CurrentSpace
              .Element(entityId)
              .GetData<string>(key);

  WriteMessage($"String {str} read from Entity");
}

using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  db.SummaryInfo.Author = "John Doe";
  db.SummaryInfo.CustomProperties["CustomData1"] = "42";
}

using (var db = AcadDatabase.Active())
{
  foreach (var xRef in db.XRefs
                         .Where(xr => xr.IsLoaded))
  {
    xRef.Reload();
  }
}

More code samples (in C# and VB.NET) can be found here.

Linq2Acad is available on NuGet. There is a dedicated Linq2Acad package for each AutoCAD version. Simply add the package for your AutoCAD version to your C#/VB project in Visual Studio. Available packages:

1. Remove your existing Linq2Acad project completely from your existing Visual Studio solution (You should see a lot of red squiggly lines)
2. Install the NuGet Package

(If you add NuGet while already having a Linq2Acad project there, and THEN you subsequently remove the latter project - you might have a lot of problems)

The best entry point into the API documentation is the class AcadDatabase. An overview of all classes can be found here.

This blog series discusses:

• the original problem this library seeks to solve,
• the design / implementation decisions involved in deriving the API.

We would love for you to contribute to Linq2Acad and help to make the life of AutoCAD plugin developers easier. We welcome ideas, suggestions and discussions to push the development forward. Implementation of bugfixes or new features are also always welcome. For details see the contributing guidelines.

Linq2Acad is licended unter the MIT License (MIT).