Autocad in the background

[blammo]

All,

Can AutoCAD be run in the background anymore, from the commandline, no User GUI? Like it used to be in DOS or on UNIX. Are the Commandline options still available?

bobb

 

[Tom Hanley]

I assume you are talking about running a script in the background? most but not all commands have comandline versions. if you are looking to run scripts on a bunch of files check out scriptpro for doing that. It's in the migration directory of the CD.

 

[blammo]

I assume you are talking about running a script in the background? most but not all commands have comandline versions. if you are looking to run scripts on a bunch of files check out scriptpro for doing that. It's in the migration directory of the CD.

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. I mean to start the AutoCAD session from the DOS commandline. This used to be possible, one could also set flags for starting Autocad, I'm wondering if they are still available.

While searching some more (in the help files) I found the subject of Commandline switches for starting autocad.

from the HELP:

To start AutoCAD with a command line switch

Right-click the AutoCAD icon on the Windows Desktop. Then choose Properties. In the AutoCAD Properties dialog box, choose the Shortcut tab. In the Target box, edit the parameters for the switch using the following syntax:
"driveathname\acad.exe" ["drawing name"] [/switch "name"]

Valid switches:

/b Script name (b stands for batch process)

/t Template file name

/c Configuration folder

/v View name

/s Support folders

/r Default system pointing device

/nologo No AutoCAD logo screen

/p User-defined registry profile

For example, enter "d:\AutoCAD 2002\acad.exe" /t "d:\AutoCAD 2002\template\arch1" /v "plan1" /b "startup"

Choose OK.

I think I'm remembering the unix version of AutoCAD being ablew to run in the background. I actually had it running as a CGI behind a webserver with R12/R13 on solaris :c)

Still looking.

bobb

 

[Tony Tanzillo]

The DOS version of AutoCAD never ran without the
GUI, but did have the bozo screen which you could
plot from, or enter the drawing editor.

The Windows version of AutoCAD cannot do this.

What is it you're trying to do?

 

[blammo]

The DOS version of AutoCAD never ran without the
GUI, but did have the bozo screen which you could
plot from, or enter the drawing editor.

The Windows version of AutoCAD cannot do this.

What is it you're trying to do?

A long time ago in a galexy far far away . . . .

I ran AutoCAD as a Image generator behind a Web server. After clearing my head, I recalled that it was my UNIX version that I had done this with. The process could be run transparently by sending the display to a video framebuffer (Don't know if I said that right) that was imaginary. I was actually doing some Web requests that generated an image (GIF) by running AutoCAD with a script that was created on solaris.

I just had the thought occur to me while I was trying to increase the speed of a batch process that I've been building to run in AutoCAD that spawning a seperate instance of autoCAD in the background to run the BATCH would speed it up considerably. A Commandline switch would be an interesting way to add in the capability. Although, I don't think this is likely to happen, since then any old person would be able to do as I describe and not need mapguide for example.

:c)

bobb

 

[blammo]

A long time ago in a galexy far far away . . . .

I ran AutoCAD as a Image generator behind a Web server. After clearing my head, I recalled that it was my UNIX version that I had done this with. The process could be run transparently by sending the display to a video framebuffer (Don't know if I said that right) that was imaginary. I was actually doing some Web requests that generated an image (GIF) by running AutoCAD with a script that was created on solaris.

I just had the thought occur to me while I was trying to increase the speed of a batch process that I've been building to run in AutoCAD that spawning a seperate instance of autoCAD in the background to run the BATCH would speed it up considerably. A Commandline switch would be an interesting way to add in the capability. Although, I don't think this is likely to happen, since then any old person would be able to do as I describe and not need mapguide for example.

:c)

bobb

Imagine, a image web server with a AutoLISP scripting engine. Cool . . .

bobb

 

[Tony Tanzillo]

A long time ago in a galexy far far away . . . .

I ran AutoCAD as a Image generator behind a Web server. After clearing my head, I recalled that it was my UNIX version that I had done this with.

I didn't know they had web servers (or browsers
for that matter) back then

FWIW, batch processes involving SCRIPTS (e.g., the
"ScriptPro" way of doing things) is an order of
magnitude slower than doing things in ObjectDBX,
which does not even require the drawings to be
opened in the drawing editor.

