User Profiles and Workspaces Sacramento City College Engineering Design Technology User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Introduction After completing this chapter you will be able to: Describe user profiles. Create user profiles. Restore a user profile. Describe workspaces. Explain the Quick Access toolbar. Create workspaces. Customize a workspace. Restore a workspace. Customize the Quick Access toolbar User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Introduction In a school or company, there is often more than one person who will use the same AutoCAD workstation. Each drafter has a unique style for creating a drawing. While there are often general rules to follow, many times the method used to arrive at the end result is not important. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Introduction As you learned in previous chapters, there are many ways to customize AutoCAD. You can Set screen colors Set other features of the AutoCAD environment Create custom menus Customize the ribbon User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Introduction Many of these settings can be saved in a user profile or workspace. User profiles and workspaces allow you to quickly and easily restore a group of custom settings. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A user profile is a group of settings for devices and AutoCAD functions. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Some of the settings and values a profile can contain are: Temporary drawing file location. Template drawing file location. Text display format. Startup dialog box display. Minutes between automatic saves. File extension for temporary files. Color and font settings for AutoCAD's text and graphics screens Type of pointer and length of crosshairs. Default locations of printers, plotters (PC3 files), and plot styles (CTB/STB files). User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Multiple profiles can be saved by a single user for different applications OR Several users can create individual profiles for their own use. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A user profile is not the same as settings found in a drawing. Drawing template files are used to save settings relating to a drawing session. Units Limits Object snap settings Drafting settings Grip settings Arc and circle smoothness Dimension styles, and text styles. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A user profile, by contrast saves settings related to the performance and appearance of the software and hardware. User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile A user profile is A collection of all of the AutoCAD environmental settings you have customized in AutoCAD. Does NOT include Ribbon tabs and panels Application and pull-down menus Tool palettes Toolbars User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile These customizations are done to make AutoCAD easier for you to use. Example: as you gain experience in AutoCAD you realize that you may: Prefer the crosshairs extending to the edges of the drawing window. Need to have the plotters and plot styles shared on a network. Prefer the drawing window background color to be gray. Need to establish specific directories for projects. User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile After you have customized AutoCAD to reflect these preferences. Create a profile so you do not lose your preferred settings. User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile To create a user profile Options dialog box > Profiles tab Pick the Add to List... button on the right side of the tab. Enter a name and description. Pick the Apply & Close button to close the Add Profile dialog box. The current settings are saved to the user profile and the new user profile is now listed in the Profiles tab of the Options dialog box. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile The user profile is saved and will be available in the current drawing session and future AutoCAD drawing sessions. User Profiles and Workspaces

Creating A User Profile User Profiles Can be renamed Deleted Exported Imported Reset button Resets all settings of a profile to AutoCAD defaults. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Restoring a User Profile User Profiles and Workspaces

Restoring a User Profile Once a user profile is saved, it is Available in the current drawing session and Available in future drawing sessions. To set any saved user profile as the current user profile, Select Options > Profiles tab. Highlight the name of the profile to restore Pick the Set Current button OR Double-click on the name in the Available profiles: list to restore a profile. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Importing /Exporting User Profiles User Profiles and Workspaces

Importing /Exporting User Profiles A user profile can be exported and imported. This allows you to take your user profile to a different AutoCAD workstation. A user profile is saved as an ARG file. User Profiles and Workspaces

Importing /Exporting User Profiles To export a user profile Options dialog > Profiles tab. Highlight the profile to export Pick the Export... button. Select a folder and name the file. The user profile is saved with the .arg file extension. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Importing /Exporting User Profiles To import a user profile, lmport... button > Profiles tab. The lmport Profile dialog box is displayed This is a standard "open” dialog box. Navigate to the appropriate folder Select the proper ARG file and Pick the Open button. A icon dialog box named lmport Profile is displayed. User Profiles and Workspaces

