I recently upgraded to the latest version, V18.2.04. I did so mainly for the Blade Lisp IDE. It is indeed a welcome addition to BricsCad. What I did not realize when upgrading is that BricsCad now checks and analyzes all installed lisp customization and I believe menu macros. The upgrade installation does save a backup but what I did not realize is that some customization, particularly partially loaded custom menu cui's need to be reloaded. I apparently had some remnants from AutoCAD that ran in Version 18.1 but won't in 18.2.04. I have the menu source files but if you only have the cui's, it can be a chore to revise custom menus.
I also found that Blade also checks the structure and syntax of all lisp customization and anything that calls AutoCAD specific applications or parts thereof. What did load in the past weather semantically correct or not may no longer work.
I reverted to loading only the default BricsCad cui, removing everything from On-Start, On-Doc and Appload for a fresh start. I then proceeded to reload all custom toolbar menus, lisp, etc. BricsCad. Blade is much more than just a lisp IDE, It can find most errors that may have worked in the past but with errors that are no longer acceptable.
I need a small amount of recoding to make a couple routines work again but for the most part I consider Blade a good addition to BricsCad and a great way to force needed housekeeping. My system now loads cleanly and I think faster than ever.
BLADE is an outstanding new feature of BricsCAD V18.2. Standing for BricsCAD LISP Advanced Development Environment, BLADE is the new Visual LISP IDE for BricsCAD. Autolisp, BricsCAD, BricsCAD BLADE, curly quotes, quotes, VLIDE If you are like a lot of CAD users out there, you have probably downloaded lisp code from an Internet site. Many times you are downloading a file, but in some cases you have to copy and paste the code from a.
Thanks BricsCad!
I would greatly appreciate some training on how to leverage the benefits of the new BLADE program interface.
This is coming from someone who has been programming in LISP (off and on) for a long, long time. I saw the potential for increasing productivity through the use of AutoLISP very early on in my career. My only training took place 30 years when I took a four day course offered by an AutoLISP expert who was travelling the country running a course on AutoLISP. From this course and leveraging Compuserve forums and materials from writers such as George Head, Bill Kramer and others I was able to create some pretty decent routines (in my humble opinion). I remember how utterly amazed I was to see my first program in action. I was hooked.
I used the VLIDE interface in AutoCAD but never understood the nature of its usefulness aside from the 'pretty print' feature which managed to improve the readability of my code. In hindsight I now regret not pursuing how to use of VLIDE more back then. Since moving to BricsCAD I have been using UltraEdit.
Well I'm now pushing 65 but I am not ready to give up learning but time is becoming evermore precious to me so I want to make the best of that which is left.
So, forgive my ignorance but I would greatly appreciate some insight into how to properly use BLADE. An online course, Help files & Tutorials are so wanting and would be so appreciably received.
Bricscad Bladensburg
I think if more young CAD operators take the time to investigate LISP programming they will find, even in today's world of vertical applications and addons, the tremendous power available to them and the potential they have to increase their own self worth and their value to the company they work for.
Bricscad Beginners
Torsten Moses, you are amazing. The work you've accomplished to increase the potential of BricsCAD to become a major contender in the CAD marketplace and still have time to answer questions from lowly programmers such as myself is truly a gift of God. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Bricscad Blade Help
Sincerely,
Phillip Rutledge