Setup new CAD station.

[cadmando2]

I was ask to setup existing CAD work station at "EESI" with adding PC3, CTB SHX files and print drivers.
as far as SHX file I know I can Just copy and paste in the directory,But PC3 can I just copy & paste in "Plotter manager" and the CTB file in "Plot Style Manager".
As far as the print drivers they are installed, but very one prints different.
I'm using the same driver as my other cad operator but when I print it come up "A" size drawing on "D" and I always have to open the "page setup Name" to get the setting right before printing where the other cad operator just priint and very thing is setup for her.
Can some one help me!

[rustysilo]

I would say it's best to have all of those configuations files and such on the network and have each user's station set up to read those files (under the tools > options > files tab) as opposed to copying the files to each computer.

I suppose it may be a good idea to have them copied to each machine as a backup in case the network server crashes too.

Yes. You can copy the print styles and config files to and fro.

And make sure all computers have the printers named the same way. In our case we named it the same, but still had issues with just using the standard Windows printer and ended up creating a .pc3 which fixed the issue. (Well I should say it created issues with the Sheet Set Manager.)

[cadmando2]

We thought about that, but some don't like the idea, but I would be the best way.
very place I have worked at every thing was setup, but now it is my turn to make sure that things are setup right. never pain much attention CAD swork station setup's.
If it is not for this website, I would be pulling my hair out and thanks again!

[NBC]

some people may not like that idea, so do your damndest to educate them into liking it

i believe that anything that is standardised within a CAD environment should be at a location on a server, sharable by all who need to utilise it.

[rustysilo]

Absolutely. I agree wholeheartedly with that.

[Noahma]

I too agree with that, having standards to everything makes it a TON easier to be able to help with other peoples projects. Right now we have 4 people that are using the office standards, and one that has strayed a bit. Got yelled at by him for "screwing up his drawing" when I went to try to help him. this has set forth a meeting to get everyone on the same page now so we don't **** each other off, and we can help out when it is needed without having to spend an eternity to try to figure out how each person has things setup.

as for setting up new CAD stations, we have all of our plotter stuff coming off the server, and a folder with all of our lisp routines, and other items that each workstation needs.

I have been working tirelessly at home to get new CAD standards to eventually work our way into ACA from doing everything 2d. The catalogs and every bit is on the server so that we all can add to our standards, and refresh our palettes to show the new stuffs.

[BIGAL]

Must agree we run 10x Autocad's all common information is held on our server. Printers, templates, data, lisp and any source menu's etc there is no speed degredation we use in house menu add ons to point to the directories our templates are set up with the various plot sheets pre set A3 A1 pdf so plotting is basicaly 1 click.

Its very easy to go to each seat and update and we have put any customisation for one person to be available to all but others may not be aware of this depending on what it is.

We have a directory called "how to" and promote users to add to it using screen captures to explain. handy when someone is away and you need to know how they did it.

We try to maintain a look and feel about our drawings as well so they are always consistent.

Were about to install 2009 and between this forum and our how to's hopefully it will be quick and painless.

[ML0940]

I agree with NB totally; I try to have every thing shared on the network as well.

Some things are a bit more challenging; for instance ,we do share .pc3 and pmp files but with that, it is very easy for 1 user to F**k one up.

So, for that, we have one out there called Custom.pc3 and we try to encourage users to use that for that here and there need.

Also, with a script, you Can overwrite them every night.

Now, if you are going across a WAN, multiple offices, good luck sharing .pc3 files. For the, we have .pc3-OfficeSuffix
So each office has their own copies of the pc3 files.

With new installs, I am a very big fan of a custom profiles
Of course there will be a few paths that point to the user;s local drive, therefore, you need to address that after the fact.
Again, that is something a script can handle.

A matter of fact, you can script all of the Support Paths to the registry if you so desire; either way, I think it is good to have a company profile. If the case that you need to change paths for everyone, you know which profile to write to with the script.

Whatelse..hmmm

It is always good to see how other CAD Managers handle cui Main verses enterprise.

I strongly encourage customization as I would never want anyone to prevent me from doing so. However, I don't like some one screwing with something that can stop production; therefore I want to find a good/efficient way for the users to take advantage of The Custom.cui as I do for myself.

This can also be handled with profile switches and a simple tool bar, palette, whatever you use.
Perhaps, this can be a topic of it's own.

ML

[f700es]

I also agree. This is the way I do it here. We have 11 stations and they all use the same support files. When we need to update or change a setting we change one and they all have the update. It makes life so much easier.

[ML0940]

Hey f
I am curious as to how you do it?
So, if you move a resource, let's say your plotstyles to a different folder; do youu run a script that updates all profiles with that new path?

ML