Open drawing and a "blank" instance of AutoCAD opens up

[Anonymous]

This "dummy screen" is useless and annoying! (see attached jpg.) 

How do I configure my settings to avoid this from happening?

[Charles_Shade]

I was hoping to show what I had here that opened, what I believe, to be normally.

[pendean]

I think it's fine too, but since the OP expressed no interest in ever starting a blank DWG file... .

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

Somewhere in all those settings (and not reinstalling Windows!), a blank AutoCAD screen does not come up when I go to open an existing drawing! So success on that!

I am also able to open up other new instances of AutoCAD in separate applications, so this is perfect.

One small glitch however. When I have more than one drawing open and I close one of them, AutoCAD starts going through each drawing and asking to close those, too.

So a new issue is has come up as a result: Is there a way to close one drawing without AutoCAD trying to close all the rest?

Thanks again - we're almost 'back to normal'!

[Anonymous]

The above response is in reply from this comment:

>05-01-2013 11:02 AM in reply to: 

Right Click a drawing file, Properties, under General tab Opens with: AutoCAD LT Application.

 Within AutoCAD: (Start this from the desktop only, not from a drawing)

CMDDIA = 1

FILEDIA = 1

STARTUP = 0

SDI = 0

TASKBAR = 1

 OPTIONS, Files tab

Template settings: Does this point to your Templates?

Default for QNEW: Leave Blank

 These settings here Open one and only one instance of AutoCAD when a DWG file is Opened from My Docs or the Windows desktop and does not create any additional instance of AutoCAD or a dummy window.

Regards, Charles Shade  

[Anonymous]

Right Click a drawing file, Properties, under General tab Opens with: AutoCAD LT Application.

 Within AutoCAD: (Start this from the desktop only, not from a drawing)

CMDDIA = 1

FILEDIA = 1

STARTUP = 0

SDI = 0

TASKBAR = 1

 OPTIONS, Files tab

Template settings: Does this point to your Templates?

Default for QNEW: Leave Blank

 These settings here Open one and only one instance of AutoCAD when a DWG file is Opened from My Docs or the Windows desktop and does not create any additional instance of AutoCAD or a dummy window.

Regards, Charles Shade  

[pendean]

You are closing AutoCAD, not just one file: use CLOSE command to close one file while you figure out how to explain to everyone here your method of ..." and I close one of them"... since it did not tell us much other than you might be clicking where you should not click.

[Anonymous]

I now have several separate AutoCAD drawings open inseparate windows. When I click on the red X at the top right of the drawing to close one of the drawings, AutoCAD tries to close out all the other separate drawings that are open in the other windows. Is there a way to avoid this from happening?

Thank you.

[pendean]

RED X in the top right? Or the big RED A at the top left?
What do you mean " in separate Windows"?

Please provide a complete program window screenshot of AutoCAD 2014 showing it all.

[Anonymous]

I have several drawings open in separately launched applications of AutoCAD. They appear at the bottom of my PC screen (Windows 7 Home Premium) in separate tabs so I can see how many drawings are open. I can hover over these tabs one-by-one and each drawing will pop-up in a small screen for a mini-preview. When I want to close one of these AutoCAD applications I click the big x at the most upper right corner. After it closes, AutoCAD asks me if I want to close the rest of the drawings that are running as separately launched applications. I want to be able to close one drawing and not have AutoCAD ask me to close all the others. I'm sure it's a setting in one of the last string of variables I changed, but am afraid to go back and guess. I have tried using the help file, but it was confusing and gave me random choices not related to my problem   I am sorry for not being more explicit

[Anonymous]

Attached is the screen cap as rrequested. The x at the top right got cut off a bit, but that's what I click to close a drawing.

[Charles_Shade]

When you mouse over the X at the uppermost right it highlites to Red. Clicking on that is closing the Program.

Choose the Black X just below it in the grayish bar for the Drawing file to close.

What you described about the multiple Drawing files being open and then wanting to close when one is closed does not happen here on LT 2013.

Is your LT 2012 fully patched and updated?

[Anonymous]

I just realized that the drawings are all combined into one AutoCAD application. I thought they were separate instances of AutoCAD when I started drawing again, but that was wrong.

