Topic: Pics or it didn't happen

[jbuzbee]

RE: http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=37329.0

Hey Lee,
I hang out at another forum, ADVRider.com, a motorcycle forum.  Whenever someone makes a wild claim the first response is usually "pics or it didn't happen".  So your last post to the referenced thread seems to be the in same spirit: your calling me out! 

So, for everyones enjoyment:

 
CLayerPop
** Requires OpenDCL v 5.1.2.3 or higher to be installed **
Modeless form shown at the mouse coords, double click a layer to set current, once the mouse leaves the form it's closed.

There.  How's that?
jb

[alanjt]

And yet, no pics.   

[BlackBox]

Alan, quick... throw up the popcorn video clip (the one you never get tired of posting)!!! 

[Matt__W]

Alan, quick... throw up the popcorn video clip (the one you never get tired of posting)!!! 

[BlackBox]

Alan, quick... throw up the popcorn video clip (the one you never get tired of posting)!!!  

lol... found it:



[edit]
Here's the source link for the caption in my earlier post:

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?52077-Leading-zero-s-in-attribute-value&p=352828&highlight=tire+posting+this.+LoL#post352828
[/edit]

[Lee Mac]

RE: http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=37329.0

Hey Lee,
I hang out at another forum, ADVRider.com, a motorcycle forum.  Whenever someone makes a wild claim the first response is usually "pics or it didn't happen".  So your last post to the referenced thread seems to be the in same spirit: your calling me out! 

There.  How's that?

Nah, I wasn't doubting that you hadn't done it, just remarking on how much you like OpenDCL 

But I can see how it could have been misread 

[jbuzbee]

just remarking on how much you like OpenDCL

Thats all I got man!  Compared to you guys I'm a hack at best! 

But I can see how it could have been misread

All in good fun Lee - 

[cmwade77]

just remarking on how much you like OpenDCL

Thats all I got man!  Compared to you guys I'm a hack at best! 

Same here, I use OpenDCL a bit for that very reason myself.

[JohnK]

A question for the "hacks": What is it about "Auto lisp development" (I'm assuming you're talking about that) makes you feel like a `hack' compared to `those guys'? Is it a feeling of not knowing the "best" way, or "how to do `this' or `that'", or what?

Would "training", "extra tools", or "documentation" help (I would be more then willing to contribute `something' to the COMMUNITY --or a devoted select few-- if that be the case)?

[jbuzbee]

What makes me a Hack?

I started my career as a draftsman (board!).  I'm a designer and I always will be.(I've walked away from the profession of Architecture so I don't use that term anymore).

I started utilizing AutoLISP to write quick and dirty routines to make AutoCAD more efficient the way I use it.  As I started writing more robust tools I realized I lacked a good coding foundation.  I've sense rewritten large volumes of code, mostly based on what I've learned from this site.

I love OpenDCL because, well, I'm a designer.  I'll never have the skill to write like many of on this site.

Hi, my name's Jim and I'm a hack! 

[BlackBox]

I too jokingly consider myself a "hack" with regard to programming, as I lack the formal education in software development (that I desire). I know that with the amount of information, samples, forums, and members (like yourself and others) I can overcome most obstacles.

However, I'm personally in a position of expanding my knowledge base faster than I can truly master the information coming in... I've not even come close to mastering AutoLISP & DXF codes, and then I was off to the races with ActiveX because it seemed (it is) more powerful, and is easier to read. Plus I like the object oriented correlation to .NET development.

Now I'm diving into Visual Studio (VB.NET) along with Civil 3D (again, after not mastering ActiveX), and it's another 'world' of information yet undiscovered (by me).

Being self-taught, and having great mentors in forum members has served me well... but I'm always seeking to see development through a different prism, as I feel that I've only scratched the [development] surface.

Edit:  I also think there's a degree of humility, and self-deprecating humor at work, when referring to one's self as a 'hack', as compared to 'those guys'.

[JohnK]

General Rule: You should not be ashamed to be a `hack'. Almost everyone here is a Hack. Hackers are good; hackers built up Unix, they built the Internet!

