Sharing Linetypes

[NBC]

I am trying to get as much as I can to be available on the network so we can all share standard type things, such as plot styles, blocks, linetypes, templates, etc.

My next task is to standardise our use of linetypes into one lin file.

In order to do this, is it just a simple task of adding the network folder location to the list contained within the Support File Search Path and then placing the lin file in the specified network folder ?

If this is not the case, how do I specify the default location that AutoCAD will always look for linetypes when loading them into existing drawings ?

All advice is greatly appreciated.

[lpseifert]

Put the folder with the .lin and .shx files at the top of your Support File Search Path.
BTW, linetypes are defined within the drawing and won't update until the .lin is reloaded... although the shapes (if used) will.

[dbroada]

yes


you may have to make sure no local copies exist though. I think AutoCAD looks through the current drawing folder first and then each "pathed" folder until the file is located. Your users may have one of the C:\ drive folders higher up the pecking order.

[NBC]

thanks for the replies.
I have figured out a way how to control what is listed in the Search paths, and the order they are listed, by using the setenv function; so hopefully once i have developed it and tested it some, i can then roll it out without anyone realising :)

[rkmcswain]

Keep in mind that linetype definitions can be loaded from any .LIN file. Just because your 'master' file is at the top of the support file search path - doesn't mean it will get used.

And once a linetype definition is loaded, there is no way to tell what file is came from.

You can load all the needed linetypes into your template drawing(s).
You could also create a button or command the forcefully load the linetypes from a certain file. We do both. Ours are in the template, but we also have a "drawing setup" routine that sets up textstyles, dimscale, etc. and it reloads all the linetypes.

[LElkins]

A quick alternative I have found to this is to place the file which you want everyone to use on the server, along with a bat that will run when each user connects to the server to replace the file on their C with the file on the server. That way they will still have access to it in the unlikely case of the server falling over, or for guys who have laptops and work remotely.

Cheers

[chulse]

Keep in mind that linetype definitions can be loaded from any .LIN file. Just because your 'master' file is at the top of the support file search path - doesn't mean it will get used.

And once a linetype definition is loaded, there is no way to tell what file is came from.

You can load all the needed linetypes into your template drawing(s).
You could also create a button or command the forcefully load the linetypes from a certain file. We do both. Ours are in the template, but we also have a "drawing setup" routine that sets up textstyles, dimscale, etc. and it reloads all the linetypes.

How did you make the drawing setup tool?

[NBC]

All I wish to control (to be honest) is the multitude of different linetype files that exist that only contain one linetype (for example). I wish to collate them all into one lin file and have that set as the default for when a user wishes to load it in the future. The lin folder will contain all shx and shp files related to the lin file that will be created as the master.

[NBC]

A quick alternative I have found to this is to place the file which you want everyone to use on the server, along with a bat that will run when each user connects to the server to replace the file on their C with the file on the server. That way they will still have access to it in the unlikely case of the server falling over, or for guys who have laptops and work remotely.

Cheers

I have figured out a short-term disaster avoidance mechanism for if access to the server ever fails by making a backup of all the folders and files to a location on my hard drive and then using something like the following:
http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/CAD+Manager%27s+Q%26A/The-Fake-Network-Drive-CAD-Managers-Toolbox/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/491392?contextCategoryId=10211

[rkmcswain]

All I wish to control (to be honest) is the multitude of different linetype files that exist that only contain one linetype (for example). I wish to collate them all into one lin file and have that set as the default for when a user

My point was that there is no "default".

AutoCAD will load linetypes from whatever .LIN file is selected. If you want a certain file to be used, then you will have to provide a method (lisp, vba, etc) that does just that - loads linetypes from a particular file.

[LElkins]

I have figured out a short-term disaster avoidance mechanism for if access to the server ever fails by making a backup of all the folders and files to a location on my hard drive and then using something like the following:
http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/CAD+Manager%27s+Q%26A/The-Fake-Network-Drive-CAD-Managers-Toolbox/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/491392?contextCategoryId=10211

NBC,

I have seen this before, and that is great for testing setups and configurations, but I don't understand how it would help if your server falls over, you would still have to go round to each of your colleagues with a pen drive and map that lin...

or have i missed something?:unsure: ?

[NBC]

My point was that there is no "default".

AutoCAD will load linetypes from whatever .LIN file is selected. If you want a certain file to be used, then you will have to provide a method (lisp, vba, etc) that does just that - loads linetypes from a particular file.


I understand that there is no 'default'.
What I am trying to do is consolidate what we already have into one file, and point the user to that file by default. Nothing more, nothing less.

[NBC]

NBC,

I have seen this before, and that is great for testing setups and configurations, but I don't understand how it would help if your server falls over, you would still have to go round to each of your colleagues with a pen drive and map that lin...

or have i missed something?:unsure: ?

Nope, you are quite right.
In the case of a server failure, to be honest; it would be futile to do that 'fake network drive' stuff anyway, as all our drawing files are kept on the server, so whilst we would have the facility to work, we would have no files to work on :oops:
However, that part of the deal is outside of my remit completely.


you would still have to go round to each of your colleagues with a pen drive
I would consider that to be a reasonable very short-term 'fix' if it was ever needed.

[LElkins]

Nope, you are quite right.
I would consider that to be a reasonable very short-term 'fix' if it was ever needed.

I suppose that would depend on the number of guys that you are working with, and as you said and I completey forgot about, it wouldn't really matter as there would be little cad work you could do anyway...

Cheers