External Commands Script Files Slide Shows Sacramento City College EDT 310
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Slides and Slide Shows
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Slides and Slide Shows A
slide in AutoCAD
Is
similar to a slide in photography. Is a snapshot of graphics screen display. Cannot be edited or plotted. Can be viewed one at a time on the screen. A continuous slide show can be created.
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Slides and Slide Shows Slides
are excellent for
Demonstrations. Presentations. Displays.
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Slides and Slide Shows A
slide show
is
a group of slides that are displayed at preset time intervals.
The
display of the slides is controlled by a script file. A
script file is a logical sequence of valid AutoCAD commands stored in a .txt file.
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Slides and Slide Shows To
make slides
Display
the drawing for which you need a
slide. Select the MSLIDE command Pick the drive and folder in which the file is to be stored. Enter the file name in the File name: text box for the slide Pick the Save button. AutoCAD
automatically attaches an .sld file extension.
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Slides and Slide Shows Choose
stored.
location where slides will be
AutoCAD
by default stores slides in the AutoCAD directory. This is not a good location for slides. Keep
the AutoCAD directory free of drawing, slides, and AutoLISP files.
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Slides and Slide Shows Good
locations for slides
Local
hard disk drive USB media Create
a separate folder in the location where you choose to store slides.
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Naming Slides
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Slides and Slide Shows Slide
names should follow a pattern. Name the slide to reflect the Client
name or Project number Examples: weyersld01,
weyersld02, etc. 4305sld01, 4305sld02, etc.
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Slides and Slide Shows To
view a slide, type VSLIDE
Command:
VSLIDE The Select Slide File dialog box appears. Pick the slide you want to display Pick OK. The
slide is displayed in the graphics window.
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Creating Script Files to Automate AutoCAD
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Slides and Slide Shows A
Script File
is
a list of valid AutoCAD commands stored in a text file. Is created using a wordprocessor. Notepad MS
Has
DOS EDIT
a .scr file extension
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Slides and Slide Shows Running
the Script file
When
the script file is read by AutoCAD, the entire list of commands is performed without additional input from the user.
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Slides and Slide Shows A
Script File contains valid AutoCAD commands in a specific sequence. VSLIDE
(AutoCAD command - displays slide) DELAY (A slide display time) VSLIDE DELAY RSCRIPT (AutoCAD command to cause the show to repeat.) Three blank lines at the end of the file. EDT 310 - Chapter 28 - External Commands, Script Files, Slide Shows
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Creating Script Files Scripts
enable nonprogrammers to automate AutoCAD functions.
Scripts
can be used for specific functions, such as Plotting
a drawing with the correct PLOT command values and settings Creating a slide show.
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Writing Script File - Basic Rules
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Creating Script Files When 1.
writing a script file,
Use one command or option per line.
Makes
the file easier to fix if the script does not work properly.
2.
Press [Enter] after typing a command. 3. A blank line = [Enter] If
the next option of a command is a default value to be accepted, press [Enter] again. This leaves a blank line in the script file, which represents pressing [Enter].
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Creating Script Files When
writing a script file,
4.
A space = [Enter] 5. A blank line = [Enter] 5. Three blank lines are required at the end of the script file.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
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Writing a Slide Show Script File A
slide show script file
Contains
only three AutoCAD commands.
VSLIDE. DELAY. VSLIDE. DELAY. VSLIDE. DELAY. RSCRIPT.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File A
slide show script file
Can
be a single pass or continuous show. If RSCRIPT and three blank lines are included The
If
slide show will repeat
not included
The
slide show will run one time only.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File VSLIDE The
displays a slide.
name of the slide follows the command.
VSLIDE
kenslide01
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Writing a Slide Show Script File An
asterisk (*), in front of the slide file name causes the next slide to be preloaded. VSLIDE
kenslide01 VSLIDE *kenslide02 DELAY VSLIDE A
VSLIDE command that is not followed by a slide name displays the pre-loaded slide.
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The DELAY Command DELAY Specifies
the display time in milliseconds Maximum delay = 33 seconds (33,000) Examples: DELAY
33000 (33 second delay) DELAY 4000 (4 second delay)
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The RSCRIPT Command RSCRIPT
is used at the end of a script file.
