Network Your AutoCAD with AutoLISP

Transcription

Robert Green
Robert Green bio …

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

LISP – LISt Processor
Should you still use LISP?
Everything is in lists
Robert Green
Key files and why they matter …
LSP
Load
in order
What to mess with
What not to!
Robert Green
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?
Robert Green
What do they do, where they live …

They load on startup of AutoCAD
They 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 …
Robert Green
So what should I do …

Use ACADDOC.LSP to get started
You create your own ACADDOC.LSP
It loads with every new drawing
Put in in the SUPPORT folder and start hacking away
If you mess up too bad, just delete!
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Make sure it works …
Create
ACADDOC.LSP
Load 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 folder
Use ACADDOC.LSP as the name
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Alternately …

You can use APPLOAD to load files
You can use STARTUP SUITE to load at each start
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Syntax Basics

Lists and Arguments
Rules of AutoLISP
Accessing the command line
Special characters
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Lists and Arguments

(+ 20 30)

(command “line” “0,0” “1,1” “”)

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

Robert Green
User functions

Speed for the user
Lower support for you
A win-win scenario
Let’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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(defun C:ZA ()
(command “.zoom” “a”)
(princ)
)
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(defun C:VR ()
(command “viewres” “y” “5000”)
)
* Note that I left out PRINC?
(defun C:BL ()
(princ)
)
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Fillet Zero Function
Fillet 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!
Robert Green
Auto Purge Function
Auto 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 …

Undefine
Dot form
Redefine
Alerts
CMDECHO
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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: .LINE
Note 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.
Robert Green
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 …
Robert Green
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!
Robert Green
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)
(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 reads
Registry writes
Impose profiles without
actually using profiles
Let’s make the leap
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Locate the registry keys
Use REGEDIT
Find the version
Find the profile
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Locate the registry keys
Find the key
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Override with code
(setenv "PrinterConfigDir"
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"C:\\TEMP\\acad\\Plotters")
Synch the Folders …

Network files
Copy to local folder
Consistency
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 location
And \\folder is the full path to the files
Let’s see an example:
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Compile and remote load code …

VLIDE
Load 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
Robert Green
Wrapping up: Resources

The course handout (it has extra coverage)
CAD-Manager.com/su password = synergis
Email: rgreen@CAD-Manager.com
Cadalyst Magazine (Hot Tip Harry)
Developer’s Help
The Garden Path example
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Thank you and keep in touch!
Robert Green
rgreen@CAD-Manager.com
Robert Green