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LispLink Features
LispLink is a robust LISP editor with many features not
found in any other Lisp Editors. LispLink contains the standard window
options such as New, Open, Save, Print, Print Preview, Cut, Copy, and Paste.
Some of the special LispLink features designed specifically for AutoCAD
user file editing include:
Automatically saves the current files when the focus is
changed to another application.
Multiple Files:
Open multiple files for editing.
Automatic Loading of Files: When LispLink is opened, all previous files are loaded and
retain their last editing features such as cursor position, selected text
and screen size.
Syntax Coloring: User defined colors for symbols, keywords, strings,
parenthesis, comments, system variables, AutoCAD commands and numbers.
Includes a special user area for functions and keyword with their own
color.
Unlimited File Size: File size is limited only by memory and disk space.
Extensive Help Files: Help is included for AutoLISP, System Variables, DCL
Reference, and DXF codes. You should never need a user manual while using
LispLink.
Jump to Function: A list of functions in the current file is maintained at
all times. Selecting a function from the list will place the cursor at the
beginning of the function. The 5 most currently used functions are
retained at the top of the list for ease of selection.
Add and Remove Comment Markers: Simply highlight a section of text and with the click of a
button from the toolbar, you can comment out the section, or remove
comments.
Add and Remove Breakpoints: Stop the execution of your program in AutoCAD by simply
adding breakpoints in the program.
Variable Watch: You provide a list of variables to watch and the program
will stop execution at the designated point and display the variable and
its current value.
Match Braces: Place the cursor on a brace (parenthesis, brace, and
bracket) and select the match brace button. The text from the selected
brace to its matching brace will be highlighted.
Parenthesis Checker: LispLink contains three parenthesis checkers. At status bar
contains dynamic feedback of the parenthesis level in the form (4/4). A
button is provided on the toolbar to turn on the parenthesis level for all
lines in the current document. When on, the parenthesis level will be
displayed in the left margin in the form 4/4 for each line. Finally, a
document parenthesis checker is available to dynamically check the entire
document.
Pretty Lisp: Pretty lisp will insure the indent levels, line lengths and
file format is consistent throughout all program files.
Create Local Variable List: Automatically creates a list of all variables used in a
function, allowing the user to select the variables to be defined as local
variables.
Function List: Create a list of all functions within the current file and
they're called functions or current variables. The list can be saved to
the clipboard for printing or saving.
AutoLoad: When AutoCAD is in the drawing editor mode, pressing the
AutoCAD logo button will automatically load the active LISP file into
AutoCAD.
Bookmarks: Place bookmarks throughout all documents and move forward
or backward through them at will.
LispLink Edit Control:
LispLink is a full 32-bit program, compatible with Windows 95. 98 and NT.
Left Margin: The left margin can be indented for easier selection of
code. Spacing is user defined.
Cursor Position: The cursor column position (optional) is now retained
throughout the document.
Selection Highlighting: Optionally select the display selected text in full line
mode or just the selected text.
Visual Scrolling: Visual scrolling is now available when using the scroll
bars (optional).
Long Filenames: now supported.
Toolbars: Toolbars now contain tool tips, can be moved, docked and
resized.
Parenthesis Check: The full document parenthesis check is now dynamic and
works within the editor (not a separate dialog). When an imbalance is
detected, the location is highlighted and the parenthesis level is
displayed in the leftmost column.
Parenthesis Level Indicator: The indicator located in the lower right corner is now
dynamic and indicates the parenthesis level at all times with the complete
count up to 999.
Parenthesis Level: The parenthesis level for all lines can be displayed in the
leftmost column of the editor. A button is provided on the toolbar to turn
the display on and off.
Line Numbering:
The line number for all lines can be displayed in the
leftmost column of the editor. A button is provided on the toolbar to turn
the display on and off.
Highlighted Text: Highlighted text now remains selected during scrolling and
movement within the editor, including switching between documents.
Function Listing: A sorted function list dialog is now available which will
provide a listing of all functions and there called functions, or a
listing of all functions and their variables. The list can be exported to
the clipboard and pasted into a LispLink file or another file.
Protected Files: LispLink will recognize AutoCAD PROTECTED files and
de-encrypt them as they are loaded. When saved, a protected file will
remain protected, or optionally unprotected. Also, a standard lisp file
can be protected when saved. The encryption key is user defined. A protect
button in the toolbar and the status bar both indicate when a protected
file is in the editor. This tool is intended as an administration aid when
dealing with protected files and not a means of viewing or copying
protected lisp files.
