topic Re: running a script through a batch file in Visual LISP, AutoLISP and General Customization Forum

running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:11:22 GMT

I'm trying to set up a workflow where I can run several cleanup scripts on a collection of files.

I started with a simple purge script (which works when loaded manually) and the following batch file from Michael Best's AU class:

FOR %%f IN ("%~dp0*.dwg") DO "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2022\accoreconsole.exe" /i"%%f" /s "%~dp0PurgeAll.scr" /l en-US

-PURGE
a
*
N

However, when running the batch file everything seems to work (I get the loading MSDOS window and there are no errors and I see the expected output. But when opening the .dwg's afterwards in acad.exe the actual purging operation does not seem to have been saved to the .dwg's. They still contain unused blocks and layers (while when following the MSDOS progress I could see the notification that they were purged)

So I tried to alter the PurgeAll.scr by adding a QSAVE at the end, but somehow that wants to save the drawing as drawing1.dwg, which halts the batch file as soon as the second drawing is processed. Playing with SAVEAS -SAVE or others have also all halted the batch process.

Has anybody else encountered this problem and how have you solved it?

Re: running a script through a batch file

maratovich — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:29:23 GMT

Maybe this will help you - AutoRunLisp

Re: running a script through a batch file

CADaSchtroumpf — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 02:22:03 GMT

Hi,
For me this type of procedure to purge drawings from an entire folder has always worked well.
This purges specific application dictionaries, here for example objects from the COVADIS application (French application) or/and from the Autocad Archictectural application.
This can simply be commented out with a ; at the beginning of the line of the code or adapted according to your needs
He checks the drawing
Purges unused applications for the first time
Purge a 2nd time for all objects
And saves in LT2018 format

All these commands being customizable, the only trick is to remember to double the " with \" between (write-line " ...... "file_scr) compared to a natural lisp writing.

The code can be copied and pasted directly on the command line, preferably from a blank drawing

After choosing a folder, it will automatically create the script (update.scr) and the batch (update.bat) and AcCoreconsole will start its processing.

((lambda ( / f_exe ShlObj Folder FldObj Out_Fld file_scr file_bat) (vl-load-com) (setq f_exe (findfile "accoreconsole.exe")) (setq ShlObj (vla-getinterfaceobject (vlax-get-acad-object) "Shell.Application") Folder (vlax-invoke-method ShlObj 'BrowseForFolder 0 "" 0) ) (vlax-release-object ShlObj) (if Folder (progn (setq FldObj (vlax-get-property Folder 'Self) Out_Fld (vlax-get-property FldObj 'Path) ) (vlax-release-object Folder) (vlax-release-object FldObj) ) ) (setq file_scr (open (strcat (getvar "ROAMABLEROOTPREFIX") "support\\update.scr") "w")) (write-line "((lambda ( / ) (foreach p (entget (namedobjdict)) (if (and (= 3 (car p)) (or (wcmatch (cdr p) \"COVA_*\") (wcmatch (cdr p) \"AEC_*\"))) (dictremove (namedobjdict) (cdr p))))))" file_scr) (write-line "(command \"_.audit\" \"_Yes\")" file_scr) (write-line "(command \"_.-purge\" \"_Regapps\" \"*\" \"_No\")" file_scr) (write-line "(command \"_.-purge\" \"_All\" \"*\" \"_No\")" file_scr) (write-line "(command \"_.saveas\" \"_LT2018\" \"\" \"_Yes\")" file_scr) (close file_scr) (setq file_bat (open (strcat (getvar "ROAMABLEROOTPREFIX") "support\\update.bat") "w")) (write-line (eval (read "(strcat \"set accoreexe=\" \"\\\"\" f_exe \"\\\"\")")) file_bat) (write-line (eval (read "(strcat \"set source=\" \"\\\"\" Out_Fld \"\\\"\")")) file_bat) (write-line (eval (read "(strcat \"set script=\" \"\\\"\" (getvar \"ROAMABLEROOTPREFIX\") \"support\\\\update.scr\" \"\\\"\")")) file_bat) (write-line "FOR /f \"delims=\" %%f IN ('dir /b \"%source%\\\*.dwg\"') DO %accoreexe% /i \"%source%\\%%f\" /s %script%" file_bat) (close file_bat) (startapp (strcat (getvar "ROAMABLEROOTPREFIX") "support\\update.bat")) (princ"\Job finished") (prin1) ))

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 11:02:53 GMT

I like your suggestions, I will definitely look into the lisp file to create and run a batch file.

