ActiveX objects also contain methods, which are simply the actions available for a particular kind of object. Some methods can be applied to most AutoCAD drawing objects. For example, the Mirror method (creating a mirror image copy of an object around a mirror axis), and the Move method (moving a drawing object along a specified vector) can be applied to most drawing objects. By contrast, the Offset method, which creates a new object at a specified distance from an existing object, applies only to a few classes of AutoCAD objects such as Arc, Circle, Ellipse, and Line.
ActiveX methods are implemented as AutoLISP functions. You'll see many references to ActiveX functions in AutoLISP documentation, but keep in mind that in ActiveX terminology, they are always known as methods.
To determine which methods and properties apply to a specific type of AutoCAD object, refer to the ActiveX Reference. This reference is available from the
- Product's online and offline Help system
- acadauto.chm file in theProgram Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\en-us directory (AutoCAD for Windows only)
You will probably want to leave the ActiveX Reference open when you are developing AutoLISP programs that use ActiveX. If you open the acadauto.chm file, you can keep the reference open when you use the AutoLISP online Help.