Tutorial on Making Small Plug-Ins for AUTOCAD Secondary Development Based on GPT

The tutorial on making small plug-ins for AUTOCAD secondary development based on GPT is a very interesting and practical topic. AUTOCAD is a powerful 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software widely used in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, and other industries. Through secondary development, we can add various customized functions to AUTOCAD to improve work efficiency. The development method based on GPT can use powerful natural language processing capabilities to achieve a more intelligent plug-in interaction experience. In this tutorial, we will start with the construction of the basic development environment and explain step by step how to use GPT technology to develop AUTOCAD plug-ins to inject new vitality into your AUTOCAD workflow.

1. Preparation

First, developers need to carefully study the API documentation of AUTOCAD to understand the available classes and methods, as well as their functions and usage. This is the basis for any secondary development. CATIA supports a variety of programming languages, such as C++, C#, VB.NET, etc. Choose the appropriate language according to project requirements and personal familiarity. We will use C# as the development language and use the natural language processing capabilities provided by the GPT model to assist in the development of plug-ins. We need to install AUTOCAD and configure the development environment, install CATIA V5 or V6, Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 or higher, and NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher. After the installation is complete, we need to create a new AUTOCAD plug-in project in Visual Studio. In the project properties, you need to configure the installation path of AUTOCAD and reference the assembly of AUTOCAD.

2. Design Plug-In Functions

Before starting coding, we need to determine the functional requirements of the plug-in. Here, we will make a simple automatic part generation plug-in. The user only needs to enter some parameters, and the plug-in can automatically generate the required 3D model. We can use the GPT model to help us design the function of the plug-in. First, we can ask GPT “Please design an AUTOCAD secondary development plug-in that can automatically generate 3D part models based on the parameters entered by the user.” GPT will give some suggestions and design ideas to help us better understand user needs and determine the functional characteristics of the plug-in.

3. Write Plug-In Code

With the functional design, we can start writing the plug-in code. In this process, we can continue to use the powerful language capabilities of GPT. First, we can ask GPT “Please give the basic code structure of an AUTOCAD secondary development plug-in, including the main window interface, parameter input, model generation, and other key functions.” GPT will give a basic code framework to help us start coding quickly. Then, we can ask GPT for specific functional modules, “Please write a piece of C# code to automatically generate a 3D part model based on the size parameters entered by the user.” GPT will give the corresponding code snippet, and we just need to integrate it into our project. During the coding process, we can also consult GPT for some programming tips and best practices to ensure the quality and maintainability of the code. For example: To ensure the quality and maintainability of the AUTOCAD VBA plug-in code, please provide some recommended tips and best practices.

4. Testing and Debugging

After the coding is completed, we need to conduct comprehensive testing and debugging of the plug-in. This includes checking the usability of the interface, the legality of parameter input, the correctness of model generation, etc. During the testing process, we can ask GPT for help again, such as “Please give a test plan for the AUTOCAD secondary development plug-in, including interface testing, parameter verification, model checking, etc.” GPT will provide some test cases and methods to help us better verify the functions of the plug-in. If we find problems during the test, we can also ask GPT “Please help me analyze the problems in this AUTOCAD plug-in code and give repair suggestions.” GPT will provide some diagnoses and solutions based on the code and problem description.

5. Release and Maintenance

After sufficient testing and debugging, our AUTOCAD plug-in is finally ready for release. We can package it into an installer and distribute it to target users. In the subsequent use and maintenance process, we can also continue to use the capabilities of GPT. For example, if the user feedbacks a new requirement, we can describe to GPT “Please design a new AUTOCAD plug-in function that can realize the XYZ function required by the user.” GPT will give some design solutions and implementation ideas to help us respond to user needs quickly.

From demand analysis, code writing, testing, and debugging to subsequent maintenance and upgrades, GPT can provide us with valuable assistance. I believe that through this human-computer collaboration method, we will be able to develop a more outstanding AUTOCAD plug-in.