Project files allow you to manage and compile multiple AutoLISP source files that are used by a program.
A project contains a list of multiple AutoLISP source files, and a set of rules on how to compile the files. Once you create a new or open an existing project, you can manage the AutoLISP source files associated with the project. You can perform the following tasks when a project is open:
The Project menu allows you to open a project file. Multiple project files can be opened at a time, but only one project can be active at any one time. The Project menu indicates which project is active by placing a check mark in front of its project name.
If you attempt to open a project that has the same name as the active project (that is, the project file has the same name, but is in a different folder than the current active project), Visual LISP displays a message box asking you if you want to “relocate the project definition.” If you click Yes, Visual LISP loads the project file and replaces the active project. If you click No, Visual LISP does not load the project file, leaving the current active project in place.
When building a project, you can use the build options to control how the source files in the project should be compiled and linked. For example, you can specify whether to create a separate FAS file for each source file or merge all compiled files into a single FAS file. You can choose to have the compiler remove the names of all local symbols from your compiled files.