Windows Forms Application

In this tutorial, you will configure a C# or VB.NET project for a Windows Forms application and use ImageGear .NET CAD capabilities. You will also learn how to open a DWG, DXF, or DGN file, display it on the screen, manipulate it, rasterize it, and save it as an image.

The following tutorial refers specifically to 64-bit installations; for 32-bit installations:

Your project should already be set to compile to target Debug and x86, and you should have the directory:
$YOURLOCALPROJ\bin\x86\Debug\.
Throughout these instructions, replace x64 with x86.
The 32-bit ImageGear binaries are found in $INSTALLDIR\ImageGear .NET v24\Bin\

Using the desired version of Visual Studio (2010 or later):

Create a new "Windows Form App" project, using C# or VB.NET, and name the project: my_first_CAD_WINFORMS_project
If you installed ImageGear .NET 64-bit, using the Configuration Manager, create a new project platform (if you don't have one already) for x64. Make sure your project is set to compile targeting Debug and x64. Confirm you now have $YOURLOCALPROJ\bin\x64\Debug\, and if it's not there, create it.
Add references and required resources into your projects in one of the following ways:
- Copy all files (and folders) inside $INSTALLDIR\ImageGear .NET v24 64-bit\Bin\ to your local output bin directory in your project (i.e., $YOURLOCALPROJ\bin\x64\Debug\ ).
- Add the following references to your project from $YOURLOCALPROJ\bin\x64\Debug\:
  - ImageGear24.Core.dll
  - ImageGear24.Evaluation.dll
  - ImageGear24.Formats.Common.dll
  - ImageGear24.Formats.Vector.dll
  - ImageGear24.Windows.Forms.dll
Your output target directory should be set to $YOURLOCALPROJ\bin\x64\Debug\ .
Next, add the ImageGear Windows Forms tools to use in your GUI:
1. In Visual Studio, go to Tools > Choose Toolbox Items...
2. In the .NET Framework Components tab, click Browse and navigate to $INSTALLDIR\ImageGear .NET v24\Bin\, select ImageGear24.Windows.Forms.dll, and click Open.
3. You will see the ImGearMagnifier, ImGearPageView, ImGearPan, and ImGearThumbnailCtl controls added to the list of components. Make sure they are checked and click OK.
Next, you will add some pertinent controls to your form. For this tutorial, keep the default names for the controls.
First, create the menu on the form. From the Windows Forms toolbox, drag a MenuStrip control onto the form. Create a menu called File. Under File, add Load and Save.
Second, also from the toolbox, drag the ImGearPageView control onto the form. This control will be used to display the CAD file. Set the Dock (in the Layout group) property of the imGearPageView1 control to Fill. This will cause the control to resize as the form resizes.
Double-click each added menu item to create a handler.

At this point your project is ready for some code. The following code can be used to load a CAD file, view it using an ImGearPageView control, and save it as an image. In the next step, we will go over some important areas of this sample code.

