objectarx-training/ObjectARX-Beginner-Tutorial.html at main · ADN-DevTech/objectarx-training · GitHub

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  <div class="brand">ObjectARX for Beginners</div>
  <div class="sub">AutoCAD 2027 · Visual Studio 2026</div>
  <input type="search" id="toc-search" placeholder="Search steps…">
  <a href="#intro">Introduction</a>
  <a href="#setup">Getting Set Up — Downloads</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 1 — From Scratch</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-project">1. Create the project</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-compiler">2. Compiler settings</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-linker">3. Linker settings</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-code">4. Add the code</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-def">5. The .def file</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l1-run">6. Build &amp; run</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson1_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 2 — With Claude Code</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-claude">1. What is Claude Code</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-skill">2. Get the wizard skill</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-create">3. Scaffold the project</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-more">4. What the skill adds</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-addons">5. Add-on class wizards</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l2-run">6. Build &amp; run</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 3 — Input &amp; Selection</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l3-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l3-add">1. Add the two commands</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l3-input">2. The MYINPUT command</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l3-select">3. The MYSELECT command</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l3-run">4. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson3_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 4 — Symbol Tables</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l4-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l4-project">1. Template project (skill)</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l4-utils">2. Utility functions</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l4-cmds">3. CREATE &amp; SETLAYER</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l4-run">4. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson4_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 5 — Dictionaries &amp; Xrecords</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l5-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l5-project">1. Template project (skill)</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l5-cmds">2. The three commands</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l5-run">3. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson5_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 6 — Custom Objects</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson6_Template.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Starter template</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-dbxproj">1. Create the DBX project</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-class">2. The custom object class</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-members">3. Members &amp; accessors</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-register">4. Register &amp; build the DBX</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-cmds">5. The ARX commands</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-load">6. Load the DBX</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l6-run">7. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson6_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 7 — Custom Entities</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-dbxproj">1. Create the DBX project</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-class">2. The custom entity class</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-members">3. Members &amp; accessors</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-worlddraw">4. worldDraw() &amp; the constructor</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-register">5. Register &amp; build the DBX</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-cmds">6. The CREATEEMPLOYEE command</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-load">7. Load the DBX</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l7-run">8. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson7_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group">Lesson 8 — Transient Reactors</div>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-intro">Overview</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson8_Template.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Starter template</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-docdata">1. Project &amp; document data</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-edreactor">2. The editor reactor</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-objreactor">3. The object reactor</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-utility">4. Attach/detach utilities</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-dbreactor">5. The database reactor</a>
  <a class="child" href="#l8-run">6. Build &amp; test</a>
  <a class="dl" href="Solutions/Lesson8_Solved.zip" download><span class="dl-icon">⬇</span>Solved project</a>

  <div class="group-end"></div>
  <a href="#trouble" style="margin-top:14px;">Troubleshooting</a>
  <a href="#feedback">Feedback</a>
</nav>

<main>

<!-- ============ INTRODUCTION ============ -->
<section id="intro">
<div class="band">
  <div class="kicker">ObjectARX Training</div>
  <h1>Introduction</h1>
</div>

<p>Welcome! This tutorial teaches you how to write your first <strong>ObjectARX</strong> plug-in for
AutoCAD — twice.</p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">What is ObjectARX?</span> It is the C++ toolkit (SDK) for building programs that
run <em>inside</em> AutoCAD. A finished plug-in is an <code>.arx</code> file — really a Windows DLL with a
different extension. AutoCAD loads it, and your code can add commands, draw objects, and react to
what the user does.</p>
</div>

<p>You'll do the same small task two ways, so you understand both the <em>fundamentals</em> and the
<em>fast path</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Lesson 1 — From scratch.</strong> You set up an empty C++ project by hand and wire up every
setting yourself. This is slower, but it shows you exactly what an ObjectARX project <em>is</em>.</li>
<li><strong>Lesson 2 — With Claude Code.</strong> You use an AI assistant and a ready-made "wizard skill"
to generate the same kind of project in seconds — then focus on your code instead of the plumbing.</li>
</ul>

<p>Both lessons end the same way: you type a command in AutoCAD and see a message appear. Start by
installing the tools.</p>
</section>

<!-- ============ SETUP / DOWNLOADS ============ -->
<section id="setup">
<div class="band">
  <div class="kicker">Before you begin</div>
  <h1>Getting Set Up — What to Download</h1>
</div>

<p>You need three things installed. Install them in this order.</p>

<h3>1. AutoCAD 2027</h3>
<p>The host program your plug-in runs inside. Download and install it from your Autodesk account
(<a href="https://manage.autodesk.com">manage.autodesk.com</a>), or get a free version through the
<a href="https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview">Autodesk Education</a> program if you
are a student or educator. AutoCAD is <strong>64-bit only</strong> — there has been no 32-bit AutoCAD
since 2020.</p>

