Michael’s Corner

Michael's Corner is a monthly publication written by Michael E. Beall, Autodesk Authorized Author and peripatetic AutoCAD trainer. Michael travels all over the USA, bringing his fantastic experience and great understanding of AutoCAD to his clients. Michael's Corner brings together many of the tips, tricks and methods developed during these training sessions for the benefit of all users.

Michael's Corner provides something for every AutoCAD user. Every month, a number of articles cover a wide range of topics, suitable for users at all levels, including "The Basics" for those just starting out. Essentially, the aim of Michael's Corner is to help all AutoCAD users work smarter and faster.

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This month…

From the Vault

Originally published February 2014

Running a Script with One Click

Although we covered a lot of customizing ground in my (award-winning!) lab at AU, there was one method I didn't cover, but will definitely have next year: the Script. Several years ago in January 2008, my friend, Lee Ambrosius, stepped in and showed you what scripts can do. Scripts are like a poor man's Lisp, and for a one-liner like me, they're just as effective and much easier to understand.

When to Use What

So what really is "best"? Should you make your own Tab on the Ribbon, put things on the Tool Palette, populate the Quick Access Toolbar, create an Alias? It all depends on how you like to work—and for many of us, it's a combination—but here's my take on those particular customizable components.

Quick Access Toolbar

Officially my favorite customization location. You can add single commands, macros, make your own button, run a Script (see below), and it's always visible. I'm a typer, but I love my buttons on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Alias

To run a single command by typing, use an alias. For example, I set my system up to use ‘C’ for Copy. No options can be configured when defining an alias; it's just what you want to type to run a singular command.

Tool Palette

Although the QAT is now my favorite, the most powerful customization tool is the Tool Palette, mainly because I can specify the properties—Color, Layer, Style—for the command I'm running, even if that component doesn't exist in the current drawing. Best used when working with drawings from others where you need to be consistent in your standards such as Text style, Dimension style, and Layout tabs.

One-Line Lisp

You can string a command and options into a single one-line Lisp. Once created and added to the Startup Suite (or acaddoc.lsp), it will always be available.

Tab on the Ribbon

Probably the coolest customization for those wanting to click, rather than type, anything you can put on the Quick Access Toolbar, you can put on the Ribbon.

The Script [.SCR]

When you run the .SCR, every line in that file is implemented. For example, you may have a script file that sets up several conditions for the current drawing; the Units, the current Layer, and then Zoom Extents. With a script, it's all or nothing.

By comparison, a .LSP file can contain a single one-line routine that does all those things, but it can also include three separate routines that you can launch one at a time with a simple keystroke.

In the following exercise, you write a script that launches the command line version of the Units command and sets the values to the ones shown in this figure.

If you would like to configure the values to something other than what is shown here, type -UNITS at the command line and follow the prompts, then use those numbers to replace the ones here.

Also, you may replace the layer being created in the following script—A-FURN—to one that you would like to have in each drawing you work on.

How to Write a Script

1. Launch Windows Notepad.

2. Add the lines in red (below) with this understanding:

   * The underscore preceding each line means use the English language version.
   * The hyphen means use the command line version of the command (scripts can't respond to a dialog box).
   * The <SP> means a space goes here; when you hit the spacebar, it's the same as pressing [Enter]

   _-UNITS<SP>4<SP>16<SP>1<SP>0<SP>N<SP> (so this line reads _-UNITS 4 16 1 0 N )
   _-LAYER<SP>MAKE<SP>A-FURN<SP><SP><SP> (yes, three spaces)
   _ZOOM<SP>EXTENTS<SP> …but don't press [Enter] after typing the last space

3. When you save this file, it must have the extension of .SCR. I named mine, MC_FEB14.SCR, and I would recommend you save it to AutoCAD's ..\Support folder [C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 201x\Support].

Next, we need to put it on the Quick Access Toolbar, so we'll Duplicate the existing ‘Run a Script’ button and edit it to select our Script.

How to Add a Script to the Quick Access Toolbar

1. Open the CUI.

2. Expand the Quick Access Toolbars, then Quick Access Toolbar 1.

3. Under the Command list, navigate to Run Script.

4. Right-click on Run Script, then click Duplicate. This is essentially a Copy/Paste routine which retains the integrity of the original command. We will edit the one that has an Element ID with the prefix of ‘MMU’ (before you ask, I have no idea).

5. Here's what I put in the Properties fields:

   Name	Run CAD Tutor Script
   Command Display Name	Drawing Setup
   Macro	'_script;MC_FEB14

6. Drag your new command up and release it in the list of commands under Quick Access Toolbar 1.

7. Click OK to save your edits and close the CUI.

8. To test your script, begin a new drawing, then set Layer 0 to current and draw a small rectangle.

9. Click your new Script button. When it's finished, the drawing should have done a Zoom Extents and the layer you put in the 2nd line of the script should be current!

So the next time you open a drawing where the units are not in keeping with what you prefer, or your favorite layer isn't in that drawing, hit your Script button and carry on!

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