AutoCAD® 2009 & AutoCAD LT® 2009 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies®

Chapter 4. Delving Deeper into Customization

Many aspects of customizing AutoCAD are left untapped by most users. Much of this is due to the many ways AutoCAD can be customized beyond just the user interface and appearance of the application window. AutoCAD allows you to automate repetitive tasks with standard AutoCAD commands and command options by creating script files. AutoCAD also comes with a set of utilities known as Express Tools that allow you to complete tasks in AutoCAD more efficiently.

Working from a Script

No, AutoCAD will not help you land a role in Hollywood, but AutoCAD scripts can help you be more efficient at your job. Have you ever received a set of drawings from a client that didn't use the same drafting settings or conform to the CAD standards that you use? Or maybe you've had to manually update older drawings to match your company's new CAD standards? Script files can be used for these tasks and much more.

What's in a script?

A script is used to automate functionality in AutoCAD by using standard AutoCAD commands, options, and AutoLISP expressions. (AutoLISP expressions are not supported by AutoCAD LT, however.)

Note

For more information on AutoLISP, see Bonus Chapter 4 on the Web, which you can download from www.wiley.com/go/autocad2009aio.

You create a script by using a text editor such as Notepad. After you create the script, you save it to a plain text file with the SCR file extension, which lets AutoCAD know that the contents of the file is a script. The structure ...