The AeccPoints object also has methods for reading and writing point locations in a file. The AeccPoints.ImportPoints method creates points from locations stored in a text file. The AeccPoints.ExportPoints method writes point locations to a text file.
The second parameter of the ImportPoints and ExportPoints methods is a string that describes how the point values are stored in the file. The following table lists some commonly available file formats. You can create other formats by using the Point File Format dialog box.
| String Literal | Format of values in the file |
|---|---|
| ENZ (comma delimited) | Easting, Northing, Elevation |
| NEZ (space delimited) | Northing Easting Elevation |
| NEZ (comma delimited) | Northing, Easting, Elevation |
| PENZ (space delimited) | Point# Easting Northing Elevation |
| PENZ (comma delimited) | Point#, Easting, Northing, Elevation |
| PENZD (space delimited) | Point# Easting Northing Elevation Description |
| PENZD (comma delimited) | Point#, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Description |
| PNE (space delimited) | Point# Northing Easting |
| PNE (comma delimited) | Point#, Northing, Easting |
| PNEZ (space delimited) | Point# Northing Easting Elevation |
| PNEZ (comma delimited) | Point#, Northing, Easting, Elevation |
| PNEZD (space delimited) | Point# Northing Easting Elevation Description |
| PNEZD (comma delimited) | Point#, Northing, Easting, Elevation, Description |
| ENZ (space delimited) | Easting Northing Elevation |
| Autodesk Uploadable File | Point# Northing Easting Elevation Description |
The third parameter of the ImportPoints method is an object of type AeccPointImportOptions, which can be set to perform actions as the data is being loaded. For example, you can add offsets to the point positions or elevations, determine which points to read from the file, or specify the point group where the points are placed. The third parameter of the ExportPoints method is of the similar AeccPointExportOptions type.
This example demonstrates the ImportPoints and ExportPoints methods:
Dim oPoints As AeccPoints Dim oImportOptions As New AeccPointImportOptions Dim sFilename As String Dim sFileFormat As String Dim iCount As Integer Set oPoints = oDocument.Points sFilename = "C:\My Documents\SamplePointFile.txt" sFileFormat = "PENZ (space delimited)" oImportOptions.PointDuplicateResolution = aeccPointDuplicateOverwrite iCount = oPoints.ImportPoints(sFilename, sFileFormat, oImportOptions) ' Export the files to a separate file. Dim oExportOptions As New AeccPointExportOptions sFilename = "C:\My Documents\SamplePointFile2.txt" oExportOptions.ExpandCoordinateData = True oPoints.ExportPoints sFilename, sFileFormat, oExportOptions
When you add points using the ImportPoints method, it is possible that the point numbers will conflict with those that already exist in the drawing. In such cases, the user is given an option to renumber the point numbers from the file, or to cancel the operation which will result with a Visual Basic error. An application that uses ImportPoints should take this into account.