From the VLISP Console window, you can enter and run AutoLISP commands and see the results. This is similar to what you can do in the AutoCAD Command window, but there are a few differences—some subtle—in how you accomplish the same task in these two windows. For example, to display the current value of an AutoLISP variable in VLISP, you simply type the variable name in the Console window and press ENTER. To view the value of a variable in AutoCAD, you must precede the variable name with an exclamation point (!) when you type it in the Command window.

The Console window is also where VLISP displays AutoLISP diagnostic messages and the results of many AutoLISP functions. For example, output from the print and princ functions is displayed in the Console window. You can scroll through the Console window to view previously entered text and output.

For a description of VLISP Console window features, see Using the Console Window. The following is a brief summary of these features:

• Evaluating AutoLISP expressions and displaying the return values from those expressions.
• Entering AutoLISP expressions on multiple lines by pressing CTRL + ENTER to continue on the next line.
• Evaluating multiple expressions at one time.
• Copying and transferring text between the Console and text editor windows. Most text editor commands are also available in the Console window.
• Retrieving previous commands entered in the Console by pressing TAB. You can press TAB repeatedly to retrieve earlier commands. Press SHIFT + TAB to reverse the direction of command retrieval.
• Performing an associative search through the input history by pressing TAB. For example, if you begin an expression with (+ and then press TAB, VLISP retrieves the last command you entered that begins with (+. To reverse the direction of the search, press SHIFT + TAB.
• Pressing ESC clears any text following the Console prompt.
• Pressing SHIFT + ESC leaves the text you entered at the Console prompt without evaluating the text, and displays a new Console prompt.
• Right-clicking or pressing SHIFT + F10 anywhere in the Console window displays a menu of VLISP commands and options. For example, you can use this feature to copy and paste text in the Console command line, search for text, and initiate VLISP debugging features.

Note that if you type text at the Console prompt but switch to the AutoCAD window before pressing ENTER, the text will no longer be at the prompt when you return to the VLISP window.