<h3>2. The ObjectARX 2027 SDK</h3>
<p>This is the free package of C++ header files (<code>.h</code>) and libraries (<code>.lib</code>) you
build against. Get it from the Autodesk Platform Services developer page for AutoCAD:
<a href="https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/autocad">aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/autocad</a>.
Go to the APIs section and click on the <a href="https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/objectarx-autocad-sdk">ObjectARX SDK</a> hyperlink,
click on "View license agreement" and proceed with further steps. Unzip it to a simple path with no spaces, for example <code>C:\ObjectARX 2027\</code>.
Remember this
location — you'll point Visual Studio at it.</p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Tip.</span> Inside the SDK you'll mainly use two folders: <code>inc</code> (and
<code>inc-x64</code>) for headers, and <code>lib-x64</code> for libraries.</p>
</div>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Optional.</span>  Want to take your customizations further?
  If you build specialized tools, plugins, or integrations, consider joining the
  Autodesk Developer Network (ADN):
<a href="https://aps.autodesk.com/adn">aps.autodesk.com/adn</a>
  to get access to direct developer support, training resources and beta releases.</p>
</div>

<h3>3. Visual Studio 2026</h3>
<p>The editor and C++ compiler (the "IDE"). The free
<a href="https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/">Community edition</a> is fine.</p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Recommended.</span> Import <a href="acad.vs2026.vsconfig" download>acad.vs2026.vsconfig</a>
so the installer selects the exact workloads this tutorial needs in one step, instead of hunting through the
component tree by hand. It covers Desktop C++ plus <strong>ATL</strong> and <strong>MFC</strong> —
components later lessons (custom objects/entities, dialogs) need but that ticking only "Desktop development
with C++" would miss. In the Visual Studio Installer, choose <strong>More → Import configuration</strong>
and point it at the file, or from the command line:
<code>vs_installer.exe --config acad.vs2026.vsconfig</code>.</p>
</div>

<p>If you'd rather select components by hand: during installation, tick the
<strong>"Desktop development with C++"</strong> workload — that's the part that gives you the C++ compiler
ObjectARX needs — then also check the <strong>C++ ATL</strong> and <strong>C++ MFC</strong> optional
components, since later lessons require them.</p>

<table>
<thead><tr><th>Tool</th><th>Why you need it</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>AutoCAD 2027 (64-bit)</td><td>Runs your finished plug-in</td></tr>
<tr><td>ObjectARX 2027 SDK</td><td>Headers + libraries you compile against</td></tr>
<tr><td>Visual Studio 2026 + Desktop C++, ATL, MFC</td><td>Writes and builds the code</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Solved projects.</span> A <code>Solutions</code> folder ships alongside this tutorial
with a finished, working project for every lesson (<code>LessonN_Solved.zip</code>) — handy if you get stuck
partway through. Each lesson links directly to its own zip near the end of that lesson.</p>
</div>

<div class="next">▶ Next: <a href="#l1-intro">Lesson 1 — Build an ObjectARX app from scratch</a></div>
</section>

<!-- ============ LESSON 1 ============ -->
<section id="l1-intro">
<div class="band">
  <div class="kicker">Lesson 1 · No AI, no wizard</div>
  <h1>Build an ObjectARX App From Scratch</h1>
</div>

<p>In this lesson you create a new ObjectARX project in Visual Studio 2026 <strong>completely by hand</strong>
and build your first application. There is no template to start from — you'll do every step yourself, so
you learn what each piece is for.</p>

<p>The goal is small on purpose: a command called <code>HELLO</code> that prints
<em>"Hello World!"</em> on the AutoCAD command line.</p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Why do it by hand first.</span> Doing it once by hand is how the settings "click."
Lesson 2 shows how the wizard automates all of this for you.</p>
</div>
</section>

<section id="l1-project">
<h2>Step 1 — Create the project</h2>
<ol>
<li>In Visual Studio, choose <strong>Create a New Project…</strong></li>
<li>Search for and select the <strong>"Windows Desktop Wizard"</strong> template (a plain C++ template),
then click <strong>Next</strong>.</li>
</ol>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-01-template.png" alt="Windows Desktop Wizard template" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-01-template.png</code></div>
    <div>The template picker with "Windows Desktop Wizard" selected.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 1</span> — Picking the Windows Desktop Wizard template.</figcaption>
</figure>

