AutoLISP Developer's Guide (AutoLISP)

The AutoLISP Developer's Guide provides you with an overview of the main topics and workflows for using the AutoLISP programming language.

Sections in this Topic

• Tutorials
• AutoLISP Programming
• Using Visual Studio (VS) Code with the AutoCAD AutoLISP Extension
• Utilizing the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only)
• Working with Programmable Dialog Boxes DCL
• Extending AutoLISP with ActiveX (Windows only)

Tutorials

Basic

Getting Started

Creating a New Command and Working with System Variables

Creating, Loading, and Opening an AutoLISP File

AutoCAD AutoLISP Extension

Installing and Configuring the AutoLISP Extension

Getting Started with the AutoLISP Extension

Debugging LSP Files with the AutoLISP Extension

Formatting LSP Files with the AutoLISP Extension

Visual LISP IDE (Windows only)

Garden Path

AutoLISP Programming

Getting Started

Getting Organized

AutoLISP and Visual LISP

AutoLISP Documentation

Related Developer References

What's New or Changed

Basics

Expressions

Function Syntax

Defining Commands

Variables

Source Code Files

Comments in AutoLISP Program Files

Create and Open AutoLISP Source Code Files

Data Types

Integers

Reals

Lists

Point Lists

Dotted Pairs

Strings

Entity Names

Nil

Converting Data Types and Geometric Utilities

Angular Conversion

String Conversions

ASCII Codes

Coordinate System Transformations

Geometric Utilities

Unit Conversion

Working with AutoCAD and Using Commands

System and Environment Variables

Using AutoCAD Commands

Undoing Changes Made by a Routine

Pausing for User Input During an AutoCAD Command

Passing Pick Points to AutoCAD Commands

Accessing and Assigning Help to a Command

Prompting for User Input

Accessing and Requesting User Input

Controlling User-Input Function Conditions

Arbitrary Keyboard Input

Manipulating Drawing Objects

Adding an Entity without Using the Command Function

Modifying an Entity without the Command Function

Obtaining Entity Information

Selecting Objects and Selection Sets

Attaching Extended Data to an Entity

Symbol Tables

Dictionary Objects and Entries

Interacting with Devices and Operating System

Configuration Files

Controlling the Graphics and Text Windows

Controlling Low-Level Graphics

Controlling Menus

Calibrating Tablets

Searching for Files

File Descriptors

Handling Errors in AutoLISP Programs

Error Handling

Using the *error* Function

Catching Errors and Continuing Program Execution

Exiting a Function Quietly

Debugging AutoLISP Programs

Displaying Messages

Using Visual Studio (VS) Code with the AutoCAD AutoLISP Extension

Overview

Getting Started with Visual Studio Code

Getting Started Videos

What is and Why Visual Studio Code?

Configuring Visual Studio Code

Managing, Debugging, and Compiling AutoLISP Files

Creating and Opening AutoLISP Files

Editing AutoLISP Files

Formatting AutoLISP Files

Debugging AutoLISP Files

Compiling AutoLISP Files (Windows Only)

Utilizing the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only)

Editor Tools

Visual LISP Integrated Development Environment

Visual LISP User Interface Reference

Visual LISP Menu Bar Reference

Visual LISP Text Editor

Visual LISP Console Window Reference

Debugging Tools

Formatting Code

Data Inspection Tools

Visual LISP Environment and Formatting Options

Working with Project Files

Building Applications

Project Files

Compiling and Recompiling Project Files

References

Visual LISP Related File Extensions

Working with Programmable Dialog Boxes DCL

Overview

Syntax and Comments in DCL Files

Example: Quick Overview of Dialog Boxes

Defining a Dialog Box

Designing Dialog Boxes

Dialog Box Components

Tile Definitions

Tile References

Working with a Dialog Box

Function Sequence to Display and Work with a Dialog

Initializing Modes and Values

Action Expressions and Callbacks

Displaying Nested Dialog Boxes

Extending AutoLISP with ActiveX (Windows only)

Overview

AutoCAD Object Model

Accessing the AutoCAD Application Object

Using ActiveX with AutoLISP

Example: Intercept Error Returned by an ActiveX Method

ActiveX Related Data Types

Safearrays

Variants

VLA-objects

Converting Between AutoLISP and ActiveX Data Types

Working with Object Methods and Properties

Calling an ActiveX Method

Invoking an Object's Method

Obtaining and Setting an Object's Property

Accessing the Current Document Object

Listing an Object's Properties and Methods

Working with Reactors

Creating Reactors

Attaching Reactors to Drawings

Using Object Reactors

Reactor Guidelines

Accessing Other Applications

Using ActiveX to Interact with Other Applications

Using ActiveX without Importing a Type Library

Releasing Objects and Freeing Memory