Once you have opened an AutoLISP program file in the VLISP text editor, you can load and run it. Loading is the process by which functions in a program file are made available to the VLISP command interpreter. You can try this with the drawline.lsp sample program.
To load and run a program in a Visual LISP text editor window
VLISP responds by displaying a message in the Console window indicating it has loaded the program.
_$ (drawline)
drawline function will ask you to specify two points, and will then draw a straight line between those points. When drawline asks for user input, VLISP turns control over to AutoCAD to prompt you for the points. What you see next depends on whether or not the AutoCAD windows are currently displayed on your desktop. If AutoCAD is already on your desktop, you'll see the AutoCAD windows. But if AutoCAD is currently minimized on your desktop, the windows won't automatically be restored and displayed. Instead, VLISP remains visible and your mouse pointer changes to a VLISP symbol.
The
This symbol indicates that the VLISP window is no longer active. If this is the case, you must manually switch to the AutoCAD window. Click the AutoCAD icon on the Windows task bar to activate AutoCAD.
After you respond to the prompts, control returns to VLISP and you will once again see the VLISP window.
Activate
AutoCAD from the VLISP menu, or by clicking the Activate AutoCAD
button on the Run toolbar. If you are in AutoCAD and want to return
to the VLISP environment, you can enter vlisp at the
Command prompt, or choose Tools
AutoLISP
Visual LISP
Editor from the AutoCAD menu.