Required Development Tools

ObjectARX Mac Development Demo (Video)

Simple Cocoa Example with ObjectARX (Video)

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Before get started, there are some points we should know:
- DBX module should be .dylib type;
- ARX module should be .bundle/.framework type, while extension name should be ".bundle";
- ARX module only works on 64bit;
***** Steps to create a Hello World ARX from Autodesk template *****

1. Start XCode, create a new "Arx with Cocoa" project in Autodesk template.
2. Build project.
3. Start AutoCAD, "Appload", find the ARX bundle and load.
4. Input command: "mycmd", check the commandline tell you "hello world".

***** Steps to create a Hello World ARX from Cocoa template *****

1. Start XCode, create a Cocoa bundle project.
2. Setup configurations:
   1. Open configuration, clean up the following items: ARCHS, SDKROOT, ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH;
   2. Create a debug xcconfig file;
      #include sdk/inc/prj_arx.xcconfig and prj_debug.xcconfig;
      Set correct GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS and OTHER_LDFLAGS;
      Add it to project and set it as the debug configuration;
   3. Create a release xcconfig file;
      #include sdk/inc/prj_arx.xcconfig and prj_release.xcconfig;
      Set correct GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS and OTHER_LDFLAGS;
      Add it to project and set it as the release configuration;
3. Add c++ file
   1. Include the winstubs.h, aced.h, and rxregsvc.h headers.
   2. Implement your command:

      void mycmd()
      {
          acutPrintf(L"Hello world.");
      }

   3. Create the entrypoint, and register command:

      #define COMMAND_GROUPNAME L"MYARX_COMMANDS"
      #define COMMAND_NAME L"mycmd"

      // all ARX apps must define this entry point
      extern "C" AcRx::AppRetCode
      acrxEntryPoint(AcRx::AppMsgCode msg, void* pkt)
      {
          switch (msg)
          {
              case AcRx::kInitAppMsg:
                  acrxDynamicLinker->unlockApplication(pkt);
                  acrxRegisterAppMDIAware(pkt);
                  acedRegCmds->addCommand(COMMAND_GROUPNAME,
                      COMMAND_NAME, COMMAND_NAME,
                      ACRX_CMD_TRANSPARENT,
                      &mycmd);
                  break;
              case AcRx::kUnloadAppMsg:
                  acedRegCmds->removeGroup(COMMAND_GROUPNAME);
                  break;
              default:
                  break;
          }
          return AcRx::kRetOK;
      }

4. Build project.
5. Start AutoCAD, input command: "arx", select "Load", find the ARX bundle and load.
6. Input command: "mycmd", check the command line tell you "hello world"

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Discussion of programming model differences here:

LP64
wchar_t
Use the Adesk types.