LISP Scripts for AutoCAD: A Beginner's Guide

====================================================================

Are you new to programming but want to take your AutoCAD skills to the next level? Look no further than LISP (List-Processing Language) scripts. In this article, we'll explore what L Lisp is and how to get started with it using DraftSight.

What are LISP Scripts?

----------------

Lisp is a high-level programming language that's widely used in computer science for its readability and flexibility. It stands for 'LISt Processing' due to its ability to manipulate lists of data as first-class objects. In AutoCAD, Lisp scripts can perform complex tasks such as drawing geometry, manipulating existing objects, and even automating repetitive processes.

Why Use DraftSight?

--------------

Draftsight is a free alternative to Autodesk's AutoCAD that supports many of the same features including full compatibility with DWG files. It also includes support for LISP programming out-of-the-box making it an ideal choice for learning this powerful language.

Getting Started

------------

Before diving into writing your first Lisp script, you'll need to download and install DraftSight from 'CadOasis'(http://www.cadosis.com/). Once installed, launch the program and create a new drawing. From here, go to 'File' > 'Manage...' then click on 'Lisp' in the left-hand menu.

From this dialog box you can browse for .lsp files or simply double-click on one of ours from within AutoCAD to run it directly!

How to Write Your First Lisp Script

--------------------------------

Now that we have DraftSight up and running let's write our first simple 'Hello World' style script. Open Notepad++ (or your preferred text editor) then paste the following code into a new document:

```lisp

(defun hello-world ()

(message 'Hello, AutoCAD!')

)

(hello_world)

```

Save this file as `hello.lsp` and place it in either `%appdata%\DraftSight\enu\support\.LISPs` on Windows or `/Library/Application Support/Draftsman/Lisp/Scripts/` on Mac. Finally, restart DraftSight then go back to the ' Lisp' tab within AutoCAD's main menu bar.

In this tutorial we've covered:

1) What LISP is and why you might want to learn it

2) How to get started with writing your first simple script using Draftsight

Next Steps:

----------

Now that you have a basic understanding of how lisp works in draft sight, there are many more advanced topics for you to explore. Some suggestions include:

- Creating user-defined functions and subroutines

- Working with custom GUI dialog boxes

- Using AutoCAD's API (Application Programming Interface)

With practice comes mastery - so keep practicing!

Autocad lisp scripts