CS
VBNET

C#	Copy Code
using System; using System.IO; using System.Windows.Forms; using ImageGear.Core; using ImageGear.Display; using ImageGear.Formats; using ImageGear.Formats.CAD; using ImageGear.Evaluation; namespace my_first_CAD_WINFORMS_project { public partial class Form1 : Form { // Create empty IG CAD page object. private ImGearCADPage page = null; private int currentPageIndex = 0; public Form1() { // Initialize evaluation license. ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize(); ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog; // Add support for CAD files. ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize(); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat()); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat()); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat()); InitializeComponent(); } // Open file dialog. For this sample, just allow DWG, DXF, and DGN files. private void LoadToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { OpenFileDialog openDialog = new OpenFileDialog(); openDialog.Filter = "CAD files (.dwg, .dxf, .dgn)\|.dwg;.dxf;.dgn\|AutoCAD files (.dwg, .dxf)\|.dwg;.dxf\|MicroStation files (.dgn)\|.dgn"; if (openDialog.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK) { // Load a CAD file as an ImGearCADPage using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)) { page = (ImGearCADPage)ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0); } } } // Save file dialog. For this sample, just allow Bitmap, PNG, JPEG, and TIFF files. private void SaveToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { SaveFileDialog saveDialog = new SaveFileDialog(); saveDialog.FileName = currentFile; saveDialog.Filter = "Bitmap file (.bmp)\|.bmp\|PNG file (.png)\|.png\|JPEG file (.jpeg)\|.jpeg\|TIFF file (.tif)\|.tif"; if (saveDialog.ShowDialog() != DialogResult.OK) return; ImGearSavingFormats formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG; switch (Path.GetExtension(saveDialog.FileName).ToLower()) { case ".png": formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG; break; case ".bmp": formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.BMP_UNCOMP; break; case ".jpeg": formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.JPG; break; case ".tif": formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.TIF_UNCOMP; break; } // The save operation is performed here. using (Stream stream = saveDialog.OpenFile()) { ImGearFileFormats.SavePage(page, stream, formatOut); } } private void renderPage(int pageNumber) { try { if (page != null) { // Create a new page display to prepare the page for being displayed. ImGearPageDisplay igPageDisplay = new ImGearPageDisplay(page); // Associate the page display with the page view. imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay; // Cause the page view to repaint. imGearPageView1.Invalidate(); } } catch (ImGearException ex) { // Perform error handling. MessageBox.Show(ex.Message); } } } }

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using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using ImageGear.Core;
using ImageGear.Display;
using ImageGear.Formats;
using ImageGear.Formats.CAD;
using ImageGear.Evaluation;

namespace my_first_CAD_WINFORMS_project
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        // Create empty IG CAD page object.
        private ImGearCADPage page = null;
        private int currentPageIndex = 0;

        public Form1()
        {
            // Initialize evaluation license.
            ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize();
            ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog;
            // Add support for CAD files.
            ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize();
            ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat());
            ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat());
            ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat());
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        // Open file dialog. For this sample, just allow DWG, DXF, and DGN files.
        private void LoadToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            OpenFileDialog openDialog = new OpenFileDialog();
            openDialog.Filter = "CAD files (*.dwg, *.dxf, *.dgn)|*.dwg;*.dxf;*.dgn|AutoCAD files (*.dwg, *.dxf)|*.dwg;*.dxf|MicroStation files (*.dgn)|*.dgn";
            if (openDialog.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK)
            {
                // Load a CAD file as an ImGearCADPage
                using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))
                {
                    page = (ImGearCADPage)ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0);
                }
            }
        }

        // Save file dialog. For this sample, just allow Bitmap, PNG, JPEG, and TIFF files.
        private void SaveToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SaveFileDialog saveDialog = new SaveFileDialog();
            saveDialog.FileName = currentFile;
            saveDialog.Filter = "Bitmap file (*.bmp)|*.bmp|PNG file (*.png)|*.png|JPEG file (*.jpeg)|*.jpeg|TIFF file (*.tif)|*.tif";

            if (saveDialog.ShowDialog() != DialogResult.OK) return;

            ImGearSavingFormats formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG;
            switch (Path.GetExtension(saveDialog.FileName).ToLower())
            {
                case ".png":
                    formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG;
                    break;
                case ".bmp":
                    formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.BMP_UNCOMP;
                    break;
                case ".jpeg":
                    formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.JPG;
                    break;
                case ".tif":
                    formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.TIF_UNCOMP;
                    break;
            }
            // The save operation is performed here.
            using (Stream stream = saveDialog.OpenFile())
            {
                ImGearFileFormats.SavePage(page, stream, formatOut);
            }
        }
        private void renderPage(int pageNumber)
        {
            try
            {
                if (page != null)
                {
                    // Create a new page display to prepare the page for being displayed.
                    ImGearPageDisplay igPageDisplay = new ImGearPageDisplay(page);
                    // Associate the page display with the page view.
                    imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay;
                    // Cause the page view to repaint.
                    imGearPageView1.Invalidate();
                }
            }

            catch (ImGearException ex)
            {
                // Perform error handling.
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

