AutoLISP

You can load an AutoLISP file in AutoCAD by typing the `APPLOAD` command into the command line and selecting your `.lsp` file. Once loaded, you can execute the custom commands defined in the script by typing the designated function name. Many users also utilize the `Startup Suite` within the APPLOAD dialog to ensure their favorite LISP routines run automatically every time AutoCAD starts.

Yes, Autodesk continues to fully support AutoLISP in modern versions of AutoCAD for both Windows and Mac. While Visual LISP was integrated to provide a development environment, the core AutoLISP engine remains intact for legacy scripts. You can continue to automate drafting workflows and create custom commands using the built-in Visual LISP Editor (VLISP).

AutoLISP is the original, basic dialect of the Lisp programming language introduced for early versions of AutoCAD. Visual LISP (VLISP) is an extension of AutoLISP that was added later to allow interaction with ActiveX objects and the Windows operating system. Visual LISP also provided an integrated development environment (IDE) that made debugging code much easier than using plain text editors.

Absolutely, automating block insertion is one of the most common and practical uses for AutoLISP. By writing a custom routine, you can prompt the user for an insertion point and automatically scale or rotate the block to specific parameters. This drastically reduces the time spent on repetitive CAD tasks like placing standard symbols or hardware components.