Cadalyst - October 2007 - (Page 39)

cadmanager ming later. And because menu and toolbar customization is the easiest topic to learn, you’re well advised to take this task on first. AutoLISP. AutoLISP is specific to Autodesk products (such as AutoCAD or any of the Desktop series) that save their files to a DWG format. AutoLISP is an older language that predates Visual Basic, but it’s still in widespread use and offers a huge amount of shareware and freeware code that you can modify for your own use. AutoLISP offers the advantage of requiring no external compilers and simple program file editing using NotePad, so you don’t have to learn anything new other than the language. AutoLISP is so well established that I can never see it becoming obsolete, and it’s easy enough that it’s a logical place for novice programmers to learn basic concepts. Learning tip. If you don’t use AutoCAD-based CAD products, you won’t need AutoLISP. However, a good knowledge of AutoLISP is the best place to start for an AutoCADbased shop. For extra power, deploy your AutoLISP programs via customized toolbars for maximum user productivity. VBA. Visual Basic Automation (VBA) is a reduced set of Visual Basic tools that allows you to construct programs that Resources for Programming AutoLISP and Visual LISP. If you can find an old copy of AutoLISP in Plain English on eBay or Amazon.com, grab it. It’s the best learning resource for AutoLISP I’ve ever seen or used. I have listed some beginner to intermediate AutoLISP resources on my CAD-Manager.com site (www. cad-manager.com/autolisp). More experienced AutoLISPers can find a variety of AutoLISP shareware and freeware at www.caddepot.com, as well as advanced books on the topic by Phil Kreiker and Bill Kramer on Amazon.com. Customizing. All CAD tools have their own proprietary methods for toolbar and menu customization. Therefore, your best resources almost always are located in the program’s help files. If the coverage isn’t obvious from the help system index, start searching “toolbars,” “menus,” or “user interface” to get you started. I’ve also found user support forums to be a great place for these types of resources, as well as Amazon.com. (For more tips about using Amazon.com effectively, see the VBA, VB, and .NET section below). VBA, VB, and .NET. Beginners usually can find hands-on training for these basic topics at local community colleges. After that training, they can move on to CAD-specific applications. For self-study resources, you can purchase API guides from your CAD vendor, or search for more information on Amazon.com using authors Phil Kreiker and Bill Kramer or the topic “mastering Visual Basic” as search terms. make the TM Choose Colortrac SmartLF Large Format Scanners Optimized for YOUR Technical or Graphic Needs Smart Choice. ONLY COLORTRAC gives you a choice of scanning technology customized for your specific wide format applications. 888.722.6434 www.geiwideformat.com © 2007, GEI WideFormat is a trademark of Graphic Enterprises Inc., sole North American authorized distributor for Colortrac SmartLF, trademarks of Colortrac Ltd. www.cadalyst.com | cadalyst | October 2007 39 http://www.cad-manager.com/autolisp http://www.CAD-Manager.com http://www.cad-manager.com/autolisp http://www.caddepot.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.geiwideformat.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - October 2007

Contents Editor's Window Cad Central Tech Trends: First-Hand Architecture in Second Life Rev It Up — Graphics Cards Pack Power for Today’s Hottest Designs TurboCAD Pro 14 — 3D Modeling Software SimEnterprise R2 — Design Simulation Software CADopia 6.2 SP3 Professional Edition — 2D and 3D Modeling Software Cad Manager: Programming Resources for CAD Managers MCAD Modeling: Customer Service Horror Stories PLM Strategies: Manufacturing Across Time Zones AEC in Focus: Digital-Asset Management in AEC/O Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes Cadfidential

Cadalyst - October 2007

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