AutoLISP programs can help us to add proper static and/or
dynamic text to the status bar. Here you will learn how to use
an application called STABMAN in customizing AutoCAD status bar.
Note: If you are not familiar with customizing
status bar, please read the following tutorials first:
►
AutoCAD 2004 Customization
Tutorial: Adding Text to Status Bar
► AutoCAD 2004
Customization Tutorial: Dynamic Text on Status Bar
1. Download "stabman.vlx".
The file contains a VLISP application.
2. Start AutoCAD.
3. Invoke APPLOAD
command (Tools > Load Application…). The Load/Unload
Applications dialog box appears [Figure 1].
Figure 1 - Click on image to enlarge
4. Locate
stabman.vlx and then click Load [Figure 2].
Figure 2
5. In Startup Suite
section click the Contents button [Figure 3]. The Startup
Suite dialog box appears [Figure 4].
Figure 3
Figure 4
6. Click Add. The
Add File to Startup Suite dialog box appears [Figure 5].
Figure 5
7. Add stabman.vlx
to the startup suite. The application will be automatically
loaded when you start AutoCAD.
8. Close both
dialog boxes.
9. In command line
type STABMAN and press Enter. The Status Bar Manager
dialog box appears [Figure 6].
Figure 6
10. In Current
Settings section select the Text Height and Thickness options.
11. Click OK. The
selected information appears on the status bar [Figure 7].
Figure 7
12. Restart the
command. In Starting Text and Ending Text edit boxes enter Hello
and Bye respectively.
13. Click OK to
view the resulting text [Figure 8].
Figure 8
14. Invoke STABMAN.
Clear all options.
15. In Starting
text edit box type $(edtime, $(getvar, date), HH:MM).
16. Click OK. The
current time will appear on the status bar.
17. Exit AutoCAD
and restart it. The text is still available.
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 30 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