<ol start="3">
<li>Enter a project name — this tutorial uses <strong><code>Step01</code></strong> — pick a location, and click
<strong>Create</strong>.</li>
<li>In the "Windows Desktop Project" dialog, set <strong>Application type</strong> to
<strong>Dynamic Link Library (.dll)</strong>.</li>
</ol>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-02-dlltype.png" alt="Windows Desktop Project application type set to DLL" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-02-dlltype.png</code></div>
    <div>The "Windows Desktop Project" dialog with Application type set to Dynamic Link Library (.dll).</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 2</span> — Setting the application type to DLL.</figcaption>
</figure>

<ol start="5">
<li>Leave the other options unticked and click <strong>OK</strong> to create the project.</li>
</ol>

<p>You now have an empty DLL project. On its own it knows nothing about AutoCAD — the next two steps fix
that by telling it where the ObjectARX SDK is.</p>
</section>

<section id="l1-compiler">
<h2>Step 2 — Compiler settings</h2>
<p>Open <strong>Solution Explorer</strong> (menu <strong>View → Solution Explorer</strong>, or the
shortcut <strong>Ctrl+Alt+L</strong>). Select the <code>Step01</code> project, right-click it, and choose
<strong>Properties</strong> to bring up the project's property pages. At the top, set
<strong>Configuration</strong> to <strong>All Configurations</strong> so your changes apply to both Debug
and Release.</p>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-03-properties.png" alt="Solution Explorer, invoking project properties" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-03-properties.png</code></div>
    <div>Visual Studio Solution Explorer, right-click → Properties on the Step01 project.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 3</span> — Opening the project's property pages.</figcaption>
</figure>

<ol>
<li><strong>C/C++ → General → Additional Include Directories</strong>: add the SDK's include folders, e.g.
<code>C:\ObjectARX 2027\inc</code> and <code>C:\ObjectARX 2027\inc-x64</code>. Also set
<strong>Warning Level</strong> to <strong>Level 1</strong> to hide warnings that don't matter here. Click
<strong>OK</strong> to apply and close.</li>
<li><strong>C/C++ → Code Generation → Runtime Library</strong>: choose
<strong>Multi-threaded DLL (/MD)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>C/C++ → Preprocessor → Preprocessor Definitions</strong>: remove the <code>_DEBUG</code>
symbol if present.</li>
<li><strong>Configuration Properties → General → Platform Toolset</strong>: select <strong>v145</strong>
(the toolset that matches Visual Studio 2026 / AutoCAD 2027).</li>
</ol>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Alternative for the include/library paths.</span> Instead of the Additional Include
Directories field, you can set the same paths under <strong>Configuration Properties → VC++
Directories</strong>: use <strong>Include Directories</strong> for the SDK's <code>inc</code> folders and
<strong>Library Directories</strong> for its <code>lib-x64</code> folder.</p>
</div>

<div class="callout warn">
<p><span class="lbl">The most important rule in all of ObjectARX:</span> always use <code>/MD</code>
(Multi-threaded <em>DLL</em>) — <strong>even in Debug builds</strong>. AutoCAD itself is always a Release
program, so your plug-in must match it. Using <code>/MDd</code> causes crashes and "heap corruption."
This is why you remove <code>_DEBUG</code> above.</p>
</div>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-04-runtime.png" alt="Runtime library /MD" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-04-runtime.png</code></div>
    <div>Code Generation → Runtime Library set to Multi-threaded DLL (/MD).</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 4</span> — Setting the include directories.</figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-05-toolset.png" alt="Platform Toolset v145" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-05-toolset.png</code></div>
    <div>General → Platform Toolset set to v145.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 5</span> — Setting the Platform Toolset.</figcaption>
</figure>
</section>

<section id="l1-linker">
<h2>Step 3 — Linker settings</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Linker → Input → Additional Dependencies</strong>: add the core ObjectARX libraries:
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>rxapi.lib;acdb26.lib;acge26.lib;acad.lib;ac1st26.lib;accore.lib</code></pre></div></li>
</ol>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">About that "26" in the library names.</span> The number tracks the AutoCAD release
(2026 → 25, 2027 → 26). If a library name isn't found, open your SDK's <code>lib-x64</code> folder and use
the exact names you see there.</p>
</div>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-06-linklibs.png" alt="Additional dependencies" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-06-linklibs.png</code></div>
    <div>Linker → Input → Additional Dependencies with the ObjectARX libraries.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 6</span> — Adding the ObjectARX libraries.</figcaption>
</figure>