 

[Doug Broad]

Bob,
Go to the Microsoft.com website and enter "background process" in the search. Choose "Modifying Process Startup Options" and see if that is what you are looking for. There is something called Win32_Process. I'm not sure it works with XP.

http://tinyurl.com/2oqb9

It *might* be possible to run AutoCAD in a hidden window. (I haven't tried it). Since AutoCAD likes to spawn its own text window from time to time, it may not be an optimum solution for what you want. Is AutoCAD still ported to Unix or Linux?

I agree with Tony about objectdbx being the scripting approach that you want.

 

[blammo]

Bob,
Go to the Microsoft.com website and enter "background process" in the search. Choose "Modifying Process Startup Options" and see if that is what you are looking for. There is something called Win32_Process. I'm not sure it works with XP.

http://tinyurl.com/2oqb9

It *might* be possible to run AutoCAD in a hidden window. (I haven't tried it). Since AutoCAD likes to spawn its own text window from time to time, it may not be an optimum solution for what you want. Is AutoCAD still ported to Unix or Linux?

I wonder if painting to the hidden window would increase performance.

I remember once upon a time that a person could script in windows the same way. Turning of the windows text top for example sure did make a script run really really fast. I did this with RSH a few times. it just seems like such a backwards way of making things work, that I abandoned the idea as a web service.

Why for instance should the windows desktop need to run on a windows server for example?

bobb

 

[blammo]

I didn't know they had web servers (or browsers
for that matter) back then

Come on now it wasn't that long ago. Did I mention that C3P0 helped some. :c)

I may end up using some of the tools you describe once I get the scripts as leaned out as possible.

 

[blammo]

It *might* be possible to run AutoCAD in a hidden window. (I haven't tried it). Since AutoCAD likes to spawn its own text window from time to time, it may not be an optimum solution for what you want. Is AutoCAD still ported to Unix or Linux?\

No, but I still have a solaris box that is running R13.

I agree with Tony about objectdbx being the scripting approach that you want.

Yeah, that's probably right, but I remembered doing it at one time, just wondering if it was still possible. I have a bunch of other tools that are scriptable that would handle the task as well. I use FME for example. but it does have it's limitations.

thanks for the help

bobb

 

[Tony Tanzillo]

I think the problem is that we're thinking in terms
of single-tasking operating systems. The concept of
a 'background' process in Win32 is a bit different.

In fact, every application that's running, except
the one that's in the foreground with input focus,
is running in the 'background'.

So, I think your question is more one of whether
you can run AutoCAD without seeing the window on
the desktop?

 

[blammo]

So, I think your question is more one of whether
you can run AutoCAD without seeing the window on
the desktop?

At the time the process of painting up the GUI for viewing was the big time constraint. Using a null video pointer sped things up, it didn't change the way AutoCAD worked, but allowed the painting process to be done much quicker with the imaginary video screen.

bobb

 

[blammo]

Tony Tanzillo wrote:

So, I think your question is more one of whether
you can run AutoCAD without seeing the window on
the desktop?

Dumping the whole GUI write out process would be very useful for batch processing if used as a AutoCad startup flag. Similar to the old Text screen chooser for older versions of AutoCAD.

bobb

 

[Doug Broad]

Objectdbx has no graphics refresh or need for the
GUI. It is therefore faster if your intent is to
generate or modify drawings without user intervention.

"blammo" wrote:

 

[blammo]

"blammo" wrote:

I'm actaully just trying to plot a portion of a DWG out in an automated fashion.

The old Plot option was the way I used to do it. But as Tony points out, that option is no loger available.

bobb

 

[BTO]

Hi,

this is not exactely what you are looking for but may be with same goal :
I use a .BAT to get 2 process : one to work and one for batch process on many files :

start /BELOWNORMAL acad.exe

and i start 2 AutoCAD Process

so, batch process works fine and i can do something else (or use second AutoCAD process)

notice : this is not necessary with windows xp and hyperthreading.

Bruno Toniutti
(sorry for my english level)