Topic: Loading .NET .dll In Startup Suite??

[wannabe]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just inquiring about the range of possibilities for auto-loading a .NET .dll when CAD starts up, potentially via a start up script, maybe?

This month's blog from Kean includes how to update the registry; I doubt this would apply to where I work with I.T permissions etc. Although I do plan to converse with the group CAD manager, and the CADD systems Manager to see if it would be possible.

However, I think for the time-being, just being able to load via  a start-up script would suffice for the one or two commands that are used frequently.

Any suggestions or ideas swampers currently implement?

[gile]

Hi,

You can call the command LISP function in the S::STARTUP function

(defun-q S::STARUP () (command "_.netload" "MyLibrary.dll") (princ))

If you have yet a S::STARTUP function (defined with defun-q) in your acad.lsp or acaddoc.lsp or MNL file, you can append the (command "_.netload" ...) expressions.

(setq S::STARTUP (append S::STARTUP '((command "_.netload" "MyLibrary.dll") (princ))))

[wannabe]

Thanks for the riposte. I'll let you know how I get on and express further gratitude sometime tomorrow.

[wannabe]

My ACAD2008.LSP file now appears as follows:

Code: [Select]

(if (not (=  (substr (ver) 1 11) "Visual LISP")) (load "acad2008doc.lsp"))


;; Silent load.
(princ)

(defun-q S::STARUP () (command "_.netload" "C:\Documents and Settings\39925NT\My Documents\Nick's CAD\CAD Dev\C#\dotNet Code\2.0 Files\PolyDist\CurveQuery\CurveQuery.dll") (princ))


However, my command is not being recognised.

I also tried the following:

Code: [Select]

(setq S::STARTUP (append S::STARTUP '((command "_.netload" "C:\Documents and Settings\39925NT\My Documents\Nick's CAD\CAD Dev\C#\dotNet Code\2.0 Files\PolyDist\CurveQuery\CurveQuery.dll") (princ))))

Also to no avail.

Can  you give me a slight nudge in the right direction, please?

[Kerry]

What happens if you change the folder delineators to \\ in place of \  ??

[Kerry]

perhaps try something like this ..

Code: [Select]

(defun kdub_startup ()
    (load "C:/PROG/LISP/MyStuff.LSP")
    (Command "_.netload"  "C:\\whatever\\kdub\\MyStuff.dll")
    (princ)
)
(if s::startup
    (setq s::startup (append s::startup (quote ((kdub_startup)))))
   ;; (defun s::startup () (kdub_startup))
    (defun-q s::startup () (kdub_startup) (princ))
)

[wannabe]

Thanks for  your help, but my lack of LISP knowledge is inhibiting me here.

Here's how I amended my ACAD.LSP file to look:

Code: [Select]


;;;************************************************************************
;;;                                 STARTUP
;;;************************************************************************
(defun S::STARTUP ( / )
(princ)
(command "-vbarun" "Loadtimestamp")
(setvar "modemacro" (strcat

" <> D=$(if,$(getvar,pstylemode),COLOUR MODE,STYLE MODE)"))
(princ)
);endfun

(defun kdub_startup ()
    (load "C:/PROG/LISP/MyStuff.LSP")
    (Command "_.netload"  "C:\\Documents and Settings\\39925NT\\My Documents\\Nick's CAD\\CAD Dev\\C#\\dotNet Code\\2.0 Files\\PolyDist\CurveQuery\\CurveQuery.dll")
    (princ)
)
(if s::startup
    (setq s::startup (append s::startup (quote ((kdub_startup)))))
    (defun s::startup () (kdub_startup))
)


I wasn't sure what the second line of  your code did, the call to "load", so I left it for now.

Cheers.

[Kerry]

Comment it out
or remove it
or replace it with a file you WANT to load at startup

added;
does the file appload ?
does the .dll file netload ?

[wannabe]

"Appload"ing, responds with the following, via the command-line:

mmand: ; error: Invalid attempt to access a compiled function definition. 
You may want to define it using defun-q: #<SUBR @07bab938 S::STARTUP>

[Kerry]

So, what happens when you change the defun do defun-q


??

[wannabe]

When I change the intial defun to defun-q it loads without command-line error; the command still does not load into AutoCAD, though.

The netload definitely works.

[David Hall]

from above

dotNet Code\\2.0 Files\\PolyDist\CurveQuery\\CurveQuery.dll

you neeed to add 1 more \ between PolyDist and CurveQuery.

[wannabe]

Sorry for that, gents. Cheers for your input.

[wannabe]

Arghhhhh. It's still giving me hassle.

What about a command that will netload the file, and I call that from within the ACAD.LSP.

Can anyone help me with that??

[sinc]

I typically just do something like this in my acad.lsp file:

Code: [Select]

(command "._netload" "C:/MyDLLs/myprog.dll")
As a result of this thread, I tried replacing the above line with this:

Code: [Select]

(defun-q MYSTARTUP ()
    (command "._netload" "C:/MyDLLs/myprog.dll")
) ;_ defun-q
(setq S::STARTUP (append S::STARTUP MYSTARTUP))
I seemed to get the exact same results either way, with no difference I could discern.

[wannabe]

I've got it working at home....first time.

The setup at work is a bit obfuscating with all the customisation folders and the recent migration to a new I.T setup. I'll talk to the guys higher up and see what I can come up with.

So cheers for all the help. On my way now, cheers.

[Kerry]

wannabe ,
just a thought .. are you netloading from a local drive or from a Network ??
I know your sample is from C:\\ .. BUT you posted that from home, yes ??

[wannabe]

It's been a local drive on each location.

I think the errors may have occured due to the fact we have the ACAD2008 and ACADDOC2008 as-well-as another ACAD.LSP and ACADDOC.LSP in our customisations folder.

I reset the latter 2 the original files, and just updated the ACAD2008.LSP as per the load in Sinc's last post that specified the .dll on a local drive.

When I get chance I'll add your original code to this file and see what the return is.

Cheers all.

[sinc]

You shouldn't modify ACAD2008.lsp or ACADDOC2008.lsp.  Those should be left untouched, and you should always use the default files, because Autodesk may make important changes to those files in service pack updates.

[wannabe]

Thanks. Lesson learnt and error rectified.