Topic: Caps Lock

[TimSpangler]

Needed this the other day for something that I was working on.  Couldn't find anything online so I cobbled this together.  Why Autocad doesn't have this property?

Code: [Select]

;; Toggle = T/nil - T = Turns ON CAPS / nil = Turns OFF CAPS
(defun CAPSLOCK (Toggle / MS-Word)
;; Get the word application
(if (setq MS-Word (vlax-get-or-create-object "Word.Application"))
;; If word exists set
(progn
;; Check for CAPS LOCK
(cond
;;Toggle is T and CAPS LOCK is off
((and (= Toggle T)(= (vlax-get MS-Word 'CapsLock) 0))
(vlax-invoke-method  (vla-getInterfaceObject (vlax-get-acad-object) "WScript.Shell") 'SendKeys "{CAPSLOCK}")
)
;;Toggle is nil and CAPS LOCK is on
((and (= Toggle nil)(= (vlax-get MS-Word 'CapsLock) -1))
(vlax-invoke-method  (vla-getInterfaceObject (vlax-get-acad-object) "WScript.Shell") 'SendKeys "{CAPSLOCK}")
)
)
;; Exit word
(vlax-invoke-method MS-Word 'Quit)
;; Release object
(vlax-release-object MS-Word)
;; Quite exit
(princ)
)
;; Send nil
nil
)
)


[Dommy2Hotty]

Seems useful, but I'm not advanced enough to know how to use it!  I used (capslock T) and (capslock nil) successfully in CAD, but I don't know about Word usage.

[Lee Mac]

I wouldn't have thought to use MSWord, nice one Tim 

[alanjt]

I wouldn't have thought to use MSWord, nice one Tim 

x2!

[BlackBox]

FWIW - For fun:

Code - vb.net: [Select]

1. Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
2. Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
3. Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
4. Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
5.  
6. Imports System
7.  
8. <Assembly: CommandClass(GetType(Foo.Foo))>
9.  
10. Namespace Foo
11.  
12.     Public Class Foo
13.  
14.         <LispFunction("CapsLock-p")> _
15.         Public Function CapsLock_P(ByVal args As ResultBuffer)
16.             If My.Computer.Keyboard.CapsLock = True Then
17.                 Return True
18.             Else
19.                 Return Nothing
20.             End If
21.         End Function
22.  
23.     End Class
24.  
25. End Namespace
26.  

** Returns T if CapsLock is on, Nil if off. Tested using Civil 3D 2011, 2012.

[TimSpangler]

Seems useful, but I'm not advanced enough to know how to use it!  I used (capslock T) and (capslock nil) successfully in CAD, but I don't know about Word usage.

MS Office applications (some of them) have a "CapsLock" property that can be checked, Autocad does not.  I couldn't find any good references (dll) that had a good way of checking for CapsLock.  This was the best "lisp" only way that I could come up with (after almost 2 days searching / playing)

If some one has a better way, I would love to see it.  (lisp only, I not very versed in much else   

[BlackBox]

Tim - I've successfully tested an enhanced version of the LispFunction posted above (now simply named "CapsLock"), and am able to successfully toggle the CapsLock and not just test for current status.

Before I post, I just have to revise my IF statement to allow for user-specified On (T) / Off (Nil), as currently either T or Nil as Argument will toggle (which is not what we want). I will post back source and compiled code for your use.

[BlackBox]

** Edit - Code updated in this post.


Update: "CapsLock" LispFunction

When called without an argument, the CapsLock status is returned as T (True) for ON, or Nil for OFF.

When called with a single argument as T (True) the CapsLock status is evaluated, and turned ON if presently OFF. Single argument as Nil evaluates the current CapsLock status, and turns OFF is presently ON.

Here's the revised source code for those, like me, that prefer to compile yourself:

Code - vb.net: [Select]

1. ' Code updated in another post

... Here's the compiled code (attached). I compiled to .NET 3.5 for use in 2010 and newer drawings. Please let me know if you have any problems (I don't usually distribute to others outside of my work).

HTH

[GDF]

Good one Tim, I'll add it to my ANNO routine. To make sure the caps are always on when inserting text. Thanks for sharing it.

[TimSpangler]

Update: "CapsLock" LispFunction

When called without an argument, the CapsLock status is returned as T (True) for ON, or Nil for OFF.

When called with a single argument as T (True) the CapsLock status is evaluated, and turned ON if presently OFF. Single argument as Nil evaluates the current CapsLock status, and turns OFF is presently ON.

Here's the revised source code for those, like me, that prefer to compile yourself:

... Here's the compiled code (attached). I compiled to .NET 3.5 for use in 2010 and newer drawings. Please let me know if you have any problems (I don't usually distribute to others outside of my work).

HTH

This is great! ( i haven't tried it yet) , I will try when I get back to work tomorrow.  Maybe we can get a complete set exposed  to autocad caps, num, scroll?  A total package would be a great resource.

[BlackBox]

I'm glad this is of interest to you, Tim.

Funny enough, it dawned on me after posting that the other locks may be of use too! I've already brought my laptop home to tinker. LoL if I get enough together I may just incorporate this into my VLX-* (Visual Lisp Xpanded) LispFunction library.

[CAB]

More on Cap Lock
http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=27940.0

[TimSpangler]

It would be great to use in a reactor for text and such (my plan anyway).  I hate having to go from autocad to outlook and start typing and there is an entire email in CAPS.  This has been a small thorn in a lisp developer's side for years.  It would be nice to have a great solutions.

[Rod]

Two options I can think of is
doslibs dos_capslock see http://www.en.na.mcneel.com/doslib/system_functions/dos_capslock.htm
for setting the caplock state
Eg. (dos_capslock nil) (dos_capslock T)

and the express utility (acet-sys-keystate keycode) see http://www.afralisp.net/archive/lisp/acet-utils.htm
Eg. (acet-sys-keystate 14) for checking the capslock state
I'm not in front of autocad now so you will have to check yourself.
Rod

[TimSpangler]

Two options I can think of is
doslibs dos_capslock see http://www.en.na.mcneel.com/doslib/system_functions/dos_capslock.htm
for setting the caplock state
Eg. (dos_capslock nil) (dos_capslock T)

and the express utility (acet-sys-keystate keycode) see http://www.afralisp.net/archive/lisp/acet-utils.htm
Eg. (acet-sys-keystate 14) for checking the capslock state
I'm not in front of autocad now so you will have to check yourself.
Rod

I know about both of those options, but we don't have Doslib here (stuff like that is prohibited  :ugly:)
The express tools is a great idea but you can not ensure that everyone has the express tools loaded, and it takes an act of Congress to get things loaded from IT around here.  So I try not to develop applications around them.  The express tools is a great option, it should be part of the vlsip com.