Function Entry: GETENV

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Function Entry: GETENV

Name

getenv

Class

Function

Syntax

(getenv variable-name)

Arguments and Values

  • variable-name: string; the environment-variable name. Names must be spelled and cased exactly as stored in the system registry.

Description

Returns the value bound to the named environment variable. Returns nil if the variable is not defined.

Return Values

A string, or nil.

Side Effects

None.

Examples

  • After ACAD is set to /acad/support: (getenv "ACAD") returns "/acad/support".
  • For an undefined variable: (getenv "NOSUCH") returns nil.
  • (getenv "MaxArray") returns "10000" if the variable is set to that value.

Availability

  • AutoCAD 2026: documented.
  • BricsCAD V26: presumed compatible.
  • Status: AutoCAD documented; BricsCAD presumed-both pending Phase 4 verification.

clautolisp

On unix platforms clautolisp distinguishes a defined-but-empty variable (returns "") from an undefined one (returns nil). On ms-windows this distinction does not exist at the OS level: the Win32 environment cannot hold a variable with an empty value — setting one to the empty string deletes it — so (getenv) returns nil there, exactly as AutoCAD on Windows does.