RSCRIPT
Exactly
causes the script file to repeat.
three blank lines
MUST
be entered at the end of the script file. The script will NOT run correctly without them.
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The RESUME Command RESUME Restarts
the slide show where it left off
(Sometimes) Does
not always work correctly.
Any
script file can (theoretically) be interrupted and restarted using RESUME.
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Writing A Script File - Example
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Writing a Slide Show Script File The
following script uses four slides.
Each
slide appears for three seconds. The script repeats. The next slide is preloaded while the previous one is viewed.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File When
storing slide files, include in the script file, the disk
drive letter and path in front of the file name.
Example: Use
F:cadlsld2
this method with each VSLIDE command.
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Viewing the Slide Show
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Viewing the Slide Show Start
the slide show by
Entering
SCR or SCRIPT at the Command:
prompt OR
Picking
Run Script... from the Tools pull-down
menu. OR
Select
the script file name show.scr from the Select Script File dialog box.
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Viewing the Slide Show The
commands in the script file are displayed at the Command: prompt window as the slides appear.
To
stop the show,
Press
the [Backspace] key or [ESC] key.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show To
correct, problems in your script file. 1. Run the script to see where it crashes (quits working). 2.
Check the command line for the last command that was executed.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show 3.
Look for error messages, such as:
Can't
open slide file xxxxx (Incorrect slide file name). xxxxx Unknown command (Command spelled incorrectly or a space left at the end of the line). Requires an integer value (Delay value not all numerical characters. Possibly a space at the end of the line).
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show 4.
Correct the problem in the script file and save the file.
5.
Test the script.
The
most common errors are
Misspelled
commands. Spaces at the end of lines.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show The
process of “debugging” the script file is performed by AutoCAD
open in one window Script file open in a NOTEPAD window.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show Alt-TAB
between the windows
Run
Script file Find location where it stops Switch to NOTEPAD window with Alt-TAB Correct mistake SAVE the script file! Go back to AutoCAD using Alt-TAB Run script file again. Repeat steps over and over until script works. EDT 310 - Chapter 28 - External Commands, Script Files, Slide Shows
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show Watch
for extra spaces!
If
you suspect there is a space at the end of a line, it is best to delete the line and retype it.
If
you use Notepad or EDIT,
It
is easy to see if a space exists. The flashing cursor, when placed at the end of a line, does not rest on the last character.
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Using Text Editors
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Using Text Editors Word
processing or text editor programs can be used to write scripts.
The
program must be capable of saving the file in “ASCII” format.
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Using Text Editors ASCII
is an acronym for
American
Standard Code for Information Interchange.
Computer
with:
ASCII text files can be created
The
MS-DOS EDIT text editor Windows Notepad Windows WordPad. EDT 310 - Chapter 28 - External Commands, Script Files, Slide Shows
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Using Text Editors Word
processing files must be saved in ASCII format to be readable by AutoCAD.
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Using Text Editors Typical
commercial wordprocessing programs: Windows
WordPad. Microsoft Word. Corel WordPerfect. Ami Pro. Do NOT save in ASCII format by default! You
must choose option to save as .txt file
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Using Wordprocessors If
you choose to use a word processor, save the document as a text file.
This
prevents the inclusion of special formatting codes.
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ASCII ASCII
was established in 1950’s
Many
computer manufacturers were designing computers.
No
standard representation existed of
Alphabet
(A-Z) Numbers (0-9) Special characters (, . [ ] { } ( ) +, - =) etc.
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ASCII Character Set
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ASCII ASCII Work
on ASCII formally began October 6,
1960. The first edition of the standard was published during 1963, A major revision during 1967. The most recent update during 1986
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ASCII Established
a standard set of characters that was recognized by ALL computer manufacturers and the US government. Allowed interchange of information much more readily.
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ASCII
On March 11, 1968, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson mandated that all computers purchased by the United States federal government support ASCII, stating:
I have also approved recommendations of the Secretary of Commerce regarding standards for recording the Standard Code for Information Interchange on magnetic tapes and paper tapes when they are used in computer operations. All computers and related equipment configurations brought into the Federal Government inventory on and after July 1, 1969, must have the capability to use the Standard Code for Information Interchange and the formats prescribed by the magnetic tape and paper tape standards when these media are used.
