In fact, the interpreter is built into AutoCAD, so you can run expressions right from the Command Line.Īs for basic Terminology and Syntax, you should know that items within a list are ATOMS. There’s no need to compile your code either. Note: One of the reasons AutoLISP is so easy for non-programmers (people like us) is that you don’t have to manage data types and memory allocation like other languages. Others include STRINGS, REAL numbers, and INTEGERS. AutoLISP considers a LIST or a CONS as a data type. Of course, there are various data types you’ll need to be familiar with.

You’ll need to know about them, whether they’re defined as a LIST, a CONS, a DOTTED PAIR, or an S-EXPRESSION (or just EXPRESSION for short). Everything in the language is a list in some form. I think it’s important for any AutoLISP user to know what it is.

Right now, we’ll start at the very beginning. This three-part series will help you become aware of the kinds of things you can do with AutoLISP at three levels of expertise: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. It really doesn’t have to be, and even with just minimal knowledge, you can still accomplish a lot. You may not consider yourself a programmer, or it might just be intimidating. I just love AutoLISP, and I consider it my “home” language.īut I also understand that my love of the language isn’t universal.

Autocad