AutoLISP Developer's Topic Map (AutoLISP)

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

Tutorials

Basic: Getting Started

Creating a New Command and Working with System Variables

Creating, Loading, and Opening an AutoLISP File
Visual LISP IDE (Windows only): Garden Path

AutoLISP Programming

Getting Started: Getting Organized

AutoLISP and Visual LISP

AutoLISP Documentation

Related Developer References

New and Changed AutoLISP Functions Reference
Basics: Expressions

Function Syntax

Defining Commands

Variables

Source Code Files

Comments in AutoLISP Program Files

Create and Open AutoLISP Source Code Files

Loading AutoLISP Applications
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

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 (Windows only)

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