Create Point Objects

Point objects can be useful, for example, as node or reference points that you can snap to and offset objects from. You can set the style of the point and its size relative to the screen or in absolute units.

The Pdmode and Pdsize properties of the Database object control the appearance of Point objects. A value of 0, 2, 3, and 4 for Pdmode specify a figure to draw through the point. A value of 1 selects nothing to be displayed.

Adding 32, 64, or 96 to the previous value selects a shape to draw around the point in addition to the figure drawn through it:

Pdsize controls the size of the point figures, except for when Pdmode is 0 and 1. A 0 setting generates the point at 5 percent of the graphics area height. Setting Pdsize to a positive value specifies an absolute size for the point figures. A negative value is interpreted as a percentage of the viewport size. The size of all points is recalculated when the drawing is regenerated.

After you change Pdmode and Pdsize, the appearance of existing points changes the next time the drawing is regenerated.

Create a Point object and change its appearance

The following example creates a Point object in Model space at the coordinate (5, 5, 0). The Pdmode and Pdsize properties are then updated.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry

<CommandMethod("AddPointAndSetPointStyle")> _

Public Sub AddPointAndSetPointStyle()

  '' Get the current document and database

  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

  Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database

  '' Start a transaction

  Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

      '' Open the Block table for read

      Dim acBlkTbl As BlockTable

      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead)

      '' Open the Block table record Model space for write

      Dim acBlkTblRec As BlockTableRecord

      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), _

                                      OpenMode.ForWrite)

      '' Create a point at (4, 3, 0) in Model space

      Dim acPoint As DBPoint = New DBPoint(New Point3d(4, 3, 0))

      '' Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction

      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acPoint)

      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acPoint, True)

      '' Set the style for all point objects in the drawing

      acCurDb.Pdmode = 34

      acCurDb.Pdsize = 1

      '' Save the new object to the database

      acTrans.Commit()

  End Using

End Sub

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;

[CommandMethod("AddPointAndSetPointStyle")]

public static void AddPointAndSetPointStyle()

  // Get the current document and database

  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

  Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

  // Start a transaction

  using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

      // Open the Block table for read

      BlockTable acBlkTbl;

      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId,

                                   OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;

      // Open the Block table record Model space for write

      BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec;

      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],

                                      OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;

      // Create a point at (4, 3, 0) in Model space

      DBPoint acPoint = new DBPoint(new Point3d(4, 3, 0));

      // Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction

      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acPoint);

      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acPoint, true);

      // Set the style for all point objects in the drawing

      acCurDb.Pdmode = 34;

      acCurDb.Pdsize = 1;

      // Save the new object to the database

      acTrans.Commit();

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference