How do I make this combination work?

[Syke42]

Hello, I've search this forum and found strings similar but not quite what I'm looking for. (Hope there's no length limit)

 

Short version:

 

How do I make this combination work?

 

Old cad (Autocad 2002 w/ Architectural Desktop 3.3), New OS (Windows 7 64bit), New digitizer (Calcomp Drawing Board VI w/ 16 button mouse).

 

History:

 

I've worked with Autocad for some 16 years now back to R12. At the office I’m currently on 2008 with 2012 being installed shortly. At home I have the above 2002. I think of myself as quite versed in most things Autocad but by no means consider myself an expert. I make my own buttons, toolbars, etc. and problem solve, but digitizer set up has always been with the office tech.

 

Current situation:

 

Loading 2002 onto Windows 7 worked but the express tools don’t.

Loading the digitizer on hasn't been very good either. I can get is on with Tabletworks and or Vtablet (separately loaded, never at the same time) but they would only make it work as a mouse, in windows and in Autocad. When I try to switch to "Wintab Compatible Digitizer ADI 4.2..." it would hang up cad and generally not work. My current setup work better now but the loss of the express tools make using it in Window 7 very undesirable.

 

Through research and suggestions from work, it was decided that the 64 bit windows was an issue and I should try using Windows Virtual XP. Since then, I've upgraded to Windows 7 Professional and added Virtual PC & Virtual XP. I loaded Autocad on to the V-XP and found that it works way better. Express tools load, my custom tool bars, etc. work, all’s good for the program but… the tablet is still an issue.

 

In V-XP, I've tried it both ways, Tabletworks and Vtablet. Tabletworks actually works better but not quite. The issue now is that the cross-hairs show and move ok but when you go off the work screen surface to pick a button or menu, the cursor isn’t there. It disappears. You can see the buttons and menus highlight and you can actually pick them and it works but you can’t see the cursor. Would not be an acceptable compromise.

 

Yes I know all about the lawsuits and Vtablet is supposedly the only way you can get Autocad to work with a tablet but I currently think that my issue is the Tabletworks driver. With the new tablet I obviously got the latest driver (10.09). At work we are using Tabletworks with driver version 7.42.0820 and it works great. I think if I could get the older driver and using the V-XP, I could get it all to work. Does anyone have this driver? ReMark? Based on other strings here, ReMark has a driver version 7.46 (Twser2kXp.exe). Do we think this would work? How do I get it?

 

I still have to set up the .mns file to add the commands to the 16 buttons, so I’m going to work on that and check back in the morning for a hopeful response to my longwinded problem.

 

For those of you left that didn’t give up after the 6th paragraph, thank you for listening. I look forward to a positive outcome and thank you for any help you can give.

 

Syke42

[ReMark]

Yes, that's what we get when we try to run old technology under a new OS.

 

I probably would have suggested using Longbow for the program issues but you found another way so the point is moot.

 

As for the digitizer issues I don't know that moving from ver 7.42.0820 to 7.46 is going to work. If you want to try it though I'll look around and see if I have Twser2kXP.exe sitting around somewhere. I stopped using my digitizer when I moved to Win7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

It must be your lucky day Skye. I found the file. Give me a shout out when you return here.

Edited December 30, 2011 by ReMark

[Syke42]

ReMark

 

Yes to the old technology thing but at the moment work is work (they pay for the good stuff) and this is only hobby at home. At the moment, I'm not willing to shell out $1 to 5 g's for a program I use a couple of times a year. If I pickup some actual paying side work, them maybe I upgrade to a new Autocad.

 

As for the driver file, what's the process for you getting me the file?

I'm not a big online chat guy. Facebook, twitter, chat rooms, this is literally the first time I've ever posted anything.

 

Thanks for the help.

[ReMark]

Well Skye if you are going to be around the next five minutes I'll tell you what I have in mind.

 

Right above my avatar is my screen name ReMark. Click on it to go to my profile. Read the top most visitor message. Call now, operators are standing by. LOL

[damn autocad]

I'm having trouble making the digitizer run when in Autocad through XP virtual manager. Vtablet has not responded to my support question on if it "should" work or not. Any suggestions?

[ReMark]

I doubt you'll get the digitizer to work.

[Syke42]

I doubt it also. Besides all that ReMark tried to help, eventually I broke down and purchased AutoCAD 2012. Loaded it to windows 7 with Vtablet and haven't looked back since. There were some setup quirks and there's a trick to getting it to reset if the digitizer doesn't establish itself when you start autocad. It's a minor little sequence and all is good. It's odd that at work now that they've upgraded me to 2011 the trick is similar but to get it to stop when you close autocad.

 

Yes you want to keep your 2002, no you don't want to shell out the big bucks (got autocad 2012 lite for $900 at the time) but it's been worth it. The one piece of advice you are going to want if you upgrade is; "autocad back to normal". Google that so you can find the steps to get back the commands you have loved over the years. Lots of the new commands are great and maybe you will like the new setup with their "ribbons" (If you've used the newest ms word program you will know what I am talking about.) but if you are a button man like me, it will drive you crazy. I turned off all the ribbons and imported my standard and custom buttons and it's great. I swear to god that the guys down at Autodesk sit around and once a week or so have a meeting to discuss "how can we f..k them up this time". You have a grand piano, you are a virtuoso on it, you can tune it but please don't rearrange the keys just because you think it's better.

 

Sorry for the rant.

 

If you are still trying to figure out which component is the issue, here is what I know. The tablet isn't the problem. I've got a calcomp III at work and it works but with 2011 on window 7. The autocad 2002 will work fine on windows 7 XP VM but with a mouse. Along with the drivers ReMark got me, I also got some old ones from work and they didn't work either. I'm sorry but I just don't think the tablet will work on the window 7. XP VM or not.

 

Good Luck.