Being Inventive

AutoCAD Family: Missing User Interface elements in Windows 7

This one is hard to explain so I am going to include some screen shots.  AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 looks fine but AutoCAD Mechanical 2012 doesn't and has some missing User Interface elements.

AutoCAD Mechanical 2011

AutoCAD Mechanical 2012

NOTE:  When you try to resize AutoCAD, the "A" menu also lags on the desktop.  The resolution of the laptop was set at 1900 x 1200.

The basic troubleshooting steps that we tried included the following:

1. We reset AutoCAD by deleting registry keys and files as noted in this solution:  

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS14823324

NOTE:  We had to extrapolate the registry keys for 2012.

2.  We updated and used the default settings in the Adaptive Degradation and Performance Tuning Dialog Box.

http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/deu/online-help/ARCHDESK/2012/ENU/pages/WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-51c9.htm

http://upandready.typepad.com/up_and_ready/2011/12/autocad-family-3dconfig-the-adskhwcertificationdatabasexml-file.html

3. We also used a saved Default profile (.arg) on a vanilla install of AutoCAD.

In the end, there were 2 solutions:

1.  We used a Windows 7 theme that didn't use Windows Aero.

2.  If you revert back to a Windows Aero theme, we changed the Text size to 100% or 125%.  In this case, the problem was caused because it was set at 150%.

via upandready.typepad.com

Grips not available for some entities in AutoCAD Mechanical 2012

You have installed AutoCAD Mechanical 2012 and SketchBook Designer 2012 on your machine, for instance, from the Product Design Suite media.

In AutoCAD Mechanical you notice that, selecting some entities, the grips don’t display

Even if the option for display them is selected.

The problem is due to SketchBook Designer for AutoCAD 2012 AddOn.

Our development is working for fixing the problem.

In the meantime, in order to display correctly the grips, you need to start Mechanical without loading the SketchBook Designer AddOn.

For doing this, follow the procedure below.

• Close AutoCAD Mechanical 2012
• Browse under the folder C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins and locate the folder named SketchBook Designer.bundle.

• Rename the folder, for instance, as SketchBook Designer.bundle_unload

• Restart AutoCAD Mechanical 2012.

After that, the grips display correctly and the SketchBook Designer AddOn is unloaded.

If you want to load the AddOn again, restore the original folder name SketchBook Designer.bundle and restart Mechanical 2012.

Of course, the grips display problem will be back as well.

Ale

AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 Update 2

AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 Update 2 was released

You can download it from the following link.

AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 Update 2

Important: Before installing Update 2, you must install Update 1 for AutoCAD Mechanical 2011

AutoCAD Mechanical Survey

For all AutoCAD Mechanical Users out there!

The AutoCAD Product Design & User Experience Team is looking for participants in the research focusing on the use of Power Dimensions in AutoCAD Mechanical. The research will be conducted between May 3 and May 12, 2011.

Who Should Participate

AutoCAD Mechanical user who are familiar and proficient in ACM Power Dimensions.

What Are We Looking For

The goal of the research is to get your opinion and feedback on early design concepts related to:

• Use of Power Dimensions;  use of “In-place Editor”
• Future enhancements of Power Dimensions (multi-select, editing  options)

How to Sign Up

To sign up: please fill out the AutoCAD Mechanical Power Dimensions survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ACMPowerDimensions

If you are selected to participate in a 1-hour long remote session, you will be compensated with a $30 Amazon Gift Certificate (or equivalent in local currency). If you prefer, we can also donate that amount to one of three qualified U.S. charities.

-AutoCAD Product Design and UX Team

Update 1 for AutoCAD Mechanical 2010 !!!

AutoCAD Mechanical 2010 Update 1 is now available. Fatal errors on copy & paste commands for symbols, Standard library and custom content problems have been fixed in this service pack.

 

Download it from the link below:

 

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13842127

 

 

Opening of 2010 drawings default to AutoCAD Mechanical 2009

If you have some of the AutoCAD based Products like (AutoCAD Mechanical 2009,Mechanical Desktop 2009 & AutoCAD Mechanical 2010) installed on your machine.

When you try to open a drawing file through Windows explorer, AutoCAD Mechanical 2009 always opens the file, even if the file is unsupported due to being a 2010 version.

In such a scenario, you could do the following changes in your windows folder settings.

In Windows XP,

Go to Windows Explorer -> Folder options -> File types -> DWG -> Set to open in AutoCAD DWG Launcher.

In File types -> Advanced -> highlight open and click edit to add the following :

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AcShellEx\AcLauncher.exe" /O "%1" in the "Application used to perform action:" tab. (Figure 1)

Enable Use DDE option.

In Windows Vista,

Go to Control Panel -> Default programs -> Set Associations -> Assosciate file type or Protocol.

You can change the .DWG file to be opened in AutoCAD DWG Launcher or if you want you can choose any of your AutoCAD Based programs (Eg: AutoCAD Mechanical 2010) you have installed on your machine.