Fast Scrolling: The vertical scroll steps are adjustable which provides
faster scrolling for slow displays such as laptop computers.
Entab and Detab: Entab and Detab commands have been added to allow
conversion of tabs to spaces and spaces to tabs.
Go to Function: The goto function command has been changed to a drop-down
list and now contains up to 5 of the most recently called functions.
Variable Watch: The variable watch display has been updated to display in
the current AutoCAD display window (instead of the text window). This
provides proper functionality in Windows.
Popup: A
new popup providing the most common functions has been added which can be
activated with the right mouse button.
Recent File List: The recent file list (in the file menu) has been changed to
update only when a file is closed. This is different from most programs
because they do not retain all files for a project as LispLink does. In
the previous version, the most recent file list was updated when the
program was started with the files as they were loaded. The new method
allows a file to be shut down, then re-opened if required.
String Highlighting: Now you can quickly track all variables (or any string) by
specifying the string and allowing string highlighting to display its
location throughout the document.
Bookmarks: Bookmarks now provide a means to quickly navigate
throughout the document. Easily add and remove bookmarks, or with a single
button, remove all bookmarks.
Undo/Redo:
Undo/Redo now provided for undo and redo back to the last
save.
AutoLoad:
Automatically load the active lisp file into AutoCAD by
selecting the AutoCAD Logo button. AutoCAD must be in the graphic screen
mode for this function to work.
Syntax Help: When you place the cursor over a lisp function, the syntax
for the function will be displayed on the status bar.
DCL Viewer: When in a DCL file, selecting the DCL View button will
cause the current dialog (the one the cursor is in) to be displayed in
AutoCAD. This is a tremendous time saver when creating or modifying a
dialog definition.
Project Manager:
Project manager allows multiple projects, each with different files to be
maintained. When an new
project is selected, all files associated with the project will be loaded
and the current files will be unloaded from LispLink.
In conjunction with the Project Manager, a separate floating dialog
is available allowing a project to be selected and the files to be listed.
When a project file is selected, the project manager will load the
project and make the selected file
active.
Partial File Printing:
Partial file printing is implemented by selecting a section
of code to print, then the print command. This will print only the selected code unless the options
are changed in the print dialog.
Comment Settings:
Comment settings are available for LISP and MNU/DCL files as a separate setting.
You can define LISP comment settings as “;;;” and the MNU/DCL
comment settings as “//”.
Both are implemented using the comment button and recognize the type
file you are working in.
Partial Menu Loading:
The Load in ACAD button (CAD) will treat a menu as a partial
load menu.
LispLink will scan the menu file looking for a pop menu.
If a pop menu is not found, the menu is loaded and no other
action is taken. If a pop
menu is found, the pop menu is partially loaded in the position
defined in the LispLink Settings Dialog.
If there are more than one pop menu, the position of the cursor in
the file will determine the pop menu to be displayed.
If the cursor is not located on a pop menu, then the pop menu is
loaded in relation to the location of the cursor.
If the cursor is ahead of the pop menu section, then the first pop
menu will be displayed. If
the cursor is located after the pop menu section, then the last pop menu
will be displayed. The importance of a partial menu load is the active menu
remains unchanged in all cases.
Compile and Load to AutoCAD (CAD):
The button “Compile” will send the current LISP file to ACAD. Once in ACAD, the
file will be compiled to a FAS file using the Vlisp compiler.
If the Vlisp compiler is not loaded, it will be loaded. When this
occurs, the file will start to compile and seem to hang. To complete the
operation, the ACAD window must be selected. This only occurs when
LispLink starts the compiler. Once a file has been compiled, the Vlisp
editor can be closed and the compile option will continue to function.
This allows all testing to be in a compiled environment.
Send
multiple lines of selected code to ACAD:
LispLink has the ability to send multiple lines of
highlighted code to ACAD.
When multiple lines of code are selected LispLink will remove unnecessary
line feeds and spaces and send the resultant code to the AutoCAD
interpreter to be processed.
Care must be taken when selecting the code to insure the parenthesis
balance. Simply watch the balance indicator on the status bar. The
only drawback to this process is the lack of command line feedback. Only
the last operation will be displayed.
View
Dialog: View dialog will place a true dialog control in the ACAD editor.
LispLink now activates the START_DIALOG command and places ACAD in
a continuous loop to interpret selected dialog options.
By implementing this method requires the current dialog to be
closed by selecting active dialogs OK or Cancel buttons. Until the current
dialog is closed, the view dialog button will become inactive.
And more... We keep improving
LispLink and adding features. Visit our
Revision page for a complete
listing of the updates and new features. |
