Script Files and
Slide Shows
Sacramento City College
Engineering Design Technology
Script Files and Slide Shows
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Slides and Slide Shows
Script Files and Slide Shows
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Slides and Slide Shows
A
slide in AutoCAD
 Is
similar to a slide in photography.
 Is a snapshot of graphics screen display.
 Cannot be edited or plotted.
 Can be viewed one at a time on the screen.
 A continuous slide show can be created.
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Slides and Slide Shows
 Slides
are excellent for
 Demonstrations.
 Presentations.
 Displays.
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Slides and Slide Shows
A
slide show
 is
a group of slides that are displayed at
preset time intervals.
 The
display of the slides is controlled by a
script file.
A
script file is a logical sequence of valid
AutoCAD commands stored in a .txt file.
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Slides and Slide Shows
 To
make slides
 Display
the drawing for which you need a
slide.
 Select the MSLIDE command
 Pick the drive and folder in which the file is to
be stored.
 Enter the file name in the File name: text box
for the slide
 Pick the Save button.
 AutoCAD
automatically attaches an .sld file
extension.
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Slides and Slide Shows
 Choose
stored.
location where slides will be
 AutoCAD
by default stores slides in the
AutoCAD directory.
 This is not a good location for slides.
 Keep
the AutoCAD directory free of drawing,
slides, and AutoLISP files.
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Slides and Slide Shows
 Good
locations for slides
 Local
hard disk drive
 USB media
 Create
a separate folder in the location
where you choose to store slides.
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Naming Slides
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Slides and Slide Shows
 Slide
names should follow a pattern.
 Name the slide to reflect the
 Client
name or
 Project number
 Examples:
 weyersld01,
weyersld02, etc.
 4305sld01, 4305sld02, etc.
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Slides and Slide Shows
 To
view a slide, type VSLIDE
 Command:
VSLIDE
 The Select Slide File dialog box appears.
 Pick the slide you want to display
 Pick OK.
 The
slide is displayed in the graphics
window.
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Creating Script Files to Automate
AutoCAD
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Slides and Slide Shows
A
Script File
 is
a list of valid AutoCAD commands stored in
a text file.
 Is created using a wordprocessor.
 Notepad
 MS
 Has
DOS EDIT
a .scr file extension
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Slides and Slide Shows
 Running
the Script file
 When
the script file is read by AutoCAD, the
entire list of commands is performed without
additional input from the user.
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Slides and Slide Shows
A
Script File contains valid AutoCAD
commands in a specific sequence.
 VSLIDE
(AutoCAD command - displays slide)
 DELAY (A slide display time)
 VSLIDE
 DELAY
 RSCRIPT (AutoCAD command to cause the
show to repeat.)
 Three blank lines at the end of the file.
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Creating Script Files
 Scripts
enable nonprogrammers to
automate AutoCAD functions.
 Scripts
can be used for specific functions,
such as
 Plotting
a drawing with the correct PLOT
command values and settings
 Creating a slide show.
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Writing Script File - Basic Rules
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Creating Script Files
 When
 1.
writing a script file,
Use one command or option per line.
 Makes
the file easier to fix if the script does not
work properly.
 2.
Press [Enter] after typing a command.
 3. A blank line = [Enter]
 If
the next option of a command is a default value
to be accepted, press [Enter] again.
 This leaves a blank line in the script file, which
represents pressing [Enter].
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Creating Script Files
 When
writing a script file,
 4.
A space = [Enter]
 5. A blank line = [Enter]
 5. Three blank lines are required at the end of
the script file.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
A
slide show script file
 Contains
only three AutoCAD commands.
 VSLIDE.
 DELAY.
 VSLIDE.
 DELAY.
 VSLIDE.
 DELAY.
 RSCRIPT.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
A
slide show script file
 Can
be a single pass or continuous show.
 If RSCRIPT and three blank lines are included
 The
 If
slide show will repeat
not included
 The
slide show will run one time only.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
 VSLIDE
 The
displays a slide.
name of the slide follows the command.
 VSLIDE
kenslide01
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
 An
asterisk (*), in front of the slide file
name causes the next slide to be
preloaded.
 VSLIDE
kenslide01
 VSLIDE *kenslide02
 DELAY
 VSLIDE
A
VSLIDE command that is not followed by a
slide name displays the pre-loaded slide.
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The DELAY Command
 DELAY
 Specifies
the display time in milliseconds
 Maximum delay = 33 seconds (33,000)
 Examples:
 DELAY
33000 (33 second delay)
 DELAY 4000 (4 second delay)
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The RSCRIPT Command
 RSCRIPT
is used at the end of a script file.
 RSCRIPT
 Exactly
causes the script file to repeat.
three blank lines
 MUST
be entered at the end of the script file.
 The script will NOT run correctly without them.
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The RESUME Command
 RESUME
 Restarts
the slide show where it left off
 (Sometimes)
 Does
not always work correctly.
 Any
script file can (theoretically) be
interrupted and restarted using RESUME.
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Writing A Script File - Example
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
 The
following script uses four slides.
 Each
slide appears for three seconds.
 The script repeats.
 The next slide is preloaded while the previous
one is viewed.
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Writing a Slide Show Script File
 When
storing slide files, include in the
script file, the
 disk
drive letter and
 path in front of the file name.
 Example:
 Use
F:cadlsld2
this method with each VSLIDE command.
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Viewing the Slide Show
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Viewing the Slide Show
 Start
the slide show by
 Entering
SCR or SCRIPT at the Command:
prompt
 OR
 Picking
Run Script... from the Tools pull-down
menu.
 OR
 Select
the script file name show.scr from the
Select Script File dialog box.
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Viewing the Slide Show
 The
commands in the script file are
displayed at the Command: prompt
window as the slides appear.
 To
stop the show,
 Press
the [Backspace] key or
 [ESC] key.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 To
correct, problems in your script file.
 1. Run the script to see where it crashes
(quits working).
 2.
Check the command line for the last
command that was executed.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 3.
Look for error messages, such as:
 Can't
open slide file xxxxx (Incorrect slide file
name).
 xxxxx Unknown command (Command spelled
incorrectly or a space left at the end of the
line).
 Requires an integer value (Delay value not all
numerical characters. Possibly a space at the
end of the line).
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 4.
Correct the problem in the script file
and save the file.
 5.
Test the script.
 The
most common errors are
 Misspelled
commands.
 Spaces at the end of lines.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 The
process of “debugging” the script file
is performed by
 AutoCAD
open in one window
 Script file open in a NOTEPAD window.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 Alt-TAB
between the windows
 Run
Script file
 Find location where it stops
 Switch to NOTEPAD window with Alt-TAB
 Correct mistake
 SAVE the script file!
 Go back to AutoCAD using Alt-TAB
 Run script file again.
 Repeat steps over and over until script works.
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Troubleshooting the Slide Show
 Watch
for extra spaces!
 If
you suspect there is a space at the end of a
line, it is best to delete the line and retype it.
 If
you use Notepad or EDIT,
 It
is easy to see if a space exists.
 The flashing cursor, when placed at the end
of a line, does not rest on the last character.
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Using Text Editors
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Using Text Editors
 Word
processing or text editor programs
can be used to write scripts.
 The
program must be capable of saving
the file in “ASCII” format.
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Using Text Editors
 ASCII
is an acronym for
 American
Standard Code for Information
Interchange.
 Computer
with:
ASCII text files can be created
 The
MS-DOS EDIT text editor
 Windows Notepad
 Windows WordPad.
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Using Text Editors
 Word
processing files must be saved in
ASCII format to be readable by AutoCAD.
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Using Text Editors
 Typical
commercial wordprocessing
programs:
 Windows
WordPad.
 Microsoft Word.
 Corel WordPerfect.
 Ami Pro.
 Do NOT save in ASCII format by default!
 You
must choose option to save as .txt file
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Using Wordprocessors
 If
you choose to use a word processor,
save the document as a text file.
 This
prevents the inclusion of special
formatting codes.
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ASCII
 ASCII
was established in 1950’s
 Many
computer manufacturers were
designing computers.
 No
standard representation existed of
 Alphabet
(A-Z)
 Numbers (0-9)
 Special characters (<>, . [ ] { } ( ) +, - =) etc.
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ASCII Character Set
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ASCII
 ASCII
 Work
on ASCII formally began October 6,
1960.
 The first edition of the standard was published
during 1963,
 A major revision during 1967.
 The most recent update during 1986
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ASCII
 Established
a standard set of characters that
was recognized by ALL computer
manufacturers and the US government.
 Allowed interchange of information much
more readily.
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ASCII

