Visual LISP IDE to Visual Studio Code Feature Access Comparison (AutoLISP/ VS Code)

Comparison of how to access common features and workflows in the Visual LISP IDE and Visual Studio Code.

The following tables provide an outline of the features and workflows that are common between both the Visual LISP IDE and Visual Studio Code along with how they can be accessed.

Edit Tools

Feature	Visual LISP IDE	Visual Studio Code
Parentheses Matching	Edit > Parentheses Matching > Match Forward Edit > Parentheses Matching > Match Backward	Go > Go to Bracket Click next to an open or closing parenthesis
Select Matching Parentheses	Edit > Parentheses Matching > Select Forward Edit > Parentheses Matching > Select Backward	Click to the right of an open parenthesis or left of a closing parenthesis, and press Shift+Alt+RightArrow 2 (or 3) times
Comment Block	Edit > Extra Commands > Comment Block	Edit > Toggle Line Comment Edit > Toggle Block Comment
Uncomment Block	Edit > Extra Commands > Uncomment Block	Edit > Toggle Line Comment Edit > Toggle Block Comment
Format Code in Selection	Tools > Format Code in Selection	Right-click > Format Selection
Format Code in Editor	Tools > Format Code in Editor	Right-click > Format Document
Format Settings	Tools > Environment Options > Visual LISP Format Options	File > Preferences > Settings > Extensions > AutoCAD AutoLISP Configuration

Search Tools

Feature	Visual LISP IDE	Visual Studio Code
Find	Search > Find > Current File option	Edit > Find
Find in Files	Search > Find > Files option	Edit > Find in Files
Replace	Search > Replace > Current File option	Edit > Replace
Replace in Files	Search > Replace > Files option	Edit > Replace in Files
Go to Line	Search > Go to Line	Go > Go to Line/Column
Go to Last Edit	Search > Go to Last Edit	Go > Last Edit Location

View Tools

Feature	Visual LISP IDE	Visual Studio Code
Inspect	View > Inspect	View > Debug Console*
Trace Stack	View > Trace Stack	View > Run > CALL STACK section
Watch Window	View > Watch Window	View > Run > WATCH section
Breakpoint Window	View > Breakpoints Window	View > Run > BREAKPOINTS section
Visual LISP Console	View > LISP Console	View > Debug Console*
Output Window	View > Output Window	View > Output

Note: * - Denotes the features in Visual Studio Code that are available only when Debug is active.

Debug Tools

Feature	Visual LISP IDE	Visual Studio Code
Toggle Breakpoint	Debug > Toggle Breakpoint Right-click > Toggle Breakpoint	Run > Toggle Breakpoint Right-click > Add Inline Breakpoint
Clear All Breakpoints	Debug > Clear All Breakpoints	Run > Remove All Breakpoints RUN view > BREAKPOINTS section > Remove All Breakpoints
Add Watch	Debug > Add Watch Right-click > Add Watch	RUN view > WATCH section > Add Expression Right-click > Add to Watch*
Watch Last Evaluation	Debug > Watch Last Evaluation	RUN view > VARIABLES section > Last Value*
Debug: Step Into	Debug > Step Into	Run > Step Into*
Debug: Step Over	Debug > Step Over	Run > Step Over*
Debug: Step Out	Debug > Step Out	Run > Step Out*
Debug: Continue	Debug > Continue	Run > Continue*
Load Selection	Tools > Load Selection	Right-click > Evaluate in Debug Console*
Load Text in Editor	Tools > Load Text in Editor	Status Bar > Load LISP* CTRL+A > Right-click > Evaluate in Debug Console*

Note: * - Denotes the features in Visual Studio Code that are available only when Debug is active.