LISP: change attribute value through edit-box (custom dialogbox)

[Metalgooze]

Hi,

Little question.
I'm trying to fill in an attribute with the value that is given by the user through a editbox.

I created a function to:
1 clear values of certain attributes of block X
2 set the current date in the attribute DATE of the block
3 set the value of drawn, verified & approved with the values given by the user in the editboxes of the dialog.

It works when I execute the function on 1 open drawing.
When I call the function in a routine for processing on an entire folder of drawings, points 1 and 2 are executed, but 3 doesn't seem to work.

When are the values of the editboxes being placed in the given variables? Is this at the clicking of "OK" or after the closing of the box?
I can't seem to find why the code works directly on a drawing, but not on an entire folder.

[BlackBox]

I haven't looked at your code yet, but how are you batch processing; ObjectDBX, or Script?

[Metalgooze]

I haven't looked at your code yet, but how are you batch processing; ObjectDBX, or Script?

Batch processing through script.

[Metalgooze]

Hi (again),

Little update.
I've split my code in 2 different LISP's. (1 with the dialogbox and language selection and 1 with the command to clear attributes of a block, the custom command is now automatically loaded when a drawing opens)

Everything works every time except for 1 thing:

Because there are now 2 scripts, I need to store the users input in a "global" variable.

In my "MAIN"-lisp I wrote the following things.
When the user presses the OK button this is what happens:

  (action_tile
    "accept"				;if O.K. pressed
    (strcat				;string 'em together
      "(progn 
      (setq selected_language (atof (get_tile \"selections\")));get list selection
      (setq DELV (get_tile \"drawn\")) ;store value of drawn in variable DELV
      (setq VERIF (get_tile \"verified\")) ;store value of verified in variable VERIF
      (setq APPR (get_tile \"aproved\")) ;store value of aproved in variable APPR
      (val1)(setq userclick T))"	;check fields, set flag
    )

2 questions:

- Is it possible that after the execution of the function, the values of the variables are set to NIL?
- Can you use a variable from one LISP in another LISP? If yes, what's the best way to do this?

[Metalgooze]

Problem solved.

The reason the names wouldn't be filled in in the attribute is the following:
A variable (and it's value) "belongs" to the drawing where the command is started (for example Val1 in drawing 1 has the value 1)
When you process the lisp in batch (through script), every dwg has its own variable Val1 BUT the value is nil.
so you get this:

drawing 1 - val1 =1
drawing 2-  val1=nil
drawing 3-  val1=nil
drawing 4-  val1=nil
...

You have to "push" the value of val1 from the first drawing to all other dwgs.
I used vl-propagate to do this (added this to the actions of my "OK"button).
(vl-propagate sets the value of a variable to any other open or to be opened drawings within an autocad session)
for example:

(vl-propagate 'val1)

Maybe it is not the best solution, but it works

[BlackBox]

Apologies for my delayed response; work is increasingly demanding of my time.

Firstly, I'm glad you were able to find a solution for yourself - they're the best lessons one can learn.

To perhaps help clarify 'why' that is a working solution....

LISP is a Document (read Drawing) level API, which is why it must be loaded into each-and-every-single drawing (unlike .NET, for example, which is an Application level API). So variables set in one Document are not 'visible' to even other Documents already open in the Editor, without the use of one of a few available mechanisms, such as propagation.

Cheers

[Tharwat]

  (action_tile
    "accept"				;if O.K. pressed
    (strcat				;string 'em together
      "(progn 
      (setq selected_language (atof (get_tile \"selections\")));get list selection
      (setq DELV (get_tile \"drawn\")) ;store value of drawn in variable DELV
      (setq VERIF (get_tile \"verified\")) ;store value of verified in variable VERIF
      (setq APPR (get_tile \"aproved\")) ;store value of aproved in variable APPR
      (val1)(setq userclick T))"	;check fields, set flag
    )

There is no need for the strcat & progn functions with action_tile.

[BIG-AL]

If you want to do over multiple dwg's you may have to consider using a script this can open multiple dwgs and then run a lisp, but to maintain values between dwgs you could write a txt file and just reread & write using lisp. A lisp can write a script etc and then call it as the very last step, control then goes to the lisp but the script sits in background if not finished.

This post may be of interest also an auto multi line DCl creator http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showth...re-if-required