AutoLISP Developer's Guide > Using the Visual LISP Environment > Building Applications > Designing for a Multiple Document Environment > Running an Application in Its Own Namespace > 
Accessing External ObjectARX Functions from a Separate-Namespace VLX
 
 
 

In order to access functions that are defined in an external ObjectARX application from a separate-namespace VLX, you must first issue vl-arx-import to import the function. ObjectARX functions are identified as data type EXRXSUBR. For example, the following command identifies startapp as an external ObjectARX function:

Command: (type startapp)

EXRXSUBR

The following function works correctly if loaded from an LSP file:

(vl-doc-export 'StartApp2)

(vl-load-com)




(defun StartApp2 ()




   (setq acadApp (vlax-get-acad-object))




   (setq acadDoc (vla-Get-ActiveDocument acadApp))




   (setq acadPrefs (vla-Get-Preferences acadApp))




   (setq acadPrefFiles (vla-get-Files acadPrefs))




   (setq hlpFile (vla-Get-HelpFilePath acadPrefFiles))




   (startapp "winhlp32" hlpFile)




   (princ)




)




(princ "\nStartApp2 is loaded, Type (StartApp2) to Run.")




(princ)






However, if
you compile StartApp2 as a separate-namespace VLX and try to run
the function, it fails with the following error message:



"no function definition: STARTAPP"



To correct
this, import startapp using the vl-arx-import
function, as shown in the following revised code:





(vl-doc-export 'StartApp2)




(vl-load-com)




(vl-arx-import 'startapp)







(defun StartApp2 ()




   (setq acadApp (vlax-get-acad-object))