User Guide

5.6 TheEAGLE UserLanguage
EAGLE contains an interpreter for a C-like User Language. It can be
used to access any EAGLE file. Since version 4 it has also been able to
access external data. It is possible, with very few restrictions, to export
data from EAGLE, import a wide range of data into EAGLE, or to ma
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nipulate data within EAGLE. ULPs can, for example, manipulate a lay
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out file or a library directly. The manipulation may be more transparent
if a script file is first created and read. The script file contains the appro
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priatecommandsforthedatamanipulation.
The program examples included (*.ulp) will provide some insight into
the capacity of the User Language. They are located in your installa
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tion’s ULP directory. A description of the way in which a ULP works is
located in the file header. This is also displayed in the Control Panel or
in the usage box when the program is called. User Language programs
mustbewritteninatexteditorthatdoesnotaddanycontrolcodes.
A ULP is started with the RUN command, or by dragging a ULP from
the Control Panel into an editor window (Drag&Drop). To cancel the
executionofanULPclicktheStopicon.
EAGLE prompts a message in the status bar, Run: finished, if the User
Languageprogramhasbeenended.
The language is described in detail in the EAGLE help pages, under the
keywordUserLanguage.
TypicalapplicationsforULPs:
•
Creatingpartslistsinvariousformats.
Seealsopage 196.
•
Outputingraphicalformats.
•
Dataoutputforcomponentinsertionmachines,in-circuittesters
etc.
•
Linkingtoanexternaldatabase.
•
Manipulationofthesilkscreenprint,thesolderstopmask,andso
on.
AlotofvaluableULPscanbefoundonourwebpages.Takealookat
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download.htm.
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PrinciplesforWorkingwithEAGLE