Visual LISP & Open DCL

Hi all,

Having started to my first article about DCL, I am just thinking how I can teach you easy and fast user interface programming technique. This is why I am going to make some explanations about OpenDCL package, also known as OpenSource Software which is very popular nowadays. Open DCL is a open source coded plug-in of AutoCAD which was developed for designing DCL interfaces much easier when you are programming with Visual Lisp. I have tested the programme marketed by Object DSL before but I decided not to use it since there were a lot of errors. Owen Wengerd, David Robinson and their friends who are the project managers of Open DCL, has perfected the package. By means of this article, I thank these people.

The Runtime and Studio versions have to be downloaded to use the programme. The Runtime version includes the ARX programmes “OpenDCL.16.arx” and “OpenDCL.17.arx” that are necessary for AutoCAD. There is also the “OpenDCL.x64.17.arx” file that is necessary for the AutoCAD 2008 64-bit version. The Runtime package which is also known as “OpenDCL.Runtime.ENU.4.0.3.1.msi” is used for displaying the personal interfaces like the box in Figure 1. The Open DCL Studio is the necessary programme for interface design. This should be familiar to Visual Basic™ or Microsoft Studio™ .Net users.

The main page of the programme (www.opendcl.com) has a link for download. (P.S.: If the install packages in the SourceForge web site do not show up, the port no.443 may be closed. You have to keep it open.)

Let us deal with the Visual Lisp version of the primitive application of Find-Replace coded by Orhan Toker . You may consider this as a simple application of the Find command which is found in the shortcut menu when you click the right mouse button. The point is to teach you the AutoLisp language in a simple way. For instance how can we use the Selection Set? We present the sub-functions that requires some experience particularly in Visual Lisp language. The rest is depends on your resolution .

Fig.1 - Interface design

The events that was selected for control objects constitute the name of the functions as templates. The part below written in red can be easily copied and added to Autolisp Code. (Figure 2)

Fig.2 - TextBox için gerekli olan Event - EditChanged

I want to make further explanations about the subject by making a table that describes the control objects used in the form and which Autolisp functions are user related in which events (Figure 3). There are three different objects in the Find-Replace form.

• (Command Button)
• (Text Box)
• (Label)

Fig.3 - Methods founded in FR.ODCL

As can be seen below, “LoadRuntime” function is presented by loading “_OpenDCLUtils.lsp” programme (Figure 4). By means of LoadRuntime, the necessary ARX file is automatically ready to be used and we can use Open DCL functions with no errors.

It is possible to see the “OpenDCLUtils.lsp” programme in the \Program Files\Open DCLStudio\Examples folder. (P.S.: I have added the “_” character. It is useful to differ it from other files.)

Fig.4 - Main function “C:FR_ODCL” or “C:X“

You have to input the necessary data for variables before the interface screen shows up in Autocad. The Initialize method that is necessary for the form is for this issue. (Figure 5)

Fig.5 - Sub function “C:FR_frmFndRep_OnInitialize“

“EditChanged” is used when the data in the Text Box is changed. (Figure 6)

Fig.6 - Sub function “C:FR_frmFndRep_txtRep_OnEditChanged“

The sub-function presented when you click the “OK” button. (Figure 7)

Fig.7 - Sub function “C:FR_frmFndRep_cmdOK_OnClicked“

The onClicked event assigned to the “Cancel” button. (Figure

Fig.8 - Sub function “C:FR_frmFndRep_cmdCancel_OnClicked“

“C:FR_LispExe” function filters the whole TEXT objects and exchange them. It will print a numerical value (the number of exchanged objects) if the process is succeed.

Fig.9 - Sub function “C:FR_LispExe”

Sometimes it is useless to use interface and it is better to use the command line. For instance, there will be something common between the “C:FR” command (Figure 10) and “C:FR_ODCL” command if you have a automatic AutoCAD Script. Both of them uses the sub-function “C:FR_LispExe”. It is possible to check the system variable FILEDIA and guide the programme whether you want to use the command line or interface. (1 for interface and 0 for command line)

Fig.10 - Main function “C:FR”

A similar sub-function called “UTL:GET:STRING” to “getstring” founded in AutoCAD is adapted as Visual Lisp. (Figure 11)

Fig.11 - Sub function “UTL:GET:STRING“

The sub-functions of the programme “C:DelPtX” that I wrote before this one can be seen below. We will use “UTL:ADD:SELECTIONSET” (Figure 12) and “UTL:SEL:SET-FILTER” (Figure 13) again.

Fig.12 - Sub function “UTL:ADD-SELECTIONSET“

Fig.13 - Sub function “UTL:SEL:SET-FILTER“

Visual LISP functions used in programme:

• vl-catch-all-error-p, vl-catch-all-apply
• vlax-for, vla-Add, vla-item
• vlax-Select, vla-SelectOnScreen, vla-Highlight
• vlax-SafeArray-Fill, vlax-Make-SafeArray

Source Files:

• odcl-FindReplace.rar

May it be easy to you,

Technorati Tags: Visual LISP, Open DCL, AutoCAD 2008

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Autocad, DCL, Visual LISP