topic Re: in VBA Forum

What Can VBA do that Lisp cannot

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:17:19 GMT

Hi all I am looking to see what VBA can do that cannot be done in Lisp or VisualLisp. I know about the dialog box differences already. I am looking for non dialog box functionality.

Re: What Can VBA do that Lisp cannot

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:38:05 GMT

> Hi all I am looking to see what VBA can do that cannot be done in Lisp
> or VisualLisp. I know about the dialog box differences already. I am
> looking for non dialog box functionality.

When the task is manipulating autocad, the two languages have nearly
identical capabilities. If the task is a routine to operate on autocad
alone, lisp would probably be the tool of choice for an accomplished
lisp programer. VBA provides access to any activeX enable program and
the operating system, making it suitable for a project that interfaces
with a database or spread sheet. As you mentioned, vba includes rich
interface capabilities. An important aspect of adesk's inclusion of an
object model in cad was not just providing the cad user with vba, but
providing VB programers access to cad.

Re:

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 17:02:09 GMT

Without lisp VB/VBA can not do everything in AC. Lisp can do everything in
AC. Some prime examples are the draworder, and trim command. With VB/VBA you
can not trim, you would need to recalc the points and reassign them to the
object. Lisp can trim entities. Without the sendcommand in vba you would
never be able to change the draworder of entities. VB/VBA can not create AC
commands IE in lisp one could (defun c:junk ()...) and the user could type
junk at the command prompt and execute the command. To do this in VB/VBA one
must first do (defun c:junk () (vl-vbarun "vbaSub")). Only then could the
user type in junk at the command prompt and execute the sub. I learned to
write lisp first (years ago), but enjoy writing vb/vba now. I feel the
writing in vb/vba and using defun's to create command's makes me a better
programmer because I continue to develop my vb/vba skills, which there are
many more places to write vb than lisp.

HTH

Chris

"Andy & Starr" wrote in message
news:3C3F856D.EF87C9CC@bellsouth.net...
> > Hi all I am looking to see what VBA can do that cannot be done in Lisp
> > or VisualLisp. I know about the dialog box differences already. I am
> > looking for non dialog box functionality.
>
> When the task is manipulating autocad, the two languages have nearly
> identical capabilities. If the task is a routine to operate on autocad
> alone, lisp would probably be the tool of choice for an accomplished
> lisp programer. VBA provides access to any activeX enable program and
> the operating system, making it suitable for a project that interfaces
> with a database or spread sheet. As you mentioned, vba includes rich
> interface capabilities. An important aspect of adesk's inclusion of an
> object model in cad was not just providing the cad user with vba, but
> providing VB programers access to cad.
>

Re:

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 17:21:11 GMT

Chris Tryon wrote:

> Without lisp VB/VBA can not do everything in AC.

I agree, as the object model matures hopfully it will continue to improve.

> Lisp can do everything in
> AC.

especially now with all the activeX commands!!!

> Some prime examples are the draworder, and trim command. With VB/VBA you
> can not trim, you would need to recalc the points and reassign them to the
> object.

to the user, is this not a trim?

> Lisp can trim entities. Without the sendcommand in vba you would
> never be able to change the draworder of entities. VB/VBA can not create AC
> commands IE in lisp one could (defun c:junk ()...) and the user could type
> junk at the command prompt and execute the command. To do this in VB/VBA one
> must first do (defun c:junk () (vl-vbarun "vbaSub")). Only then could the
> user type in junk at the command prompt and execute the sub.

autolisp's access to the lisp interpreter, the command line interpreter, and the
drawing database make it's power as a tool for manipulating autocad
unparalleled.

> I learned to
> write lisp first (years ago), but enjoy writing vb/vba now. I feel the
> writing in vb/vba and using defun's to create command's makes me a better
> programmer

all the options make life good for a guy who codes

> because I continue to develop my vb/vba skills, which there are
> many more places to write vb than lisp.

Do you mean it's easier to get a job writing VB then lisp?

>
>
> HTH
>
> Chris

Re: What Can VBA do that Lisp cannot

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 18:03:43 GMT

by the way, when your web site is viewed in 1024 x 768 resolution some
of the black text ends up in the dark green part of the background.
makes it hard to read.

cwanless wrote:

> Hi all I am looking to see what VBA can do that cannot be done in Lisp
> or VisualLisp. I know about the dialog box differences already. I am
> looking for non dialog box functionality.

Re:

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2002 11:32:52 GMT

Thanks I will probably be redoing the entire web site in the next week or two. Thanks Chad