Basically, AutoLISP is NOT case-sensitive.
You can use whichever you want.
However, there are some exceptions.
AutoLISP Uppercase / Lowercase
AutoLISP is NOT case-sensitive.
Therefore:
(defun c:hellow () (alert “Hello World”))
(DEFUN C:HELLO () (ALERT “Hello World”))
both have the same result.
Exception
Dialog Box
When an AutoLISP program uses a Dialog Box, it needs another language called Dialog Control Language(DCL).
DCL is case-sensitive.
AutoLISP communicates DCL by value called “Key”.
Because DCL is case-sensitive, the value of the “Key” in the AutoLISP has to match to the value of the Key in the DCL.
To Compare Strings
AutoLISP function = and wcmatch are case-sensitive.
For example, (= “A” “a”) or (wcmatch “A” “a”) return nil because these functions judge “A” and “a” are different strings.
Function strcase make all text to uppercase.
If you want to match without case-sensitivity, function strcase might be useful.
(= “A” (strcase “a”))
(wcmatch “A” (strcase “a”))
JagaimoLISP Own Rule
Even though AutoLISP is not case-sensitive, having a rule makes it easy to read programs.
Here is my rule:
- AutoLISP function name: Lowercase
- AutoCAD command: Uppercase
- Variable Symbol name: Mix (ex. ObjCol）
- DCL Key: same as Variable Symbol
To Sum Up
- Basically, AutoLISP is NOT case-sensitive.
- Dialog Control Language (DCL) is case-sensitive.
- AutoLISP and DCL communicates with “Key”.
- The Value of the Key must match.
- = and wcmatch are case-sensitive.
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