stuck on new lisp

Ok... I'm trying to write a lisp that will allow me to change the rotation of attributes in relation to the block they are in by just picking the attribute. I'm planning on using the "cal" function within the -attedit command to do this. Only I'm stuck on how to make the "cal" part work. There is obviously alot more to do with this, but I'm just wanting help on this for now (not wanting you guys to write the code for me, just give me a bit of a kick in the hind to get moving again). Any ideas? If using this command from the command prompt, I just have to put " 'cal " in when the angle prompt pops up, but everything I've tried in this partial lisp brings back "Requires valid numeric angle or second point.
; error: Function cancelled" or " ; error: bad argument value: AutoCAD command: CAL"

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions!

(defun C:RAT ()
(SETQ A1 (GETANGLE "\nWhat is the angle of the block?")
A2 (/(* A1 180.0)PI)
)
(COMMAND "-ATTEDIT" "" "" "" "" Pause "" "A" "'cal "A2 + 180"")
(PRINC)
)

 

I dont believe that it is possible to call "cal" from lisp. Just do your
calculations in lisp directly, & store them as a symbol.

of attributes in relation to the block they are in by just picking the
attribute. I'm planning on using the "cal" function within the -attedit
command to do this. Only I'm stuck on how to make the "cal" part work. There
is obviously alot more to do with this, but I'm just wanting help on this
for now (not wanting you guys to write the code for me, just give me a bit
of a kick in the hind to get moving again). Any ideas? If using this command
from the command prompt, I just have to put " 'cal " in when the angle
prompt pops up, but everything I've tried in this partial lisp brings back
"Requires valid numeric angle or second point.

 

Yes, it is possible.

(c:cal expression)

 

I don't understand why you want to use 'cal.

what you have written could also be done like this;
(defun C:RAT ()
(SETQ A1 (GETANGLE "\nWhat is the angle of the block?")
A2 (/(* A1 180.0)PI)
A3 (+ A2 180)
)
(COMMAND "-ATTEDIT" "" "" "" "" Pause "" "A" A3 "")
(PRINC)
)

of attributes in relation to the block they are in by just picking the
attribute. I'm planning on using the "cal" function within the -attedit
command to do this.

 

Thanks Mark, I had kinda thought that way at first, but I guess I got locked into the mindset of using the cal command.

 

You're welcome

also, can't you get the rotation of the block just by reading it's rotation
after picking the attribute, instead of having to enter the angle manually -
or does that not apply in your situation?

locked into the mindset of using the cal command.

 

Also--rather than asking the user to tell you the angle of the block, why
not just extract it yourself?

(princ "Select the attribute: ")
(setq ent(entsel))
(if ent
(setq a1(cdr (assoc 50 (entget (cdr ent)))))
(setq A2 (/(* A1 180.0)PI))
(setq A3 (+ A2 180))
;(car ent) will return the coordinate the user chose. Hopefully
;attedit will use this coordinate to get the attribute
(COMMAND "-ATTEDIT" "" "" "" "" (car ent) "" "A" A3 "")
)

 

at this point, why not use entmod with subst on the attribute rotation?

Jamie