But in essence this is the same as what I'm doing,
and in my earlier attempts to run it, the coreconsole saves drawings as drawing1.dwg, which halts the routine.

I'll try the lisp approach and see how that changes the behaviour.

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:14:49 GMT

Unfortunately the above code somehow doesn't start the batch file to run with me, and if I manually activate it, it also refused to run.

I recovered the update.scr and ran it with my batch file and again the saveas command keeps saving all the drawings as drawing1.dwg. It doesn't halt because of how it is written, but at the end none of the .dwg's in my folder are updated and I end up with a single drawing1 in the same folder that is a cleaned up / purged version of the last .dwg that the batch file ran on.

In the below code you can see the MS DOS readout,
- the batch file opens a .dwg
- executes the audit and purge succesfully
- saves the dwg as drawing1.dwg (overwriting the previous drawing1.dwg)

This is the content of the script file (different than the one from the first post)

(command "_.audit" "_Yes") (command "_.-purge" "_Regapps" "*" "_No") (command "_.-purge" "_All" "*" "_No") (command "_.saveas" "_LT2018" "" "_Yes")

Command: C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (2) - Copy>"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2022\accoreconsole.exe" /i"C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (2) - Copy\40.dwg" /s "C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (2) - Copy\update.scr" /l en-US Redirect stdout (file: C:\Users\MICHIE~1.GEO\AppData\Local\Temp\accc108682). AcCoreConsole: StdOutConsoleMode: processed-output: enabled,auto AutoCAD Core Engine Console - Copyright 2021 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. (S.154.0.0) Execution Path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2022\accoreconsole.exe Current Directory: C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (2) - Copy Version Number: S.154.0.0 (UNICODE) LogFilePath has been set to the working folder. Regenerating model. . **** System Variable Changed **** 1 of the monitored system variables has changed from the preferred value. Use SYSVARMONITOR command to view changes1 of the monitored system variables has changed from the preferred value. Use SYSVARMONITOR command to view changes. AutoCAD menu utilities loaded. Command: Command: Command: Command: (command "_.audit" "_Yes") _.audit Fix any errors detected? [Yes/No] <N>: _Yes Auditing Header Auditing Tables Auditing Entities Pass 1 Pass 1 100 objects audited Auditing Entities Pass 2 Pass 2 100 objects audited Auditing Blocks 1 Blocks audited Auditing AcDsRecords Total errors found 0 fixed 0 Erased 0 objects Command: nil Command: (command "_.-purge" "_Regapps" "*" "_No") _.-purge Nested items = Off Orphaned data = Off Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/DEtailviewstyles/Dimstyles/Groups/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/SEctionviewstyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/Zero-length geometry/Empty text objects/Orphaned data/All]: _Regapps Enter name(s) to purge <*>: * Verify each name to be purged? [Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/DEtailviewstyles/Dimstyles/Groups/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/SEctionviewstyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/Zero-length geometry/Empty text objects/Orphaned data/All]: _Regapps Enter name(s) to purge <*>: * Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/No] <Y>: _No Deleting registered application "ACAD_MLEADERVER". Deleting registered application "AcadAnnoPO". 2 registered applications deleted. Command: nil Command: (command "_.-purge" "_All" "*" "_No") _.-purge Nested items = Off Orphaned data = Off Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/DEtailviewstyles/Dimstyles/Groups/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/SEctionviewstyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/Zero-length geometry/Empty text objects/Orphaned data/All]: _All Enter name(s) to purge <*>: * Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/DEtailviewstyles/Dimstyles/Groups/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/SEctionviewstyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/Zero-length geometry/Empty text objects/Orphaned data/All]: _All Enter name(s) to purge <*>: * Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/No] <Y>: _No No unreferenced blocks found. No unreferenced layers found. No unreferenced linetypes found. Deleting text style "Annotative". 1 text style deleted. No unreferenced shape files found. Deleting dimension style "Annotative". Deleting dimension style "Standard". 2 dimension styles deleted. No unreferenced mlinestyles found. No unreferenced plotstyles found. No unreferenced table styles found. No unreferenced materials found. No unreferenced visual styles found. Deleting multileader style "Annotative". 1 multileader style deleted. No unreferenced groups found. No unreferenced Detail view styles found. No unreferenced Section view styles found. Command: nil Command: (command "_.saveas" "_LT2018" "" "_Yes") _.saveas Current file format: AutoCAD 2018 Drawing Enter file format [R14(LT98&LT97)/2000(LT2000)/2004(LT2004)/2007(LT2007)/2010(LT2010)/2013(LT2013)/2018(LT2018)/Standards/DXF/Template] <2018>: _LT2018 Save drawing as <C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (Enter file format [R14(LT98&LT97)/2000(LT2000)/2004(LT2004)/2007(LT2007)/2010(LT2010)/2013(LT2013)/2018(LT2018)/Standards/DXF/Template] <2018>: _LT2018 Save drawing as <C:\Users\michiel.geo-it\Documents\Werkbestanden\test - Copy (2) - Copy\Drawing1.dwg>: A drawing with this name already exists. Do you want to replace it? <N> _Yes Command: nil