`Professionaly trained'? I didnt go to school but I was taught by a former CS professor, and studied from a real CS book. Does that make me a `professional'? ...no, but who (here) cares? I would like to be a professional, but I, personaly, dont have the money to go back to school.

However, this isnt really the topic i was interested in discussing so let me back-track a bit.

My real question was (to restate it another way): I think that what people meant by saying `Hack' was/could be "a lack of confidence" or something like that. I have lacking self confidence in some things too but maybe (and this is what my first post really meant--I dont know how more bluntly I can state this) Can I help in someway? Is there anything specific I can help with?  -i.e. show you how to do something, create a tool for you, can we work on a large project together, etc. -e.g. teach you how to use Vim, or create a Lisp STD lib, etc.

[dgorsman]

What defines me as a hack, is that I don't always have the time to do what would be considered correct by a professional programmer.

Does it do what its supposed to?  Check.
Does it in a reasonable timeframe?  Check.
Can it be built in a reasonable timeframe?  Check.
Is it the optimal solution using all the latest tools, completely bombproof, full GUI, etc.?  Not always.

I've got a hundred other things to get done (some of them dreaded administration-type tasks) that doesn't let me learn all the little ins'n'outs, especially with the in-depth areas like .NET.  Duct tape is ugly but when used correctly it works.

[BlackBox]

Se7en - Your offer to help is greatly appreciated.

I am curious to know... what is Vim?

A separate question, how does one make a custom help file (.chm)? I'm finding documentation to be an area I am greatly lacking consistency (for other users)... the 'manual' is in my head (never a good thing!).

Being a hack is more of a (temporary?) status, or sort... I'm a subject matter expert in training. While certainly not zealous, I have no lack of confidence, rather a lack of time.

dgorsman  - I *belive* you and I are in a similar situation... only I'd opt for the 100-Mile-an-Hour tape, and some 550 cord. lmao

[JohnK]

Vim is a text editor. Do a google search for it.

Re: CHM files.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=00535334-c8a6-452f-9aa0-d597d16580cc&displaylang=en


Obvioulsy we dont understand eachother so im just gonna walk away now.

[BlackBox]

Vim is a text editor. Do a google search for it.

Re: CHM files.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=00535334-c8a6-452f-9aa0-d597d16580cc&displaylang=en

Thanks for the information.

Obvioulsy we dont understand eachother so im just gonna walk away now.

That's unfortunate... I felt that I understood your point, while not subject to the condition.

I'll try to do more listening than typing, in the future... I appreciate your time, in any event.

[JohnK]

No, im confused (I dont understand at all).

[jbuzbee]

Is there anything specific I can help with?  -i.e. show you how to do something, create a tool for you, can we work on a large project together, etc. -e.g. teach you how to use Vim, or create a Lisp STD lib, etc

I think that's what this site is all about and your participation is greatly appreciated.  I'd like to see more robust collaborations: a function library, vertical application subs, stuff like that.  I believe that to be the next milestone for OpenDCL; yes there are functions defined by the runtime but how about a sub you can download to populate a tree control?

This is a great site to learn, but the next milestone here could be some real, managed, collaborations.  However, as of now, I'm merely a spectator . . ..

[JohnK]

... I'd like to see more robust collaborations: a function library, vertical application subs, stuff like that.  I believe that to be the next milestone for OpenDCL; yes there are functions defined by the runtime but how about a sub you can download to populate a tree control?

This is a great site to learn, but the next milestone here could be some real, managed, collaborations.  However, as of now, I'm merely a spectator . . ..

I can help with that.
Since you are only a spectator, can you point someone who would be willing to collabrate to this thread (or start a new one); maybe we can get some ideas down.

[Krushert]

What makes me a hack.  Well let me put it to you this way.

