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AutoLISP is a programming language used within AutoCAD to create scripts and automate tasks. It is a variant of LISP and can modify almost any aspect of the AutoCAD environment. LISP is one of the oldest programming languages and AutoLISP first appeared in 1986. It is still the most popular way to customize or add functionality to AutoCAD. LISP files are loaded into AutoCAD using the Load command and can be run by typing their name on the command line.
AutoLISP® is a variant of the LISP family of programming languages. It was designed for programming within AutoCAD®, a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) program developed by Autodesk® Inc. AutoLISP® can be used to create scripts for use in AutoCAD® and any vertical application running using the AutoCAD® environment, including AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, AutoCAD® Map 3D and AutoCAD® Architecture. It is worth noting AutoCAD LT®’s inability to execute LISP routines, which is one of the key characteristics that differentiate it from AutoCAD®.
LISP is one of the oldest known programming languages, dating back to 1958; the term “LISP” comes from the words “list processor”. XLISP was a variant of LISP and was the basis for the development of AutoLISP®, which first appeared in 1986 in AutoCAD® Release 2.18. It has been continuously modified and improved through AutoCAD® Release 13;; When AutoCAD® 2000 was released in 1999, AutoLISP® was replaced with the more powerful Visual LISP®. In the following years, however, Autodesk® stopped almost all development of Visual LISP®, preferring to focus on other programming tools such as ObjectARX®, .NET and Visual® Basic (VBA). Despite this change, AutoLISP® remains the most popular way users in 2011 choose to customize or add functionality to AutoCAD®.
Routines created using AutoLISP® typically automate tasks or produce add-on programs for use within AutoCAD®. The programming language is very flexible and can be used to modify almost any aspect of the AutoCAD® environment or a drawing file. Examples of things that can be produced using AutoLISP® are calculators, programs that modify blocks, and routines that automatically draw content into a file. It is also possible to run a sequence of commands in batches on many files.
AutoLISP® can be programmed from the AutoCAD® command line, but this is rarely the case. For all but the most basic LISP programs, using an external text editor is preferable, because it helps a lot in entering complicated code. There are literally thousands of ways AutoLISP® can be used to enter commands or otherwise control AutoCAD®. Usually, the files produced are plain text files saved with an extension of LSP. In case a LISP routine is designed to contain multiple programs, the file type can be VLX or FAS.
LSP files can be loaded into AutoCAD® using the Load command. Once a LISP routine has been loaded, all the user has to do to run it is simply type its name on the command line. You can also automatically run one or more LISP routines each time AutoCAD® is started.
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