Tcl Shell

The Tcl Shell is a command line window at the bottom of the main window. You type Tcl commands there to run FlatCAM Evo actions. Use it to repeat a job, to script a sequence of steps, or to query an object. This page covers the shell window. The list of commands is on Tcl Command Reference.

Where to find it

• Menu: Plugins > Command Line.
• Keyboard: S, with the canvas in focus.
• The dock is titled TCL Shell.

Quick start

1. Press S to open the shell. The cursor moves to the input line.
2. Type help and press Enter. The shell lists the commands.
3. Type a command, for example help open_gerber, and press Enter. The output appears above the input line.
4. Press Up and Down to move through the earlier commands.
5. Press Escape to return the focus to the canvas.
6. Press S again to hide the shell.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tcl-Shell-1.png — the TCL Shell dock at the bottom of the window with a help command and its output.

Parameters

The shell window has no settings in its own panel. The controls are the input line and the output area.

Control	Description	Default
Input line	Type a command and press Enter to run it.	Empty
Output area	Shows the output of each command, the errors and the messages from the app.	—
Up key	Shows the previous command from the history.	—
Down key	Shows the next command from the history.	—
Escape key	Moves the focus back to the canvas.	—
Enter key	Runs the command. A command that is not complete, such as an open brace or quote, waits for more input.	—
Shell size	The saved size of the window, in pixels.	500 by 300

The window size is saved as the preference global_shell_shape. The shell opens at startup only if global_shell_at_startup is on.

Advanced

• Commands. The shell runs the app Tcl commands listed on Tcl Command Reference.
• Help. Type help for the command list.
• Errors. A Tcl error shows in the output area. The shell keeps the session, so the variables from earlier commands stay until you close the app.
• Processing. A running command can be aborted with the normal abort of the app.
• Scripts. A Tcl script file can be opened and run from the app. See Tcl Scripting.
• Plot. Tcl commands do not plot the objects they make. Use the canvas to view them.

See also

• Tcl Command Reference — the list of commands.
• Tcl Scripting — write and run scripts.
• Command Line and Headless — run the app without the window.
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• User Interface