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ASCII Other
international standards bodies have ratified character encodings such as ISO/IEC 646 that are identical or nearly identical to ASCII, with extensions for characters outside the English alphabet and symbols used outside the United States, such as the symbol for the United Kingdom's pound sterling (£).
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ASCII Almost
every country needed an adapted version of ASCII since ASCII only suited the needs of the USA and a few other countries. Canada had
its own version that supported French characters. ISCII (India), VISCII (Vietnam), YUSCII (Yugoslavia). Although these encodings are sometimes referred to as ASCII, true ASCII is defined strictly only by ANSI standard. EDT 310 - Chapter 28 - External Commands, Script Files, Slide Shows
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Command Aliases The ACAD.PGP File
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Command Aliases AutoCAD
allows you to abbreviate commands. Feature
introduced with AutoCAD 11.
Abbreviating
commands is called Command Aliasing.
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Command Aliases AutoCAD
comes with predefined aliases.
Aliases
are listed in the acad.pgp file. Over 160 commands are aliased. Appendix F in the text gives a complete list.
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Command Aliases You
can easily create your own aliases by editing the acad.pgp file.
To
enter an alias PP for PLOT, add the following line to the acad.pgp file. PP
*PLOT The * means that this is an alias. Save the acad.pgp file.
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Command Aliases To
cause the alias to be in effect:
Restart
AutoCAD OR Type REINIT and select the PGP file check box.
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Editing the ACAD.PGP File To
edit the ACAD.PGP file Use a text editor: DOS
EDIT Windows NOTEPAD Any other text editor The
ACAD.PGP file is stored in
\AUTOCAD\SUPPORT\ACAD.PGP
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External Commands The ACAD.PGP File
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The ACAD.PGP File External
Commands invoke functions that are not part of AutoCAD. These external commands are defined in a file called acad.pgp (program parameters). This
file is placed in the AutoCAD \Support folder during the AutoCAD installation procedure.
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The ACAD.PGP File Windows
Notepad can be initiated directly from AutoCAD. Enter the following to open acad.pgp in Notepad: Command: File
NOTEPAD
to edit:
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AutoCAD External Commands AutoCAD
contains 11 external commands in the acad.pgp file. Catalog DEL DIR EDIT SH SHELL START TYPE
DIR /W, DEL, DIR, START EDIT, , , START, TYPE,
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AutoCAD External Commands AutoCAD
contains 11 external commands in the acad.pgp file. EXPLORER NOTEPAD PBRUSH
START EXPLORER, START NOTEPAD, START PBRUSH,
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AutoCAD External Commands The
first word is the command name which you type at AutoCAD’s Command: prompt to execute the command.
The
second word represents the DOS command or program to be executed. Each
field is separated by a comma.
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AutoCAD External Commands EDIT. The
command.
START
EDIT
The
command or program name which is executed after the command name is typed.
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AutoCAD External Commands 1. Bit
flag value which specifies the way the program starts. Begins an application but doesn’t wait for it to finish. Other settings wait
for the application to finish minimize the application.
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AutoCAD External Commands File
to edit:
This
is the prompt that appears after the command is typed.
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The SH and SHELL Command SH
or SHELL is similar to the MS-DOS Command Prompt.
The
following prompt appears:
OS
Command: (Enter an external command or press [ENTER])
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The SH and SHELL Command SH
or SHELL is similar to the MS-DOS Command Prompt. Only
one external command can be entered. When the command is completed you are returned to AutoCAD. Pressing [ENTER] at the OS Command: prompt opens an MS-DOS window.
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Assignments
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Command Aliases Assignment Create
5 command aliases
Modify
ACAD.PGP file. Demonstrate to instructor that command aliases work. Each
command alias MUST work correctly on the FIRST ATTEMPT to receive full credit !
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Slide Show Assignment Create
a 12 slide, repeating slide show.
Use
any of your drawings for the slides. Save all slides on
USB Media ; local hard disk drive
Save
.scr file on
USB media; local hard disk drive
Demonstrate
to instructor that slide show works correctly AND repeats!
Slide
show MUST run correctly on the FIRST ATTEMPT to receive full credit !
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