Topic: C# Autocad.net programming book

[Jeff H]

Someone finally did it and published AutoCad.net book

Have not read it or know anything about author or book.

Instant Autodesk AutoCAD 2014 Customization with .NET

[Kerry]

Order #D01-3591144-1372108
Placed on Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Seems a little skimpy but looks at first glance like a reasonable start.

I'd say good value for the price.
I wonder if the author want's to do some support here

Thanks for the heads up Jeff.

[Mark]

I wonder if the author want's to do some support here

Seems like a great idea! I could not find anyway to contact said author. If someone can, please do. Ask him to come by and say "HI".

[Keith Brown]

A google search turned up his LinkedIn page.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomnelsoncad

[Jeff H]

I joined a group at LinkedIn that he is a member of so I could send him message.

[Kerry]

Thanks Jeff, please do.
I found him on LinkedIn too. ...

I'm sure there are quite a few people here who would be interested in his book.
The source code is available at the publishers web site which may be a bonus.

[Keith Brown]

I purchased the Kindle Edition for $11.99 and as Kerry mentioned it is short but a good book for a beginner who is just starting.  I think anyone who has developed several projects for AutoCAD will probably be let down as most of the information is readily available through google searches.  That being said, i think it is a great start and probably worth the $11.99 that I paid for it.

[Kerry]

@Keith
The difficulty with a google search ( even a search here ) is dissecting the 'good' information from the rest. There has been a lot of guesses made publically about .net code and the AutoCAD API in the last 10 years .. unfortunately not all of them are correct.

//-----

AutoCAD and .NET API's are both complex topics, more so for beginners.
Combining the 2 topics for people with limited experience is most certainly a challenge.

Using a "recipe" format, putting suitable samples into one place is a proven teaching method, allowing for individual progression.

[Andrey Bushman]

As I see in the books short description (the "read more" item) - it has the same info only which can be found via the google manually, without the problems... Yes, it is good, what even this book are exists, but I've expected more. Unfortunately I don't see a table of contents of this book.

[Kerry]

Andrey,
I'll attach the table of contents.

It's really unfortunate that there is very little money to be made from writing programming books for AutoCAD currently.
I'm sure we'd get a larger collection of topics if the authors received a little more reimbursement.

I'm quite happy paying for books because I know the information available would cost a lot more if I had to 'discover' the information myself.
Even 'free' snippets that can be found on the internet have a considerable harvesting and investigation cost.

[Andrey Bushman]

Thank you for the screen. I don't see in the table of contents such important subjects for the beginner as:

• Working with the Database via\without the Transaction - detailed info and comparison of ways
• About the Document locking (when it is necessary)
• IDisposible  in the AutoCAD
• Substitution of the identifiers (using of DBObject.HandOverTo())
• Plugin's help and localizations
• Styles: table style, dimention style, e.t.c. (detailed samples)
• Database objects quick iteration (about the TryGetObjectId method)
• Palettes
• working with AutoCAD from the external application through the COM (different ways)
• Remote debugging (may be not for beginner, but it is a simple and useful info)
• tlbimp
• Sheet Sets (may be not for beginner)
• JIG
• Import\Export objects into\from other Database
• e.t.c. (the table contents is not transparent for me)

[Locke]

Great that the book is current in regards to the latest functionality, but hopefully he addresses the assembly changeover from  2012 to 2013 requiring AcCore.dll.  I can see many a poor soul looking for it in panic and frustration trying to use his discussed concepts for older versions of AutoCAD. 

[alanjt]

Thanks for sharing, Jeff.

[Keith Brown]

Great that the book is current in regards to the latest functionality, but hopefully he addresses the assembly changeover from  2012 to 2013 requiring AcCore.dll.  I can see many a poor soul looking for it in panic and frustration trying to use his discussed concepts for older versions of AutoCAD.

I have skimmed through the book and this is really not brought up. (that i can see)  The book clearly states that the code is developed for AutoCAD 2014.  Additionally the AutoCAD wizards are used to create the visual studio projects which eliminates an opportunity to discuss this subject.  There might be a disclaimer somewhere in the book that mentions it however.  I might have just missed it.

[Yosso]

Thanks for the heads up on the book.  Just purchased the PDF from packtpub.com. 

Hopefully the author will keep it current or at the very least provide a sequel.

M.

[thenndral]

Hi Yosso,

I would like to buy the book.
Did you go-through the book?
Could you suggest me to buy the book?

Thanks,
thenndral

[Yosso]

Hi Yosso,

I would like to buy the book.
Did you go-through the book?
Could you suggest me to buy the book?

Thanks,
thenndral

The table of contents is posted above, so it's your choice.

The book is a bit sparse, but the price is right.

Good luck in  your endeavors.

M.

[Jeff H]

Keep in mind guys this part of a series that a publisher puts out that is aimed at quick recipes to get a beginner started as you might guess the name implies "Instantly". So he is delivering what he was paid for.

There is one for revit also.

A comprehensive book would take a author probably 2 years or more and would have to put other consulting, etc... priorities aside that generate income.

I am guessing the author would love to write a book with much more content if someone was willing to pay what he normally would earn from consulting for 2 years. If it were a area in technology that had bigger group of developers then publisher could justify the expense, but sadly this is probably not one of them.