Extract annotations using API's

Howard wrote

Excellent idea. Check

for a proposal for a cad xml format. You'll find the writecadml.swp macro for solidworks which would be a good start for your project.

..or an object that can be imported in a Word document, such as an image.

AFAIK, symbols are defined by a Skecth in a BlockDefinition (but I couldn't find the API to retrieve the block from the note obkect...) Anyway, symbols are sketches, not characters of a font. I'd therefore advise to use SVG (scalar vector graphics), a "standard" XML format for graphics

which will let you convert your SVG into a picture that can be inserted in Word using Batik or other similar tools. In fact, I'm considering modifying cadML to export sketches as SVG, so I might give you a hand about this. (my problem is to integrate dimensions and constraints cleanly, but this isn't a problem for your symbols) You should consider generate an HTML document rather than a Word doc, with the following advantages:

1) you can view it on a simple browser, on an intranet 2) you could integrate an SVG viewer on the doc easily 3) it is easier to generate 4) you can read it in Word anyway if needed contact me at philippeATcadmlDOTorg if you want help about cadML Philippe Guglielmetti -