Lisp command in AutoCAD

Can have AutoCAD automatically load LISP routines

Issue:

how to have AutoCAD automatically load AutoLISP functions. The program's files must be manually reloaded each time it is run.

Solution:

You may either utilize the acad.lsp file or add AutoLISP routines to the AutoCAD Startup Suite to have them load automatically.

Enhance the Startup Suite with:

1. Start the APPLOAD (Command).
2. Click the Contents link under Startup Suite.
3. Select "Add" from the menu.
4. Navigating to the LISP file's location and choosing it should be followed by clicking the Open button.
5. Click the Close button once all LISP features have been added to the Startup Suite.
6. To end the Load/Unload Applications box, click Close once again.

Charge using the CUI

1. Launch the CUI (Command)
2. Select "acad.cuix" (or a custom partial .cuix).
3. Select the desired LISP files by doing a right-click.
4. From the context menu, you may choose to load LISP.
5. In order to add and choose the file, navigate to the LISP's location.
6. The CUI editor can be left by clicking Apply and Close.

Start an AutoLISP programme.

AutoLISP File Saving

Before we can execute any applications, we must ensure that the programme file (in this example, the.lsp file) is present on the system.

Depending on the browser you use, the method of saving the AutoLISP file may vary if you download programmes from my website. Firefox, in my opinion, allows you to see the file contents within the browser itself, whereas IE8 could offer you to store the file straight to your PC. In this situation, you have two options: either choose File » Save Page As and check that the Save as Type panel is set to All Files, or choose File » Save Page As and do the same. The data can be copied into a Notepad document that is open and saved as "filenames" (again, make sure File Type is set to "All Files").

The software is unaffected by the filename used to store the source code, albeit most users habitually utilize the function syntax (and maybe include the programme version).

Loading the programme

Method 1: AppLoad

Type AppLoad into the AutoCAD command line (or select Tools » Load Application from the menu).

Select the previously stored programme file, click Load, and the programme will be loaded into the current drawing session. You can click Close to close the Appload Dialog.

The loading status of the application and any loading messages the author may have chosen to include should be shown on the command line.

Method 2: Using ACADDOC.lsp

Another way to load an AutoLISP programme is to include a load call in the ACADDOC.lsp file.

When a new drawing is launched, AutoCAD searches the Support Paths for any ACADDOC.lsp files and loads the first one it finds.

Initially, use the AutoCAD command line to run the following command to confirm that an ACADDOC.lsp file already exists:

(findfile "ACADDOC.lsp")

If a filepath is provided, open the existing ACADDOC.lsp file and make the required adjustments in the subsequent stages.

Instead, you may create a new document in Notepad (or another plain text editor) and save it as ACADDOC.lsp under an AutoCAD Support Path (ensuring the Save As Type panel is once again set to All Files).

The ACADDOC.lsp should include the following line:

(load "C:\\MyFolder\\MyLISP.lsp" "MyLISP Failed to Load")

If the LISP file is not in the AutoCAD Support Path, a full filepath must be specified in order to identify it; in this instance, double backslashes must be used in the path.

Open a new drawing after you're done, and the LISP files should load.

Note: If opening drawings is being slowed down by using this approach to load several LISP files at startup, see my guide on utilizing AutoLoad to demand load LISP files.

Method 3: Utilizing the Visual LISP Integrated Development environment as a third option (VLIDE)

Since the VLIDE provides a variety of debugging tools while creating and loading code, this approach is primarily intended for developers.

At the AutoCAD command line, type VLIDE to load a programme this way. Select the previously saved file by choosing File » Open File (or by pressing Ctrl+O) in the box that subsequently displays.

Go to Tools » Load Text in Editor now, or press Ctrl+Alt+E instead.

Start the Program

If the programme loaded successfully, you may now continue to execute it within the current drawing session.

The programme header or the author's loading messages may provide the syntax (command name) to call the programme. You can go through the source code to find the command to use if it isn't present in any of these places.

The syntax will appear in a defun function call, following the c: for example

(defun c:MyCommand ( )
…

The command in the aforementioned illustration would be My Command.

The purpose of this subfunction is to be called from another programme if the c: does not come after the defun function.

The AutoCAD command line may be used to launch the software once the command syntax is recognized.