Drag and Drop no Longer Functioning? Line and a circle appears

[mattwaddington]

I am working in Autocad LT 2014 on Win 8.1 and I can no longer drag and drop DWG files from windows explorer (or from anywhere) into my drawings to insert them as blocks.

I get a circle with a line through it. 

I am sure I was able to before and something changed.

I have repaired LT, checked the "noun verb" selection box, rebooted a number of times, verified that DWG files are associated- all things mentioned in the forum. But no luck- still the circle with the line. Very annoying, as this is the primary way I insert blocks as I work.

is there a setting I am missing?

Any help would be VERY appreciated- thank you!

[pendean]

LT2014 is not supported in Win8.1, only LT2015. This may or may not get fixed soon.

Drag and Drop what exactly? Circle/Line through it, as in actual AutoCAd entity types?

[mattwaddington]

Sorry to confuse you-

What I mean is that an basic way I insert blocks as I work is to grab them
from windows explorer, or a taskbar menu in windows, and drag them into my
autocad drawing and drop them. Its way faster for me than using insert, or
design center, and has worked great for years.

When i drag it now- i get the "do not smoke" sort of sign, a circle with a
line through it- that's what I meant.

But something changed. It might be its a Win 8.1 thing? I tried changing
the UAC settings- nothing.

I had not realized that 2014 was not supported by 8.1 (though Microsoft
says it is on their website!). It might mean I have to downgrade to WIn 7
to make this work- a pain in the neck. I just asked autodesk how much it
would cost to upgrade to 2015, they said another $840- which is about what
i paid for 2014 new at the end of last year.

Thanks for your response- let me know if you have any thoughts on how to
fix this.

[mattwaddington]

SOLVED

I tired a bunch of things- but what worked was to go to Start/Programs/ AutoCAD LT logo, right click and select Compatibility, and go through the windows test procedure- which worked (amazingly- how often does that happen)- and then accept the settings.

All mysterious to me, but its back and functioning after a few wasted hours.

[pendean]

I don;t know anyone with Win8.1 to test it for you, but all around here in Win7 we do what you do all day long with no issues. Sounds like you have several alternatives to try: with organization, ADCENTER and ToolPalettes are way faster that your method though, you just picked up and are living with a bad habit 🙂

LT2014 is supported in Win8: I suspect Microsoft doesn't make the distinction with 8.1 as everyone else does. I read somewhere there might be a Win8.1 patch for LT2014, but only time will tell if it happens (could be tomorrow, could be next month).

[mattwaddington]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into the other tools you mention as well-
I've been doing this full time for 20 years and you're right- might be a
bad habit. I frankly will be surprised if there is a faster way for
inserting blocks- but I will keep on open mind and look into it!

The problem- which I noted as solved- was only temporary- its back after an
hour or two. But I think its a Win 8.1 thing. Don't "upgrade"!

[pendean]

I know, old habits are hard to give up. Here is how we 20+year speed demons seniors do it:

- A MUST: Organize your library in a master folder (and if you have many, sub-folders organized by type).
- A MUST: Add that master folder to AutoCAD's search path in OPTIONS' FILES Tab.
- ADCENTER, select your master folder, then right-click and SET AS HOME so ADC always opens there. Dock ADC.
- right-click each subfolder in your master folder in ADC, and create a toolpalette for it. Do so for other folders. Dock the TP if you want to use it instead of ADC.
- INSERT command, the pop-up, when you click on BROWSE, presents another pop-up: this is the same one used in OPEN and other file-seek commands. Use the left bar to add your Symbols master folder (and any others to it). Delete the items you'd never use from that left bar. Much quicker way to get where you want. This is just another option made available.
- If you only INSERT a handful of blocks, that means you know the block's names: why not create a shortcut for -INSERT (the commandline version) then type the block name? Typing is way faster than any other method. Ask any speedster AutoCAD user.
- If you only INSERT a handful of blocks all day long, why not create a simply button to click on a floating toolbar or floating panel? On click, your block's in: the fastest method out there bar none. Thje macro is simply:
^C^C_-insert;myblock;

IMHO all of these are way faster than togling to Windows Explorer then dragging and dropping. Either way, happy cadding.

[mattwaddington]

Pendean-

Thanks very much for putting this together- I'll explore it- good thoughts.
My blocks are well organized in multiple subdirectories, so its easy to
transfer to Adcenter- which I have done and testing the water.

However, if you are interested, I still believe (sorry) that my method will
prove faster (or as fastl)- maybe your misunderstood (or i explained
badly)- I don't toggle to explorer, or ever open it up- I set up a direct
toolbox at the bottom of the workspace in my taskbar that opens instantly
to my block libraries, and i just grab them and drop them. But its in
Windows, not Acad. It works instantly- no clicking on anything. Minus
might be that there are no images- you have to know your block names- plus
is that it takes no real estate on the screen. Certainly way faster than
typing out block names!

But- thank you- its good to see how others work with this.