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:17:06 GMT

I'm beginning to suspect the error is produced by how the accoreconsole implements the save command, and that this might be unavoidable, but then I don't see how anybody else can get their accoreconsole batch processes to save the files in question.

Re: running a script through a batch file

CADaSchtroumpf — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 02:37:25 GMT

One thing that intrigues me in your return messages is the line:
AutoCAD menu utilities loaded.
For my part I don't have this kind of feedback in my AcCoreConsole version: Version Number: P.46.0.0 (UNICODE)
I don't understand why AutoCAD loads menus while AcCoreConsole doesn't use GUI.

The big disadvantage of the console is that in case of error, there is no error message and the script is not interrupted.
Another thing I noticed is that AcCoreConsole does not recognize lisp vla and vlax instructions as well as vertical product commands: for me for example an AutocadMap command like MAPINSERT (or others) is not recognized and this no return message, not easy to debug 😓

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:01:25 GMT

@CADaSchtroumpf

You are right it is a * in the * to debug this one, but I haven't given up on it yet. Since I know it should work. It might take some time but if I do find how to make it work I will let you all know.

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 11:37:18 GMT

I didn't find a real solution, but the issue apparently was generated by the way the batch file was formulated.

As long as the batch file was self-referencing to its own location for selecting the .dwg's that need to be treated, the accoreconsole generated the above error.

So instead of

~~FOR %%f IN ("%~dp0*.dwg") DO "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2022\accoreconsole.exe" /i"%%f" /s "%~dp0PurgeAll.scr" /l en-US~~

I used the following (based on @CADaSchtroumpf 's lisp routine):

set accoreexe="C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2022\accoreconsole.exe"
set source="C:\Users\xxx\test"
set script="C:\Users\xxx\test\update.scr"
FOR /f "delims=" %%f IN ('dir /b "%source%\*.dwg"') DO %accoreexe% /i %source%\%%f /s %script%

I still have no explanation for this, but this has solved it for me.

Re: running a script through a batch file

oiverson — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 18:19:17 GMT

Late to the game, but if PURGE is all you want from a set of files, you can use the "DWG Convert" tool found off the App Menu:

Click the "Conversion Setups" button:

Click "New":

Give it a name like "PURGE":

I use "In-place (overwrite)" and then just tick the box "Purge Drawings" over on the right (could also check/fix errors):

Now, you can just drag your files into the main window, select the new conversion PURGE and hit "Convert"

You can also save the list for future reference and all that.

I also use this to swap out old Page-Setups with my current setups (sadly, you can't set a setup current using this tool)

Hope this helps someone!

Re: running a script through a batch file

Michiel.Valcke — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 18:35:27 GMT

I intend to try and do a lot more things than purge, but that is a cool trick that I didn't know about, kudos.

Re: running a script through a batch file

john.kaulB9QW2 — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:35:59 GMT

Glad you may have gotten your problem solved but from looking at the short BATCH SCRIPT example you gave (you got from Michael possibly) your features/functionality is a bit limited -e.g. this will run the script on every drawing in the directory meaning that you'd have to copy that .bat file to every directory, or modify it for different scripts, or, etc, etc. (a whole slew of reasons).

I created a better script/workflow that supports either drag-and-drop or can be called with a list of files or even called via a simple registry entry (aka right click). I needed a similar thing a few years back but I needed to run the script on a few hundred drawings out of a thousand, so I created my batch methodology a bit different. Also, I added instructions on how to run my .bat file with Briscad if that's a need as well.

Do a search for "batch drawing processing" on theswamp.org's show your stuff forum for a "ready to use" version.