AutoCAD Platform Customization. Ambrosius Lee

Chapter 12 : Understanding AutoLISP In this chapter, you'll learn the fundamentals of the AutoLISP programming language. AutoLISP fundamentals include a look at the syntax and structure of an expression, how to use a function, and how to work with variables. Beyond just syntax and variables, you learn to use AutoCAD commands and group multiple AutoLISP expressions into custom functions.

       Chapter 13 : Calculating and Working with Values In this chapter, you'll learn to work with mathematical and string manipulation functions. Math functions allow you to perform basic and advanced calculations based on object values or a value that the user might provide, whereas string manipulation functions allow you to work with text-based values. Both numeric and textual values are used when creating or manipulating objects, adding annotations to a drawing, or displaying a message to the end user. Based on how the values are used, numeric values can be converted to strings and strings can be converted to numeric values.

       Chapter 14 : Working with Lists In this chapter, you'll learn to work with the list data type. Lists are used throughout AutoLISP to provide 2D or 3D coordinate values or to define an object stored in a drawing.

       Chapter 15 : Requesting Input, and Using Conditional and Looping Expressions In this chapter, you'll learn to request input from the user, use conditional statements, and repeat expressions. Requesting input allows you to get values from the user and then use those values to determine the end result of the program. Conditional statements enable a program to make choices based on known conditions in a drawing or input from a user. After you understand conditional statements, you will learn to use them in conjunction with looping expressions to execute a set of expressions until a condition is met.

       Chapter 16 : Creating and Modifying Graphical Objects In this chapter, you'll learn how to create, modify, and attach extended data to graphical objects using AutoCAD commands and AutoLISP functions. Graphical objects represent the drawing objects, such as a line, an arc, or a circle, that are displayed in model space or on a named layout. When modifying objects, you can choose to step through all the objects in a drawing or let the user select the objects to be modified. Extended data allows you to store information with an object that can be used to identify the objects your program creates or link objects to external database records.

       Chapter 17 : Creating and Modifying Nongraphical Objects In this chapter, you'll learn how to create and modify nongraphical objects using AutoCAD commands and AutoLISP functions. Nongraphical objects are used to control the appearance of graphical objects and store settings that affect the behavior of features in the AutoCAD program. Drawings support two different types of nongraphical objects: symbol table objects and dictionaries.

       Chapter 18 : Working with the Operating System and External Files In this chapter, you will learn how to work with settings and files stored outside of the AutoCAD program. Settings can be stored in the Windows Registry and Plist files on Mac OS, and they can be used to affect the behavior of the AutoCAD program or persist values for your custom programs between AutoCAD sessions. Files and folders stored in the operating system can be accessed and manipulated from the AutoCAD program, which allows you to set up project folders or populate project information in the title block of a drawing from an external file.

       Chapter 19 : Catching and Handling Errors In this chapter, you will learn how to catch and handle errors that are caused by an AutoLISP function and keep an AutoLISP program from terminating early. AutoLISP provides functions that allow you to trace a function, see arguments as they are passed, catch an error and determine how it should be handled, and group functions together so all the actions performed can be rolled back as a single operation.

       Chapter 20 : Authoring, Managing, and Loading AutoLISP Programs In this chapter, you will learn how to store AutoLISP code statements in a file, load and manage AutoLISP files, and deploy custom programs with plug-in bundles. Storing AutoLISP code in a file allows for its reuse in multiple drawings. When you load an AutoLISP file, all of the functions defined in the file are made available while the drawing remains open. Based on how you load or deploy an AutoLISP file, you might need to let the AutoCAD program know where your AutoLISP files are stored.

       Chapter 21 : Using the Visual LISP Editor (Windows only) In this chapter, you will learn how to use the Visual LISP® Editor. The editor provides tools for writing, formatting, validating, and debugging code in an AutoLISP file. Using the Visual LISP Editor, you can group AutoLISP files into project files, which make them easy to manage and compile. Compiling an AutoLISP file secures the source code contained in the file so that it can't be altered by others.

       Chapter 22 : Working with ActiveX/COM Libraries (Windows only) In this chapter, you will learn how to use ActiveX/COM libraries with AutoLISP. ActiveX provides access to additional functions, which allow for the creation and manipulation of drawing objects and AutoCAD application settings that aren't easily accessible with standard AutoLISP functions. External applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, can also be accessed from the AutoCAD program when using ActiveX.

       Chapter 23 : Implementing Dialog Boxes (Windows only) In this chapter, you will learn how to create and use dialog boxes with an AutoLISP program. Dialog boxes provide an alternative method of requesting input from the user and are implemented using Dialog Control Language (DCL).

Part III: AutoCAD VBA: Programming with VBA and ActiveX (Windows only)

       Chapter 24 : Understanding the AutoCAD VBA Environment In this chapter, you'll get an introduction to the Visual Basic Editor. I begin by showing you how to verify whether the VBA environment for AutoCAD has been installed and, if not, how to install it. After that, you are eased into navigating the Visual Basic Editor and managing VBA programs. The chapter wraps up with learning how to execute macros and access the help documentation.

       Chapter 25 : Understanding Visual Basic for Applications In this chapter, you'll learn the fundamentals of the VBA programming language and how to work with objects. VBA fundamentals include a look at the syntax and structure of a statement, how to use a function, and how to work with variables. Beyond syntax and variables, you learn to group multiple statements into custom procedure.

       Chapter 26 : Interacting with the Application and Documents Objects In this chapter, you'll learn to work with the AutoCAD application and manage documents. Many of the tasks you perform with an AutoCAD VBA program require you to work with either the application or a document. For example, you can get the objects in a drawing and even access end-user preferences. Although you typically work with the current document, VBA allows you to work with all open documents and create new documents. From the current document, you can execute commands and work with system variables from within a VBA program, which allows you to leverage and apply your knowledge of working with commands and system variables.

       Chapter 27 : Creating and Modifying Drawing Objects In this chapter, you'll learn to create and modify graphical objects in model space with VBA. Graphical objects represent the drawing objects, such as a line, an arc, or a circle. The methods and properties of an object are used to