• I get an idea to automate something or delete a few clicks because hell I am lazy.
• I then look at the command line to see what is happening and to what and where I would like to automate.
• I then search TheSwamp to see if it has been done before.  If so, I download the code, and then tweek if required and then I go back to work.
• IF not done before, I then look in my tool box of code from past projects to see what pieces I can use.
• If the writing is within my 3rd grader mentality of code writing ability, I write the code.
• If it is above my pay grade I go looking in TheSwamp to find pieces to fill in the missing holes.
• I then try to mash the pieces together with a potato masher, with cutting the big chunks with a electric knife and applying lots butter to hold it all together all the while trying not to drip blood into the pot of code.  Because we all know it is not a project unless there is loss of blood.
• I then do the taste method of numerous trial and error trips into the AutoCAD editor to debug the stone soup to get it to work. 
• I realize I can't so I come crying to TheSwamp for help, bandaid and tissue. 
• You guys patch me up, give me a hug and send me on my way.  For that I am appreciative and will be forever be in your debt.

I will always be a hack because I hack pieces together.  I have learned a lot and improved in my hacks and I even improved in writing code but I have no basic foundation in writing code.  And that there in lies my fault.  If I had time, I would reformat myself and start all over from bottom. 

[ronjonp]

I then try to mash the pieces together with a potato masher, with cutting the big chunks with a electric knife and applying lots butter to hold it all together all the while trying not to drip blood into the pot of code.  Because we all know it is not a project unless there is loss of blood.

[krampaul82]

• I then try to mash the pieces together with a potato masher, with cutting the big chunks with a electric knife and applying lots butter to hold it all together all the while trying not to drip blood into the pot of code.  Because we all know it is not a project unless there is loss of blood.

[ [/quote] I try to live my life this way!

[dgorsman]

In the spirit of the latter suggestions, something that I could use some help with is managing that collaborative development.  My "department" is going to expand to third person soon which means less hands-on coding and more organizing, admin-type stuff.

I think a check-in/out system is going to be necessary to avoid conflicts but I haven't found a simple one yet.  I've looked into TortiseSVN (I already use TortiseMerge for checking purposes) but since IT will never give me network access anything like setting up an SVN/Vault server isn't going to fly.  Anybody have suggestions, even if its just work practices, for small-scale code and data file management?

Maybe we could spin that off (and other related topics) into a CAD Admin Best Practices Manual "How To Be a Pointy Haired Boss (but in a good way)".

[LE3]

^^^
I used TortoiseSVN in the past for the code I did for cadzation (acroplot), have not been able to use a system like this one for any of the latest projects that I have worked.

I know the above does not offer any help et-all

[chlh_jd]

to do well in loading OPENDCL you can use this fun, perhaps

Code: [Select]

;;;load opendcl
;;; by eachy
(defun _Load_ODCL_Runtime (/ loaderp proc_arch arxname arxpath errmsg)
  (or
    dcl_getversionex
    (and
      (setq arxpath
     (vl-registry-read
       (strcat
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\"
(vlax-product-key)
"\\Applications\\OpenDCL"
       )
       "Loader"
     )
      )
      (setq loaderp t)
      (wcmatch (strcase arxpath) "*`.ARX")
      (arxload arxpath nil)
      dcl_getversionex
    )
    (and
      (setq arxname
     (strcat "OpenDCL"
     (if
       (and
(setq proc_arch
(getenv "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE")
)
(< 1 (strlen proc_arch))
(eq "64"
     (substr
       proc_arch
       (1- (strlen proc_arch))
     )
)
       )
".x64."
"."
     )
     (substr (getvar "acadver") 1 2)
     ".arx"
     )
      )
      (setq arxpath (findfile arxname))
      (arxload arxpath nil)
      dcl_getversionex
    )
    (and
      loaderp
      (= 2 (boole 1 (getvar "DEMANDLOAD") 2))
      (vl-catch-all-apply 'vl-cmdf '("opendcl"))
      dcl_getversionex
    )
    (progn
      (princ
(strcat
  "Error: "
  (if arxpath
    (strcat arxpath " ")
    "OpenDCL runtime "
  )
  ".\n"
)
      )
      nil
    )
  )
  dcl_getversion
)