<ol start="2">
<li><strong>Linker → General → Additional Library Directories</strong>: add the SDK's library folder,
e.g. <code>C:\ObjectARX 2027\lib-x64</code>.</li>
<li><strong>Linker → General → Output File</strong> (or <strong>Advanced → Target File Extension</strong>):
change the output extension from <code>.dll</code> to <strong><code>.arx</code></strong>.</li>
</ol>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-07-outputext.png" alt="Output file extension changed to .arx" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-07-outputext.png</code></div>
    <div>Additional Library Directories set, and the output file extension changed from .dll to .arx.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 7</span> — Setting the library path and output extension.</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>Your project settings are now complete. Next, the actual code.</p>
</section>

<section id="l1-code">
<h2>Step 4 — Add the code</h2>
<ol>
<li>From the <strong>Project</strong> menu, choose <strong>Add New Item…</strong> (shortcut Ctrl+Shift+A).</li>
<li>In the "Add New Item" dialog, select <strong>C++ File (.cpp)</strong>.</li>
<li>Enter <strong><code>HelloWorld</code></strong> in the <strong>Name:</strong> box and click
<strong>Add</strong>.</li>
</ol>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-08-addfile.png" alt="Adding HelloWorld.cpp" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-08-addfile.png</code></div>
    <div>The "Add New Item" dialog creating HelloWorld.cpp.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 8</span> — Adding HelloWorld.cpp.</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>First, include the headers you need. <code>aced.h</code> gives access to AutoCAD's editor services;
<code>rxregsvc.h</code> declares the ObjectARX registration utilities; <code>tchar.h</code> provides the
<code>_T()</code> text macro:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">#include</span> <span class="str">"pch.h"</span>
<span class="kw">#include</span> <span class="str">"tchar.h"</span>
<span class="kw">#include</span> &lt;aced.h&gt;
<span class="kw">#include</span> &lt;rxregsvc.h&gt;</code></pre>
</div>

<p>Declare the three functions you'll write — one to run when AutoCAD loads the app, one when it unloads it,
and one that does the actual work:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">void</span> initApp();
<span class="kw">void</span> unloadApp();
<span class="kw">void</span> helloWorld();</code></pre>
</div>

<p><code>initApp()</code> registers a new command with AutoCAD. Registering a command gives AutoCAD a new
"entry point" into your app — the word the user types:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">void</span> initApp()
{
    <span class="cm">// register a command with the AutoCAD command mechanism</span>
    acedRegCmds-&gt;addCommand(_T(<span class="str">"HELLOWORLD_COMMANDS"</span>),
                            _T(<span class="str">"Hello"</span>),      <span class="cm">// global (untranslated) name</span>
                            _T(<span class="str">"Bonjour"</span>),    <span class="cm">// local (translated) name</span>
                            ACRX_CMD_TRANSPARENT,
                            helloWorld);      <span class="cm">// function to call</span>
}</code></pre>
</div>
<p>The arguments are: the command <em>group</em> name, the global command name, the localized name, a flag
(<code>ACRX_CMD_TRANSPARENT</code> means it can run while another command is active), and the function to
call when the command runs.</p>

<p><code>unloadApp()</code> removes that command group when AutoCAD unloads the app — you must clean up the
entry points you added:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">void</span> unloadApp()
{
    acedRegCmds-&gt;removeGroup(_T(<span class="str">"HELLOWORLD_COMMANDS"</span>));
}</code></pre>
</div>

<p><code>helloWorld()</code> is the command itself. <code>acutPrintf()</code> is ObjectARX's version of C's
<code>printf</code>, aimed at the AutoCAD command line:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">void</span> helloWorld()
{
    acutPrintf(_T(<span class="str">"\nHello World!"</span>));
}</code></pre>
</div>

<p>Finally, the single most important function in any ObjectARX app: <strong><code>acrxEntryPoint()</code></strong>.
Because a plug-in is a DLL (it has no <code>main()</code>), AutoCAD calls this function to send it messages —
"you are being loaded," "you are being unloaded," and so on:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code><span class="kw">extern</span> <span class="str">"C"</span> AcRx::AppRetCode
acrxEntryPoint(AcRx::AppMsgCode msg, <span class="kw">void</span>* pkt)
{
    <span class="kw">switch</span> (msg)
    {
    <span class="kw">case</span> AcRx::kInitAppMsg:
        acrxDynamicLinker-&gt;unlockApplication(pkt);  <span class="cm">// allow unloading</span>
        acrxRegisterAppMDIAware(pkt);
        initApp();
        <span class="kw">break</span>;
    <span class="kw">case</span> AcRx::kUnloadAppMsg:
        unloadApp();
        <span class="kw">break</span>;
    <span class="kw">default</span>:
        <span class="kw">break</span>;
    }
    <span class="kw">return</span> AcRx::kRetOK;
}</code></pre>
</div>

