How can I send a command "display none 17" from inside a ULP?

I haven't tried anything but the following. It does turn off the layers I don't want but exits the UPL. I need to add the check and reinvoke the ulp  like chuck suggested.

If that doesn't work I may just do a script as was suggested.

//
// Main program: / FROM original DXF.ULP by Dr. L. Rossipaul Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H
//
string OutputFileName;
int DoDialog = argc == 1;
string FileNameSuffix;

for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
    if      (argv[i] == "-s") FileNameSuffix = argv[++i];
    else if (argv[i] == "-u") {
                                string u = strupr(argv[++i]);
                                if (u) {
                                   if (u == "MM")
                                      Unit = MM;
                                   else if (u == "INCH")
                                      Unit = INCH;
                                   else {
                                      dlgMessageBox(usage + tr("<hr><b>ERROR: unknown unit: ") + argv[i] + "</b>");
                                      exit(1);
                                      }
                                   }
                                else {
                                   dlgMessageBox(usage + tr("<hr><b>ERROR: missing <i>unit</i></b>"));
                                   exit(1);
                                   }
                              }
    else if (argv[i] == "-a") AlwaysVectorFont = YES;
    else if (argv[i] == "-w") UseWireWidths = YES;
    else if (argv[i] == "-f") FillAreas = YES;
    else {
       dlgMessageBox(usage + tr("<hr><b>ERROR: unknown option: ") + argv[i] + "</b>");
       exit(1);
       }
    }
string cmd[];
int idx = 0;
if (board)
  board(B) {
  cmd[idx++] = "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";
  cmd[idx++] = "GRID ON;";
  exit(strjoin(cmd, '\n'));OutputFileName = B.name;/ <- ********* always exits the ULP here.
     B.layers(L) {
       string s = L.name;
       if (L.visible && s[0] == '$') {
          VisibleSupplyLayer = YES;
          IsSupplyLayer[L.number] = YES;
          }
       }
     }

else if (schematic)
   schematic(SCH) OutputFileName = SCH.name;

exit() will always exit the running ULP. The reentry method Chuck suggested is a good approach to running multiple process steps via a single ULP. I wouldn't split up a chunk of code unless you plan on reusing the SCR for other purposes. Why have to maintain two files if you don't need to.

BTW, you don't need the cmd[idx++] = "GRID ON;"; statement if you don't need it. It was just part an example on building command strings.

Eric

On 02/20/2014 12:23 PM, Leonard Averyt wrote:

if (board)

   board(B) {

   cmd[idx++] = "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";

   cmd[idx++] = "GRID ON;";

   exit(strjoin(cmd, '\n'));OutputFileName = B.name;/ *<- *********

always exits the ULP here.*

      B.layers(L) {

        string s = L.name;

        if (L.visible && s[0] == '$') {

           VisibleSupplyLayer = YES;

           IsSupplyLayer[L.number] = YES;

           }

        }

      }

 

else if (schematic)

    schematic(SCH) OutputFileName = SCH.name;

Thanks, I'm really weak with C and C type programming, I'm a ladder guy normally but dabble. I can usually plagiarize and modify code to make what I want, just not good at overall picture etc.
Thanks everyone, i'll try some of these and get back

Eric Stevens wrote:

   cmd[idx++] = "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";

   cmd[idx++] = "GRID ON;";

   exit(strjoin(cmd, '\n'));OutputFileName = B.name;/ *<- *********

I think the cmd[idx++] syntax is a bit of an overkill 8-)

     string cmd;

     cmd +=  "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";

     cmd += "GRID ON;";

     exit(cmd);

does the trick nicely and requires no index variable.

On the other hand, the array methode allows to adjust the seperate

command after the fact or to assemble multiple commands in parallel.

by the way "OutputFileName = B.name;" in the above example will not be

executed at all.

--

Lorenz

Eric Stevens wrote:

   cmd[idx++] = "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";

   cmd[idx++] = "GRID ON;";

   exit(strjoin(cmd, '\n'));OutputFileName = B.name;/ *<- *********

I think the cmd[idx++] syntax is a bit of an overkill 8-)

     string cmd;

     cmd +=  "DISPLAY NONE 17 20 31 121;";

     cmd += "GRID ON;";

     exit(cmd);

does the trick nicely and requires no index variable.

On the other hand, the array methode allows to adjust the seperate

command after the fact or to assemble multiple commands in parallel.

by the way "OutputFileName = B.name;" in the above example will not be

executed at all.

--

Lorenz