Opening more than two files at a time.

[edwin]

I used to open more than two files at a time by highlighting then right click to select open but doesn't work anymore.

Please help.

[smorales02]

Are you opening through ACAD or through Explorer?

[edwin]

I am opening the files from explorer.

[smorales02]

hmmmm...did you see what your SDI is set to?

[edwin]

Sorry, I don't know what SDI is.

[rkent]

Does it open two sessons of AutoCAD or does it not work at all or does it only open one of the drawings?

[beammeup]

I am opening the files from explorer.

I've found by opening through explorer I get another session of autocad

SDI is single document interface
from autocad:
Controls whether the program runs in single- or multiple-document interface. Helps third-party developers update applications to work smoothly with the AutoCAD multiple-drawing mode.

0 Turns on multiple-drawing interface.
1 Turns off multiple-drawing interface.
2 (Read-only) Multiple-drawing interface is disabled because an application has been loaded that does not support multiple drawings. SDI setting 2 is not saved.
3 (Read-only) Multiple-drawing interface is disabled because the user has set SDI to 1 and AutoCAD has loaded an application that does not support multiple drawings. (SDI was set to 1 before the application was loaded.) SDI setting 3 is not saved.

If SDI is set to 3, AutoCAD switches it back to 1 when the application that doesn't support multiple drawings is unloaded.

keep my regular autocad on 1, can have multiple dwgs open
landdesktop defaults to 3 so only 1 drawing at a time will be open

[rkent]

From File Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > File Types > highlight DWG in list, > Advanced
> highlight open > Edit... > (If open isn't there use New.. to create it.)
Application used to perform action:
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\acad.exe" "%1"
Use DDE
checked
DDE Message:
[open("%1")]
Application:
AutoCAD.r17.DDE
OK > OK > Close

Modify the line showing
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\acad.exe"
to reflect your path to acad.exe.

If you are using 2004 then the statement "AutoCAD.r17.DDE" will have to be changed to .r16. , I think r16, maybe r15 for 2004.