Topic Title

Does DC 20 set the following drawing settings to be controlled by USER instead of by FILE instance?

Grids/Grid Snap
/Snap Angle
/Disp. Grid 1
/Disp. Grid 2
Settings/Angle Type
/Scale Type
/Big Cursor
Object Snap/(all settings)
Input Mode

(to name a few...)

I'd really appreciate not having to reset my interface every time I open a different drawing. I'm working with multiple people who have different settings than I do so these get constantly switched around and becomes a time waster/annoyance for everyone. In my opinion, anything that deals with user interface should not be controlled on a file by file basis.

Is there something I can set up that would do set all of these options for me with a quick key for every drawing I open?

[Mark F. Madura]

DataCAD does not have any user-specific settings. There are Program Preferences that apply to the program and there are Drawing Preferences that apply to the drawing. With few exceptions, the options you can set in Program Preferences apply to the program and the options you set in the left-hand menus apply to the drawing. Some drawing settings like Grids and Grid Snap apply on a per-Layer basis. Some drawing settings like Tangents can be saved/restored with GoTo Views.

You can create default drawings that are set up with your desired drawing settings. Of course, this will only apply to new drawings you create. It is possible to import the settings from one drawing into another. To do so, go to File, Import and set the Files of type to AEC. Select the (preferably empty) drawing that contains the settings you want to import. Click Open to display the Import Drawing File... dialog. For Layers, GoTo Views, MSP Sheets, and Multi-View Windows, make sure you 'Deselect All'. At the bottom of the dialog you will see an option, Update Drawing Defaults. Check this option to import the drawing's settings which will overwrite the current drawing's settings.

Depending on your specific needs, you can create custom toolbar icons and command-line aliases to set certain drawing options the way you want. All of DataCAD's Program Preferences are stored in DCADWIN.ini which is located in DataCAD's program folder (i.e. C:\DataCAD 20).

Yes. Program Preferences = User Preferences. Many of the Drawing Preferences (listed previously) should actually be Program Preferences.

I think what I'm going for would be best achieved by the Custom Macro as described by Josh.

Josh, I know this is an elementary question but: Do you use notepad to make a macro or are they done directly in DC?
Your link should be very helpful in developing the command set. Looks like I can string multiple setting changes together with the ^$^ ?

Thanks!

Another question... Is it possible to have DC "remember" the previous setting for each drawing preference that is changed to my liking? That way, I could "reverse" the settings back to whomever's preferences I'm altering as a tack on to the end of a Save/Close command?

Is there a reason that "Input mode" was set at the beginning of the code and again at the end? Is once good enough?

I'm having trouble with resetting the scale type. I want to change how I input measurements... not how dimensions are displayed. If the Scale Type was originally set to F1-"Arch." and the following code is entered:

^:^F0^F2^F5^

, then my input is changed, but dimensions will now display as decimal inches. Can I change only the input method while keeping dimensions displaying normally? (I really dont like DC's Architectural input method. to me its "wonky")

Thanks!

there really needs to be an interface window within Dcad actual to change these settings... ridiculous that i cant change scroll wheel zoom wihtout going into the .ini file... seriously... its not 1980. noone uses DOS to run programs anymore.

so archaic...

[Mark F. Madura]

Mouse Settings
Mouse_Preferences.png (10.61 KiB) Viewed 7812 times

On the Drawing tab in Program Preferences