OPEN PDF FILE FROM AUTOCAD MENU

[connie]

[&STD]
[->HELP FILES]
ID_STD1_0 [STD1]^C^C^P(load "STD") STD
ID_STD2_0 [STD2]^C^C_browser
"file://H:/CEG_DESIGN_CENTER/2Cad_Support/Support/cad_std.pdf"

hi,
I have done about 3 to 4 days worth of research on how to open a PDF file
from an AutoCAD menu. I have been successful on the two solutions I have
found, however....the first STD1 menu leaves the shell window open and it
closes after I close the PDF file, I would prefer for the shell window to
close right of way while the PDF file its still open. on STD1 im using a
lisp that is calling for a script file.
(defun c:STD()
(setvar "expert" 3)

;get arch code
(setq sc (getvar "useri1"))

;default CEG

(if (= sc 0) (command "script" "STD"))

(princ)
)

scipt.
Shell
H:\CEG_DESIGN_CENTER\2Cad_Support\Support\CAD_STD.PDF

STD2 works once in while, it locks up the pc for about 5 minutes, would
prefer to call the PDF file from adobe not from the browser.
I don't know lisp. I do know how to modify existing lisp.

any help, corrections, suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Connie

[ECCAD]

You could try this, found by searching for 'startapp'.

----------------------------
From the help file:

(startapp appcmd [file])

appcmd

A string that specifies the application to execute. If appcmd does not
include a full path name, startapp searches the directories in the PATH
environment variable for the application.

file

A string that specifies the file name to be opened.

So you need to either edit your PATH environment variable for Windows or
specify the entire path for acrord32.exe.

HTH
--
Kevin Nehls
---------------------------

Bob

[connie]

hi,
I did tried your recommendation but it too complicated for me.
however you responded to an AUTOCAD MENU FILE post; I tried what you and
Walt Engle suggested and it did exactly what i wanted it to do..

this is my end result. it works like a charm because I am not specifying
which adobe reader to launch.
***POP1
[&STD]
[->HELP FILES]
ID_STANDARDS_0 [STANDARDS](command "_start"
"H://DESIGN_CENTER/2Cad_Support/Support/CAD_STD.PDF")

Thanks again,
Connie

"ECCAD" <nos...@address.withheld> wrote in message
news:3073868.111178245...@jiveforum1.autodesk.com...

[connie]

Thank you for providing your code. I didn't get it too work. I'm sure I had
to modify the code to fit my need. I don't enough lisp, but I did tried to
program it.

Thanks again,

Connie

"James Maeding" <jmaeding at hunsaker dot com> wrote in message
news:i9e941tm44heked1v...@4ax.com...
> try out these handy dandy routines, they are slicker than running
> everything through explorer...
>
> (DEFUN IEXPLORE (FILENAME / )
> (IF (SETQ FILENAME (FINDFILE FILENAME))
> (startapp "C:/Program Files/Internet Explorer/IEXPLORE.EXE" FILENAME)
> )
> )
>
> ;(WINRUN "Dir Structure.doc")
>
> (DEFUN WINRUN (NAME / )
> (IF (NOT (SETQ FILENAME (FINDFILE NAME)))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT (STRCAT "File " NAME " cannot be found."))
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> (IF (NOT (FINDFILE (STRCAT (GETENV "SYSTEMROOT") "\\EXPLORER.EXE")))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT (STRCAT "Explorer cannot be found so file cannot be run."))
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> (vl-arx-import 'Startapp)
> (STARTAPP (STRCAT (GETENV "SYSTEMROOT") "\\EXPLORER.EXE") FILENAME)
> (PRINC)
> )
>
> ;(SHELLRUN "H&A_Irvine.chm")
>
> (DEFUN SHELLRUN (NAME / )
> (IF (NOT (SETQ FILENAME (FINDFILE NAME)))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT (STRCAT "File " NAME " cannot be found."))
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> (IF (NOT (FINDFILE "SHELLRUN.EXE"))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT (STRCAT "SHELLRUN.EXE cannot be found so file cannot be
> run."))
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> (vl-arx-import 'Startapp)
> (STARTAPP (STRCAT (FINDFILE "SHELLRUN.EXE") " " FILENAME))
> (PRINC)
> )
>
> ;(CT-RUNPDF "C:\\CAD_SUPPORT\\A2002\\Help Documents\\Full Weight BW.pdf")
>
> (DEFUN RUNPDF (NAME / )
> ;TRY TO GET LOCATION OF PROGRAM
> (IF (NOT (vl-registry-read "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Acrobat
> Settings\\" "AcrobatEXE"))
> (IF (AND (SETQ PDFREG (vl-registry-read
> "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\AcroExch.Document\\shell\\Open\\command"))
> (SETQ END (vl-string-search ".EXE" (STRCASE PDFREG)))
> )
> (PROGN
> ;GET ACTUAL EXE
> (SETQ STRING (SUBSTR PDFREG 1 (+ END 4))
> DONE 0
> INDEX 1
> )
> (WHILE (AND (= DONE 0)
> (< INDEX (STRLEN STRING))
> )
> (IF (WCMATCH (SUBSTR STRING INDEX 1) "@")
> (SETQ DONE 1
> START INDEX
> )
> )
> (SETQ INDEX (+ 1 INDEX))
> )
> (SETQ EXE (SUBSTR STRING START))
> ;SAVE TO REGISTRY
> (IF (AND EXE (WCMATCH (STRCASE EXE) "*.EXE"))
> (REG-WRITE "Acrobat Settings\\" "AcrobatEXE" EXE)
> )
> )
> ;ELSE GET FROM USER
> (PROGN
> (ALERT "Could not find Acrobat Reader, please Browse for the
> program")
> (SETQ EXE (GETFILED "Select Acrobat Reader EXE" "C:\\PROGRAM
> FILES\\" "exe" 32))
> (IF (NOT EXE)
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> ;SAVE TO REGISTRY
> (IF (AND EXE (WCMATCH (STRCASE EXE) "*.EXE"))
> (REG-WRITE "Acrobat Settings\\" "AcrobatEXE" EXE)
> )
> )
> )
> ;ELSE USE REG ONE
> (SETQ EXE (vl-registry-read "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Acrobat
> Settings\\" "AcrobatEXE"))
> )
> ;FIND PDF
> (IF (NOT (SETQ FILENAME (FINDFILE NAME)))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT (STRCAT "File " NAME " cannot be found."))
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> ;RUN WITH ACROBAT
> (IF (NOT (FINDFILE EXE))
> (PROGN
> (ALERT "Acrobat cannot be found so file cannot be run.")
> (VL-EXIT-WITH-VALUE 1)
> )
> )
> (STARTAPP EXE FILENAME)
> (PRINC)
> )
>
>
> the shellrun exe is attached, it gets around problems with opening chm's
> (help files)
>
>
>
> James Maeding
> jmaeding at hunsaker dot com
> Civil Engineer/Programmer
>
>