topic Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program in AutoCAD Forum

Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

avivmintz — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 23:05:11 GMT

I have a small program that generates script files, opens an instance of Autocad and passes the script in using the /b switch, like "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2015\acad.exe" /b "script.scr"

This works great and runs the script, however it opens a new instance of Autocad each time (which makes sense, as I'm opening the exe).

I'm wondering if there would be a way to open a new drawing and run a script file, without opening a new instance of acad each time?

I've had a look at the DWG launcher but as far as I can tell the only switch for this is which dwg to open (/O), with no provisions to run a script. If there's no other way, could I have a DWG file that runs a script at a certain location when it's opened?

Thanks in advance,

Aviv

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:22:52 GMT

What program do you use to generate the script?

I've got a program that uses a 'script template" that uses a place holder for a filename, replaces the place holders with selected files, and generates a script that runs multiple files in a single instance.

Perhaps you could modify your program to work like that.

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

avivmintz — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 06:38:04 GMT

Hi Patrick,

I wrote my own program in C#. It writes a script file, then launches autocad using the /b switch.

The problem is when the program is used they'll generate different files at different times, so I can't have a file that opens multiple files at once because I can't know what scripts they'll generate in the future.

Is there any way to run a script in a new file in an existing instance?

Or maybe even have a .dwg that runs a script every time it's opened? That way I could tell dwglauncher to open that file and it'd open it in the same instance.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

ВeekeeCZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 09:57:46 GMT

You can put this line
(command "_.script" "myscript.scr")
in acaddoc.lsp or acad201*doc.lsp...

Edit: just for newones

(if (wcmatch (getvar 'DWGNAME) "Drawing*") (command "_.script" "myscript.scr"))

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

hmsilva — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 11:44:43 GMT

@ВeekeeCZ wrote:

You can put this line
(command "_.script" "myscript.scr")
in acaddoc.lsp or acad201*doc.lsp...

Edit: just for newones

(if (wcmatch (getvar 'DWGNAME) "Drawing*") (command "_.script" "myscript.scr"))

Hi BeekeeCZ,

to add the code line at 'acaddoc.lsp' file, It will be a good way to run the script in every new dwg, but the 'acad<release>doc.lsp' file, should not be edited...

From the help files:

Note: Do not modify the reserved acad<release>doc.lsp file. Autodesk provides the acad<release>doc.lsp file, which contains required, release-specific, AutoLISP-defined functions. This file is...

Hope this helps,
Henrique

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

ВeekeeCZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:00:12 GMT

Thank you for the information. Good to know.

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

hmsilva — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:18:27 GMT

@ВeekeeCZ wrote:
Thank you for the information. Good to know.

You're welcome, BeekeeCZ
Glad I could help

Henrique

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

avivmintz — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 03:20:24 GMT

hmsilva, this solution worked great!
My only issue i have now is, the computer that I need this to work on use Autocad 2010 LT, and as far as I can tell won't run lisp files.
Is there any way to use a similar method without lisp?

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

hmsilva — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:15:46 GMT

@avivmintz wrote:
hmsilva, this solution worked great!
My only issue i have now is, the computer that I need this to work on use Autocad 2010 LT, and as far as I can tell won't run lisp files.
Is there any way to use a similar method without lisp?

Hi Aviv,

the solution wasn't mine, was from @ВeekeeCZ

As far as I know, using AutoCAD LT, I can't see a workaround for the batch (/b) startup switch to run a script file...

I'm not a LT guy, perhaps an LT user may have another approach.

Henrique

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

avivmintz — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 22:18:39 GMT

Whoops, clearly wasn't paying attention! Thanks BeeKeeCZ. Would I be better off posting this in the Autocad LT Forum?

Re: Run script file in existing Autocad instance from external program

PatrickByrne — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 07:05:50 GMT

Hi,

If you need a small program that works with AutoCAD LT as well as AutoCAD full then our program Multi-Batch can help you. It has five wizards for creating new routines including two for plotting, plus plenty of standard routines to get you started, from here you can add your own custom routines. The scripts are stored in a database making it easy to backup and share across a network.

See what current users have to say at http://www.multi-batch.com/testimonials.htm

If you need any help let us know.

Patrick

http://www.multi-batch.com/
For your entire batch processing needs