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Network Your AutoCAD with AutoLISPRobert Green

Network Your AutoCAD with AutoLISPRobert Green

Robert Green bio …

Mechanical engineer turned computer geekCAD user since 1985CAD manager since 1989LISP hacker since Release 9 CADENCE/Cadalyst author since 1998Still trying to learn everything I can …

Network Your AutoCAD with AutoLISPRobert Green

Some fundamentalsLISP – LISt ProcessorShould you still use LISP?Everything is in lists

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Key files and why they matter …

LSPLoad in orderWhat to mess withWhat not to!

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All those wacky file names … ACAD20XX.LSP (system file – XX is version)ACAD.LSP (This is your file)ACAD20XXDOC.LSP (system file - XX is version)ACADDOC.LSP (This is your file)CUINAME.MNL (loads with CUI)So what does it all mean?

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What do they do, where they live … They load on startup of AutoCADThey load in a certain order (listed on previous slide)Some have code in them and some don’t (ACADDOC.LSP and ACAD.LSP don’t as an example)They reside in the SUPPORT folder …

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So what should I do … Use ACADDOC.LSP to get startedYou create your own ACADDOC.LSP It loads with every new drawingPut in in the SUPPORT folder and start hacking awayIf you mess up too bad, just delete!

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Make sure it works …

Create ACADDOC.LSPLoad from network?Verify operation

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Find the support folder … Use OPTIONS to find the folders …

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Add a network folder … Use OPTIONS to add it …

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Create the file … Use Notepad – not Word!Use (prompt “\nACADDOC.LSP loaded.”) as text

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Save the file … To the SUPPORT folderUse ACADDOC.LSP as the name

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Alternately … You can use APPLOAD to load filesYou can use STARTUP SUITE to load at each start

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Syntax Basics Lists and ArgumentsRules of AutoLISPAccessing the command lineSpecial characters

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Lists and Arguments (+ 20 30)

Here the + is a FUNCTION and the two numbers are ARGUMENTS

(command “line” “0,0” “1,1” “”) Here COMMAND is the function, all others are ARGUMENTS

(getvar “dimscale”)Which is the function? The argument?

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What’s Going On Here?(command “viewres” “y” “5000”) (command “-color” “BYLAYER”)(command “-linetype” “set” “BYLAYER” “”)(command “menu” “menuname.mnc”) (command “viewres” “y” pause)

That’s not so bad …intuitive actually …

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User functions Speed for the userLower support for youA win-win scenarioLet’s put everything we’ve learned into action to build some functions.

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User Function Examples

(defun C:ZA ()(command “.zoom” “a”)(princ)

)

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User Function Examples

(defun C:ZA ()(command “.zoom” “a”)(princ)

)

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User Function Examples(defun C:VR ()(command “viewres” “y” “5000”)

)

* Note that I left out PRINC?

(defun C:BL ()(command “-color” “BYLAYER”) (command “-linetype” “set” “BYLAYER” “”) (princ)

)

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Fillet Zero FunctionFillet Zero(defun c:fz () (setvar “filletrad” 0.0)(command “.fillet” pause pause)(princ)

)

* What have I not done in this function?

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Improved Fillet Zero (defun c:fz () (setq old_filletrad (getvar “filletrad”))(setvar “filletrad” 0.0) (command “.fillet” pause pause) (setvar “filletrad” old_filletrad)(princ)

)

* Note how we store and recall the FILLETRAD so the function puts things back the way they were!

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Auto Purge FunctionAuto Purge(defun c:atp () (command “-purge” “a” “*” “n” “.qsave”)(princ)

)

(defun c:atp () (command “-purge” “b” “*” “n” “.qsave”)(princ)

)

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Take Control of the Command Set …

UndefineDot formRedefine AlertsCMDECHO

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Undefining … (command “.undefine” “LINE”)(command “.undefine” “TORUS”)

Don’t want them messing with a command? Just undefine it …

Now you can SUBTRACT from the AutoCAD Command set in your ACADDOC.LSP file.

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The DOT form … Invoke commands like this: .LINENote the dot “.” character?This allows you to invoke a command whether it has been undefined or not!This is our little secret right ...

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Redefining … (command “.redefine” “LINE”)(command “.redefine” “TORUS”)

Want to be sure that a command is active?Just redefine it …

Now you can UNSUBTRACT from the AutoCAD Command set with ease.

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Undefining revisited … What if your users find out about REDEFINE and start REDEFINING your UNDEFINES?

Just undefine the redefine like this:

(command “.undefine” “REDEFINE”)

That’ll stop users from redefining …

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Redefining … You can undefine a command and redefine it like this:

(command “.undefine” “TORUS”)

(defun C:TORUS ()(alert “Don’t use that command!”)(princ)

)

Now you do whatever you want!

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What Does This Do?(command “.undefine” “QSAVE”)

(defun c:qsave () (command “-purge” “b” “*” “n”)(command “.qsave”)(princ)

)

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Alerting the user … You can send a message to the user like this:

(alert “Message goes here”)

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Command echo (CMDECHO) Run in STEALTH mode like this:(defun C:BL ()

(setvar “cmdecho” 0) (command “-color” “BYLAYER”)(command “-linetype” “set” “BYLAYER” “”) (setvar “cmdecho” 1)

(princ))

* SETVAR is on or off so no need to store it’s value

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Automate the Folders …Registry readsRegistry writesImpose profiles without actually using profilesLet’s make the leap

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Locate the registry keys

Use REGEDITFind the versionFind the profile

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Locate the registry keys

Find the key

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Override with code

(setenv "PrinterConfigDir" "C:\\TEMP\\acad\\Plotters")

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Synch the Folders …Network filesCopy to local folderConsistency No permissions hassles

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Add this to ACADDOC.LSP

(command "shell" "robocopy \\\\server\\folder c:\\temp /e")

Where \\\\server is your server locationAnd \\folder is the full path to the files

Let’s see an example:

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Compile and remote load code …VLIDELoad operations

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VLIDE environment … You can write code in the VLIDE window like this:

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Compile your code … Use the VLIDE environment like this:

(vlisp-compile ‘st “c:\\test\\myprog.lsp”)

You’ll get MYPROG.FAS as a result

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Load compiled code … Use a LOAD statement like this:

(load “c:\\test\\myprog.fas”)

Now your LSP code is secure!Be sure not to lose your LSP file though!

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Centralized code … (if (findfile "x:\\autolisp\\utils1.fas")

(load "x:\\autolisp\\utils1.fas")))

Network loaded compiled programs are the way to go for security.

Load these files from your ACADDOC.LSP

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Wrapping up: ResourcesThe course handout (it has extra coverage)CAD-Manager.com/su password = synergisEmail: rgreen@CAD-Manager.comCadalyst Magazine (Hot Tip Harry)Developer’s HelpThe Garden Path example

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Thank you and keep in touch!

Robert Greenrgreen@CAD-Manager.com