How to create custom Color Books ?

• ACB file format

Autodesk uses XML file format for defining ACB color book files - basically, this is a positive
step ...
But all ACB color book files shipped by AutoCAD/LT use the so-called RGB8Encrypt encoding
for RGB values - in order to "hide" copyright-protected PANTONE/RAL color definitions ... see
TrueColor dialog inside AutoCAD. For this reason, it is impossible to create/edit your own color
book files based on shipped samples.

But beside this encrypted ACB format, there is also an uncrypted ACB format available ... not
really documented by Autodesk, but quite simple too.
Instead of using RGB8Encrypt/redEncrypt/greenEncrypt/blueEncrypt XML keywords, this
open ACB file format uses RGB8/red/green/blue keywords, which allows using normal RGB
values.

For example see below.

• Using Autodesk ACB-Editor

Autodesk offers a free "Autodesk Color Book Editor" to create your own color books -
download under

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=3276137&linkID=2475161

This tool is designed as HTML/XML application and requires MS Internet Explorer using default
security settings, and uses JavaScript, VisualBasic-Script and ActiveX components.
And of course, it is only available in English language - as usual !

• Using HTML-/XML-/ASCII editors

Alternatively, there is no problem at all to use any suitable HTML/XML editor or even any pure
ASCII editors (like Notepad.exe - do not use Wordpad.exe oder Word.exe !) to create/edit ACB
color books .
Syntax of color definitions is quite simple and self-explaining.

ColorBook example using RGB8Encrypt format (encrypted) :

<colorPage>
<pageColor> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>EPY</redEncrypt>
<greenEncrypt>UOH</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>QFV</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt>
</pageColor>
<colorEntry> <colorName>XXX 100</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>GGR</redEncrypt>
<greenEncrypt>PMH</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>UGH</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt>
</colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>XXX 101</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt>
<redEncrypt>ZMW</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>TRE</greenEncrypt>
<blueEncrypt>AMI</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>XXX 102</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>MYI</redEncrypt>
<greenEncrypt>AQL</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>NQO</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt>
</colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>XXX 103</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>WLT</redEncrypt>
<greenEncrypt>UOF</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>DHM</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt>
</colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>XXX 104</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>LXG</redEncrypt>
<greenEncrypt>UJF</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>IMN</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
</colorPage>

ColorBook example using RGB8 format (not encrypted) :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding = "UTF-8"?>

<colorBook>
<bookName>ACB Template</bookName>
<colorPage>
<pageColor> <RGB8> <red>100</red> <green>100</green> <blue>100</blue> </RGB8>
</pageColor>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 100,100,100</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>100</green> <blue>100</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 102,102,102</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>102</green> <blue>102</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 104,104,104</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>104</green> <blue>104</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 106,106,106</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>106</green> <blue>106</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 108,108,108</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>108</green> <blue>108</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
<colorEntry> <colorName>Test 110,110,110</colorName> <RGB8> <red>100</red>
<green>110</green> <blue>110</blue> </RGB8> </colorEntry>
</colorPage>
</colorBook>

As to see, the difference between both formats are the different XML keywords only :
RGB8Encrypt => RGB8
redEncrypt => red
greenEncrypt => green
blueEncrypt => blue
The open RGB8 format uses normal RGB values.

The provided sample color book "ACB-Template.acb" can be used as a template file.