VB.NET	Copy Code
Imports System Imports System.IO Imports System.Windows.Forms Imports ImageGear.Core Imports ImageGear.Display Imports ImageGear.Formats Imports ImageGear.Formats.CAD Imports ImageGear.Evaluation Namespace my_first_CAD_WINFORMS_project Public Partial Class Form1 Inherits Form Private page As ImGearCADPage = Nothing Private currentPageIndex As Integer = 0 Public Sub New() ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize() ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize() ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat()) ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat()) ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat()) InitializeComponent() End Sub Private Sub LoadToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Dim openDialog As OpenFileDialog = New OpenFileDialog() openDialog.Filter = "CAD files (.dwg, .dxf, .dgn)\|.dwg;.dxf;.dgn\|AutoCAD files (.dwg, .dxf)\|.dwg;.dxf\|MicroStation files (.dgn)\|.dgn" If openDialog.ShowDialog() = System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then Using fs As FileStream = New FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read) page = CType(ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0), ImGearCADPage) End Using End If End Sub Private Sub SaveToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Dim saveDialog As SaveFileDialog = New SaveFileDialog() saveDialog.FileName = currentFile saveDialog.Filter = "Bitmap file (.bmp)\|.bmp\|PNG file (.png)\|.png\|JPEG file (.jpeg)\|.jpeg\|TIFF file (.tif)\|.tif" If saveDialog.ShowDialog() <> DialogResult.OK Then Return Dim formatOut As ImGearSavingFormats = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG Select Case Path.GetExtension(saveDialog.FileName).ToLower() Case ".png" formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG Case ".bmp" formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.BMP_UNCOMP Case ".jpeg" formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.JPG Case ".tif" formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.TIF_UNCOMP End Select Using stream As Stream = saveDialog.OpenFile() ImGearFileFormats.SavePage(page, stream, formatOut) End Using End Sub Private Sub renderPage(ByVal pageNumber As Integer) Try If page IsNot Nothing Then Dim igPageDisplay As ImGearPageDisplay = New ImGearPageDisplay(page) imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay imGearPageView1.Invalidate() End If Catch ex As ImGearException MessageBox.Show(ex.Message) End Try End Sub End Class End Namespace

VB.NET

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Imports System
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports ImageGear.Core
Imports ImageGear.Display
Imports ImageGear.Formats
Imports ImageGear.Formats.CAD
Imports ImageGear.Evaluation
Namespace my_first_CAD_WINFORMS_project
    Public Partial Class Form1
         Inherits Form
         Private page As ImGearCADPage = Nothing
         Private currentPageIndex As Integer = 0
         Public Sub New()
             ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize()
             ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog
             ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize()
             ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat())
             ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat())
             ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat())
             InitializeComponent()
         End Sub
        Private Sub LoadToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
             Dim openDialog As OpenFileDialog = New OpenFileDialog()
             openDialog.Filter = "CAD files (*.dwg, *.dxf, *.dgn)|*.dwg;*.dxf;*.dgn|AutoCAD files (*.dwg, *.dxf)|*.dwg;*.dxf|MicroStation files (*.dgn)|*.dgn"
             If openDialog.ShowDialog() = System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
                 Using fs As FileStream = New FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
                     page = CType(ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0), ImGearCADPage)
                 End Using
             End If
         End Sub
        Private Sub SaveToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
             Dim saveDialog As SaveFileDialog = New SaveFileDialog()
             saveDialog.FileName = currentFile
             saveDialog.Filter = "Bitmap file (*.bmp)|*.bmp|PNG file (*.png)|*.png|JPEG file (*.jpeg)|*.jpeg|TIFF file (*.tif)|*.tif"
             If saveDialog.ShowDialog() <> DialogResult.OK Then Return
             Dim formatOut As ImGearSavingFormats = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG
             Select Case Path.GetExtension(saveDialog.FileName).ToLower()
                 Case ".png"
                     formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.PNG
                 Case ".bmp"
                     formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.BMP_UNCOMP
                 Case ".jpeg"
                     formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.JPG
                 Case ".tif"
                     formatOut = ImGearSavingFormats.TIF_UNCOMP
             End Select
            Using stream As Stream = saveDialog.OpenFile()
                 ImGearFileFormats.SavePage(page, stream, formatOut)
             End Using
         End Sub
        Private Sub renderPage(ByVal pageNumber As Integer)
             Try
                 If page IsNot Nothing Then
                     Dim igPageDisplay As ImGearPageDisplay = New ImGearPageDisplay(page)
                     imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay
                     imGearPageView1.Invalidate()
                 End If
             Catch ex As ImGearException
                 MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
            End Try
         End Sub
     End Class
 End Namespace

