Course Summary: AutoLISP has been around for a long time and has always separated the AutoCAD green thumbs from the gurus. This course begins by debunking some popular rumors and explores the amount of AutoLISP code used in CAD-dependent industries today. AutoLISP is more powerful, its free and it provides users with the ability to create new AutoCAD commands in minutes. This class helps seasoned AutoCAD users enter the world of customization and programming using AutoCAD's native graphical language. The class is designed for intermediate-level AutoCAD users who have never programmed in AutoLISP before.
Objectives To lay a firm foundation of the basics of Visual Lisp. Prepare you to write your own Visual Lisp routines Start you down the path to official AutoCAD Gurudom ( or Nerdom) Teach you some quick and dirty basics of Visual Lisp (dont look too close!). Discover new ways to torture your coworkers!
Hold on - we have a lot of information to cover in 80 minutes! First and Foremost! Dont let Visual Lisp intimidate you! What does LISP stand for? LISt Processor (not Lost In Stupid Parentheses!) The Basics Lists Functions Arguments Golden Rules of AutoLISP What is a LIST?
Anything inside of parentheses
Examples of LISTS: (a b c) (setq x 1) (princ) What is a FUNCTION? (or subr) The ACTION you want Visual Lisp to do!
In Visual Lisp the function ALWAYS go first!!!
Visual Lisp uses Prefix notation
Example: (+ 1 2) (- 5 3) (inters A B C D) (setq x 3)
Visual Lisp as a Calculator INFIX Notation (1 + 1) (3 * 4) (6 / 2) PREFIX Notation (+ 1 1) (* 3 4) (/ 6 2) Arguments Arguments are the values you pass to a function (+ 5 6) + is the function 5 and 6 are the arguments
(setq x Autodesk) Setq is the function X and Autodesk are the arguments The Golden Rules of Visual Lisp For every open paren, you must have a closed paren Example: (setq x (+ a b)) For every open double quote, you must have a closed double quote. Example: (prompt How are you?) The Key to unlocking complicated LISP routines: Visual Lisp works from the Inside Out (+ 5 (* 4 3)) is equal to (4 * 3) + 5 (- (+ 5 2) (* 6 (- 7 6))) is equal to (5 + 2) - (6 * (7 - 6)) 7 - (6 * 1)
Quiz Time! (* 4 (/ (+ 6 3) 3)) 12 (+ (* (- 5 2) (/ 15 3)) 6) 21 (/ (* (- 11 9) (+ 25 5)) (* 3 2)) 10 Some popular Data Types: Real Numbers 1.5 Integers 5 Strings LINE Lists (8 . DIM) Subrs (or functions) SETQ Real Numbers and Integers Real Numbers have decimal points Example: 1.3 5.0
Integers do not! Example: 25 11
Real Numbers must have a leading zero. .5 is incorrect 0.5 is correct
Dotted pair: (0 . CIRCLE) error: misplaced dot on input (/ 7 2) => 3 (/ 7 2.0) => 3.5 (+ 1 2 3 4 5 6. ) => 21.0 (+ 1 .5) => invalid dotted pair (+ 1 0.5) => 1.5 One real number changes the entire pot! Basic Arithmetic Functions (for you math-heads):
(sqrt x) (sin ang) (atan x) (expt x y) (cos ang) (abs x) (log x) (float x) (fix x) btw... Angles are measured in radians! (not degrees) and youll need to remember that. Strings Usually Text (literals) Always double-quoted Spaces accepted
Examples: autodesk line 1.25 Setting Variables (SETQ)
(SETQ X 1) SETQ is the function X is the variable name 1 is the value
Setting several variables at once: (SETQ A 1 B 2 C 3)
Variable Names Alpha-numeric May not contain spaces should not replace existing preset values such as T or pi
Note: A variable that hasnt been set is equal to nil Using Visual Lisp variables in AutoCAD (setq X 1 Y 2)
Command: !X returns 1 Command: circle 3P/2P/TTR/<Center point>: Diameter/<Radius>:!Y
Ways to ruin your Visual Lisp life (setq + -) (setq * /) (setq pi 2.5)
Visual Lisp will let you abuse yourself. . .