<p>When AutoCAD loads the app (<code>kInitAppMsg</code>), unlock it so it can be unloaded later, mark it
MDI-aware, and register the command. When AutoCAD unloads the app (<code>kUnloadAppMsg</code>), remove the
command.</p>
</section>

<section id="l1-def">
<h2>Step 5 — The .def file</h2>
<p>AutoCAD can only find <code>acrxEntryPoint()</code> if the DLL <em>exports</em> it. The simplest way is a
module definition (<code>.def</code>) file.</p>
<ol>
<li>From the <strong>Project</strong> menu, choose <strong>Add New Item…</strong> (Ctrl+Shift+A).</li>
<li>In the "Add New Item" dialog, select <strong>Module-Definition File (.def)</strong>.</li>
<li>Enter <strong><code>ArxProject</code></strong> in the <strong>Name:</strong> box and click
<strong>Open</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<p>Clear any auto-generated content and add the following to the new file. Every ObjectARX application must export at least these two functions —
<code>acrxEntryPoint</code> and <code>acrxGetApiVersion</code>:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button>
<pre><code>EXPORTS
    acrxEntryPoint      PRIVATE
    acrxGetApiVersion   PRIVATE</code></pre>
</div>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Note.</span> You may see linker warning <code>LNK4099</code> for some libraries during the
build. It's harmless here — you can ignore it.</p>
</div>
</section>

<section id="l1-run">
<h2>Step 6 — Build &amp; run</h2>
<p>Set the configuration to <strong>x64</strong> and build with <strong>Build → Build Solution</strong>
(Ctrl+Shift+B). If you followed along, you'll get <strong>0 errors</strong> and your plug-in appears as
<code>Step01.arx</code> in the project's <code>x64</code> output folder.</p>

<p>Now load and run it in AutoCAD. Start AutoCAD 2027, open any drawing, and load
<code>Step01.arx</code> using any of these methods:</p>
<ol>
<li>Drag the file from Windows Explorer into the AutoCAD window.</li>
<li>Use the AutoCAD <strong><code>ARX</code></strong> command's <strong>Load</strong> option at the command
line.</li>
<li>From the <strong>Tools</strong> menu, choose <strong>Load Application…</strong>.</li>
<li>Type <strong><code>APPLOAD</code></strong>, browse to <code>Step01.arx</code>, and click <strong>Load</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<p>Once loaded, type <strong><code>HELLO</code></strong> and press Enter. You'll see
<code>Hello World!</code> printed on the command line. (Typing <code>BONJOUR</code> works too — that was
the localized name.)</p>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l1-09-hello.png" alt="HELLO output in AutoCAD" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l1-09-hello.png</code></div>
    <div>The AutoCAD command line showing "Hello World!" after running HELLO.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 1, Figure 9</span> — Your first ObjectARX command running.</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>That's a complete ObjectARX application, built entirely by hand. Notice how much of the work was
<em>settings and plumbing</em>, not your actual idea. Lesson 2 removes that busywork. Stuck anywhere above?
Compare with the solved project: <a href="Solutions/Lesson1_Solved.zip" download>Solutions\Lesson1_Solved.zip</a>.</p>

<div class="next">▶ Next: <a href="#l2-intro">Lesson 2 — Do it faster with Claude Code</a></div>
</section>

<!-- ============ LESSON 2 ============ -->
<section id="l2-intro">
<div class="band">
  <div class="kicker">Lesson 2 · The fast path</div>
  <h1>Do It Faster with Claude Code</h1>
</div>

<p>As you just saw, creating an ObjectARX application by hand is a lot of careful clicking. In this lesson
you'll get the same kind of project in seconds using <strong>Claude Code</strong> and a ready-made
<strong>wizard skill</strong>.</p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">We won't repeat Lesson 1 here.</span> The ObjectARX ideas — commands,
<code>acrxEntryPoint()</code>, <code>/MD</code>, the <code>.arx</code> output — are exactly the same. This
lesson focuses only on the <em>tools</em> and on what the generated project gives you <em>on top of</em>
the hand-built one.</p>
</div>
</section>

<section id="l2-claude">
<h2>Step 1 — What is Claude Code, and how to install it</h2>
<p><strong>Claude Code</strong> is an AI assistant that runs in your terminal. Unlike a chat window, it can
actually work on your computer — read and write files, run commands, and build projects — while asking
your permission before anything risky. You tell it what you want in plain English and it does the steps.</p>

<h3>Install it</h3>
<ol>
<li>Open <strong>PowerShell</strong> (press the Windows key, type <em>PowerShell</em>, Enter).</li>
<li>Install Claude Code using the official native installer — no Node.js required, and it keeps itself
updated automatically:
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex</code></pre></div></li>
</ol>


