Trouble with a list as argument

[Anonymous]

I'm completely stumped as to why I can't get my LISP function to run properly. I am trying to use Lee Mac's "Steal" script to import layers and Page Setups from different template files depending on the extents of the drawing. Everything works as intended, except when I try to call the Steal script.

What I'm trying to get to work (returns Error: bad argument type: listp STEAL_PLOT):

(setq
	steal_path (strcat template_path 30k)
	steal_plot '("Plot 20k" "11x17")
)

(Steal steal_path
	'(
		("Layers"
			("*")
		)
		("Page Setups"
			steal_plot
		)
	)
)

But, If I change it to the following, the script runs as expected:

(setq
	steal_path (strcat template_path 30k)
	steal_plot '("Plot 20k" "11x17")
)

(Steal steal_path
	'(
		("Layers"
			("*")
		)
		("Page Setups"
			("Plot 20k" "11x17")
		)
	)
)

I'm still new to LISP, but it is my understanding that in the second snippet, "("Plot 20k" "11x17")" is a list, so why am I getting the error when I set my list before the function call? I have several different types of drawings, so I want to be able to set the Page Setup before the function call to reduce the lines of code I'll need.

[ВeekeeCZ · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm completely stumped as to why I can't get my LISP function to run properly. I am trying to use Lee Mac's "Steal" script to import layers and Page Setups from different template files depending on the extents of the drawing. Everything works as intended, except when I try to call the Steal script.

What I'm trying to get to work (returns Error: bad argument type: listp STEAL_PLOT):

(setq
	steal_path (strcat template_path 30k)
	steal_plot '("Plot 20k" "11x17")
)

(Steal steal_path
	(list
		'("Layers"
			("*")
		)
		(list "Page Setups"
			steal_plot ; this variable has to be evaluated
		)
	)
)

---

[Anonymous]

For clarification, the "list" command is explicitly needed because the variable "steal_plot" has to be evaluated at runtime? I reread the page on list and must have glanced over the "unless variables" are contained part when it states you can shorten the list with an apostrophe beforehand.

[ВeekeeCZ]

Yes, basically if there is any variable, you need to use LIST or CONS functions or particular list and all above on that particular tree branch.

(list '(1 2 3)
       (list a 4 "5")
       '(6 7 (8 . 9))
       (list 10 11 (cons b 13)))