Thoughts on dual monitor setup

[Currahee]

I just added another 24" LG monitor to my workstation this week and wonder why I havent done it long before now. It is great to have your drawing on one page while doing research, producing document, or browsing the web...etc, on the other monitor.

Is there anyone else running a dual setup and how do you use it in your applications? Right now I am running it as seperate monitors but I noticed it can be run in split screen, does anyone find this useful?

Tim

[Patrick Hughes]

I've used a dual monitor set up for many years and consider the arrangement to be a great time saver. I typically have AutoCAD set to the left monitor and all toolbars and such floating on the right monitor. This way I maximize the drawing area which minimizes the number of pans and zooms.

Also see what your video card's capabilities are. I've got multiple desktops that are easily switched, almost totally eliminates minimizing, maximizing, and arranging windows.

I only wish I had dual 24's, 19's right now.

[Currahee]

I've used a dual monitor set up for many years and consider the arrangement to be a great time saver. I typically have AutoCAD set to the left monitor and all toolbars and such floating on the right monitor. This way I maximize the drawing area which minimizes the number of pans and zooms.

Also see what your video card's capabilities are. I've got multiple desktops that are easily switched, almost totally eliminates minimizing, maximizing, and arranging windows.

I only wish I had dual 24's, 19's right now.
This is why I posted this! I would have never thought of having my toolbars on the other monitor. Great Idea!! And I will have to check on the fast switch...that would be cool also. Thanks.

[Patrick Hughes]

Well if you liked that idea :D heres a screen shot of my set up. I don't know if the later versions of AutoCAD still have the aerial view, but that is what you see on the right monitor along with the text window. With my mouse set to automatically activate the window underneath itself I can very rapidly zoom in and out of my model.

[Currahee]

WOW..that is so cool. I can definitly see where this would increase productivity. My only question is how do I run the same application on the seperate monitors? Is it in clone mode or split screen?

[Patrick Hughes]

My Quadro driver calls the display mode "Horizontal span"

It takes some tweaking but well worth the effort. You caught me just before I was shutting down, have a great night.

[Currahee]

My Quadro driver calls the display mode "Horizontal span"

It takes some tweaking but well worth the effort. You caught me just before I was shutting down, have a great night.
Oh..man, this is great!! I just figured it out. I didn't have to change a thing. All I have to do is drag the tool bars and windows over. I didn't realize that you could do that within an application. Now I will be up all night reconfiguring my workspace!!

Thanks so much...talk to you tomorrow.

Tim

[Jack_O'neill]

Oh..man, this is great!! I just figured it out. I didn't have to change a thing. All I have to do is drag the tool bars and windows over. I didn't realize that you could do that within an application. Now I will be up all night reconfiguring my workspace!!

Thanks so much...talk to you tomorrow.

Tim

There are lots of ways to set up dual monitors. You can also stretch the Autocad window into the second screen and tile the drawing windows if you're working on more than one drawing at a time. I get a lot of customer drawings in pdf format, so rather than print them out and have to deal with piles of paper, I have those on one screen and autocad on the other.

The possibilities are endless. Don't be afraid to monkey around with it and find something that works for you.

[Currahee]

My Quadro driver calls the display mode "Horizontal span"

It takes some tweaking but well worth the effort. You caught me just before I was shutting down, have a great night.

Yep I got it...this is so cool...

Thanks

http://home.windstream.net/brcrkd/bsmall.jpg

[jonesy]

I have the right-hand monitor as a clear AutoCAD Drawing (no toolbars at all) the left hand monitor has all my toolbars /pallettes etc, plus on the left monitor I have any other programs I have open, such as e-mail , IE, explorer etc

[Currahee]

Where does your mouse exit the screen? Right or left? Can you change this? It always wants to exit on the right of my primary screen and I would like to change that.

[Patrick Hughes]

My mouse interacts between the two monitors seemlessly. The primary is on the left which is where my Windows "Start" is located. Moving the mouse left to right as it exits the primary monitor on the right side of it's screen it enters the secondary monitor on the left side of it's screen

Now, to give yourself more drawing real estate float your toolbars over to your 2nd monitor.

[rkent]

I have had two 21" monitors for several years now, and I can't imagine working with out them. I keep AutoCAD on one and many tool bars, palettes on the other.

If I am editing a word document I will rotate the one monitor so the document is in portrait mode which makes better use of the screen for docs.

[Currahee]

My mouse interacts between the two monitors seemlessly. The primary is on the left which is where my Windows "Start" is located. Moving the mouse left to right as it exits the primary monitor on the right side of it's screen it enters the secondary monitor on the left side of it's screen

Now, to give yourself more drawing real estate float your toolbars over to your 2nd monitor.
I was wondering if you can change it so the mouse exits on the left

[jules_s]

Surely if you are working in one monitor and you have to cross to the other to select an icon/toolbar that's going to take miles of mouse panning?