<ol start="3">
<li>Move into a working folder and start it by typing <code>claude</code>:
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>cd C:\Users\you\source\repos
claude</code></pre></div>
The first time, it will walk you through signing in.</li>
</ol>


<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l2-01-install.png" alt="Native installer running in PowerShell" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l2-01-install.png</code></div>
    <div>The native installer downloading and installing Claude Code in PowerShell.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 2, Figure 1</span> — Running the native installer.</figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l2-02-claude.png" alt="Claude Code running" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l2-02-claude.png</code></div>
    <div>Claude Code started in the terminal after typing <code>claude</code>.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 2, Figure 2</span> — Claude Code running in PowerShell.</figcaption>
</figure>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Prefer npm?</span> <code>npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code</code> still works and
installs the same tool, but it requires Node.js 22+ and doesn't auto-update — you'd run
<code>claude update</code> yourself. The native installer above is Anthropic's recommended method.</p>
</div>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Two handy habits inside Claude Code:</span> commands that start with <code>/</code> (a
"slash command") run a skill; and a line that starts with <code>!</code> runs a shell command yourself, e.g.
<code>!dir</code>.</p>
</div>


</section>

<section id="l2-skill">
<h2>Step 2 — Get the ObjectARX wizard skill</h2>
<p>A <strong>skill</strong> is a small folder of instructions and scripts that teaches Claude Code how to do
a specialized task well. Think of it as a plug-in for the assistant. When a skill is installed, you trigger
it with a slash command.</p>

<p>The one you want is <strong><code>acad-arx-wizard</code></strong>. It replaces the old (and, in Visual
Studio 2026, broken) ObjectARX project wizard with scripts that generate the same project files.</p>

<h3>Install the skill</h3>
<ol>
<li>Open the skill in your browser:
<a href="https://github.com/autodesk-platform-services/skills/tree/main/skills/acad-arx-wizard">github.com/autodesk-platform-services/skills → skills/acad-arx-wizard</a>. Go through its
<a href="https://github.com/autodesk-platform-services/skills/tree/main/skills/acad-arx-wizard#readme">README file</a> in detail to understand what it does before installing it.</li>
<li>Download that repository (green <strong>Code → Download ZIP</strong> button) and unzip it.</li>
<li>Copy the <code>acad-arx-wizard</code> folder into your personal Claude Code skills folder:
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>C:\Users\&lt;you&gt;\.claude\skills\acad-arx-wizard</code></pre></div>
That folder is exactly where this skill is installed on this machine.</li>
<li>Windows blocks PowerShell scripts by default, and every wizard action runs one. In PowerShell, run this
once to allow locally-installed scripts:
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned</code></pre></div></li>
<li>Start (or restart) Claude Code. Type <code>/</code> and you should see <code>acad-arx-wizard</code> in the
list of available skills.</li>
</ol>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">How to tell it worked:</span> inside Claude Code, run <code>/acad-arx-wizard</code>. If the
skill is installed, Claude greets you and asks which kind of project or class you want.</p>
</div>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Faster install, if you already have Node.js.</span> The skill's repository also supports
installing it with a single command instead of the manual download-and-copy above:
<code>npx skills add autodesk-platform-services/skills --global --skill acad-arx-wizard</code>. This needs
Node.js v16.7+ (for the install only) — the manual method above works without it.</p>
</div>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l2-03-skill.png" alt="Skill folder installed" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l2-03-skill.png</code></div>
    <div>The <code>acad-arx-wizard</code> folder inside <code>.claude\skills</code>, or the slash-command list.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 2, Figure 3</span> — The wizard skill installed.</figcaption>
</figure>

<h3>Good to know about the skill</h3>
<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Why this skill exists.</span> The classic <code>.vsz</code> /
<code>VsWizardEngine</code> wizard (<em>File → New → ObjectARX</em>) is broken in Visual Studio 2026 — a
known VS regression (see
<a href="https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/VsWizardVsWizardEngine-vsz-based-projec/11071541">MS
Developer Community #11071541</a>). This skill replaces it for AutoCAD 2027 / VS 2026, running the same kind
of generator, so what you get is a <strong>normal, standard ObjectARX project</strong>. VS 2022 isn't affected by this bug; if
you're on VS 2022 you can keep using the original
<a href="https://github.com/ADN-DevTech/ObjectARX-Wizards">ObjectARX-Wizards installer</a> instead.</p>
<p><span class="lbl">It's safe.</span> The skill only writes files into the folder you choose, and Claude
Code asks your permission before running anything. It doesn't touch AutoCAD's settings; the one-time
PowerShell execution-policy change in Step 2 above is the only Windows-level change, and it's limited to
your user account.</p>
</div>

