multiple file selection dialog box using lisp & powershell

[Paul Li]

Attached is an  improved version of getfiled that implements powershell with the option to select single or multiple files returning a list of the selected item(s):

Examples:

(pl:getfiledps "Select Files" (getvar"dwgprefix") "dwg" 0) ; for single selection of file type dwg
(pl:getfiledps "Select Files" (strcat (getenv "userprofile") "\\downloads") "dwg;dxf" 1) ; for multiple selection of file types dwg & dxf

Feedback & comments are welcome.

pl_getfiledps.lsp

[SLW210]

Many work computers are likely limited for using Powershell.

 

Unrelated to Powershell being blocked, I get an error loading.

 

 error: string too long on input

 

[Steven P]

String too long - just a guess, file path and file name string length? - going back old school when we had 256? characters for it all - but just a guess

 

[SLW210]

I'm not going to troubleshoot it since Powershell is blocked at work, but if the load has that error, then it's something in the Code, probable in the DCL write-line part.

[Paul Li]

Thanks for troubleshooting. That could definitely be caused by having a write-line statement that's way too long.

I've made the changes to reduce the write-line on the dcl. Kindly troubleshoot some more for offices that do allow for running powershell with the attached revised version...thanks in advance.

pl_getfiledps.lsp

[GLAVCVS]

One observation: in older versions of AutoCAD (2000 and 2002, at least), 'vla-get-HWND' applies to the Document object rather than the Acad object.

Edited 23 hours ago by GLAVCVS

[BIGAL]

Works great often do old fashioned DOS to get file names list or use the VL files functions. 

 

A suggestion remove "result" from the local variables list. As the answer disappears.

Or 

; Example:
;  (setq files (pl:getfiledps "Select Files" (getvar"dwgprefix") "dwg" 1))

 

A side comment I have used Powershell with Bricscad and sometimes does not work. Your code may help as you do a deeper dive into running Powershell. I generally only do a "Power shell and script" I have used it to change programs, I jump to Excel from CAD. 

Edited 23 hours ago by BIGAL

[Paul Li]

On 9/14/2026 at 5:28 AM, SLW210 said:

I'm not going to troubleshoot it since Powershell is blocked at work, but if the load has that error, then it's something in the Code, probable in the DCL write-line part.

Could you test if this PowerShell-p function would return nil on your powershell blocked computers?

; PowerShell-p function to check if powershell is available to run...Returns T if available
(defun PowerShell-p (/ shell result)
  (setq shell (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell")
        result (vl-catch-all-apply 'vlax-invoke-method (list shell 'Run "powershell.exe -NoProfile -Command \"exit 0\"" 0 T))
  )
  (vlax-release-object shell)
  (and
    (not (vl-catch-all-error-p result))
    (= result 0)
  )
)

 

[Paul Li]

17 hours ago, GLAVCVS said:

One observation: in older versions of AutoCAD (2000 and 2002, at least), 'vla-get-HWND' applies to the Document object rather than the Acad object.

so does the pl:getfiledps function still run properly on those older AutoCAD versions?

[SLW210]

 

21 hours ago, GLAVCVS said:

One observation: in older versions of AutoCAD (2000 and 2002, at least), 'vla-get-HWND' applies to the Document object rather than the Acad object.

 

4 hours ago, Paul Li said:

so does the pl:getfiledps function still run properly on those older AutoCAD versions?

 

Yes, I was working on that for my home computer with 2000i.

 

Since I had some home time today with AutoCAD 2000i, I did some updating to your code. Seems to work great with minimal testing.

 

Here is my Test Code...

 

; ================================================================
; Test command
; ================================================================

(defun c:SelectDWGs (/ files)

  (setq
    files
    (pl:getfiledps
      "Select DWG Files"
      (getvar "DWGPREFIX")
      "dwg"
      1
    )
  )

  (if files

    (progn

      (princ
        "\nSelected files:"
      )

      (foreach file files

        (princ
          (strcat
            "\n"
            file
          )
        )
      )
    )

    (princ
      "\nNo files selected."
    )
  )

  (princ)
)

 

pl_getfiledps_2000i.lsp

[Paul Li]

@SLW210 Your revised version works beautifully and can now support older versions of AutoCAD...thanks a bunch!!!