I don't know of anybody that uses that set up, the second monitor is usually used for seperate applications.

[BIGAL]

To Bdesign if your mouse is exiting out the wrong side then your monitors need to be swapped (unplug and replug in) mouse moves freely one side to the other.

We run a nvida setup and it has all the controls via menu input you pick which screen is primary etc Mousing from one screen to another has never been a problem very fast.

Interesting challenge for screen backgrounds mine over the rainbow another snake eyes.

[Currahee]

To Bdesign if your mouse is exiting out the wrong side then your monitors need to be swapped (unplug and replug in) mouse moves freely one side to the other.

We run a nvida setup and it has all the controls via menu input you pick which screen is primary etc Mousing from one screen to another has never been a problem very fast.

Interesting challenge for screen backgrounds mine over the rainbow another snake eyes.
I tried that..didnt work. I even ran setup again and changed primary monitors...didnt work. I even tried just swaping the monitors on the desk, but as soon as I made the monitor in front of me my active, it went right back to the mouse exiting on the right. It really isnt a big deal, its just seems easier to me to that way...but I will get used to it like all things. But thanks anyway.

[wannabe]

My thoughts on a dual monitor setup - *Envy*!!! :x:x:x

[jonesy]

I only got a dual setup because I did a lot of Microstation work... theres rumours that they want us to go back to one monitor... one person is testing it out, but hopefully we'll be able to stay using 2

[Currahee]

I only got a dual setup because I did a lot of Microstation work... theres rumours that they want us to go back to one monitor... one person is testing it out, but hopefully we'll be able to stay using 2
OK..stupid question...what does running Microstation have to do with it and why would they want you to stop using dual when it can increase productivity?

[jonesy]

Microstation relys more on the pallette type dialogs, and its so annoying to have to close down a pallette to reopen it again a short while later.

Also in Microstation I tend to use the toolbars more than in AutoCAD, so they are docked on the second monitor. Before we upgraded to 2009 I had my toolbars the same in AutoCAD as I did in Microstation, so it was very easy for me to swap between the two programs.

I've been told by our IT dept that all computers are being standardised, whether you use cad, view cad drawings, or just do admin they're all going to be set up the same :(

[MiGo]

I have only had a dual monitor setup for about a year now, and I really enjoy it. I keep my toolbars inside the Cad program, but place my palettes where the monitors are split, they are minimized and open in opposite directions to save space, and for the other monitor I keep the E-mail and Instant Messaging service open. I like putting Cad in the secondary monitor, because all of my windows open in the primary monitor so I never have to move them. The start bar is typically minimized, but I lifted it up for the picture. I also keep the calculator open in the bottom right corner for quick calculations.

[Currahee]

I have only had a dual monitor setup for about a year now, and I really enjoy it. I keep my toolbars inside the Cad program, but place my palettes where the monitors are split, they are minimized and open in opposite directions to save space, and for the other monitor I keep the E-mail and Instant Messaging service open. I like putting Cad in the secondary monitor, because all of my windows open in the primary monitor so I never have to move them. The start bar is typically minimized, but I lifted it up for the picture. I also keep the calculator open in the bottom right corner for quick calculations.
Yes..I didnt even think about it ...now I can leave my style manager, display manager, project navigator, project browser, catalogs ....etc., all open now!! This is going to save a lot of time.

[skipsophrenic]

I've been told by our IT dept that all computers are being standardised, whether you use cad, view cad drawings, or just do admin they're all going to be set up the same :(

How can they say a machine for CAD and a machine for editing word documents be the same??????

[MaxwellEdison]

How can they say a machine for CAD and a machine for editing word documents be the same??????

Agreed...There's a phrase that comes to mind for companies adopting this way of thinking...
Death throes.

[Jack_O'neill]

How can they say a machine for CAD and a machine for editing word documents be the same??????

Typical modern corporation mindset. Got people making decisions about things they know nothing about and will not have a clue why the company ceases to operate because of their stupid decisions.

[Currahee]

Typical modern corporation mindset. Got people making decisions about things they know nothing about and will not have a clue why the company ceases to operate because of their stupid decisions.
Just like city dudes trying to tell them good ole boys in NASCAR how to race...I hate that.

[The Buzzard]

Why stop at two. Here is three and planning a fourth.
You can get alot done this way.

The Buzzard

[Currahee]

Why stop at two. Here is three and planning a fourth.
You can get alot done this way.

The Buzzard

Alright show off..LOL:love:

[skipsophrenic]

How were you able to get the computer to accept 3 monitors??

[The Buzzard]

My current graphics card will accept upto 4 monitors. I got the correct drivers to use and set it up under Display Properties in control panel. As of now two of them are Dell 20" flat screens and one ViewSonic 20" E790B CRT monitor. I plan two replace the CRT with another Dell 20" flat screen plus an additional flat screen. The setup is great especially when you do cuts & paste from one document to another. I also run two different versions of AutoCAD at the same time with Internet Explorer also open. This is great if you do alot of lisp routines and you need to test them.

