Run AML ARCEDIT, ARCPLOT or GRID commands from ArcCatalog or ArcMap

Summary

Create VBA code with the ESRI Arcedit or Arcplot ODE control and the 'ESRIutil automation server' reference. Then run the AML through the Command method of the Arcedit or Arcplot object.

Procedure

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor.
   
2. Add an ESRI ODE control as a Component.
   

   From the Insert menu click Components.
   Check the ESRI Arcedit, ESRI Arcplot, or ESRI Grid control.
   

   
   
   
   
3. Add the ESRIutil automation server as a Reference.
   

   On the VBA editor Tools menu, click References. 
   Check "ESRIutil automation server".

   
   
   
   
4. Create a new form.
   

   From the Insert menu, select UserForm.

   
   
   
   
5. Add the ESRI control added in step two to the form.
   

   Right click on the ToolBox to open the Additional Controls dialog box.

   
   
   
   
6. Add a new instance of the chosen ESRI control to the form menu interface.
   
7. In the View menu > Properties Window, open the code for the desired document.
   
   

   Note:
   In ArcMap or ArcCatalog, this this may be Normal > Arcmap Objects > ThisDocument. ArcMap document code can also be added to Project > ArcMap Objects > ThisDocument.

   
   
8. Add a subroutine to load the form and unload it once the AML has run.
   
   

   Code:
   'This subroutine is linked to a UIButtonControl
   'added to the ArcMap or ArcCatalog interface.
     Private Sub UIButtonControl2_Click()
       Load UserForm1
       Unload UserForm1
     End Sub

   
   
9. In the Initialize event of the form's code, instantiate an ESRIutil.Strings object and use the ESRI control's Command method to run the AML.
   
   

   Code:
   'The Arcplot control is used in this example.
   Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
       Dim Results As ESRIutil.Strings
       Dim ArcStatus As Long
       Set Results = New ESRIutil.Strings
       Results.Clear
       ArcStatus = Arcplot1.Command("&run c:\testdata\demo.aml", Results)
       Dim i As Integer
       Results.Clear
     End Sub