Topic: Acad protected symbol?

[Lee Mac]

'acad' just appeared blue in VLIDE - its listed as a SUBR, so maybe I'm missing something, but what does it do?

[Kerry]

One way is ;

The function c:ACAD has been compiled  ( creating a type SUBR )

and the definition has been protected.

ie In the VLIDE
Compile this as .FAS

Code: [Select]

(pragma '((unprotect-assign c:acad)))

(Defun c:acad () (alert "This is the ACAD function for SUBR")(princ))

(pragma '((protect-assign c:Acad)))
Load the FAS, Then try
(type c:acad)
and
'ACAD' at the command line

[Kerry]

So, short answer ..
'Someone' has defined c:ACAD in a FAS or VLX with a protected Assignment.

[Kerry]

Coming back for a revisit and a wild-assed guess.

if you evaluate the function does it return the IAcadApplication Object
ie ; something similar to the return from (vlax-get-acad-object)


for interest, is it a command or a function  ie c:Acad or (acad)

[Lee Mac]

Sorry for the late response Kerry -

My guess is it was your first suggestion - as, after I restarted ACAD, (type acad) returned nil, and it no longer showed up as blue in the VLIDE.

But I shall look out for it in the future, and keep this thread noted 

Thanks for your time sir.

Lee

[Kerry]

my pleasure and no problem.

[CHulse]

So maybe this is a similar issue?

no idea where to begin to look to fix this... help?

[Kerry]

Yep,
Simply means that c:AI_MOLC is defined as a protected Symbol and you are redefining it.
Simply select No if you want to continue ... otherwise autoLisp spits the dummy.

[CAB]

It's here in ACAD2000.

Code: [Select]

Command: (type c:acad)
nil

Command: (type acad)
SUBR

[Kerry]

Alan
what is the result of (acad) ??

[CAB]

Nothing apparent!

[Kerry]

I just did a search of some archive drives
found this from some 2004 snippets

;;//----------------------------------------------------------------
;|
> (defun acad  ()
>  (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)
> )
|;

so that came from an AutoDesk Newsgroup posting.

and I have some notes added regarding not liking it because
each call to (vlax-get-acad-object) increments the reference count of the Application object.
To destroy the reference we must call (vlax-release-object) the exact same number of times that
(vlax-get-acad-object) was called.

[Lee Mac]

I just did a search of some archive drives
found this from some 2004 snippets

;;//----------------------------------------------------------------
;|
> (defun acad  ()
>  (vlax-Get-Acad-Object)
> )
|;

so that came from an AutoDesk Newsgroup posting.

and I have some notes added regarding not liking it because
each call to (vlax-get-acad-object) increments the reference count of the Application object.
To destroy the reference we must call (vlax-release-object) the exact same number of times that
(vlax-get-acad-object) was called.

Well that explains a lot - thanks for the digging Kerry.

So, with that information, when I call vlax-get-acad-object in my code, should I also be releasing it, as I would with something like vla-getInterfaceObject?

[Kerry]

Well that explains a lot - thanks for the digging Kerry.

So, with that information, when I call vlax-get-acad-object in my code, should I also be releasing it, as I would with something like vla-getInterfaceObject?

I'll have to say it depends who you talk to ( and what sort of mood that person/authority is in when you ask).

In my production code I declare and assign those variables once in each document namespace by using unique global variables ;
however, I've given up being concerned about other peoples code because I can't point to a definitive reference outlining what should and shouldn't be done.

There may be some discussions on the matter here.
yep ... here's a couple. http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=7496.0  http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=2005.0
  and each of those references several other threads  ...  like I said, not a demonstrable issue.

<edit: fixed the URL>

[Lee Mac]

Wow! Thanks Kerry - that's a lot of info to dig through!

From the general gist of things though, it seems to me that most are of the opinion that you need to vlax-release those objects created by vla-getInterface.. vlax-get-or-create... vlax-create, but vlax-get-acad-object will take care of itself, as its from within AutoCAD.

But, as you say, I suppose it depends who you talk to...

Thanks for your time,

Lee