The problem with sharing contents over network is performance. If you have good infrastructure, it might not be a problem. But if you share your contents over WAN or internet, with hundreds of users, it can be really painful. Even pulling a block from your server can take a while.

It is a good thing to centralize your company standard contents and customization, to force standards among your users. You can see some sample like sharing tool palettes like describe here, enterprise CUI like here, or in this AU archive about AutoCAD tool palettes. But again, it may decreasing your productivity, not increasing it if you have problem with network connection.

Set your offline files

One thing that you can do to eliminate this problem is by working with offline files. You can set offline files, so your computer will copy files from your server and put them locally. This is pretty much like working with local files.

No, you don’t have to copy them to your local drive manually. All you need is to set a network folder to always available offline. Windows can sync your files by following a schedule or other events that you prefer.

See this Microsoft documentation how you can work with offline files.

Once you set it, you can click work offline in Windows Explorer. Even if you are connected to network, your Windows will not take those files from your server anymore!

It might be better if you set automatic sync in Windows Sync Center. Windows can sync your offline files daily if necessary, or you can sync them manually when you know there are changes have been made.

Just try it, and explore the options that will work for you.

© Stéphane Bidouze – Fotolia.com

Up and Ready covers many aspects in software installation, licensing, deployment, and related troubleshooting tips.

Look at some of these articles on the blog:

1. Create AutoCAD 2012 deployment using profile.
2. Illegal server host name for network licensing.
3. General error codes in Autodesk products installation.
4. And also something quite basic like how getting license online.

I don’t think this is a common problem. But I saw two people ask on the same day, the same problem on CAD Tutor Forum. So I want to share it with you here, just in case you have the problem in the future.

This behavior might be because you set MAXACTVP system variable too low. If you have MAXACTVP set to 8, then when you create the 9th viewport, one of existing viewport will turned off.

According to help file, MAXACTVP variable controls:

Sets the maximum number of viewports that can be active at one time in a layout.

Initial value for this variable is 64, which is the maximum value allowed. I don’t think we ever need to create more than 64 viewports in a layout, so is most situation, this value is acceptable. This value set for each drawing. So if you have this problem, more likely because you receive a DWG file and the value is set low for that file.

Note: This will not affect the drawing when you plot the sheet. All drawing will be plotted properly.

I’m not sure if this value was changed because a LISP program or intentionally changed by the user. Probably because performance issue? Have you ever change this system variable? Why did you do that?

If you use AutoCAD LT, you can stop here. AutoCAD LT doesn’t have this additional tools. In recent version of vanilla AutoCAD, the installation option should be on by default. However, in vertical products, you should check the option to get it. If you didn’t turn on the option, then it won’t be there. You need to add the installation to get it.

Autodesk published how to install express tools in knowledge base here.

Application installer these days are very easy to use. But it also makes us tend to simply keep our eyes closed and just pressing every next button!

I see this problem occurs many times, and I’m not sure how, even AutoCAD LT users also have this problem. It is not common that system variables just changed like that. Usually some poor programming routines change the system variables and don’t restore it back. AutoCAD LT doesn’t support programming, and I’m sure the user doesn’t use any macro, so it must be something else cause it.

It is a very simple problem. What’s described above is showing that you are using noun/verb selection. You select the object first, then you activate the modify tool. The system variable that control this has changed, so it won’t allow you to do that. The only way you modify object is activating the modify tool first, then select the object(s).

To restore the system variable, you only need to type PICKFIRST in command line then change it to 1. Or you can open AutoCAD option, in selection tab, activate noun/verb selection.

If your AutoCAD working fine now, I strongly suggest you to backup all system variables and use it in emergency situation. Have you done it?

Read how you can backup AutoCAD system variables here.

See the drawing below. Both are showing the same part from my AutoCAD drawing, I can see annotations in my left viewport, but I don’t see the annotations in the right viewport.

This problem become an AutoCAD regular problem, so I thought I should share it here.

Layer Properties per Viewport

There are two possibilities why this happen. First, AutoCAD now allow us to override layer properties for each viewport. If it’s true, most likely it is because the AutoCAD drawing has frozen layers in that viewport. Open layout tab, double click the viewport you want to check for problem. Or type MS then [enter].

Open layer properties manager, then check if there any VP Freeze properties.

If you see the layer properties overridden and you suspect it are used by the dimension, try to unfreeze it. And see if the problem solved.

Annotation Scale

But most likely the missing dimensions is because the dimension is using annotative style. The dimensions don’t have the active scale in the dimension scale list. Check the scale.

Now select the dimension, and check the scale list in properties palette.

In opened dialog box, check if the annotation scale is listed. Add if you don’t see it yet.

After you click OK, you should see the dimension now!

If you are not familiar with annotative scaling, you might want to read this basic tutorial and how to control annotation scaling further.

