VBA to VB.NET and C# Comparison

The following table compares VBA functions with the similar VB.NET and C# functions and operators. The ActiveX library is indicated by “AutoCAD.Application” and the .NET Managed library equivalents are indicated by “Autodesk.AutoCAD” and the VB.NET or C# equivalents are listed as a function or operator.

Math Functions
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
+ (addition operator)	+ (addition operator)
- (subtraction operator)	- (subtraction operator)
* (multiplication operator)	* (multiplication operator)
/ (division operator)	/ (division operator)
^ (exponentiation operator)	^ (exponentiation operator)
Abs function	System.Math.Abs function
Atn function	System.Math.Atan function
Cos function	System.Math.Cos function
Exp function	System.Math.Exp function
Log function	System.Math.Log function
Max function	System.Math.Max function
Min function	System.Math.Min function
Mod function	VB.NET Mod function C# % (operator) VB.NET and C# System.Math.DivRem function
Sin function	System.Math.Sin function
Sqr function	System.Math.Sqrt function

Conditional and Loop Statements
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
Do Until… Loop statement	VB.NET Do Until... Loop statement C# Use do... while statement
Do While… Loop statement	VB.NET Do While... Loop statement C# do... while statement
For Each...Next statement	VB.NET For Each...Next statement C# Foreach and For statements
If… Then… Else...End If statement	VB.NET If… Then… Else...End If statement C# if... else... statement
Select Case statement	VB.NET Select Case statement C# Switch statement
While… Wend statement	VB.NET While... Wend statement C# while... statement

Logic Statements
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
= (equal to comparison operator)	VB.NET = (equal to comparison operator) C# == (equal to comparison operator)
<> (not equal to comparison operator)	VB.NET <> (not equal to comparison operator) C# != (not equal to comparison operator)
< (less than comparison operator)	< (less than comparison operator)
<= (less than or equal to comparison operator)	<= (less than or equal to comparison operator)
> (greater than comparison operator)	> (greater than comparison operator)
>= (greater than or equal to comparison operator)	>= (greater than or equal to comparison operator)
And function	VB.NET And operator C# && operator
Eqv operator	Not provided, use other bitwise comparison methods instead
Imp operator	Not provided, use = comparison instead
Is operator	VB.NET object Is object C# object is object
IsArray function	VB.NET IsArray function or TypeOf arrayName Is Array comparison C# typeof(arrayName) == Array comparison VB.NET and C# varName.GetType().IsArray
IsNull function	VB.NET IsDBNull function C# Use == null comparison
Like operator	VB.NET Like operator VB.NET and C# stringVariable.Contains function
Not operator	VB.NET Not operator C# != (not equal to comparison operator)
Or function	VB.NET Or function C# \|\| operator

Data Conversion Functions
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
Asc function	VB.NET Asc function C# (int)’letter’
AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument. Utility.AngleToReal method	Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Converter. StringToAngle method
AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument. Utility.AngleToString method	Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Converter. AngleToString method
AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument. Utility.RealToString method	Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.Converter. DistanceToString function
CDbl Function	VB.NET CDbl function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToDouble function
Chr function	VB.NET Chr function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToChar
CInt Function	VB.NET CInt function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToInt16, System.Convert.ToInt32, or System.Convert.ToInt64 function
Fix function	VB.NET Fix function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToInt16, System.Convert.ToInt32, or System.Convert.ToInt64 function
Int function	VB.NET Int function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToInt16, System.Convert.ToInt32, or System.Convert.ToInt64 function
Str function	VB.NET Str function VB.NET and C# System.Convert.ToString function
StrConv function	VB.NET StrConv function VB.NET and C# System.Text.Encoding.Convert function

Basic String Manipulation Functions
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
& operator (concatenate string)	VB.NET & or + operator C# + operator
Len function	VB.NET Len function VB.NET and C# stringVariable.Length property
Mid function	VB.NET Mid function VB.NET and C# stringVariable.Substring function

Get Input from the AutoCAD Command Prompt Functions

ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6

VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetAngle method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetAngle function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetCorner method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetCorner function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetDistance method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetDistance function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetEntity method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetEntity function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetInteger method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetInteger function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetKeyword method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetKeyword function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetOrientation method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetAngle function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetPoint method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetPoint function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetReal method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetDouble function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.GetString method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetString function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.InitializeUserInput

Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.

PromptKeywordOptions

Basic AutoCAD Application and Drawing Functions

ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6

VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.AngleFromXAxis method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry.Point2d(point1).

GetVectorTo(point2).Angle property

AutoCAD.Application.ListARX method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.SystemObjects.

DynamicLinker.GetLoadedModules function

AutoCAD.Application.LoadARX method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.SystemObjects.

DynamicLinker.LoadModule method

AutoCAD.Application.UnloadARX method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime.SystemObjects.

DynamicLinker.UnloadModule method

AutoCAD.Application.

Documents.Close method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.

CloseAndDiscard method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.

CloseAndSave method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SendCommand method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.

SendStringToExecute method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Dictionaries.Add method

VB.NET: dictionaryObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.

NamedObjectsDictionaryId, openMode)

dictionaryObj.SetAt function
C#: dictionaryObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.

NamedObjectsDictionaryId, openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.

DBDictionary;

dictionaryObj.SetAt function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Dictionaries.Item method

VB.NET: dictionaryObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.

NamedObjectsDictionaryId, openMode)

dictionaryObj.GetAt function
C#: dictionaryObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.

NamedObjectsDictionaryId, openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.

