.src to .lsp issue porting over how to get more info

[QNashJSRL8]

src is as follows

filedia 0
new "{pathtofile}\2021-target-Imperial-unitless-scales.dwt"
pasteorig
zoom e
filedia 1
-layer ps Black *

lsp is 

(defun c:TranslateFilesBHI ()

  (setvar "filedia" 0)

  (command "._new" "{pathtofile}\2023-target-Imperial-unitless-scales.dwt")

  (command "._pasteorig")

  (command "._zoom" "e")

  (setvar "filedia" 1)

  (command "._-layer" "ps" "Black" "*")

  (princ)

)

the out put also gives
Command: (c:TranslateFileBHI)
Cannot invoke (command) from *error* without prior call to (*push-error-using-command*).
Converting (command) calls to (command-s) is recommended.

So how do i even know what it is crashing on in the output window

[paullimapa]

Troubleshoot by copy and pasting each Autolisp line of code in the command line and see if it crashes starting with

(setvar "filedia" 0)

Also after a crash like this you need to manually set filedia back to 1 at the command line

[ec-cad]

Possible that {pathtofile} is 'nil' since you are not 'passing' that value into the Lisp function.

Paste the line: (command "._new" "{pathtofile}\2023-target-Imperial-unitless-scales.dwt")

into the Command Prompt line, to see if it's nil. Also, if it contains a "\\" on the right end of

{pathtofile} variable, you will need to remove the \ before 2023.

Other than that, code looks ok. It's .scr, not src.

ECCAD

[Kent1Cooper]

That error message about (command) vs. (command-s) suggests to me that you have some other routine that has replaced the native *error* handler with something that includes a (command) function [such as to do Undo End?], and that has not properly restored AutoCAD's native *error* routine when it's done.  But that only kicks in after an error has triggered the *error* handler, so that still needs to be identified.

But in any case, AutoLisp can't start in one drawing and continue in another, unless perhaps you are in single-drawing interface.  Could that have something to do with the crashing?

Also, for me [Acad2020 here], "ps" is not a valid option in a -Layer command -- are you in a different-language version, or is that an option in newer versions than mine?  [I can check in 2025 later elsewhere.]

And your path-to-file [whatever it really is] can have regular backslashes as separators in a Script, but in AutoLisp they must be either forward slashes or double backslashes, because a single backslash is a special-character trigger.

[paullimapa]

actually -Layer _PS does exist if currently in Name PlotStyle dwg:

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@paullimapa wrote:

actually -Layer _PS does exist ....

---

[Okay, that's a newer-version-than-2020 option.]

[paullimapa]

@QNashJSRL8 

Read up on how lisp needs to handle characters like the "\" needs to be entered as "\\":

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-C8E55E82-0104-4305-95E5-1671628A2FF3

[paullimapa]

nope, I copied and pasted that command line from AutoCAD 2020

[ec-cad]

Paulli,

No, I was just saying that if that varible {pathtofile} , already has "\\" on the end,

Op would have to remove the (3 rd) \ just before the 2023.

Like in when you do (getvar "dwgprefix"). it returns "\\" on the end.

ECCAD

[paullimapa]

agreed

[Kent1Cooper]

I don't have it, but maybe I don't understand what you meant by "if currently in Name PlotStyle dwg."

[In any case, it's probably not relevant to the OP's issue.]

[paullimapa]

Your drawing is probably in Color Dependent Plot Style.

You can either use CONVERTPSTYLES command to change the dwg to Named Plot Style

Or start a New dwg and select the acad-Named Plot Styles.dwt template

Then enter -LAYER command & now you should see PStyle as one of the options