<h3>Which project type? arx vs dbx vs crx</h3>
<p>When you ask for a project, the skill can make three kinds. For your first plug-ins you want
<strong>arx</strong>.</p>
<table>
<thead><tr><th>Type</th><th>Runs where</th><th>Use it when…</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td><strong>arx</strong></td><td>Inside AutoCAD (with its UI)</td><td>…almost always — commands, drawing, reacting to the user. <em>Start here.</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>dbx</strong></td><td>No AutoCAD UI (RealDWG / object module)</td><td>…you're defining custom objects meant to be shared by other modules.</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>crx</strong></td><td>The headless console (<code>accoreconsole.exe</code>)</td><td>…you need batch/automation with no user interface.</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>What you can ask for</h3>
<p>The simple prompt in the next step is enough to start, but the skill accepts more options — just mention
them in plain English:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Project name</strong> and <strong>location</strong> (required).</li>
<li><strong>Project type</strong> — <code>arx</code>, <code>dbx</code>, or <code>crx</code> (default <code>arx</code>).</li>
<li><strong>MFC</strong> — <code>none</code>, <code>shared</code>, or <code>ext</code> (for dialogs/palettes; default <code>none</code>).</li>
<li><strong>ATL/COM</strong> or <strong>.NET/CLR</strong> support, if you plan to expose your code that way.</li>
<li><strong>RDS prefix</strong> — a short unique tag (default <code>Adsk</code>) added to your names so they
don't clash with other developers' plug-ins.</li>
</ul>
<p>For example: <em>"create a dbx project called Shapes with RDS prefix Xyz."</em></p>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Under the hood (and when things go wrong).</span> A skill is just a folder you can open:
<code>SKILL.md</code> (instructions), <code>scripts/</code> (the generators), <code>templates/</code>, and
<code>docs/</code>. Two of those docs are worth knowing about — <code>docs/arx-dev-guide.md</code> explains
the build settings, and <code>docs/learnings.md</code> collects real-world build/link gotchas. If a build
ever fails, check there before panicking. To update the skill, re-download its folder from the GitHub repo.</p>
</div>
</section>

<section id="l2-create">
<h2>Step 3 — Scaffold the project</h2>
<p>Now let Claude Code build the project. In the Claude Code prompt, just describe what you want in plain
English:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>/acad-arx-wizard
create a simple ObjectARX project called HelloArx</code></pre></div>

<p>Claude first works out which of the skill's wizards you mean — here, "create a project" maps to the
full-project wizard, not one of the add-on class wizards from Step 5 below. It then asks only for the pieces
it can't guess — a <strong>project name</strong> and a <strong>location</strong> — since everything else
(app type, MFC mode, RDS prefix) has a sensible default unless you say otherwise. Once it has what it needs,
it runs the wizard script. Behind the scenes it executes a single PowerShell command (you don't have to
type it):</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoProfile -File "&lt;skill-root&gt;\scripts\New-ArxApp.ps1" `
    -ProjectName HelloArx -OutputPath "C:\Dev" -AppType arx -MfcMode none</code></pre></div>

<p>In a couple of seconds it reports something like:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code>Done. Generated 13 files in: C:\Dev\HelloArx

  StdAfx.cpp
  StdAfx.h
  acrxEntryPoint.cpp
  Resource.h
  root.rc
  ReadMe.txt
  DocData.cpp
  DocData.h
  HelloArx.cpp
  HelloArx.vcxproj
  Autodesk.arx-2027.props
  Autodesk.arx-2027-net.props
  crx.props

Next steps:
  1. Open HelloArx.vcxproj in Visual Studio 2026
  2. Verify the ObjectARX SDK path in Autodesk.arx-2027.props
  3. Build -> x64 Debug</code></pre></div>

<figure class="shot">
  <img src="images/l2-04-generated.png" alt="Generated project" onerror="this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex';">
  <div class="shot-placeholder"><span class="cam">📷</span>
    <div><span class="badge">SLOT</span>Save as <code>images/l2-04-generated.png</code></div>
    <div>The wizard's "Done. Generated 13 files" output, or the new project folder.</div></div>
  <figcaption><span class="fig">Lesson 2, Figure 4</span> — The generated project.</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>Compare that to Lesson 1: no manual include paths, no linker list, no <code>.def</code> file, no
<code>/MD</code> hunting. The wizard set all of it correctly for AutoCAD 2027.</p>
</section>

