How to create an APL file

This sample demonstrates how to use the CreateAPL method of the IArcPadExtension interface to write out ArcPad Layer files (*.apl) for all shapefile layers in the current map.

How to use

Open ArcMap and add at least one shapefile.
Paste the code into VBA and run the macro.

[VBA]


        Public Sub CreateAPL()
    'Get a reference to the ArcPad Extension
    Dim pAPExtension As IArcPadExtension
    Dim pID As New UID
    pID = "editorExt.ArcPadExtension"
    Set pAPExtension = Application.FindExtensionByCLSID(pID)
    
    'Get a reference to the Map
    Dim pMxDoc As IMxDocument
    Dim pMap As IMap
    Set pMxDoc = ThisDocument
    Set pMap = pMxDoc.FocusMap
    
    'Check each layer in the map to see if it is a shapefile
    'If so, increment the shapefile counter and create an APL for it
    Dim pLayer As ILayer
    Dim pFLayer As IFeatureLayer
    Dim pFClass As IFeatureClass
    Dim pDataSet As IDataset
    Dim lCount As Long, lShapefileCount As Long
    
    For lCount = 0 To (pMap.LayerCount - 1)
        Set pLayer = pMap.Layer(lCount)
        If TypeOf pLayer Is IFeatureLayer Then
            Set pFLayer = pLayer 'QI
            Set pFClass = pFLayer.FeatureClass
            Set pDataSet = pFClass 'QI
            If pDataSet.Category = "Shapefile Feature Class" Then
                lShapefileCount = lShapefileCount + 1
                'Create an .APL file for the shapefile
                pAPExtension.CreateAPL pLayer
            End If
        End If
    Next
    
    MsgBox lShapefileCount & " .APL file(s) created."
End Sub