Understanding the Visual LISP Text Editor
The VLISP text editor is much more than a writing tool, it's a central component of the VLISP programming environment. To appreciate the versatility and value of the VLISP text editor, you need to be familiar with the AutoLISP language. If you are not yet familiar with AutoLISP, you can learn the basics in chapter 8, AutoLISP Basics and find additional information in chapter 9, Using AutoLISP to Communicate with AutoCAD and chapter 10, Using AutoLISP to Manipulate AutoCAD Objects
Here are some of the major features of the text editor:
The text editor identifies different parts of an AutoLISP program and assigns distinct colors to them. This allows you to find program components easily such as function calls and variable names, and helps you find typographical errors.
The text editor can format AutoLISP code for you, making the code easier to read. You can choose from a number of different formatting styles.
AutoLISP code contains many parentheses, and the editor helps you detect missing parentheses by finding the close parenthesis that goes with an open parenthesis.
You can test expressions and lines of code without leaving the text editor.
The text editor can search for a word or expression in several files with a single command.
The text editor can evaluate AutoLISP code and highlight syntax errors.
Details on using the VLISP text editor begin with Using the Text Editor.