Autocad in the background

All,

Can AutoCAD be run in the background anymore, from the commandline, no
User GUI? Like it used to be in DOS or on UNIX. Are the Commandline
options still available?

bobb

 

I assume you are talking about running a script in the background? most but
not all commands have comandline versions. if you are looking to run scripts
on a bunch of files check out scriptpro for doing that. It's in the
migration directory of the CD.

 

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. I mean to start the
AutoCAD session from the DOS commandline. This used to be possible, one
could also set flags for starting Autocad, I'm wondering if they are
still available.


While searching some more (in the help files) I found the subject of
Commandline switches for starting autocad.

from the HELP:

To start AutoCAD with a command line switch

Right-click the AutoCAD icon on the Windows Desktop. Then choose
Properties.
In the AutoCAD Properties dialog box, choose the Shortcut tab.
In the Target box, edit the parameters for the switch using the
following syntax:
"driveathname\acad.exe" ["drawing name"] [/switch "name"]

Valid switches:

/b Script name (b stands for batch process)

/t Template file name

/c Configuration folder

/v View name

/s Support folders

/r Default system pointing device

/nologo No AutoCAD logo screen

/p User-defined registry profile

For example, enter "d:\AutoCAD 2002\acad.exe" /t "d:\AutoCAD
2002\template\arch1" /v "plan1" /b "startup"

Choose OK.


I think I'm remembering the unix version of AutoCAD being ablew to run
in the background. I actually had it running as a CGI behind a
webserver with R12/R13 on solaris :c)

Still looking.

bobb

 

The DOS version of AutoCAD never ran without the
GUI, but did have the bozo screen which you could
plot from, or enter the drawing editor.

The Windows version of AutoCAD cannot do this.

What is it you're trying to do?

 

A long time ago in a galexy far far away . . . .

I ran AutoCAD as a Image generator behind a Web server. After clearing
my head, I recalled that it was my UNIX version that I had done this
with. The process could be run transparently by sending the display to
a video framebuffer (Don't know if I said that right) that was
imaginary. I was actually doing some Web requests that generated an
image (GIF) by running AutoCAD with a script that was created on solaris.

I just had the thought occur to me while I was trying to increase the
speed of a batch process that I've been building to run in AutoCAD that
spawning a seperate instance of autoCAD in the background to run the
BATCH would speed it up considerably. A Commandline switch would be an
interesting way to add in the capability. Although, I don't think this
is likely to happen, since then any old person would be able to do as I
describe and not need mapguide for example.

:c)

bobb

 

Imagine, a image web server with a AutoLISP scripting engine. Cool . . .


bobb

 

I didn't know they had web servers (or browsers
for that matter) back then

FWIW, batch processes involving SCRIPTS (e.g., the
"ScriptPro" way of doing things) is an order of
magnitude slower than doing things in ObjectDBX,
which does not even require the drawings to be
opened in the drawing editor.

 

Bob,
Go to the Microsoft.com website and enter "background process" in the search.
Choose "Modifying Process Startup Options" and see if that is what you are
looking for. There is something called Win32_Process. I'm not sure it works
with XP.

http://tinyurl.com/2oqb9

It *might* be possible to run AutoCAD in a hidden window. (I haven't tried it).
Since AutoCAD likes to spawn its own text window from time to time, it
may not be an optimum solution for what you want. Is AutoCAD still
ported to Unix or Linux?

I agree with Tony about objectdbx being the scripting approach that you
want.

 

I remember once upon a time that a person could script in windows the
same way. Turning of the windows text top for example sure did make a
script run really really fast. I did this with RSH a few times. it
just seems like such a backwards way of making things work, that I
abandoned the idea as a web service.

Why for instance should the windows desktop need to run on a windows
server for example?

bobb

 

Come on now it wasn't that long ago. Did I mention that C3P0 helped
some. :c)

I may end up using some of the tools you describe once I get the scripts
as leaned out as possible.

 

No, but I still have a solaris box that is running R13.

Yeah, that's probably right, but I remembered doing it at one time, just
wondering if it was still possible. I have a bunch of other tools that
are scriptable that would handle the task as well. I use FME for
example. but it does have it's limitations.

thanks for the help

bobb

 

I think the problem is that we're thinking in terms
of single-tasking operating systems. The concept of
a 'background' process in Win32 is a bit different.

In fact, every application that's running, except
the one that's in the foreground with input focus,
is running in the 'background'.

So, I think your question is more one of whether
you can run AutoCAD without seeing the window on
the desktop?

 

At the time the process of painting up the GUI for viewing was the big
time constraint. Using a null video pointer sped things up, it didn't
change the way AutoCAD worked, but allowed the painting process to be
done much quicker with the imaginary video screen.

bobb

 

Tony Tanzillo wrote:

Dumping the whole GUI write out process would be very useful for batch
processing if used as a AutoCad startup flag. Similar to the old Text
screen chooser for older versions of AutoCAD.

bobb

 

Objectdbx has no graphics refresh or need for the
GUI. It is therefore faster if your intent is to
generate or modify drawings without user intervention.



"blammo" wrote in message news:40080793$3_1@statler...

 

I'm actaully just trying to plot a portion of a DWG out in an automated
fashion.

The old Plot option was the way I used to do it. But as Tony points
out, that option is no loger available.

bobb

 

Hi,

this is not exactely what you are looking for but may be with same goal :
I use a .BAT to get 2 process : one to work and one for batch process on
many files :

start /BELOWNORMAL acad.exe

and i start 2 AutoCAD Process

so, batch process works fine and i can do something else (or use second
AutoCAD process)

notice : this is not necessary with windows xp and hyperthreading.

Bruno Toniutti
(sorry for my english level)