[Currahee]

This is great if you do alot of lisp routines and you need to test them.

This is a very good idea

[Jack_O'neill]

My current graphics card will accept upto 4 monitors.


I got a buddy thats a day trader, and he uses 6 monitors. He's watching different markets on 4 of them, playing a game on the 5th and usually has some live, "adults only" feed on the sixth one (at least till his wife comes home).

[Currahee]

I got a buddy thats a day trader, and he uses 6 monitors. He's watching different markets on 4 of them, playing a game on the 5th and usually has some live, "adults only" feed on the sixth one (at least till his wife comes home).
Now...that living...LOL

[skipsophrenic]

(at least till his wife comes home).

Just hope she doesn't come home early one day. LOL

[RJ600RR]

by chance, is there anyway to span ACAD across 2 monitors maximed with dual viewports?

[f700es]

You should be able to do this. It will be up to the video card and it's software but I think this work.

[Currahee]

by chance, is there anyway to span ACAD across 2 monitors maximed with dual viewports?
I know my video card gives me this capability but I havent used it...so I would have to go with the answer above

[Tankman]

Great stuff! Dual monitors look great.

Never tried them but, thinking, "Why not?"

I do have a 36" LCD monitor that does picture in picture and/or picture by picture. I think I'll go play with it some.

Got me thinking!

[Currahee]

Great stuff! Dual monitors look great.

Never tried them but, thinking, "Why not?"

I do have a 36" LCD monitor that does picture in picture and/or picture by picture. I think I'll go play with it some.

Got me thinking!
NOW thats an idea..LOL

[jmott07]

Where does your mouse exit the screen? Right or left? Can you change this? It always wants to exit on the right of my primary screen and I would like to change that.

I know I am a little late, but maybe this will help you.

Right Click on your desktop and go to properties.
Click on the settings tab.
Click the display on the right.
With your arrow keys, move the screen all the way up, then to the left, then down.
Click OK and see if that helps.

[Currahee]

I know I am a little late, but maybe this will help you.

Right Click on your desktop and go to properties.
Click on the settings tab.
Click the display on the right.
With your arrow keys, move the screen all the way up, then to the left, then down.
Click OK and see if that helps.
Cool, I would never have thought to do that. I will try that

Thanks

[Currahee]

I know I am a little late, but maybe this will help you.

Right Click on your desktop and go to properties.
Click on the settings tab.
Click the display on the right.
With your arrow keys, move the screen all the way up, then to the left, then down.
Click OK and see if that helps.
It worked....something so simple...wow

Thanks

[jmott07]

Cool. My very first post actually helped someone.

Glad it worked fir ya.

[Currahee]

Cool. My very first post actually helped someone.

Glad it worked fir ya.
Thanks and welcome to the board

[Danse_Macabre]

Does anyone know if its possible to have two drawings open, each in it's own monitor? We work with a lot of xrefs in our office so this would be extremely helpful. I'm not sure if its already been discussed in this thread but I didn't see anything.

[The Buzzard]

Does anyone know if its possible to have two drawings open, each in it's own monitor? We work with a lot of xrefs in our office so this would be extremely helpful. I'm not sure if its already been discussed in this thread but I didn't see anything.

Yes, But you would need to start AutoCAD up a second time and have two instances of it open. Place one on one monitor and the other on the other monitor.

[Danse_Macabre]

Ahhh....of course, of course. Thanks for the help.

I guess there's no way of doing it while only running one instance of AutoCAD?

[Cad64]

You can stretch your Autocad screen across both monitors, open up two drawings, go to the "Window" pull down menu, select "Tile Vertically", then just resize each window so you have one on your primary monitor and the other on your secondary monitor.

[Danse_Macabre]

Perfect, thanks Cad64 that's exactly what I was trying to do!

[The Buzzard]

You can stretch your Autocad screen across both monitors, open up two drawings, go to the "Window" pull down menu, select "Tile Vertically", then just resize each window so you have one on your primary monitor and the other on your secondary monitor.

That was interesting and a keen idea. The only thing I did not like about that is, Although I have two drawings open in one instance of AutoCAD on two screens, I would have to flip back to the screen on the left side for the command prompt and menus.
Its kind of a hassle.

[Cad64]

If you use the dynamic floating command prompt, there is no hassle at all. You can type in your commands wherever your cursor is on screen.

[The Buzzard]

If you use the dynamic floating command prompt, there is no hassle at all. You can type in your commands wherever your cursor is on screen.

I guess to each his own,
I never liked the floating command prompt.
I prefer the prompt at the bottom of the screen.
Old school I guess.
Still, Its a neat idea just the same.

Thanks