Set AutoCAD Preferences
 
 
 

The .NET API does not contain any classes or methods to access the options in which are accessed through the AutoCAD Options dialog box. Access to these options is done through the ActiveX® Automation library. You use the COM object returned from the Preferences property of the Application object.

Once you have the Preferences COM object, you can then access the nine objects pertaining to the options, each representing a tab in the Options dialog box. These objects provide access to all of the registry-stored options in the Options dialog box. You can customize many of the AutoCAD settings by using properties found on these objects. These objects are

Access the Preferences object

The following example shows how to access the Preferences object through COM interop.

VB.NET

Dim acPrefComObj As AcadPreferences = Application.Preferences

C#

AcadPreferences acPrefComObj = (AcadPreferences)Application.Preferences;
VBA/ActiveX Code Reference

After you reference the Preferences object, you can then access any of the specific Preferences objects using the Display, Drafting, Files, OpenSave, Output, Profile, Selection, System, and User properties.

Set the crosshairs to full screen

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop
 
<CommandMethod("PrefsSetCursor")> _
Public Sub PrefsSetCursor()
  '' This example sets the crosshairs of the AutoCAD drawing cursor
  '' to full screen.
 
  '' Access the Preferences object
  Dim acPrefComObj As AcadPreferences = Application.Preferences
 
  '' Use the CursorSize property to set the size of the crosshairs
  acPrefComObj.Display.CursorSize = 100
End Sub

C#

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop;
 
[CommandMethod("PrefsSetCursor")]
public static void PrefsSetCursor()
{
  // This example sets the crosshairs for the drawing window
  // to full screen.
 
  // Access the Preferences object
  AcadPreferences acPrefComObj = (AcadPreferences)Application.Preferences;
 
  // Use the CursorSize property to set the size of the crosshairs
  acPrefComObj.Display.CursorSize = 100;
}
VBA/ActiveX Code Reference

Hide the scroll bars

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop
 
<CommandMethod("PrefsSetDisplay")> _
Public Sub PrefsSetDisplay()
  '' This example disables the scroll bars
 
  '' Access the Preferences object
  Dim acPrefComObj As AcadPreferences = Application.Preferences
 
  '' Disable the scroll bars
  acPrefComObj.Display.DisplayScrollBars = False
End Sub

C#

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Interop;
 
[CommandMethod("PrefsSetDisplay")]
public static void PrefsSetDisplay()
{
  // This example disables the scroll bars
 
  // Access the Preferences object
  AcadPreferences acPrefComObj = (AcadPreferences)Application.Preferences;
 
  // Disable the scroll bars
  acPrefComObj.Display.DisplayScrollBars = false;
}
VBA/ActiveX Code Reference