Now, let's go over some of the important areas in the sample code with more detail. To initialize and support processing of DWG, DXF, and DGN files we need:

CS
VBNET

C#	Copy Code
// Initialize evaluation license. ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize(); ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog; // Add support for CAD files. ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize(); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat()); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat()); ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat());

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// Initialize evaluation license.
ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize();
ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog;

// Add support for CAD files.
ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize();
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat());
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat());
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat());

VB.NET	Copy Code
‘ Initialize evaluation license. ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize() ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog ‘ Add support for CAD files. ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize() ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat()) ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat()) ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat())

VB.NET

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‘ Initialize evaluation license.
ImGearEvaluationManager.Initialize()
ImGearEvaluationManager.Mode = ImGearEvaluationMode.TrialDialog
‘ Add support for CAD files.
ImGearCommonFormats.Initialize()
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDWGFormat())
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDGNFormat())
ImGearFileFormats.Filters.Insert(0, ImGearCAD.CreateDXFFormat())

We load the document using:

C#	Copy Code
page = (ImGearCADPage)ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0);

VB.NET	Copy Code
page = CType(ImGearFileFormats.LoadPage(fs, 0), ImGearCADPage)

Lastly, we will go over the code to render a page with the ImGearPageView control:

CS
VBNET

C#	Copy Code
private void renderPage(int pageNumber) { try { if (page != null) { // Create a new page display to prepare the page for being displayed. ImGearPageDisplay igPageDisplay = new ImGearPageDisplay(page); // Associate the page display with the page view. imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay; // Cause the page view to repaint. imGearPageView1.Invalidate(); } } catch (ImGearException ex) { // Perform error handling. MessageBox.Show(ex.Message); } }

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private void renderPage(int pageNumber)
 {
            try
            {
                if (page != null)
                {
                    // Create a new page display to prepare the page for being displayed.
                    ImGearPageDisplay igPageDisplay = new ImGearPageDisplay(page);
                    // Associate the page display with the page view.
                    imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay;
                    // Cause the page view to repaint.
                    imGearPageView1.Invalidate();
                }
            }

            catch (ImGearException ex)
            {
                // Perform error handling.
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
}

VB.NET	Copy Code
Private Sub renderPage(ByVal pageNumber As Integer) Try If page IsNot Nothing Then Dim igPageDisplay As ImGearPageDisplay = New ImGearPageDisplay(page) imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay imGearPageView1.Invalidate() End If Catch ex As ImGearException MessageBox.Show(ex.Message) End Try End Sub

VB.NET

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Private Sub renderPage(ByVal pageNumber As Integer)
             Try
                 If page IsNot Nothing Then
                     Dim igPageDisplay As ImGearPageDisplay = New ImGearPageDisplay(page)
                     imGearPageView1.Display = igPageDisplay
                     imGearPageView1.Invalidate()
                 End If
             Catch ex As ImGearException
                 MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
             End Try
         End Sub

To render a page, we need to first create an ImGearPageDisplay object that can be directly loaded into an ImGearPageView control:

CS
VBNET

C#	Copy Code
// Create a new page display to prepare the page for being displayed. ImGearPageDisplay igPageDisplay = new ImGearPageDisplay(page);

VB.NET	Copy Code
Dim igPageDisplay As ImGearPageDisplay = New ImGearPageDisplay(page)

This sample project was created as a simple introduction to using the CAD functionality in ImageGear. For systems designed for production environments, you need to configure your projects more efficiently by only adding the resources that you need. For more information, refer to Deploying Your Product.