Importing /Exporting User Profiles You can rename the user profile Change the description and Choose to include the file path. Pick the Apply & Close button to complete the process. The user profile is then available in the profiles tab. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces User profile stores Settings for screen colors Drafting settings File locations Workspaces stores Settings for the Quick Access toolbar Ribbon Menus Palettes (DesignCenter, Properties palette, ToolPalettes window, etc.). User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A workspaces is a collection of Displayed toolbars Palettes Ribbon tabs and panels Menus and their configurations. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A workspace stores which of graphic tools are visible (toolbars, etc) their on-screen locations. A workspace does not store environmental settings, unless configured to do so by the user. This is discussed later in this chapter. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces A user profile also stores which toolbars are displayed and their location. A user profile update when you change environmental settings or when you set a different workspace current. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces If a workspace is restored, the user profile updates to reflect the settings of the workspace for toolbar display and location. The user profile only stores which workspace is current, not what resides in the workspace or its settings. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace AutoCAD has four default workspaces- Drafting and Annotation 3D Basics 3D Modeling AutoCAD Classic. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace A workspace can be set current by using the Workspace Switching button on the right-hand side of the status bar or the drop-down list on the Quick Access toolbar. This button displays a shortcut menu containing the names of all available workspaces. It also contains buttons for working with workspaces. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Workspace Switching button User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access toolbar User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace The last active workspace is restored when AutoCAD is launched. AutoCAD can be set up so that any changes made to the ribbon or toolbars, menus, and palettes are saved to this workspace. However, it is best to create your own workspaces. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace The first-step in setting up and storing your own workspace is to arrange The ribbon Toolbars Tool palette Menus To your liking User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace WSSAVE Command Opens the Save Workspace dialog box. Access the WSSAVE command by selecting Save Current As... in the shortcut menu displayed by picking the Workspace Switching button. Selecting Save Current As... In the drop-down list on the Quick Access toolbar also initiates the WSSAVE command. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace Enter a name for the workspace, such as “Normal Design” or “Standard Arrangement” Then pick the Save button. The current settings for toolbars, pull-down menus and tool palettes are now stored in the new workspace, which is also made current. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Creating a Workspace The workspace name appears in the shortcut menu displayed by picking the Workspace Switching button and in the drop-down list on the Quick Access toolbar. The current workspace is indicated in the shortcut menu by a check mark and appears at the top of the drop-down list on the Quick Access toolbar. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access toolbar User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace Once a workspace has been saved, it can easily be restored. A list of available workspaces appears in the shortcut menu displayed by picking the Workspace Switching button and in the drop-down list on the Quick Access toolbar. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access toolbar User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace To select a different workspace pick the name of the workspace in the pop-up list. A workspace can also be restored using the Command line: User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace Command: WORKSPACE Enter workspace option [ setCurrent/SAveas/Edit/Rename/Delete/Setting/?] setCurrent>C Enter name of workspace to make current [?] <current>MY CUSTOM WORKSPACE Command: Using the Command line can be advantageous when creating macros for custom commands. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace You can also set the Customize User Interface dialog box to restore a workspace. Open the CUI dialog box. With CUI Expand the Workspaces branch in the Customizations in All Files pane. All of the workspaces defined in the default CUIx file and any open CUIx files are displayed in this branch. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Restoring a Workspace The label (current) follows the name of the current workspace. To restore a workspace Right-click on its name in the Workspaces branch of the CUI and Select Set Current from the shortcut menu. Its name is now followed by (current) Pick the OK button to close the Customize User Interface dialog box and make the workspace current. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Professional Tip The WSCURRENT system variable indicates the current workspace. You can use this system variable to restore a workspace. Simply set the system variable to the name of the workspace you want to restore. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar The Quick Access toolbar is located in the top-left corner of the screen to the right of the application menu icon. It contains "By default” New, Open, Save, Save As, Undo Redo, and Plot tools along with the Workspace drop-down list. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar You can display other tools on the toolbar by picking the down arrow button on the right-hand end of the Quick Access toolbar to display a shortcut menu. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar In this menu, select the tools to show and hide. The additional available tools are: Match Properties, Batch Plot, Plot preview, Properties, Sheet Set Manager, and Render. Any other defined command can be added to the toolbar by selecting More Commands...in the drop-down list. This displays the Customize User lnterface dialog box. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar The Quick Access toolbar is customized inside of the workspace. You may create more than one Quick Access toolbar, but only one may be active in a workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar To create an additional Quick Access toolbar, Open the Customize User Interface dialog box Right-click on the Quick Access Toolbars branch, and select New Quick Access Toolbar. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Quick Access Toolbar When creating a new Quick Access toolbar, it is automatically populated with New Open Save Save As Undo Redo Plot tools Workspace drop-down list. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Professional Tip Any tool on a ribbon panel can be quickly added to the Quick Access toolbar. Right-click on the tool icon and Select Add to Quick Access Toolbar from the shortcut menu. User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace An existing workspace can be customized Use the Customize User Interface dialog box. Select the workspace to be customized in the Workspaces branch of the Customizations-in All Files pane. The name of this pane will change based on the selection in the drop-down list. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace The Workspace Contents pane at the upper-right corner of the dialog box displays the contents of the selected workspace. There are Quick Access Toolbar Toolbars Menus Palettes and Ribbon Tabs branches. Expand a branch to see which components the workspace contains. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace To customize the workspace, pick the Customize Workspace button at the top of the Workspace Contents pane. The tree in the pane turns blue to indicate you are in customization mode and the button changes to the Done button. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace The tree changes. Several branches disappear The Menus branch has a green check mark next to it. If you expand the branches in the Customizations in All Files pane, you will see that a green check mark also appears next to the components that currently are in the workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace To add a component to the workspace, Pick the blank box in front of its name to place a check mark in the box. The component also appears in the Workspace Contents pane. To remove a component from the workspace, Pick the check mark in front of its name to clear the check box. The component is also removed from the Workspace Contents pane. User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace The Quick Access Toolbar branch in the Workspace Contents pane. By default, Quick Access Toolbar appears in this branch. Additional toolbars appear if you have added them, as discussed earlier in this chapter. When in customization mode for workspaces you may choose which Quick Access toolbar is displayed in the workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace A Quick Access toolbar cannot be customized when you are in customization mode. You must do this after exiting workspace customization mode. When done customizing the workspace, pick the Done button in the Workspace Contents pane. The tree is no longer displayed in blue. Also, all branches are once again displayed in the Customizations in All Files pane. User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace You can now expand a branch in the Workspace Contents pane, select a component name, and use the Properties pane to adjust the component's properties User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace For example, suppose you have added the Layers toolbar to a workspace. In the Properties panel, You can set the orientation to floating, Specify the location of its anchor point, and Set the number of rows for the toolbar. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace You can also change the order in which menus appear on the menu bar by dragging them to a new location in the tree in the Workspace Contents pane. The top of the tree is the left-hand side of the menu bar. In the Customizations in All Files pane, you can customize the Quick Access toolbar. User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace The components in the Quick Access Toolbars branch are commands. To add a command to the Quick Access Toolbars branch: Locate it in the Command List: pane. Then drag and drop it into the branch in the Customizations in All Files pane. User Profiles and Workspaces