DBDictionary;

dictionaryObj.GetAt function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ModelSpace property

VB.NET: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj(BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace), openMode)
C#: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTable;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj[BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace], openMode) as

Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.

BlockTableRecord;

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ModelSpace.Item method

VB.NET: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj(BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace), openMode)

dbObj = blockTableRecordObj(index)
C#: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTable;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj[BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace], openMode) as

Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.

BlockTableRecord;

foreach(objecId in blockTableRecordObj)

{

objObject = transactionObj.GetObject(objecId);

}

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ModelSpace.Count property

VB.NET: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj(BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace), openMode)

Dim nCount As Integer = 0

For Each objectId In blockTableRecordObj

nCount = nCount + 1

Next
C#: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId,

openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTable;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj[BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace], openMode) as Autodesk.

AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockTableRecord;

int cnt = 0;

foreach(objectId in blockTableRecordObj)

{

cnt = cnt + 1;

}

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ModelSpace.Add<entityname> method

VB.NET: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj(BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace), openMode)

blockTableRecordObj.AppendEntity(someEntity)

transactionObj.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(someEntity, True)
C#: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId,

openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTable;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj[BlockTableRecord.

ModelSpace], openMode) as Autodesk.

AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.BlockTableRecord;

blockTableRecordObj.AppendEntity(someEntity);

transactionObj.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(someEntity, true);

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ActiveSpace property

VB.NET: blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.CurrentSpaceId, openMode)
C#: blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.CurrentSpaceId,

openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTableRecord;

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

PaperSpace property

VB.NET: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj(BlockTableRecord.

PaperSpace), openMode)
C#: blockTableObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(workingDatabaseObj.BlockTableId, openMode) as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTable;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(blockTableObj[BlockTableRecord.

PaperSpace], openMode) as

Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.

BlockTableRecord;

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

ActiveLayout property

VB.NET: layoutObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(layoutManagerObj.

GetLayoutId(layoutManagerObj.

CurrentLayout), openMode)

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(layoutObj.BlockTableRecordId, openMode)
C#: layoutObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(layoutManagerObj.

GetLayoutId(layoutManagerObj.

CurrentLayout), openMode)

as Autodesk.AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.Layout;

blockTableRecordObj = transactionObj.

GetObject(layoutObj.BlockTableRecordId,

openMode) as Autodesk. AutoCAD.

DatabaseServices.BlockTableRecord;

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

PurgeAll method

HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase.

Purge method

AutoCAD.Application.GetVariable method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

GetSystemVariable function

AutoCAD.Application.MenuBar property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

MenuBar property

AutoCAD.Application.MenuGroup property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

MenuGroups property

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

PickfirstSelectionSet property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

SelectImplied function

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.PolarPoint method

Not provided, use the Point2d and Point3d classes from the Geometry namespace to calculate a new point

AutoCAD.Application.

Preferences property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

Preferences property

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.Prompt method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

WriteMessage method

AutoCAD.Application.Quit method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

Quit method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.Add method

Not needed/provided

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.SelectionSet.Item method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.SelectionSet.

selectionSet.Item(object) method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.SelectionSet.Delete method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.SelectionSet.

selectionSet.Item(object).Delete method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.SelectionSet.SelectOnScreen method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

GetSelection method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.SelectionSet.Count property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.SelectionSet.

selectionSet.Count property

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

SelectionSets.SelectionSet.SelectAtPoint method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument.Editor.

SelectCrossingWindow method

AutoCAD.Application.SetVariable method

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

SetSystemVariable method

AutoCAD.Application.ActiveDocument.

Utility.TranslateCoordinates method

Not provided, use the Matrix3d class from the Geometry namespace to translate points between different coordinate systems

AutoCAD.Application.Version property

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

Version property

ThisDrawing

Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.

DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument property

and

HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase property

Basic VBA and Visual Basic 6 Functions and Statements
ActiveX, VBA, or Visual Basic 6	VB.NET and C# equivalent (same unless noted)
AppActivate AutoCAD.Application.Caption function	VB.NET AppActivate Autodesk.AutoCAD. ApplicationServices.Application. MainWindow.Text VB.NET and C# Use the Win32 Calls ShowWindow and SetWindowPos
Dir function	System.IO.Directory.Exists function
Error object/method/properties	VB.NET Error object/method/properties VB.NET and C# Try Catch statement with exception handling
Function and End Function keywords	VB.NET Function and End Function keywords and use Return to return a value C# Define a procedure and use return to return a value
Input function	VB.NET Input method VB.NET and C# fileStream.Read method
LBound(arrayName) function	VB.NET LBound(arrayName) function VB.NET and C# arrayName.GetLowerBound function
Line Input function	VB.NET LineInput method VB.NET and C# fileStream.Read method
MsgBox function	MessageBox.Show method
object(n) syntax	VB.NET object(n) syntax C# object[n] syntax
Open function	System.IO.File.Open function
ReDim statement	VB.NET ReDim arrayName(newSize) VB.NET and C# arrayName.Resize
Set statement	Not needed/provided
Shell function	VB.NET Shell function VB.NET and C# System.Diagnostics.Process.Start function
Sub and End Sub keywords	VB.NET Sub and End Sub keywords C# Define a procedure
TypeName function	VB.NET TypeName function VB.NET and C# varName.GetType().Name or varName.GetType().FullName functions
UBound(arrayName) function	VB.NET UBound(arrayName) function VB.NET and C# arrayName.GetUpperBound function