On March 11, 1968, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
mandated that all computers purchased by the United
States federal government support ASCII, stating:


I have also approved recommendations of the Secretary of
Commerce regarding standards for recording the Standard Code
for Information Interchange on magnetic tapes and paper tapes
when they are used in computer operations.
All computers and related equipment configurations brought into
the Federal Government inventory on and after July 1, 1969,
must have the capability to use the Standard Code for
Information Interchange and the formats prescribed by the
magnetic tape and paper tape standards when these media are
used.
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ASCII
 Other
international standards bodies have
ratified character encodings such as
ISO/IEC 646 that are identical or nearly
identical to ASCII, with extensions for
characters outside the English alphabet
and symbols used outside the United
States, such as the symbol for the United
Kingdom's pound sterling (£).
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ASCII
Almost every country needed an adapted
version of ASCII since ASCII only suited the
needs of the USA and a few other countries.
 Canada

 had
its own version that supported French characters.
 ISCII (India),
 VISCII (Vietnam),
 YUSCII (Yugoslavia).
 Although these encodings are sometimes referred to
as ASCII, true ASCII is defined strictly only by ANSI
standard.
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Command Aliases
The ACAD.PGP File
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Command Aliases
 AutoCAD
allows you to abbreviate
commands.
 Feature
introduced with AutoCAD 11.
 Abbreviating
commands is called
Command Aliasing.
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Command Aliases
 AutoCAD
comes with predefined aliases.
 Aliases
are listed in the acad.pgp file.
 Over 160 commands are aliased.
 Appendix F in the text gives a complete list.
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Command Aliases
 You
can easily create your own aliases by
editing the acad.pgp file.
 To
enter an alias PP for PLOT, add the
following line to the acad.pgp file.
 PP
*PLOT
 The * means that this is an alias.
 Save the acad.pgp file.
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Command Aliases
 To
cause the alias to be in effect:
 Restart
AutoCAD OR
 Type REINIT and select the PGP file check
box.
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Editing the ACAD.PGP File
 To
edit the ACAD.PGP file
 Use a text editor:
 DOS
EDIT
 Windows NOTEPAD
 Any other text editor
 The
ACAD.PGP file is stored in
 \AUTOCAD\SUPPORT\ACAD.PGP
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The ACAD.PGP File
 Windows
Notepad can be initiated directly
from AutoCAD.
 Enter the following to open acad.pgp in
Notepad:
 Command:
 File
NOTEPAD
to edit:
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Assignments
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Command Aliases Assignment
 Create
5 command aliases
 Modify
ACAD.PGP file.
 Demonstrate to instructor that command
aliases work.
 Each
command alias MUST work correctly
on the FIRST ATTEMPT to receive full
credit !
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Slide Show Assignment

Create a 12 slide, repeating slide show.
 Use
any of your drawings for the slides.
 Save all slides on

USB Media ; local hard disk drive
 Save



.scr file on
USB media; local hard disk drive
Demonstrate to instructor that slide show works
correctly AND repeats!
Slide show MUST run correctly on the FIRST
ATTEMPT to receive full credit !
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