<section id="l2-more">
<h2>Step 4 — What the skill's project gives you (beyond Lesson 1)</h2>
<p>The hand-built project in Lesson 1 was deliberately bare. The generated <code>HelloArx</code> project is a
more realistic starting point. The extras worth knowing about:</p>

<table>
<thead><tr><th>What you get</th><th>Why it helps</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td><strong>An app <em>class</em></strong> (<code>CHelloArxApp</code>) instead of loose functions</td>
<td>ObjectARX's modern C++ style. Load/unload handling lives in tidy member functions instead of a big <code>switch</code>.</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Auto-registered commands</strong> via the <code>ACED_ARXCOMMAND_ENTRY_AUTO(...)</code> macro</td>
<td>No more writing <code>initApp()</code>/<code>unloadApp()</code> by hand — add a function, add one macro line, done.</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>A precompiled header</strong> (<code>StdAfx.h</code> pulling in <code>arxHeaders.h</code>)</td>
<td>You get <em>all</em> ObjectARX headers at once, and builds are much faster.</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Property sheets</strong> (<code>Autodesk.arx-2027.props</code>) instead of hand-typed settings</td>
<td>All the SDK paths, <code>/MD</code>, C++17, and the <code>.arx</code> extension are set for you and easy to edit in one place.</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>A <code>DocData</code> class + DLL plumbing</strong></td>
<td>Ready-made spots for per-drawing data and the standard COM/DLL entry points — there when you grow beyond "hello."</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<p>In short: the generated project already has everything Lesson 1 set up by hand, plus the extras above. To
add your own command you now just write a function and register it with one macro line:</p>
<div class="code-block"><button class="copy-btn" onclick="copyCode(this)">Copy</button><pre><code><span class="kw">static</span> <span class="kw">void</span> AdskMyGroupHello()
{
    acutPrintf(ACRX_T(<span class="str">"\nHello, ObjectARX!"</span>));
}
<span class="cm">// ...and at the bottom of the file:</span>
ACED_ARXCOMMAND_ENTRY_AUTO(CHelloArxApp, AdskMyGroup, Hello, Hello, ACRX_CMD_MODAL, NULL)</code></pre></div>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">Naming rule (same idea as Lesson 1).</span> The function name is the command
<em>group</em> + the command <em>name</em>: group <code>AdskMyGroup</code> + command <code>Hello</code>
→ <code>AdskMyGroupHello</code>.</p>
</div>
</section>

<section id="l2-addons">
<h2>Step 5 — Add-on class wizards (beyond a full project)</h2>
<p>Creating a whole project — what you just did — is only one of the things the skill can do. The same
<code>acad-arx-wizard</code> skill can also add ready-made <strong>class files</strong> to an existing
project: the ObjectARX building blocks you'll reach for as you grow. You don't run a separate tool — you
just ask Claude Code in plain English, and it drops the generated <code>.h</code>/<code>.cpp</code> files
into your project folder for you to include (right-click the project → <strong>Add → Existing Item</strong>).</p>

<p>Here are the add-ons in plain terms. You don't need to understand them fully yet — just know they exist.</p>
<table>
<thead><tr><th>Add-on</th><th>What it's for (beginner view)</th><th>Say something like…</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td><strong>Custom Object</strong></td><td>Your own kind of object stored in the drawing — a subclass of <code>AcDbEntity</code>.</td><td><em>"add a custom object called AdskEmployee"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Reactor</strong></td><td>Code that <em>reacts</em> to events — runs when an object is modified, or the drawing/database changes.</td><td><em>"add a database reactor to HelloArx"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Jig</strong></td><td>Interactive dragging — lets the user drag and preview an object with the mouse before placing it.</td><td><em>"add a jig for placing a line"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>MFC dialog / palette</strong></td><td>A user-interface window — a dialog box, tool palette, or dockable panel.</td><td><em>"add an MFC dialog"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>.NET wrapper</strong></td><td>Lets .NET (C#) code call into your C++ object — a managed C++/CLI wrapper.</td><td><em>"add a .NET wrapper for my custom object"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>COM wrapper</strong></td><td>Exposes your object to COM/automation clients such as VBA or scripting.</td><td><em>"add a COM wrapper object"</em></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Dynamic property</strong></td><td>Adds runtime ("dynamic") properties to objects, similar to dynamic-block parameters.</td><td><em>"add a dynamic property class"</em></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<div class="callout tip">
<p><span class="lbl">You don't need these yet.</span> For your first commands the full project is all you need.
Come back to this list when you're ready to store custom data (<strong>Custom Object</strong>), respond to
events (<strong>Reactor</strong>), let users drag geometry (<strong>Jig</strong>), or add a UI
(<strong>MFC</strong>). Each one is a single request away.</p>