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Editing AutoCAD Support File Search Paths

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Mr Lovelock

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Jul 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/18/99
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As part of a windows install routine I would like to be able add a support
file search path in AutoCAD so that AutoCAD will find our programs and
associated files. It seems that AutoCAD stores these paths in the system
registry in an ACAD value in any number of different places under
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\', depending upon exactly which
version of AutoCAD is loaded.

All I want to do is to append the current valuse of the ACAD string with a
path to our software. Is there a simpler way of going about this or do I
have to account for every variation of AutoCAD and edit the System Registy
to add my new path in?

It seems to me that some simple lisp code would be able to amend the path
variable, but as far as I can tell, the ACADPREFIX variable cannot be edited
with lisp - is this the case?

Any help would be most welcome.

Regards,
Chris Lovelock

DDBS1192 - British Standard & Ordnance Survey Layering Software for AutoCAD
http://www.ddbs1192.freeserve.co.uk

Chris Lovelock

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Jul 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/19/99
to
I had spotted that a couple of weeks ago and perhaps should have paid more
attention to it! Thanks I'll go and have a good look at it now.

Regards, Chris...
Zbigniew Zborowski <imz...@trans-net.at> wrote in message
news:7mtmpq$r4...@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> Hi Chris
> If you have R14 in the acad\support directory look for bonus.lsp (or see
> attach) and function add_path. Maybe this will help you a little...
> Darek Sedziak
>
>
>

Rune Wold

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Jul 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/19/99
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(setenv "ACAD" (strcat (getenv "ACAD") ";c:/temp"))

...will add c:\temp to the acadpath of the current PROFILE, which is where
you want to add it.

The acad variable "CURRENTPROFILE" will tell you which profile is active. In
the registry you can find the acadpath under
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R[release]\ACAD-nnnnnnn:nnnnnnn
n\Profiles\[profile name]\General"

Don't mess around with this to much. If the acadpath becomes invalid you
might be unable to start AutoCAD.

-Rune

Rob Starz

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Jul 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/19/99
to
There is a way to edit the registry if you have a windows installation
program that does this. Most of the answers posted have addressed install
in AutoCAD.
I use a simple windows installation that writes the installation directory
to the registry. Then I have a install.lsp file the when started from
APPLOAD will read the registry using VL commands and do SETENV to set the
search path. Maybe some of the VB specialist here can give you insight as
to creating a custom VB that would load with the windows install. It is
definitely possible since AutoCAD Express tools does this.


--
Rob Starz
Plogv 3.0 (plot logging) new release!!!
http://members.aol.com/stardsign/plog/index.htm

Chris Lovelock

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Jul 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/21/99
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Rune,

That's just the sort of thing I'm looking for; but 'setenv' is a null
function on AutoCAD R14. In Visual Lisp it generates the error -

*** ERROR: SETENV not implemented yet, sorry

I guess it's an AutoCAD 2000 thing? (I will check today at work)

Regards, Chris...

Rune Wold <rune...@marhyd.com> wrote in message
news:7mum0u$sc...@adesknews2.autodesk.com...

Chris Lovelock

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Jul 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/21/99
to
Rob,

We use a simple install program that does do registry editing stuff but not
particularly well. I'd prefer to do the path setting with lisp. Setenv
seems to be the way to go, but I need to support R14 as well as 2000.

Regards, Chris...

Rob Starz <Star...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:7mvnud$gl...@adesknews2.autodesk.com...

Tony Tanzillo

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Jul 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/21/99
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Well - At least there's an apology.

You probably should avoid messing with the ACAD=
environment variable in R14, because if the change
increases the length of the variable by a certain
number of bytes (forget the details, sorry), you
will crash AutoCAD.

--
/*********************************************************/
/* Tony Tanzillo Design Automation Consulting */
/* Programming & Customization for AutoCAD & Compatibles */
/* ----------------------------------------------------- */
/* tony.t...@worldnet.att.net */
/* http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tonyt */
/*********************************************************/

Rob Starz

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Jul 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/21/99
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You can set the SETENV up to 355 character. After that nothing happens.

So I just check to see if the lenght of GETENV is less than 355. If it is
then set the SETENV.


PIA.

Chris Lovelock

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Jul 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/21/99
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Looks like I'm going to have to hard-code the directory paths in my menus,
or do something else like that for the time being. Shame...

Regards,
Chris Lovelock

DDBS1192 - British Standard & Ordnance Survey Layering Software for AutoCAD

http://www.ddbs1192.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.icon-ltd.co.uk


Tony Tanzillo <tony.t...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:37957DF8...@worldnet.att.net...

Chris Lovelock

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Jul 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/22/99
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Tony,

I worked out what the error was - it was a Visual Lisp Error that SETENV
isn't implemented yet.

SETENV does just the job in R14 :-))

Thanks for your help!

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