HyperPics: Beyond the UI

Working with Environment Variables through AutoLISP

Ok I know environment variables are not as popular as they once use to be, but they can be very powerful in setting up unique values on the machine for company settings.  As you might have noticed in a few of the past postings I have been releasing sample code that uses the FSO (File System Object) of the Shell object.

This sample follows that same trend and uses the Shell object to manipulate environment variables that are maintained by the OS.  Below are three, yes I said three different examples of using the Shell object.  The first shows how to expand environment variables in a string.  This can be great for building file paths or getting information about the OS or PC.

;; Shows how to use expanding environment strings
;; Usage: (ExpEnvStr "%TEMP%\\MYDATA")
;; Results of sample: "C:\\DOCUME~1\\Lee\\LOCALS~1\\Temp\\MYDATA"
(defun ExpEnvStr ( strVal / wshShell)
  (vl-load-com)

  (setq wshShell (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell"))
  (vlax-invoke-method wshShell 'ExpandEnvironmentStrings strVal)
)

;; Retreive the value of the environment variable
;; Usage: (GetEnvStr "SYSTEM" "USERID")
(defun GetEnvStr ( strVarType strVarName / wshShell envVars)
  (vl-load-com)

  (setq wshShell (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell"))
  (setq envVars (vlax-get-property wshShell 'Environment strVarType))
  (vlax-get-property envVars 'Item strVarName)
)

;; Set the value to an environment variable
;; Usage: (SetEnvStr "SYSTEM" "USERID" "L123")
(defun SetEnvStr ( strVarType strVarName strVarVal / wshShell envVars)
  (vl-load-com)

  (setq wshShell (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell"))
  (setq envVars (vlax-get-property wshShell 'Environment strVarType))
  (vlax-put-property envVars 'Item strVarName strVarVal)
)

Got an idea for some sample code?  If you do, I would like to hear from you.  Your idea might be selected and the results posted on the blog or website.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Creating a New Document in AutoCAD with AutoLISP

It must be getting close to the end of the year and time to clean out the good old sample vault.  Many of the samples that have been put up on my blog have been created throughout this year based on questions that I have gotten through e-mail, in passing at events such as AU and even from my online forum.

Have you ever wanted to create a new document using a macro and tried to use the NEW command to do this?  Using the NEW command might not be the best approach.  Below is a very basic custom function that demonstrates how to create a new drawing based on a template through AutoLISP.

;; Begin Code
;; Written by: Lee Ambrosius
;; Command macro option ^P(createnewdwg "acadiso.dwt")

;; Load the Visual LISP environment
(vl-load-com)

;; Custom routine that allows you to create a new drawing
(defun createNewDWG (templateName)
  (vla-activate (vla-add (vla-get-documents (vlax-get-acad-object)) templateName))
(princ)
)
;; End Code

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk Offers AU Discount to All

Autodesk is offering a discount of 20% off all of is Autodesk courseware purchased through the eStore from now until December 15, 2005.  This was an offer that was introduced at this years AU and has been extended to include everyone.  There are many great titles that are being offered through Autodesk courseware and I can personally say that many of them are not just something that you will toss in the corner of your workstation and forget about.

Check them out on the Autodesk website.

Use the Promo Code "AU2005" when ordering.

The courses cover a wide variety of products that Autodesk offers including...
AutoCAD 2006
AutoCAD LT 2006
Autodesk Inventor 10
Autodesk Vault R4
Autodesk Revit Building 8
Autodesk Revit Structure 2
and others...

Sincerely,
  Lee

Printing a MS Word Doc using AutoLISP

Its that time of the year for giving out gifts and such... so today I have decided to drop a smaple of code that deomstrates how to print a MS Word document using AutoLISP.  What a great way to print your holiday newsletter while the boss things you are working in AutoCAD.  OK maybe not thebest of uses for the code sample.  It is possible to automate the printing process of not only your AutoCAD drawings, but also the spces that might need to go out with them at the same time.  The code can be modified to specifiy a printer if need be, but it is designed to go to the default printer though.

