Tool Palette Step by Step and Sharing

[dsibbo]

Can anyone give me some advice on my Tool Palettes.

 

I have created all my blocks in their seperate drawings. I have created tool palettes of each of these drawings. My palette files (AutoCAD Tool Catalog) have been created (automatically) and i've copied them to our network directory.

 

I've adjusted my palettes to the view options and order of blocks I want them to list in. I've adjusted my palettes in order I want them to show in.

 

Next i've made the palette files read only. I've directed my Tool Palette File location to the network drive they are located at.

 

All looks well so far.

 

Now I need my colleagues to use my palettes how I have set them up.

 

So to test it I've opened another version of CAD (2011) and directed my Tool Palette file location to the palettes. And here lies my issue, the palettes don't display in the order I set them up.

 

So what can I do to get them to automatically show in the order I have them on my machine across the network to other users?

 

I don't want to share my profile though as everyone has their own preferred settings for other parts of CAD.

 

Thanks

[Pablo Ferral]

This is saved in each users profile. I haven't found a way to distribute this yet. If you work it out I'd love to know!

[resullins]

Do you have any 3D blocks? I've noticed the TP with 3D blocks ALWAYS moves to the end, no matter what I do. So that may have something to do with it.

[tzframpton]

I've adjusted my palettes to the view options and order of blocks I want them to list in. I've adjusted my palettes in order I want them to show in.

 

And here lies my issue, the palettes don't display in the order I set them up.

Are you "rearranging" these Tool Palettes after you have created them on the network location? If so, then you'll surely have this issue. Tool Palettes maintain the sorted order upon creation of the Tool Palette. Any subsequent re-sorting and re-arranging will not carry over to end users that are on the "read only" side of things. However, there is a solution!

 

Get everything sorted and arranged exactly the way you want. Now, right-click on the Palette Tab and select "New Palette". Name the new tool palette exactly the same (don't worry, this doesn't affect anything). Now, you'll have a "blank" Tool Palette labeled identical to the one you've prepped. Go back to the Tool Palette you've prepped, then Ctrl+Select the first item, scroll to the bottom and Shift+Select the last item, and Copy/Paste onto the new Palette you just created (You can use standard Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V methods). Now the new Palette has just been created, with the "new" sorting and arrangement order, but to AutoCAD it's a completely new registered Tool Palette altogether; something the end user never notices. Delete the Tool Palette you used to "prep" the new one and restart the session of AutoCAD, asking all the other end-users to do the same. The changes will be reflected on their end.

 

Hope this helps.