Using AutoCAD commands in Visual Lisp (the good stuff!) Using the COMMAND function, you can access the AutoCAD commands Example: (command QSAVE) (command TRIM) (command ZOOM P) (command LAYER)
By default, Visual Lisp doesnt display dialog boxes Visual Lisp displays the command line interface for commands.
To force the dialog box use: (initdia) Before the command:
(initdia) (command layer)
pause allow for user input
(command) cancel
enter (Command ZOOM A) (Command ERASE L ) (Command INSERT DESK pause 1 1 pause) (Command LINE A B C C) (Command TEXT pause .5 0 Visual Lisp) (Command LAYER S pause ) (Command)
Creating your own AutoCAD Commands (DEFUN) DEFUN binds a set of expressions to a variable. (DEFUN C:ZAP ( )
Command: zap
DEFUN is the function C: indicates the function will be an AutoCAD command ( ) indicates no local variables and no arguments (well get to that another time!) Anatomy of DEFUN DEFUN examples (DEFUN C:ZA ( ) (Command ZOOM A) ) (DEFUN C:SQ ( ) (Command POLYGON 4 E pause pause) ) (DEFUN C:ZAP ( ) (Command erase all ) ) SHORT.LSP (defun c:ls ( ) (command layer M pause ) ) (defun c:ZO ( ) (command ZOOM O) ) (defun c:ttr ( ) (command circle ttr pause pause pause) ) (defun c:Jellydonut ( ) (command donut 0 pause ) ) Loading Visual Lisp routines APPLOAD - used to load one or more Visual Lisp routines
(load short) Opening a dialog to a specific tab (command +dialogname X)
(command +options 7) will open the Options dialog to tab #8
(command +customize 0) Whats wrong with this picture? (defun c:door (insert door pause 1 1 45) ) (defun c:fun ()) (prompt are we having fun yet?) )
Lets create a command that breaks an object in the same spot twice (defun c:crack () Clean up your ACT! PRINC (get rid of the nils!) PPurge.LSP (Defun c:ppurge ( ) (command purge all * N) (princ) )
Just for fun! ALERT ALERT sends an ALERT box to the screen with the indicated text Example: (ALERT Formatting the hard drive)
ACAD.LSP or ACADDOC.LSP Automatic Visual Lisp Loading
Put frequently used Visual Lisp routines. Undefine those AutoCAD commands you want to automatically replace with Visual Lisp routines. Place partial menu loading instructions ACAD.LSP (defun c:ZA ( ) (command Zoom All) (princ)) (defun c:DT ( ) (setvar clayer TEXT) (command Dtext) (princ)) (defun c:bolt ( ) (command insert bolt pause pause pause) (princ))
Undefine and Redefine Permits undefining and redefining the internal AutoCAD commands
Note: AutoCAD commands can always be executed with a leading period. S::STARTUP a special section of ACAD.LSP (defun C:LINE ( ) (prompt Shouldnt you be using Polylines?) (command PLINE)) (defun S::STARTUP ( ) (command undefine line) )
Note: s::startup is the last file to be loaded before control is handed over to the user. Ways to torture your coworkers: ACAD.LSP (defun c:qsave ( ) (command undo b y) (command .qsave .qsave) (defun s::startup () (command undefine save) (command undefine qsave) (command undefine saveas) ) one more means of torture: (defun c:zoom ( ) (command erase L ) (command .zoom) (princ) ) (defun c:redo ( ) (prompt You goofed - deal with it!) ) (defun c:undo ( ) (alert Get it right the first time!)
Other evil things to put in s::startup! S::STARTUP (setvar angbase 180) OR (setvar snapang 0.000001) OR (command vpoint 0,0,-1) (command ucsicon off) Whats wrong with this picture?
(1 + 1) (* 5 .25) (/ 9 2) (setq x (+ 1 2) (defun d:dimwit (command text .5 90 pause) (alert hit cancel to exit dialog box) (defun s:startup ( )
Review LISP stands for. . . List Function Command pause