execute mnl only on autocad startup?

looks like I've build a nice deathtrap. However, maybe someone has an idea?

I have a mnl file loaded with my mnu which does:
- load my vlx
- define some commands
- set some variables

Recently it became necessary to set several options with every autocad
startup, so I included the following line in the mnl:

(vl-vbarun "gb_AO.dvb!M_Startup.GB_startup")

Normally this works without problems.

Now I've got a vba program which exports objects on certain layers using
wblock. Dependent on user's choice either one drawing or a bunch of drawings
are created and at last opened.
The problem: If more than one drawing are opened, only the last one is
opened completely, the others are locking up whilst executing the startup
macro and cannot be closed afterwards ("AutoCAD can't close drawing because
a command is still active...")

Can I achieve the mnl to be executed only on Autocad startup?
Or is there a possibility to execute a vba macro only once in a autocad
session?

TIA,
Kathrin

 

Create a project and save it in a file called acad.dvb. In a public module,
create a sub called AcadStartup and put your code there. I posted one a week
or so ago that you can download which toggles caps lock. you can use that to
start with.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Ed.
If I use "common" files like acad.dvb or acad.lsp I'll have to make sure
that they are not used by one of the various 3rd party applications we have
in use, and this for 160 machines.
So I would prefer a solution where I'm completely independent from such
commonly used files.

 

Kathrin,

This is a shot in the dark, but maybe if you try something like the
following in the .MNL file, the reentry could be avoided.

(vl-load-com)
(if (= gbHasInitialized 'nil)
(progn
(vl-vbarun "gb_AO.dvb!M_Startup.GB_startup") ;DO YOUR STUFF HERE!
(setq gbHasInitialized T) ;Set a flag to show that your stuff has been
done!
(vl-propagate 'gbHasInitialized ) ;Propagate the value to all drawings
) ;_end of progn
) ;_end of if

Wayne

 

Kathrin,

On second thought, this order may be better:

(vl-load-com)
(if (= gbHasInitialized 'nil)
(progn
(setq gbHasInitialized T) ;Set a flag to show that your stuff has been
done!
(vl-propagate 'gbHasInitialized ) ;Propagate the value to all drawings
(vl-vbarun "gb_AO.dvb!M_Startup.GB_startup") ;DO YOUR STUFF HERE!
) ;_end of progn
) ;_end of if

Wayne

 

Use one of AutoCAD's USER variables and test it for a value. In your DVB
Startup, have it set the variable after it runs. Would look something like:

(if(=(getvar"USERS1")"RUN")
(vl-vbarun "gb_AO.dvb!M_Startup.GB_startup"))

 

You might try using acad.lsp and appending your code to the (s::startup)
function. By appending, no matter what others have done, yours still gets
run. Try this:

;;; Written by: Vladimir Nesterovsky

(defun PlugIntoStartup (MyFunc) ; "to be called with quoted function name"
(eval (list 'defun
'S::StartUp
()
(if S::StartUp
(list (list 'quote S::StartUp))
)
(list MyFunc)
)
)
)

;;; Usage: (PlugIntoStartup 'MyDoOpen)
;;;
;;; where MyDoOpen is your startup code:
;;; (defun MyDoOpen ()
;;; (defun c:mtext() (c:settxt))
;;; (defun c:text() (c:settxt))
;;; (defun c:dtext() (c:settxt))
;;; (command "._undefine" "mtext" "._undefine" "text" "._undefine" "dtext")
;;; (princ)
;;; )

 

Also, if you are worried about moving code to 160 machines, most cad mgrs
have a utility for copying files to the clients. For example, I have an
Access db on the network that startup functions look to. It has a table for
that lists users and the last time they updated and a table listing the
updates/date. Now, when I want to do an update, all I do is change the date
of the update, if the users update is older than the update's date, a
program is launched to copy the files. You could do it without the db, but
the db allows me to see where everyone's at.

 

Wayne,
your solution looks closest to what I want, but I can't bring it to work.
The thing is, when opening a new drawing the mnl is executed first and then
the vl-propagate works. Very annoying.

 

But aren't user variables only valid within the drawing they were set?

 

True, and the string vars are not saved at all. That's why I suggest
S::Startup in acad.lisp.

 

You know what, I misinformed you. S::Startup runs on each new dwg, don't
know what I was thinking. You simply want to append to the acad.lsp file.
Don't replace the file, just append to it. You could do it with vba and the
Write function when you Open a text file for Append. Then the next time they
start acad, your code will be loaded.

 

Thanks Ed,
the PlugIntoStartup thing works great.
Though I'd rather avoid acad.lsp, it seems to be the only solution for my
problem.
Many thanx also for your suggestion regarding the update db. It's a great
idea and I'll deal with it as soon as I can find the time.

greetings from Germany,
Kathrin

 

This is what help says, too. Remember, my intention was a routine which runs
only on acad startup.
What I completely dont understand (maybe because its late night here) is,
why does it work for me then?
I have the acad.lsp with a "hollow" S::Startup and in the .mnl I append my
startup macro using the PlugIntoStartup function. And it runs definitely not
on each new dwg.

Kathrin

 

I think what is happening is you have got Acad.lsp set to load only on startup and if I am correct you are appending to this. Therefore if you had Acad.lsp set to load with every drawing it would run in every drawing. It sounds like it works for you and you just needed to know why so I hope that clarifies it.
Regards - Nathan

 

ACADLSPASDOC

is the system variable you should read about.

Also, look for LISPINIT system variable

 

You can set LISP variables that have application-level
scope using (vl-bb-set), and read them with (vl-bb-ref).

Hence:

(defun AppInit ()
(if (not (vl-bb-ref 'zzz:done))
(progn
(vl-bb-set 'zzz:done t)
(RunOnce)
)
)
)

(defun RunOnce ()
;; Code here will run only once per session
)


Then, from some place (code executed at startup), just
call the (AppInit). You can call that any number of
times, but the (RunOnce) function is called only once,
the first time AppInit is called.



AcadX for AutoCAD 2004 Beta 1
http://mysite.verizon.net/~vze2vjds/acadx/AcadX16.zip

 

YEAAAHH, thats the solution I was looking for. Wasn't aware of the blackbord
namespace.
Many thanks, Tony!

Kathrin