For you to see this issue clearer, I tried to reproduce the problem. I can’t use the original file as it was a company document. The problem in the original file is very annoying, probably because it has many objects in that file, not as simple as I created here.

This is very rare problem, I have to admit. After 13 years I use AutoCAD, I only found this problem once. And it’s not even my own drawing. I tried to reproduce the problem by creating axis very far from 0,0.

As you can see, when I add dimension ordinate, it’s already showing wrong value.

Now I try to draw 5000mm length line with 5 deg angle. When I try to list its properties, the length is not 5000!

I try to modify it further. I rotate it 3 degrees, and rotate it back –3 degrees, then the line length is now showing different value. I believe none of us will work peacefully when we know we are creating our drawing with this accuracy issue.

The only way out I can figure is trying to reduce the coordinate number. If we can move it, then move it closer to 0,0. I know it’s not practical, especially if we need to use real world coordinate. If I can’t, then using larger units might be appropriate solution. In the problem I found before, the company always draw using mm unit. And they start to have the problem when the coordinate become a very large number.

I believe the problem is because the architect usually draw in mm. But they already place the building in the real world coordinate. I was suggesting them to pick a local coordinate for their architectural drawing, and reference it in master plan drawing for civil engineers. The master plan drawing can use m or even km to avoid the problem.

I also suggested that because they were migrating to Revit. And I know that Revit will not be entertained to see such a large coordinate. Yes, it was Revit limitation, not AutoCAD. But when we are working with different platform, things like this should also be considered.

As I know there are many people may not agree with ‘try to draw as close as possible to 0,0’, maybe I can say I suggest to ‘if you have accuracy problem, then try to reduce the coordinate number’.

I know this solution will not satisfy many people. The architect I talked to doesn’t sound happy about it. I’m opened for any other suggestion. If you do know how to solve the problem other than making a mess with the coordinate, please share in comment section below.

Without checking it further, I send this Autodesk support page link. After following the suggested steps, the installation still fail. So I went there and check it myself. It is kind of embarrassing what happen. Installing AutoCAD mostly is easy, so it kind of make me jump into unnecessary conclusion. So I make this check list to remind me the steps I should do to ensure I can install AutoCAD without unnecessary problem.

AutoCAD Installation Checklist

Check the System Requirements

This is the most basic thing to do. But mostly I just put the DVD in, and run setup. When there is an error warning, then I check it. Don’t make the same mistakes as I do. It is important thing to do. You can read what happen to me when I ignore this at the bottom of this post.

Login as Administrator

This is obvious. If you don’t have administrator privilege, then you can’t install anything on your workstation. Windows will also show you a warning and ask you to login as admin.

Close Anti Virus and Anti Spyware

Many anti virus and anti spyware cause problems with installation. The common problem is they block the admin privilege, and your installation may fail. Close them before you start installing!

Clean the Previous Installation

If we have a previous installation, and we are no longer using it, it is wise to clean the installation first. This will remove any problem that may occur because the previous installation. Clean your files and registry just like your computer never knew AutoCAD before. You can do it by following these steps.

When There is Still Problem

Even after you follow the steps above, problems still may occur. You can check the error code and get the solutions from Autodesk support page. If you can’t see the error or the available guide don’t solve your problem, then you might want to submit it to Autodesk.

My Mistakes

What happen to me yesterday is quite embarrassing. I fail to check the 1st and 3rd item! I always update my PC regularly, but it doesn’t mean every body do that. I only check that they have Windows XP SP2, but I fail to check the internet explorer! AutoCAD 2010 requires IE7, they still have IE6. IE is not everyone’s favorite, so they may not upgrade it regularly.

When I tried to upgrade to IE8, it always failed. After spending hours following many steps in Microsoft support page, we finally try to close Kaspersky before try to install again. And it worked! Anti virus and anti spyware are not always your best friends. They may close your admin permission. Sadly, in Autodesk support page and Microsoft support page do not mention anything about closing anti virus.

After we succeeded installing IE8, we directly install AutoCAD. It worked! However, after installation finished, AutoCAD immediately close. So I remove AutoCAD with clean uninstall, and reinstall it. Finally it worked! I suspected the previous installation trial and error kind of mess up the registry or corrupted some files in AutoCAD folder. And they have several versions of AutoCAD folders. The application is longer exist because they have upgraded it, but the folder and registry still there. If we no longer use the old versions, then it is a wise decision to clean them all before start installing the new one.

If only I follow the checklist, then I won’t waste my time trying to install, uninstall, and reinstall it. I have necessary experience with AutoCAD installation problem. But because mostly it is too easy, I forget to follow the steps anymore. Fail! I hope this will reminds me for later problems. And I hope if you have problem, it can help.

You may not installing AutoCAD by yourself. Knowing this, probably will help your IT guy/girl when they have problem.