Problem printing and other question.

[FacilitiesCAD]

Well I thought I new Autocad because I could draw whatever I wanted (2D). Now I see I was wrong. I looked at the FAQ section and it doesn't seem to cover some of the basics.
I'll explain my situation so it might be easyer to give me some help. I use Autocad LT 2000 and your normal office products (Excel, Access and Word). I work with P&ID (Piping and Instrument Diagrams) and electrical drawings in AutoCAD. I have joined a group that has ~1700 diferntly named drawings that could use some organization. These drawing come from diferent sources so they are setup diferently. I am not a skilled programer but I'm not afraid to edit a program either. Bellow is a SCR program
that was intened to easily print any of the drawings. Note I ended up commenting most of it out to try to work on closing Autocad after it "printed". I've run it and it basically has 2 problems. 1) how do I get it to close at the end. 2) sometimes I want monocrome.ctb and other i want monocrome.stb I don't know ahead of time wich one I want. I know there is a command convertpstyles but am unsure how to use it if I don't know ahead of time if its .ctb or .stb. I cant just use a space to select default because sometime the default is none.
I would apreciate help on this and some ideas of what else I can use autocad to do. (ie what is a .lsp and how is it used in a simple example, what sort of things do people do between Autocad and excel or Access).
Thanks

;;printing removed
;-plot
;;Detailed plot configuration? [Yes/No] <No>: y
;Yes
;;Enter a layout name or [?] <Model>:
;Model
;;Enter an output device name or [?] <2304-2 my office>:
;2304-2 my office
;;Enter paper size or [?] <11x17>:
;11x17
;;Enter paper units [Inches/Millimeters] <Inches>:
;Inches
;;Enter drawing orientation [Portrait/Landscape] <Portrait>: lanscape
;Landscape
;;Plot upside down? [Yes/No] <No>:
;No
;;Enter plot area [Display/Extents/Limits/View/Window] <Extents>:
;Extents
;;Enter plot scale (Plotted Inches=Drawing Units) or [Fit] <Fit>:
;Fit
;;Enter plot offset (x,y) or

<0.00,0.50>: center
;Center
;;Plot with plot styles? [Yes/No] <Yes>:
;Yes
;;Enter plot style table name or [?] (enter . for none) <monochrome.ctb>:
;monochrome.stb
;;Plot with lineweights? [Yes/No] <Yes>:
;yes
;;Remove hidden lines? [Yes/No] <No>:
;No
;;Write the plot to a file [Yes/No] <N>:
;No
;;Save changes to model tab [Yes/No]? <N>
;No
;;Proceed with plot [Yes/No] <Y>:
;Yes
;Close
;yes
exit
​

 

[borgunit]

Wow.. well it sounds like you want some logic in your script. The best way is to load a lsp file and run it to perform your tasks (during the script). If you do not know Lisp then you will have a tough time employing any logic (if/then) to your task. To load a lsp file, go to TOOLS >> LOAD APPLICATION, browse to your lsp file and load it. Depending on the lsp routine, you will then probably have to type a command, and then the lsp should run.

&quot;Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right &quot;
.. Henry Ford

 

[FacilitiesCAD]

Your right I would love to use some logic with it. I'm just not sure of how or where. I've programed in Fortann77 before and understand how to follow/ edit a program but I dont know the laguage. Under tools load application isnt an option (run script is) Again Im using AutoCad LT 2000 so I don't have all the fancy features. I searched the Autocad help under lsp and lisp and got no response. I'm more curious on how to get the script to close autocad after printing (ie it thinks I've changed the file) without saving it. An example of the even most basic lsp from start to finish would help.

Thanks

 

[borgunit]

Let me ask, do you really want to close AutoCAD or are you trying to avoid some prompt or error. The reason I ask is that LISP and script only run in AutoCAD's memory space. If you close ACAD, the script or LISP quits also.

&quot;Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right &quot;
.. Henry Ford

 

[FacilitiesCAD]

Yes,
I realy want to close autocad. (At least thats what I think I want to do in this case) I am using this script as part of opening the file. I simply right click on the file from NT explore and select 11x17(actually I call it something diferent) but the intent is to automatically open the file print to a specific laser printer in 11x17 format. and then close the file. Ideally I could hilight 10 of them and have them print over lunch etc.

 

[borgunit]

FYI,
A more typical scenario to accomplish what you want, is to start AutoCAD, start the lisp routine, browse for the files you want, and then let ACAD open, plot, close the dwgs one by one until it is finished. Is there a reason not to do it this way?

&quot;Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right &quot;
.. Henry Ford

 

[FacilitiesCAD]

I am new to using autcad beyond making my own drawing however I want and then printing it. I learned about the script file meathod reading the autocad LT 2000 help files I can't find any help files on lisp. I'm trying to learn how to use Autocad as more than just a way to generate a piece of paper. Do lisp work with autocad light?

 

[FacilitiesCAD]

From the autodesk web site:

Customization—The AutoCAD 2004 platform offers fully extensible drawing and application customization through APIs (application programming interfaces) such as Visual LISP™, VBA, and ActiveX®. AutoCAD LT 2004 is not an extensible product.

Therefore I don't think I can run Lisp routines. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

 

[ohiocad]

Well, we run LT2000 here in our office, and sadly, it doesn't support lisp routines. Will do script files for a lot of things, but we have yet to get it to run a script file for plotting. Can't ever seem to get that one to work, mostly, like in your case, it thinks the drawing has been modified.

So, when we have a lot of files to print, we go BACKWARDS and print in LT97 with a script file. I'm sure there's a way to get LT2000 to do it, but we haven't been able to find it. I don't suppose that's an option for you?

Also, if you DO get a lisp routine that looks like it might work, I know that you can get add-ons that add lisp support to LT, giving it more 3d power, etc. There's been a couple threads about those here already, I'll look and see if I can find one for you.

Wish I could help you on the lisp routines, but never having tried, it's still out of my league. But, some of the other members here really know their stuff on lisps, I'm sure they can come up with something.

 

[exit]

Hi Lt-Users,
look here:

http://www.lt-extender.com/englisch/frameset.htm

I didn't test it by myself, but I think it's worthwhile

Lothar

Win NT4.0(SP6),2000(SP3)
AC 2000i(SP2), ADT 3.0(SP3),
AC 2002, ADT 3.3,
AC 2004, ADT 2004

 

[ohiocad]

Thanks Lothar, that's at least twice you've followed up with that link when I couldn't remember...

 

[FacilitiesCAD]

Thanks for the info but I'm not sure I can use it. My copy of autocad lt is through a network server so I don't want to try adding on programs. I'm still looking for an answer on how to close autocad with a script file.
Reading the lt-extender page it sounds like the lisp editor is not enabled. Can I just edit the .mnu file to do this?

Thanks