\ Begin of BATCHCMD help file

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 │                        BATCH COMMAND                            │
 └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 BATCHCMD was created to allow the user the ability to select
 multiple drawing files from a dialogue box, to enter in a command
 sequence that could have AutoCAD go through and make repeated
 changes to the drawings that you selected.

 BATCHCMD has many uses.

 For example:
 It can be used to go through a directory of drawings and perfrom:
 A zoom function, or make repetative changes to the drawings, insert
 blocks or xref's, update or extract attributes, add or erase
 entities, make slides, dxfout or dxfin, render files. The
 possibilities are  endless.

 First you enter the commands you wish to use on the drawings. Then
 you can select an unlimited number of drawing files. Once a
 drawing selection is completed and the commands are filled in, your
 AutoCAD session will be on automatic pilot. Should the running
 script be stopped, all you need to do is to press the backspace
 key, (be sure you don't accidently press any other key, or you'll
 have to wait until the script runs out).
\COMMANDS

 ■ Command list box

 This list box shows the commands that you filled in. Use the insert,
 edit and delete button to modify the commands. With the slidebar on
 the right, you can browse through the commandlines (if there are more
 lines than the list box can show). You can enter most AutoCAD commands.
 Don't enter a command that will start a dialogue box, because BATCHCMD
 will be interupted. Of course, you must be very familiar with the
 sequence of prompts issued by AutoCAD in order to provide an
 appropriate sequence of responses by BATCHCMD. Use 'test command' to
 check the commands in the list box. Note that each blank space or line
 in the commands listing is significant, since AutoCAD accepts either a
 space or a 'carriage return' as a command or data field terminator.
 Any line that begins with a semicolon (;) is considered a comment and
 AutoCAD ignores it while processing the script file.
\INSERT LINE

 ■ Insert line

 Insert a command line in the command listbox. To insert the line at an
 certain position, select a command line in the command list box. The
 new line will be placed before the selected line. Because the insert
 button is default, you can quickly enter several lines by pressing the
 enter-key twice.

 Don't enter a command that will start a dialogue box, because BATCHCMD
 will be interrupted. Of course, you must be very familiar with the
 sequence of prompts issued by AutoCAD in order to provide an
 appropriate sequence of responses by BATCHCMD. Use 'test command' to
 check the commands in the list box. Note that each blank space or line
 in the commands listing is significant, since AutoCAD accepts either a
 space or a 'carriage return' as a command or data field terminator.
 Any line that begins with a semicolon (;) is considered a comment and
 AutoCAD ignores it while processing the script file.

\EDIT_LINE

 ■ Edit_line

 Edit a command line in the listbox. To edit the line at a certain
 position, select the command line in the list box. It is not possible
 to edit the 'end of commands mark' in the command list box.

 See also the 'AutoCAD Customization Manual' for the script-command
 syntax
\DELETE LINE

 ■ Delete line

 Delete a command line in the listbox. To delete the line at an certain
 position, select the command line in the list box. If you push the
 'delete button' again, the next line in the command list box will be
 deleted.

 It is not possible to edit the 'end of commands mark' in the command
 list box.
\CLEAR LINES

 ■ Clear lines

 Deletes all the lines in the command list box.

\TEST COMMANDS

 ■ Test commands

 With the 'test' button you can check the commands in the list box.
 The commands will be executed in the current drawing. If no command
 error occurs, the message 'test commands completed' appears at the
 end and the BATCHCMD dialogue is loaded again.

 The commands are executed until the end is reached, a character
 (preferably BACKSPACE) is entered from the keyboard, or a command
 error occurs. If the script is terminated too early due to a
 command error or by keyboard entry, it can be resumed using the
 RESUME command.
\SAVE DRAWINGS DURING BATCH

 ■ Save drawings during batch

 Normally, when you make changes to the drawings during the batch, the
 drawing files should be saved. If this is the case, the check box
 should be on (contains a check)

 If your batch is extracting attributes, making slides, creating
 dxf-files or plot/render files, it is not necessary to save your
 drawings (or maybe your even don't want to). If this is the case the
 check box should be off (contains not a check).

\LOAD SCRIPT

 ■ Load script

 With the 'load script' button you can load commands from the disk.
 Select a file with the standard file selection dialogue box and
 select OK to read the commands in the commands list box. This
 action clears all previous entered commands in the listbox. The
 name of the choosen command script file will be displayed at the
 top of the listbox.
\SAVE SCRIPT

 ■ Save script

 With the 'save script' button you can save commands to disk. Select a
 file with the standard file selection dialogue box and select OK to
 save the commands in the command list box. The name of the created
 command script file will be displayed at the top of the listbox.

\LOAD DRAWING FILE SELECTION

 ■ Load drawing file selection

 You can use the 'load' button to load a saved drawing file selection
 from a .DFS (drawing files selection) file. The 'save' button
 enables you to save the current drawingfile selection to such a file.
 For both of these buttons, a standard file dialogue box appears to
 let you specify the desired file.

