Custom workspace gone - can't seem to get it back?

[Mercury15]

This is an odd problem I'm not sure how to fix. I'm using AutoCAD 2010, a friend of mine who just installed 2010 was asking for instructions on how to set his workspace to AutoCAD Classic, and to double check the specifics I reset the workspace back to the original setup in the Workspaces menu. When I went back to "Classic" mode it had lost all of my custom workspace settings and had reverted back to the standard toolbars and layout that you see when you first begin.

 

I tried reloading my .cuix file, but instead of loading my settings it duplicated the standard layout, so now I have two of everything and none of my custom workspace. No matter what I try to do I can't seem to scrub this duplicated layout and reload my .cuix file. Is there any way to fix this short of reinstalling?

[BlackBox]

Congrats on your first post, and welcome to the forums!

 

Open your workspace settings (._wssettings command), and be sure you have 'Do not save changes to workspace' selected.

 

Hope this helps!

[Mercury15]

Thanks for the welcome! 'Do not save changes to workspace' is selected, I made sure of that when I first installed so I wouldn't inadvertently make unwanted changes. I've tried unloading and reloading customization groups, deleting toolbars and trying to start fresh, nothing seems to be working. I seem to be stuck with two of everything standard no matter what I do, even duplicated menu bars!

[ReMark]

It sounds to me like you forgot to save any customizations to your workspace under a new workspace name. There is no retrieving what you did not save. Looks like you'll have to recreate what you had in the first place. Note: In the future, do a screen capture of your custom workspace. It might come in handy some day.

[Mercury15]

I did save my customizations to a .cuix file. I recently upgraded to Windows 7 and reformatted my computer, when I reinstalled AutoCAD 2010 I loaded my workspace from the .cuix file with no problems. It is only now after I had changed workspace modes that I can't seem to reload it back, even when I take an untouched copy of the .cuix file off of my external hard drive (so I know I didn't accidentally save over it).

 

I have a screen capture of my custom workspace, I have tried to reconfigure the toolbars back to what I had and even save it under a new workspace name, but everytime I restart AutoCAD it reverts back to the problematic duplicate standard layout I mentioned before. I was hoping to find a solution that wouldn't require reinstalling but I guess there is none.

[ReMark]

Did you import your custom workspace to the main CUIx file?

 

Did you know you could force AutoCAD to open with your custom workspace by adding a command line switch to the properties of the program icon that sits on your desktop?

 

Both of these subjects are covered in your Customization Guide.

Edited November 10, 2010 by ReMark

[BlackBox]

... everytime I restart AutoCAD it reverts back to the problematic duplicate standard layout I mentioned before. I was hoping to find a solution that wouldn't require reinstalling but I guess there is none.

 

This is the result of one of the 'vanilla' workspaces being set as default.

 

At my work, we developed a script which would allow the user to force-load their own personal workspace at startup. The script runs toward the end of the startup sequence, so that there is no chance of starting AutoCAD and getting stuck with an unfamiliar workspace.

 

Try going into the CUI Editor, and set your personal workspace both current, and default... Restart AutoCAD, and see if that makes a difference.

 

Hope this helps!

[ReMark]

Why use a script when you can use a command line switch?

[BlackBox]

Why use a script when you can use a command line switch?

 

Because command line switches are added to the Desktop Icon (or shortcuts to the same), and those are standardized across the enterprise. Most of the company does not even know what a command line switch is, let alone how to properly use them.

 

The CAD Manager at the time, decided that more employees would be able to easily grasp opening a text file, and commenting out the workspaces they didn't want, and adding a new line with the appropriate workspace name. Admittedly he was right. This is but one small item in a list of portability options provided during our 2009 deployment, where every employee is allocated 'Custom' drive space (on the network), so that no matter what PC (or office) you sit down and login, all of your customizations follow.

 

... this won't matter for long (hopefully), because we're all about to get new PC's with Civil 3D 2011. Many changes to come, but the portability of personal customizations is something that I greatly value at my work.

Edited November 10, 2010 by BlackBox
Typo

[ReMark]

Ahhhh.....the benefits of being the lone wolf in my company. I'm pretty much self-sufficient. But thanks for the explanation. Makes perfect sense.

[Mercury15]

Unfortunately I had a deadline to meet so I ended up uninstalling/reinstalling to sort it out. If it happens again I will try the command line switch in the desktop icon (I had imported my custom workspace into the main CUIx file, it didn't do anything). 2010 seems so finicky to me compared to 2006!

 

Thank you for your time!

[BlackBox]

Ahhhh.....the benefits of being the lone wolf in my company. I'm pretty much self-sufficient. But thanks for the explanation. Makes perfect sense.

 

Anytime, ReMark.

[BIGAL]

We run Civ3d 2011 and have workspaces saved etc backup and other stuff, I think some monkey is playing with or network randomly we have lost menu items on two boxes and a thrird is known to do it also we have 8 in total the others no problems.

 

The only thing we can put it down to is some hiccup with the network ours is massive 1000 users. The first box had a network error so he started as a workstation to do some work menus went, logged back on to network restarts turn offs etc still no menus reload saved workspace no good either. We just don't know why on a couple of boxes this happens.

[qball]

Note: In the future, do a screen capture of your custom workspace. It might come in handy some day.

 

Great idea! done!

[BIGAL]

After our problems a couple of days ago we have menuloded etc the missing stuff put back the search paths and we saved an profile ARG and workspace settings for each machine. We do allow individual customisation plus our core stuff so the Args are slightly different.

 

You ned to make sure in workspace settings that save automatic is turned on whilst making changes exit autocad then next time turn off to auto save changes. Its a bit 3 step process.