AutoCAD Tips: Macros

Ralph Grabowski of UpFront eZine and the new blog WorldCADAccess wrote a nice answer to a readers question on what a macro is. I also added some very helpful tutorial links to the bottom of this posting.

"Q: Would you please tell me what macros are please?
- student.ul.ie

A: A macro is anything more than a single command. For example, in AutoCAD you zoom into a windowed area with the ZOOM command, followed by the W option. When you assign that to a menu item or a toolbar button, "zoom w" is called a macro.

A macro can consist of just a command and an option, as shown above, or consist of many commands, their options, and other programming code (AutoCAD macros can include Diesel expressions and AutoLISP functions).

Macros often include additional code to make sure it works under all conditions. For example, "^C^C^C" is added as a prefix to cancel any AutoCAD command still running, while the _ (underscore) is added to ensure the macro works with any language version of AutoCAD (German, Japanese, and so on).

Programs other than AutoCAD don't necessarily allow macros; instead, they have their own programming interfaces, or might require you to learn VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to write the equivalent of macros." http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2004/02/tips_macros.html

Helpful resources on macros for AutoCAD:

AutoCAD - Example of using macros to automate your work: Faster block insertions

Applying Customization: Building More Complicated Macros

AutoCAD - Applying Customization: A LISP Macro Zoom

Applying Customization: Macros For Toggling Between Large and Small Cursors

Applying Customization: Writing LISP Macros Plus a Bonus 3D Toolchest

AutoCAD - Lock Viewports Toolbar Button Macro

Applying Customization: Building a Toolbar

Cheers,
-Shaan

Comments

[sachin sharma]

hay dear,

could you please tell me first step for create the macros.
means i know the auto cad but i want to make a macro, it's related with create new line type/shape.

Regards,
sachin

[Shaan Hurley]

Bob,

All you need to do is use your tool palette and then on the line command icon right-click and set the propereties you would like that line to be drawn such as scale, layer etc. You can create multiple line comands on the tool palette for different properties or specs.

Regards,
Shaan

[Robert (Bob) H. Englert, Jr.]

To Whom it may concern,
Hi. I just got AutoCad 2008. I want to know how to make a toolbar that will draw a line and the layer that relates to it so all I have to do is toggle the toolbar button to get the line, color and line type all in one. I know this can be done because I used to set up Fastcad to do it and if it can be done in DOS, I know it can be done in AutoCad. My E-Mail address is bob1@alltel.net. Thank you for your time and efforts in this matter.

In God's loving service,
Bob

[Shaan Hurley]

Claude,

Your English is great and much better than my French. I would suggest looking at Sheet Sets in AutoCAD as it sounds like you want to create new sheets with callouts. An excellent resource for Sheet Sets and call out objects is Heidi's blog
http://heidihewett.blogs.com/my_weblog/sheet_sets/index.html

Regards,
Shaan

[claude]

HI,
Could you help me with Autocad ?
How could I make a macro which would create and display a new sheet and put a new number automatically incremented as an information, this after a click on an object (circle, line etc.)
I hope i'm clear, sorry for my english, I'm french and I studied english by myself
Thanks a lot for your help
Claude

[cb]

can i find out where and what the macro scrips are for
autocad. i have loaded extended LT facilities and am
trying to isolate layers by pick , just like the layiso
command in full autocad express. can anyone help please.
cb