Check if PDF is open, Delete if not...

[framedNlv]

I'm trying to modify our PDF plotting routine. This is what I'm trying to do:

Check if PDF exist
Delete PDF
If PDF can't be deleted, I need an alert window to close pdf.
If alert window is closed and PDF still exist, show alert window
once the PDF is closed it would then be deleted and continue to make a new pdf.

Here is part of the code I'm trying to work with:

(setq pdfsave (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"));;sets the pdf name, SSDN is Ctab

(if 
  (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
    (vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
      (While
        (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
          (progn
            (alert "Please Close PDF")
             (vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
          );;progn
      );;while
);;if

Any help would be great,
Chris

[Tharwat]

Hi,
The function vl-file-delete returns true if the target file has been deleted otherwise returns nil.
NOTE: You don't need to copy and paste the same path of the file and since you already assigned that path to a variable then just use the variable.

Hope this what you are after.

(setq pdfsave (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))

(if pdfsave
  (while (not (vl-file-delete pdfsave))
    (alert "PDF is already opened or used by any program, close PDF to continue.")
    )
 )

[framedNlv]

Thanks,
I'll try that.

While I was waiting, I came up with this:

;;;added to check to see if PDF is open
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
(setq Meflags (getvar "qaflags" ))
(setvar "qaflags" 0)
(setq pdf1 nil)
(setq pdf1 (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")));;;nil
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
(while  pdf1
(progn
(alert "please close PDF to continue")
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")))
(setq pdf1 (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")))
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")))
(setvar "qaflags" Meflags)
;;;Now to plot...

[framedNlv]

I had to change the routine due to the fact it was stuck in a loop when people in the office would have the PDF open while they were out.

;;;added to check to see if PDF is open
(Setq SSDNmsg (strcat ssdn ".pdf is already open or used by another program, \nPlease close the PDF to continue."))
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
(setq Meflags (getvar "qaflags" ))
(setvar "qaflags" 0)
(setq pdf1 nil)
(setq pdf1 (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")));;;nil
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))

(repeat 3(if (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
(progn
(alert  SSDNmsg )
(vl-file-delete (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))
(setq pdf1 (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf")))
);progn
);end if
);repeat
(if (findfile (strcat (getvar "dwgprefix") SSDN ".pdf"))(Alert "NO PDF WILL BE MADE"))
(setvar "qaflags" Meflags)

;;;Now to plot...
(if (not pdf1 )
  (progn
	(COMMAND "-PLOT"