Function Entry: SETVAR

setvar

Host Interaction Function

(setvar varname value)

• varname: system-variable name designator
• value: new value

Autodesk documents:

• varname as a string
• value as an integer, real, string, list, T, or nil

Sets an AutoCAD system variable to a specified value.

The per-sysvar entries in §16 System Variables document every varname recognized by AutoCAD 2026 or BricsCAD V25, with the declared type, default, read-only flag, scope, accepted-value range, vendor divergence, and source URLs. The normative rules at the head of that chapter (name case-insensitivity, integer clamping to [-32768, +32767], type-coercion policy, read-only error behaviour, angular-units convention for ANGBASE / SNAPANG) apply uniformly to every setvar call.

Returns value if successful.

Mutates host drawing/session state.

Errors if the variable is read-only, absent, or rejects the supplied value.

• AutoCAD 2026: documented (per Autodesk reference page).
• BricsCAD V26: presumed compatible (no contradicting page found).
• Status: AutoCAD documented; BricsCAD presumed-both pending Phase 4 verification.

• [setvar (AutoLISP)](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2026/HUN/AutoCAD-AutoLISP-Reference/files/GUID-B1CE1BFB-2448-47F1-95EC-10E9509F01FA.htm)
• [About System and Environment Variables (AutoLISP)](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2026/JPN/AutoCAD-MAC-AutoLisp/files/GUID-529819FD-9E9C-4789-BA18-B981BA32DD23.htm)
• See §16 System Variables for the per-name catalogue and normative rules.

• Autodesk documents that for integer-valued system variables the supplied value must lie between -32768 and +32767.
• Autodesk documents that changes made with setvar during an active command may not take effect until the next command.
• Autodesk documents special angular semantics for ANGBASE and SNAPANG: setvar interprets the values in radians, unlike the interactive SETVAR command.

Supported on Windows, macOS, and Web in current Autodesk documentation.