From the
VLISP Console window, you can enter and run AutoLISP commands and
see the results. This is similar to what you can do in the AutoCAD
Command window, but there are a few differences—some subtle—in how
you accomplish the same task in these two windows. For example, to
display the current value of an AutoLISP variable in VLISP, you
simply type the variable name in the Console window and press
ENTER. To view the value of a variable in AutoCAD, you must precede
the variable name with an exclamation point (!) when you type it in
the Command window.
The Console
window is also where VLISP displays AutoLISP diagnostic messages
and the results of many AutoLISP functions. For example, output
from the print and princ functions is displayed in the Console
window. You can scroll through the Console window to view
previously entered text and output.
For a
description of VLISP Console window features, see
Using the Console Window. The following is a
brief summary of these features:
Evaluating AutoLISP expressions and displaying the return
values from those expressions.
Entering AutoLISP expressions on multiple lines by pressing
CTRL + ENTER to continue on the next line.
Evaluating multiple expressions at one time.
Copying and transferring text between the Console and text
editor windows. Most text editor commands are also available in the
Console window.
Retrieving previous commands entered in the Console by pressing
TAB. You can press TAB repeatedly to retrieve earlier commands.
Press SHIFT + TAB to reverse the direction of command
retrieval.
Performing an associative search through the input history by
pressing TAB. For example, if you begin an expression with (+ and
then press TAB, VLISP retrieves the last command you entered that
begins with (+. To reverse the direction of the search, press SHIFT
+ TAB.
Pressing ESC clears any text following the Console prompt.
Pressing SHIFT + ESC leaves the text you entered at the Console
prompt without evaluating the text, and displays a new Console
prompt.
Right-clicking or pressing SHIFT + F10 anywhere in the Console
window displays a menu of VLISP commands and options. For example,
you can use this feature to copy and paste text in the Console
command line, search for text, and initiate VLISP debugging
features.
Note that if
you type text at the Console prompt but switch to the AutoCAD
window before pressing ENTER, the text will no longer be at the
prompt when you return to the VLISP window.