Customization AutoCAD 2014 and below using an exe file

[alijahed]

Hi All,

 

I want to drop an exe file on the CAD user's desktop so when the user executes that file it automatically setup his/her AutoCAD in a way that I want.

 

I tried to find my answer on the web but was unsuccessful.

I found "Inno Setup and AcadInstall" but couldn't find any further details on these like a tutorial and downloading the software from a safe place. I've also noticed those threads were old like 2005.

 

Can somebody please help me with this?

 

Cheers

 

Ali

[ReMark]

Wouldn't the customization be better handled via an enterprise.cuix that is read only and is unable to be modified by users?

[alijahed]

Hey dude,

 

How r u?

Mate, I want to do the followings:

 

1. Create another AutoCAD shortcut on desktop. So enables the user to have his own interface and the one that I developed.

 

2. On the Tools>Options>Files change the following addresses to my server or URL addresses:

Customization File

Main Customization File

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\support\acad

Enterprise Customization File

.

Custom Icon Location

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\support\icons

 

Printer Support File Path

Print Spooler File Location

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\local\temp\

Printer Configuration Search Path

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\plotters

 

Printer Description File Search Path

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\plotters\pmp files

Plot Style Table Search Path

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\plotters\plot styles

 

Template Setting

Drawing Template File Location

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\local\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\template

 

Tool Palettes File Locations

C:\Users\cplus\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\R19.1\enu\support\ToolPalette

 

Action Record Setting

Actions Recording File Location

C:\Users\cplus\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad 2014\r19.1\enu\support\actions

 

3. Copy Lisp files on their hard drive from a url or server in a particular location

 

4. Add Lisp routines to the start up

 

5. Open my template

 

6. Add my toolbars

 

At the moment I have to jump on their computers to do all these changes which I want to avoid.

 

Cheers

 

Ali

[Pablo Ferral]

Try using Lisp instead. Here's a couple of examples...

http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?56760-Routine-to-set-search-paths-file-names-and-file-locations

http://www.augi.com/library/managing-customization-files

[BIGAL]

Heres a lisp for setting all the paths, but a better way is to create a ARG from Profiles.

 

Quick answer copy ARG to new pc, make new icon pointing to this ARG, start default AutoCAD icon load ARG then close. Copy you custom menu to location in your path settings for "Main customisation menu", start your new icon

 

Should work ! 12 pc's done this way

 

; resets the paths usefull for update versions of Autocad
; by BGAL 2011
; This sets a reference to the install path of your product
; the gets are their for info maybe other use
; use this to find other settings 
;(vlax-dump-object (vla-get-files (vla-get-preferences (vlax-get-Acad-object))) T)

(vl-load-com)
; make temp directory
;(vl-mkdir "c:\\AcadTEMP")
(setq *files*  (vla-get-files  (vla-get-preferences (vlax-get-Acad-object))))
; savepath
;(vla-get-AutoSavepath *files*)
(vla-put-AutoSavepath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp")
; custom icons
;(vla-get-CustomIconPath *files*))
(vla-put-CustomIconPath *files* "P:\\Autodesk\\ICONS")
; custom menu
;(vla-get-Menufile *files*))
;(vla-put-Menufile  *files* "C:\\Users\\2013BIGAL")
; printers config
;(vla-get-PrinterConfigPath *files*)
(vla-put-PrinterConfigPath *files* "P:\\AutoDESK\\Plotting\\Plot Styles 2011")
; printers style sheet
;(vla-get-PrinterStyleSheetPath *files*)
(vla-put-PrinterStyleSheetPath *files* "P:\\AutoDESK\\Plotting\\Plot Styles")
; printer drv's
;(vla-get-PrinterDescPath *files*)
(vla-put-PrinterDescPath *files* "P:\\AutoDESK\\Plotting\\Drv")
; print spooler
;(vla-get-PrintSpoolerPath *files*)
(vla-put-PrintSpoolerPath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp\\")
; template  path
;(vla-get-TemplateDwgPath *files*)
(vla-put-TemplateDwgPath *files* "P:\\Autodesk\\c3d Templates")
; template location
;(vla-get-QnewTemplateFile *files*)
(vla-put-QnewTemplateFile *files* "P:\\Autodesk\\c3d Templates\\BIGAL.dwt")
;make new support paths exist + new
(setq paths (vla-get-SupportPath *files*))

(setq BIGALpaths 
 "P:\\autodesk\\supportfiles;
 P:\\autodesk\\lisp;
 P:\\autodesk\\fonts;
 P:\\autodesk\\hfs fonts;"
 )
(setq newpath (strcat BIGALpaths paths))
(vla-put-SupportPath *files* newpath)
; Tempdirectory 
;(vla-get-TempFilePath *files*))
(vla-put-TempFilePath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp\\")

(vla-put-PlotLogFilePath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp\\")

(vla-put-LogFilePath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp\\")

; xref temp path
;(vla-get-TempXrefPath *files*))
(vla-put-TempXrefPath *files* "C:\\AcadTemp\\")
; end use of *files*
(vlax-release-object *files*)
; exit quitely
(princ "All Done")

[feargt]

Heres a lisp for setting all the paths, but a better way is to create a ARG from Profiles.

 

Quick answer copy ARG to new pc, make new icon pointing to this ARG, start default AutoCAD icon load ARG then close. Copy you custom menu to location in your path settings for "Main customisation menu", start your new icon

 

quicker again, is to put the arg file on the network and create a desktop icon with a switch that points to it. i.e. /p "\\.......\........\myprofile.arg"

[alijahed]

Thanks for your reply guys.

 

But I am still seriously curious on how to make the exe file.

Can anybody help me with this?

[NewVillage]

Autohotkey or AutoIT

[ReMark]

Autohotkey or AutoIT

 

If this is supposed to be an answer perhaps a little more detail would be helpful. A brief explanation and maybe a link to the appropriate website?

[NewVillage]

Your original reply:

Is this supposed to be an answer, a question, or the ramblings of a confused mind? A little more detail would be helpful.

For AutoIT, make a script. Use its Send command to simulate keystrokes to the active window. When all is working, make an .exe of the script.