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AutoCAD® software provides a flexible development platform for specialized design and drafting applications. Its open architecture enables you to customize AutoCAD to suit your unique purposes. Examples of customizations include Autodesk’s industry-specific design software and thousands of add-on applications from members of the Autodesk® Developer Network. AutoCAD provides the ObjectARX® programming environment with the object-oriented C++ programming interfaces, the managed AutoCAD .NET API, the complete Visual LISP® development environment and the ActiveX® interface.
This is a self-paced tutorial guide for a smooth introduction into the programming world. This is a "one-stop shop" learning path for users who know Autodesk products but are absolutely new to programming and are thinking about taking the plunge.
Get news, expert tips and insider resources directly from Autodesk software engineers
Take part in active API discussion forums moderated by Autodesk software engineers. AutoCAD has several customization forums with useful software development information in AutoCAD customization discussion groups.
Easily extend the power of AutoCAD using apps created for the end user community.
Get easy access to Forge APIs and documentation, tutorials, GitHub samples, support and more for Autodesk cloud-based software and components in your own web and mobile applications.
Visit DevTV section of AutoCAD DevBlog for self-paced video tutorials on AutoCAD customization.
The self-paced ObjectARX training labs for AutoCAD.
ObjectARX 2022 Training
ObjectARX 2021 Training
ObjectARX 2020 Training
ObjectARX 2019 Training
ObjectARX 2018 Training
ObjectARX 2017 Training
ObjectARX Training for Previous Releases
The self-paced AutoCAD.NET training labs for AutoCAD.
AutoCAD 2022 .NET Training
AutoCAD 2021 .NET Training
AutoCAD 2020 .NET Training
AutoCAD 2019 .NET Training
AutoCAD 2018 .NET Training
AutoCAD 2017 .NET Training
AutoCAD .NET Training for Previous Releases
The AutoCAD developer documentation explains the components that make up the available APIs for AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based products.
The DXF™ Reference provides information on the DXF file format, and the group codes that can be used by a custom application to create and modify objects.
The components of the AutoLISP documentation are part of the product Help.
Developer's Guides:
Reference Guides:
The ObjectARX documentation is installed as part of the ObjectARX SDK and available as part of the product Help.
Developer's Guides:
Reference Guides:
The ActiveX documentation is installed with the program and is organized into two guides:
Developer's Guides:
Reference Guides:
The ActiveX API documentation can also be found locally in these folders:
The Sheet Set object allows you to create and manipulate the information stored in a sheet set (DST) file. The documentation related to this API is part of the product help.
The components of the Managed .NET documentation are installed as part of the ObjectARX SDK and available as part of the product Help. Starting with AutoCAD 2018, the .NET Developer’s and Reference guides are available online and as part of the ObjectARX SDK. In earlier releases, the . NET Developer's Guide was available in the AutoCAD Help system only and the. NET Reference Guide was only available as part of the ObjectARX SDK.
Developer's Guides:
Reference Guides:
A CHM version of the AutoCAD 2017 Managed .NET Developer’s Guide can be downloaded and copied into the Docs folder of the ObjectARX SDK.
The Managed .NET Reference Guide can also be integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio.
Member and parameter descriptions from the Managed .NET Reference Guide can be displayed within the Microsoft Visual Studio environment as part of the Intellisense feature set. This allows for some basic information about a member or parameter to be displayed in a tooltip while working in a code editor window or to be accessed from the Object Browser without the need to open the Help Viewer.
Download the appropriate file below and extract the XML files into the Inc folder of the ObjectARX SDK.
The Connectivity Automation object allows you to connect, link to, and query databases in the same way that the dbConnect Manager does. The documentation related to this API is part of the product help.
The Transmittal object allows you to determine the dependencies a drawing file has and automate tasks related to the ETRANSMIT and ARCHIVE commands. The documentation related to this API is part of the product help.
The CAD Standards Plug-in object allows you to determine create a custom plug-in that can be used with the Batch Standards Checker or STANDARDS command. The documentation related to this API is part of the product help.
ObjectARX Wizards and AutoCAD .NET Wizards for AutoCAD and Visual Studio