CAD Management – Support File Search Paths

Posted by madmarv on July 19th, 2008 filed in AutoCAD, CAD Management

AutoCAD loads support files in the order defined in the Search Paths found in the File tab of the Option Menu (Tools –> Options –> Files tab). To apply the CAD standard consistently across the office, setup a network folder accessible to all CAD workstations. Next, edit the search paths in the Support Files Search Path. Because AutoCAD will search through the list from top to bottom, the top-most folders of the search path should be your customization files followed by your office’s standards followed by the AutoCAD defaults.

Either mapped drive letters or Universal Naming Convention (or UNC paths as they are usually called) can be used to point AutoCAD to the network folder. Mapped drive letters are easier to explain to users, but UNC paths will tell you where the folder is located on the network in case you forget the drive mapping path.

However, mobile users should use mapped drive letters that point to a local folder. This folder should be synchronized with its twin on network server. This way, the customization files will be stored locally on the hard drive and will not throw an error if you launch AutoCAD away from the network.

AutoCAD Folder Paths

~\Support
Default Location – C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 200X\RXX.X\enu\Support\
Network Location (UNC format) – \\SERVER\CAD_SUPPORT\SUPPORT
Network Location (Mapped Drive format) – Z:\CAD_SUPPORT\SUPPORT
Add the Network Location to the Support File Search Path in the Options screen. Make sure it is at the top of the list of Search Paths. The top most Search Path will be queried first and pick up all of the standard files such as acad.lin & acad.pat, the next Search Path should be the Default Location so that the local workstation’s customization will be picked up next.

~\Fonts
Default Location – C:\Program Files\AutoCAD xxxx\FONTS
Network Location (UNC format) – \\SERVER\CAD_SUPPORT\FONTS
Network Location (Mapped Drive format) – Z:\CAD_SUPPORT\FONTS
Add the Network Location to the Support File Search Path in the Options screen. Make sure it is at the top of the list of Search Paths. The top most Search Path will be queried first and pick up all of the standard files such as acad.lin & acad.pat, the next Search Path should be the Default Location so that the local workstation’s customization will be picked up next.

~\Plot Styles
Default Location – C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 200X\RXX.X\enu\Plot Styles\
Network Location (UNC format) – \\SERVER\CAD_SUPPORT\PLOT_STYLES\
Network Location (Mapped Drive format) – Z:\CAD_SUPPORT\PLOT_STYLES\
Use a shortcut to point to the Network Location. Put the shortcut in the Default Location. This will allow non-standard plot styles to be saved in the Default Location while keeping the standard plot styles in the Network Location.

~\Plotters
Default Location – C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 200X\RXX.X\enu\Plotters\
Network Location (UNC format) – \\SERVER\CAD_SUPPORT\PLOTTERS\
Network Location (Mapped Drive format) – Z:\CAD_SUPPORT\PLOTTERS\
Use a shortcut to point to the Network Location. Put the shortcut in the Default Location. This will allow non-standard plot styles to be saved in the Default Location while keeping the standard plot styles in the Network Location.

~\PMP Files
Default Location – C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 200X\RXX.X\enu\Plotters\PMP Files\
Network Location (UNC format) – \\SERVER\CAD_SUPPORT\PMP\
Network Location (Mapped Drive format) – Z:\CAD_SUPPORT\PMP\
Use a shortcut to point to the Network Location. Put the shortcut in the Default Location. This will allow non-standard plot styles to be saved in the Default Location while keeping the standard plot styles in the Network Location.