how to Open Cad DWG's in one window.,

[cp6070]

i use LT of ACAD09, , every DWG file i open , , it opens a new acad application,. , is there any way i can set things up in order for all the files open only at one ACAD application? it is so annoying having many ACAD apps at my taskbar. . (T.T)

[Cad64]

Type SDI at the command line and change the setting to 0.

[cp6070]

Type SDI at the command line and change the setting to 0.

thanks for the reply sir,

however, Nothing happened sir. . T_T

[ReMark]

That's strange.

 

I never heard of the variable SDI and so I turned to AutoCAD Help (I'm running plain 2009) and there was no listing under SDI nor was there one for Single Document Interface. Next I tried accessing the System Variables list via the System Variable Editor (Express Tools). I typed in SDI but it did not pull up any reference. Yet, I can type SDI at the command line and see that AutoCAD is currently using the default setting of "0". Is that weird or what? Did AutoDesk drop the ball on this one or was this setting one of those "undocumented" ones we ocassionally read about?

[dbroada]

I use it all the time (I normally operate in SDI = 1) so have never bothered to check if its documented or not. I'll have a look when I get to work.

[ReMark]

If I might ask Dave, why SDI=1?

[skipsophrenic]

Nothing in ACAD '08's help about SDI

[dbroada]

If I might ask Dave, why SDI=1?

mainly from the days of unreliable networks. In SDI mode you only lose 1 drawing at a time. I've never really needed to have more than one drawing open at a time. Should I need to look at a second I will go into MDI mode but not very often.

 

I also often produce 500 drawings at a time and I found that the machine would grind to a halt at about 16 drawings open so a bit unusable for 500!

[Cad64]

Huh, this is from my 2007 Help files:

 

Note In future releases of AutoCAD, the SDI system variable will be removed. At present, SDI is available but it is not supported.

 

I didn't know they had removed it

[dbroada]

oooh, that could get embarrassing if an upgrade renders our database linked drawing production useless.

[rustysilo]

Maybe it's just your TASKBAR variable. Try setting it to 0 if it is 1.

[eldon]

This from my help file:

 

SDI system variable

SDI [AutoCAD Command Reference: ACR]Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

Controls whether AutoCAD runs in single- or multiple-document interface. Helps third-party developers update applications to work smoothly with the AutoCAD multiple-drawing mode.

 

0 Turns on multiple-drawing interface.

1 Turns off multiple-drawing interface.

2 (Read-only) Multiple-drawing interface is disabled because AutoCAD has loaded an application that does not support multiple drawings. SDI setting 2 is not saved.

3 (Read-only) Multiple-drawing interface is disabled because the user has set SDI to 1 and AutoCAD has loaded an application that does not support multiple drawings. (SDI was set to 1 before the application was loaded.) SDI setting 3 is not saved.

 

If SDI is set to 3, AutoCAD switches it back to 1 when the application that doesn't support multiple drawings is unloaded.

[ReMark]

Settings of "2" or "3" are not applicable to AutoCAD LT.

[Robert Blaschke]

I had the same problem, but now I find I selected wrong louncher in Windows. In .dwg file "properties" is possibility to change "opens with". When I have there "AutoCAD Aplication", it opened me every time new window (from Total Commander). But now I selected "AutoCAD DWG launcher" and it opens them all in the same one window.

[Dana W]

I had the same problem, but now I find I selected wrong louncher in Windows. In .dwg file "properties" is possibility to change "opens with". When I have there "AutoCAD Aplication", it opened me every time new window (from Total Commander). But now I selected "AutoCAD DWG launcher" and it opens them all in the same one window.

 

Does it also open a new acad when using the internal Open command? Mine doesn't. I get multiple dwg.s in one window. When I click a dwg icon in windows, I get a new acad for each, whether I use the launcher or not. And acad LT 2009 definately doesn't have the SDI variable where you can get to it.

[Ryder76]

oooh, that could get embarrassing if an upgrade renders our database linked drawing production useless.

 

Rut Roh!