The AutoCAD Tutor

This is the first in a series of monthly columns in which we will examine various topics in AutoCAD. If you have any suggestions for topics for future columns, please feel free to send me a note, either by fax at 422-8380, or by hand at a future meeting. This month's topic: Really, Really Basic AutoLisp.

Every month, we see great AutoLisp programs from the shareware library demonstrated. For some people, these programs may look great, but, they aren't comfortable installing them on their computer. The purpose of this article is to show you exactly how to get started.First, get a disk at the next meeting. Back at your computer, you need a place to put the files.

Try this:

    1) Start the computer, but, don't start AutoCAD. If your system is set up so that AutoCAD starts automatically, that's okay. Just type SH at the AutoCAD command prompt to shell out to DOS.

    2) We are going to put the files on the C: drive. (If you would rather put the files on the network for general use, stop at this point, and have your network administrator take over.)

    This will create a storage directory for you to keep your new AutoLisp files in.

    3) Put the diskette in the drive. If it goes in the top drive bay on your computer, that's usually the A: drive. If there is a second bay, that's usually the B: drive.

    This copies all the files from the diskette in the A: drive to your C:\LISP storage directory.

    4) Many of the files are compressed in .ZIP format. The un-compress program was copied along with everything else in step 3) To use it...

    You should now have a whole bunch of Lisp files.

    Back to AutoCAD. Either start AutoCAD running, (if you used SH to shell out of AutoCAD, type EXIT) Find the pop-down menu item APPLICATIONS. In AutoCAD 12, this is under the File menu. In r13, this has been moved to the Tools menu. This menu item is you r key to making it easy to use AutoLisp programs. Here, you can add your favourite programs dialogue box, first click on the Files... button, then change the directory to your C:\LISP directory. Choose the file(s) you want and click on OK. The AutoLisp programs you selected are now a permanent part of your menu.

    This step is required since AutoLisp programs must be loaded into AutoCAD before they can be used, and each load is only valid for the current working session. The next time you open a drawing, you will need to re-load the programs. Thanks to the Applications menu, this requires only a few clicks of the mouse - open the dialogue box, click on all the programs you want, then click on Lo ad. The program is now ready to run, as per its instructions.

    Using AutoLisp is as easy as that. Now that you know how, you no longer have an excuse not to take advantage of the shareware library to enhance your own productivity. Enjoy, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

    Happy Computing! -- Andrew Harvie, P. Eng.