Customizing a Workspace To remove a command from the Quick Access Toolbars branch, Select it and Press the [Delete] key. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes There is not a Palettes branch in the Customizations in All Files pane. All palettes are automatically available in all workspaces. You can, however, specify whether a palette is displayed or hidden in a workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes You can also change other properties of a palette, such as floating/docked status, its size, and whether the autohide feature is enabled. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes To change the properties of a palette, first Select it in the Palettes branch in the Workspace Contents pane. Then, in the Properties pane, adjust the properties as needed. When you pick OK to close the Customize User Interface dialog box, the new default properties of the palette are set for that workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes Example The Tool Palettes window in the AutoCAD Classic workspace is by default, displayed floating. You can hide the Tool Palettes window when in the drawing area by picking the Close button (X). You can also drag the palette into the drawing area to a new position or dock it. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes However, these actions do not change the default setting for the workspace. If you restore the workspace in the future, the Tool Palettes window will again be floating. You must alter the default settings for the Tool Palettes window in the workspace. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes Open the Customize User Interface dialog box and Select the AutoCAD Classic workspace. Expand the Palettes branch in the Workspace Contents pane and Select Tool Palette. In the Properties pane, change the Show property to No. Now when you set the AutoCAD Classic workspace current, the Tool Palettes window will not be displayed. It can, of course, be manually displayed as needed. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes You can set up a workspace so that it displays model space or paper space when restored. By default, a workspace displays model space when it is set current. Three options Do not change Model space Layout space User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes To change this, Highlight the workspace name in either the Customizations in All Files pane or the Workspace Contents pane. In the Properties pane, change the Start On property to Layout or Do not change. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes If Model is specified for the Start On property, Model space is displayed when the workspace is restored. If Layout is specified for the Start On property, The most recently active layout tab is displayed when the workspace is restored. User Profiles and Workspaces

User Profiles and Workspaces Tool Palettes If Do not change is specified for the Start On property The current tab (model space or paper space) remains active when the workspace is restored. User Profiles and Workspaces