using tabs in a macro

[gbG5A5W]

I'm trying to create a text, using a button with a macro in the toolpalette. The text-part works:

_.-Mtext \h;2;w;200;Mytext;;

Now I want to use tabs between the text:

Mytext -TAB- Mytext -TAB- Mytext

Using the tab-button in the Tool properties the cursor jumps to the next line. AutoCAD suggests ^I, but that creates 3 spaces instead of a tab. Using the columns-option is difficult, because the number of lines is not always the same. How do I get this working?

[ВeekeeCZ]

I've tried... don't see any issues. 

Use LIST command to export the MTEXT content to the commandline then copy-paste the exported text with tabs included to the tool definition.

_.-Mtext \h;2;w;200;Mytext MyText;;  (where space is a tab)

[Kent1Cooper]

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@gbG5A5W wrote:

.... I want to use tabs between the text:

Mytext -TAB- Mytext -TAB- Mytext

....

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You can see by looking at the entity data that a Tab is represented by "\t" in Mext.  Use something like this for the content:

(strcat "MytextA" "\t" "MytextB" "\t" "MytextC")

Those "Mytext..." parts can be variables containing Text string content if you need it that way.

They must be lower-case t's -- "\T" will not work.

[gbG5A5W]

Tried this. There's no tabs, but spaces instead

[gbG5A5W]

The "strcat" suggests you are using it in a LISP, right? I'd rather use it in a macro

[gbG5A5W]

In addition: the text after the list-command has also spaces instead of tabs already

[Kent1Cooper]

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@gbG5A5W wrote:

The "strcat" suggests you are using it in a LISP, right? I'd rather use it in a macro

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Many AutoLisp functions will work in macros [I haven't tested this one, but try it].

[Kent1Cooper]

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@gbG5A5W wrote:

.... the list-command has also spaces instead of tabs ....

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For the "whole story," use this on an Mtext object containing tabs:

(cdr (assoc 1 (entget (car (entsel "\nSelect Mtext to see its content: ")))))

It's in entity data that you see how it "really" stores the information.

You can also see the tabs in the "TextString" property of the Mtext converted to a VLA object:

(vla-get-TextString (vlax-ename->vla-object (car (entsel))))

[Sea-Haven]

This was a simple test of a's then space b's then  tab and 'c's in a mtext. The entget returns as suggested by Kent. (1 . "aaaa bbb\tccc")

There is no problem using lisp in pop or toolbar menu's, (strcat "MytextA" "\t" "MytextB" "\t" "MytextC") simple to test in your tool palette.

(command "Mtext" pause pause (strcat "MytextA" "\t" "MytextB" "\t" "MytextC") "")

[gbG5A5W]

Using LISP-code in a macro is new to me, I'll give it a try. Thnx everyone for the help.

[komondormrex]

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@Sea-Haven wrote:

There is no problem using lisp in pop or toolbar menu's... 

(command "Mtext" pause pause (strcat "MytextA" "\t" "MytextB" "\t" "MytextC") "")

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have you tried it as ts wants it to? 

[gbG5A5W]

Ans is it just the case of copying 

(command "Mtext" pause pause (strcat "MytextA" "\t" "MytextB" "\t" "MytextC") "")

in the command string of the tool palette properties? In that case I can't seem to get it to work.

[ВeekeeCZ · Accepted solution]

_.-Mtext \h;2;w;200;-;;(setpropertyvalue (entlast) "Contents" (strcat "MytextA" (chr 9) "MytextB" (chr 9) "MytextC"))(princ)

[gbG5A5W]

Thnx, that works