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Expansion variable keys

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An expansion variable key is a string of text that CADplot can use to determine a value e.g. drawing folder, which may change from drawing to drawing, project to project etc.

A list of expansion variable keys is generated each time CADplot creates a plot. This information is stored in an .xml file, located in the temporary folder of the PC. The filename of each xml file is unique and will be made up of 36 alphanumeric characters. When this file is opened in a web browser you will see that there is a vast amount of information that can be utilised.

 

One example of how this information can be used is with plot logging. Information about each plot can be recorded into a database for cost analysis at a later date.

Another example is using a lisp routine to insert a block before the drawing is plotted. The insertion point can be determined via the keys that define the plot window coordinates. The same lisp routine can then be used on any size of plot without modification.

 

Note:

To expand filenames e.g. to set a plot filename use  %   around the expansion variable keys.

In Autolisp script files use  $  around the expansion variable keys

 

Tip:

Converting  \  to  /  for expansion variable keys is useful when using filenames or paths in Autolisp expressions.  X_  will do this

 


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