:: Begin Code
;; Written by: Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics LLC

;; Usage: (PrintMSWordDoc "C:\\test.doc")
;; Open a document in MS Word and Print it out
(defun PrintMSWordDoc ( strWordDoc / wordObj wordDocsObj wordDocObj)
  (vl-load-com)

  ;; Variable to define constant used in the Close and Quit methods
  (setq wdDoNotSaveChanges 0)

  ;; Create a new MS Word object
  (setq wordObj (vlax-invoke-method (vlax-get-acad-object) 'GetInterfaceObject "Word.Application"))

  ;; Get a reference to the Docuemnts collection in Word
  (setq wordDocsObj (vlax-get-property wordObj 'Documents))

  ;; Open the drawing
  (setq wordDocObj (vlax-invoke-method wordDocsObj 'Open strWordDoc))

  ;; Print it out
  (vlax-invoke-method wordDocObj 'PrintOut)

  ;; Close the document and don't save any changes
  (vlax-invoke-method wordDocObj 'Close wdDoNotSaveChanges)

  ;; Close the instance of the MS Word application
  (vlax-invoke-method wordObj 'Quit wdDoNotSaveChanges)
(princ)
)
;; End Code

Sincerely,
  Lee

Which Drives are Available?

From time to time you might want your AutoLISP application to be able to write to a specific drive or drives in a specific order if you are working with a group of users that might do some travelling.  If you want to test to see which drives are available through AutoLISP, you could use the function vl-directory-files.  This would force you to test each letter combination which can take time and it doesn't tell you if the drive is ready or not.  Below is an example using the FSO object to get all the available drives on the machine, and test to see what type of drive it is and if it is ready or not.

;; Begin Code
(defun GetDrives ( / wshFSO driveObjs)
  (vl-load-com)

  (if (= wshLibImport nil)
    (progn
      (vlax-import-type-library :tlb-filename "c:\\windows\\system32\\wshom.ocx"
                          :methods-prefix "wshm-"
                          :properties-prefix "wshp-"
                          :constants-prefix "wshk-"
      )
      (setq wshLibImport T)
    )
  )

  (setq wshFSO (vlax-create-object "Scripting.FileSystemObject"))
  (setq driveObjs (wshp-get-Drives wshFSO))

  (vlax-for driveObj driveObjs
    (progn
      (prompt (strcat "\nDrive Letter: " (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter)))
      (prompt "\nDrive Type: ")
      (cond
        ((= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter) wshk-CDRom)(prompt "CDROM"))
        ((= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter) wshk-RamDisk)(prompt "Ram Disk"))
        ((= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter) wshk-Fixed)(prompt "Fixed"))
        ((= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter) wshk-Removable)(prompt "Removeable"))
        ((= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'DriveLetter) wshk-UnknownType)(prompt "Unknown"))
      )
      (prompt (strcat "\nIs Ready: "))
      (if (= (vlax-get-property driveObj 'IsReady) :vlax-true)
        (prompt "True")
        (prompt "False")
      )
    )
  )
(princ)
)
;; End Code

Sincerely,
  Lee

HyperPics and Other Blogs Appear in Autodesk Survey

It has just been pointed out to me that Autodesk is running a survey on industry related blogs.  They are looking for feedback on whether blogs are a valuable source of information to you on topics in the CAD industry.  The questions range from how many times you read blogs to the type of blogs that you read.  It is an interesting survey, so if you want to take the survey; head on over to the Autodesk website.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Obtaining a Short File Name through LISP

Many that know me, know that I like to dabble from time to time with programming AutoCAD.  Ok, maybe it is not just dabbling, but rather pushing things right to the edge.  If you have an old program or have a need for file name structure of 8.3 then you might enjoy the routine below.  It is an example of how AutoLISP or Visual LISP can use COM objects to extend the functionality of the language.  The sample shows how to use the File System Object.

;; Begin Code
(defun GetShortName ( strFileName / wshFSO fileObj)
  (vl-load-com)

  (setq wshFSO (vlax-create-object "Scripting.FileSystemObject"))
  (setq fileObj (vlax-invoke-method wshFSO 'GetFile strFileName))
  (vlax-get-property fileObj 'ShortPath)
)
;; End Code

Happy coding...

Sincerely,
  Lee