Dtext -> Mtext

Lots of tools available to transform text to mtext; best I know of is
Express Tools TXT2MTXT. So. . .

I want to write a function to "directly" insert mtext, character by
character, on screen. Just like dtext. Proposed method: use dtext and
then call t2mt. Problem: dtext, called by (command ) terminates the
function. Here's a little test code wherein I tried calling dtext as a
subroutine:

(defun dtxt()
(command "dtext")
)

(defun c:carryon()
(dtxt)
(princ "hello")
(princ))

Shows how little I know. The c:carryon routine executes the (princ
"hello") line before the (dtxt). Oh, yeah, I also tried vl-cmdf. Same
results.

Suggestions, hints, speculations?

rs

 

Cheeze, James, you are fast! (While(Cmdactive) pause) will pause the
current command. But you can't cheat and execute other lisp functions at
the same time. Can you?

rs

 

What are you trying to gain by such?

 

Satisfaction. Will it help me solve the problem if I examine my motive?

rs

 

Ya. There is no function that I can find which will write a temporary
character to screen (like grdraw).

Dtext writes each line as a separate entity, but only after the routine
is completed because you can backspace between lines while the command
is active. So I assume that it keeps a master list of characters,
including line feed-carriage returns. It would sure be nice to salvage
that master list. Probably a local variable.

I appreciate your interest and hope you think of something!

rs

 

I don't have time tonight - but let me check it out tomorrow - of course by
then someone really smart will come along and figure it out for ya! ;-)

So do you want to type a character and see it on the screen - just like
dtext? Hmm . . . that would probably rule out activex . . .

jb

 

Something like this ? You may have to tune it a bit.
Uses grread.

Bob

 

Bob,

I already found that one and gave it a spin. It works well, though I am
scheming to make it behave more like an editor (move a pointer, keep the
first and second halves of the string updated, make changes at the
pointer, then weld first and second halves together again.) However in
this case the problem is to enter new text on screen and when done have
it turn magically into mtext.

thanks for your assistance,

rs

 

Yes, it may provide insight to an alternative function.

 

TCEBob,

Am I missing something here? Seems to do what you want.

;; 2/25/2004
;; enter dtext as usual
;; pause for start point
;; assumes Express Tools Txt2Mtxt is loaded
(defun ctxt2Mtxt ( / ent ss )
(setq ent (entlast))
(command "dtext" pause "" "")
(setq ss (ssadd))
(while (setq ent (entnext ent))
(ssadd ent ss))
(command "txt2mtxt" ss "")
) ;end

Joe Burke

 

Doggone. It does work. I confess, I missed the importance of entlast. If
I just say (command "dtext") the dtext routine will not allow a return
to the program. Which is why the help warns not to use (command "dtext")
unless it is the last line. So howcome your use does return?

Many thanks,

rs

 

I added that to my macros file, with the small modification:
(defun c:dm ( / ent ss pt) ;Mtext right to screen (needs express tools)
;credit to Joe Burke, acad.customization
(setq ent (entlast))
(setq pt (getpoint "\nStart point for Mtext: "))
;(command "dtext" pause "" "")
(command "dtext" pt "" "")
(setq ss (ssadd))
(while (setq ent (entnext ent))
(ssadd ent ss))
(command "txt2mtxt" ss "")
) ;end

rs

 

TCEBob,

You're welcome.

You can use command "dtext" as long as you provide all the command parameters up to
the point of entering the text. IOW start point, height and angle are required
arguments. If you omit any of them, the program plows ahead and you get an error.
Apparently that's why you can use just (command "dtext) at the end because there's no
following code.

So if you want to enter the height and angle, something like (command "dtext" pt
pause pause) will work.

Joe Burke