 See also the help information for: FILE DIALOGUE
\SAVE DRAWING FILE SELECTION

 ■ Save drawing file selection

 You can use the 'save' button to save the current drawing file
 selection to a .DFS (drawing files selection) file. The 'load'
 button enables you load a saved drawing file selection from
 such a file. For both of these buttons, a standard file dialogue
 box appears to let you specify the desired file.
 
 See also the help information for: FILE DIALOGUE
\VIEW DRAWING FILE SELECTION

 ■ View drawing file selection

 To make appear see all the selected drawing files, pick the View
 Selections button; The View Selections button is disabled when no
 selection has been made.
\CLEAR DRAWING FILE SELECTION

 ■ Clear drawing file selection

 Each time you pick the 'clear' drawing file selection button,
 BATCHCMD clears the previous selection set and lets you create a
 new one.

\CREATE LOG-FILE

 ■ Create log-file

 If the check box is on (contains a check), BATCHCMD creates a log
 file with information about the batch proces. The default name for
 the log file is BATCHCMD.LOG. The file is stored in the directory
 for placement of temporary files (uses tempprefix). When batch
 command finishes the batch-proces, the log file will be viewed on
 the screen.

 With the 'select log file' button you can select an other log
 file name and path, with the standard file selection dialogue box.

 See also the help information for: FILE DIALOGUE

\ADD FILES FOR BATCH

 ■ Add files for batch

 The "add files for batch" dialogue box is used to specify the
 drawing files be used for batch command.

 The "PATTERN" edit box contains the type of file to be selected (and
 listed). Below the pattern edit box, the active drive and directory
 is visible. Using the "DIRECTORIES" list box, you can navigate
 through the directories on your system to locate the desired files,
 and then select the names from the "FILES" list box. You can mark
 more than one file at one time. The files will be definitily
 seleceted with the "ADD" button. They will be visible in the
 "SELECTED FILES" list box. If there are files in the "SELETED FILES"
 list box that you would like to remove from the file selection, you
 can use the "REMOVE" button. The "SELECT ALL" buttons select all
 listed files in the list box. There are two of these buttons, one
 for the 'files' list box and the other for the 'selected files' list
 box. The button "DETAIL VIEW" gives you the opportunity to view all
 selected files including the path.

 When the selecting is completed, the "OK" button will make visible
 the main BATCHCMD dialogue box again.

 NOTE: Because of Lisp/DCL restictions, the button "select all"
 won't select more the 88 files at one time. If there are more than
 88 files to be selected you have to repeat the file selection.

\CANCEL

 ■ Cancel

 Aborts batch command. When you start BATCHCMD again, the previous
 made drawing selection and filled in commands will be available.
\START BATCH

 ■ Start batch

 Starts the batch proces, with the command sequence in the list box
 and make repeated changes to the drawings that you selected. If no
 commands are filled in or no drawing files are selected, batchcmd
 can not be started.

\FILE DIALOGUE

 ■ File dialogue

 A "select file" dialogue box is used to specify an existing file to
 be used for the current task.

 The "Pattern" edit box initially contains the type of file to be
 selected (and initially listed).
 Using the "Directories" list box, you can navigate through the
 directories on your system to locate the desired file, and then
 select its name from the "Files" list box.  If you prefer, you can
 enter the desired filename in the "File" edit box.  Be sure to in-
 clude its directory path if the file isn't in the currently selected
 directory.

 The "Default" button lets you restore the initial contents of the
 Pattern, Directory, and File fields.

 The "Type it" button dismisses the dialogue box and requests the
 file name by means of an ordinary prompt.

\LICENSING INFORMATION

 ■ Licensing information

 This version of BATCHCMD is distributed as SHAREWARE. You are free
 distribute it to others to try as long as the files remains
 unmodified. You are free to try it for a period of twenty (20)
 days. If you like BATCHCMD and find it usefull, THEN YOU SHOULD
 REGISTER IT. If you don't find it usefull then remove BATCHCMD and
 all related files from your system.

	     ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
	     │	Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.  │
	     │						  │
	     │	BY REGISTERING YOU WONT FEEL GUILTY !!!!  │
	     └────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 And by doing so you will allow me to spend the time upgrading and
 making enhancments to this and other utilities in the future.

\ABOUT

 ■ About BATCHCMD

 BATCHCMD is a product of RR/4CAD Solutions from the Netherlands

 Please remit order and payment to:    Reijers Automation Services
                                       Bergstreet 17-a
 THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING.            6811 LC Arnhem
 WE VALUE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.    The Netherlands
                                       Phone 0031.85.454905
                                       Fax   0031.85.663401
                                       Compuserve ID : 100063,2206

 Please register your copy. Read the registration form.

\DEMO

 ■ Demo version

 The demo version of 'batch command' has only one restriction:
 you can't select more then 7 drawingfiles. Please, order the full
 version to make unlimited drawing selections. Read the registration
 form.

 DISCLAIMER:
 RR/4CAD Solutions provides this program on an "AS IS" basis with all
 faults. RR/4CAD Solutions specifically disclaims any expressed or
 implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular use
 of this program.