 How do I get back to having AutoCAD to load one drawing per launch session so I can launch several drawings separately?

Thank you!

[Charles_Shade]

Why do that and tax your system resources?

Just Ctrl/Tab between drawings when they are open.

This is the new File Tabs Bar: LT 2014

Like what you have at the bottom but easier to find and navigate.

Notice the Tab with the Asterisk? That file needs to be Saved.

A nice feature for those of us who forget.

[Anonymous]

I often use AutoCAD on multiple monitors and bounce back and forth between full-size drawings. I've tried the one-application approach you recommend, but don't like how I can't have full screens ready to go in the background of different monitors. 

I thought the 2012 upgrade was a very nice and am very happy with it 🙂

Is SDI=0 the command to launch n separate applications?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

PS, screen shot of AutoCAD Help screen. I was looking for the SDI system variable and you can see it's not there!

It's hard for me to solve my own problems when the Help Section doesn't list everything....

Thanks for your help though!

[Charles_Shade]

There are a number of hidden Commands. (QFLAGS is another that comes to mind)

SDI set to 1 will open multiple instances of AutoCAD when DWG files are opened from My Docs or Explorer.

[pendean]

OK, forgive me as I do not mean to insult you: is this your first day in AutoCAD/LT, and/or Windows7 to boot?

I don't know where you got your advice or training, if any, on how to use programs in Windows or LT specifically: and judging by the detailed replies you are providing here you seem to be determined to do things in new and unusual ways beyond any other AutoCAD/LT experience you seem to claim to have.

1. Close a drawing like 99% of AutoCAD/LT users have done for decades: while inside AutoCAD, whether you are spread over a dozen screens or not, you only click on the X that closes the file. See the attached markup of your screen capture.

2. See the marked up screen capture on suggestions of better use of your AutoCAD program Window.

3. You are complaining about closing the program instead of the file because THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN WINDOWS. Stop doing that 🙂

4. No, you never ever want to run AutoCAD in SDI mode, you just need to teach yourself to use AutoCAD, and Windows, not some bad advise you got from somewhere to do what you have been doing.

There is no need to keep posting, you just need to stop, re-read what everyone in this thread has been posting, and do it the proper way and not your unusual incorrect way.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Dean,

Thank you for your response. As you know I have been drawing AutoCAD for more than 15 years - and I admit that I know maybe 10% of what AutoCAD can actually do. HOWEVER, I want to continue to draw the same way that I have been doing for 15 years and seeking advice on getting the settings back to what I am personally familiar with because the AutoCAD Help file has no advice to give whatsoever on any of the commands and system variables I learned about in this message board. I DO NOT LIKE managing the many various drawings I have to navigate through in only one window of AutoCAD for the reasons I have stated previously and I don't care what the other 99% of AutoCAD users are doing. I use multiple monitors and prefer to have AutoCAD launched in separate windows. I have stated my preferences exactly the same since the beginning and your advice has become condescending and, though I appreciate what you're doing, I do not value the direction you want to take this discussion. I want to be drawing and productive, not  wasting your time on this meassage board. I am sorry for not having a thorough knowlege of AutoCAD, but from what I know I am reltively pleased. There are plenty of other drafting programs that I could chose from, and the tens-of-thousands of dollars I spend on AutoCAD products could very easily go to another company. I believe that if the HELP file in AutoCAD included all the commands and system varaibles that are available then I would get most of my answers there instead, but becasue it doesn't I am forced to look like a fool to advanced users because this program is so complex and not user intuitive.Please respect my limitations and try to follow along with WHAT I AM ASKING FOR and respond with courteous and specific direction to help me. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I set the SDI to 1 and am getting the original "Dummy Window" again! Help!

[pendean]

Your 'preference' is the cause of the program shutting down and not just the one file.
Your 'preference' is to not do a few things the correct way.
Unfortunately, AutoCAD/LT is not a difficult tool to use for daily drafting and it's not that difficult to work with the program instead of against it. It is complex, but I rarely find an average user who needs to really know that much about it to get things done. As long as they follow the program's design intent, and not make it up on their own.

All I'm pointing out is you are using solutions well outside the norm for a program designed one way while you seem to want it to work in another manner. Again, your choice to continue to bang your head against a wall, I'm just trying to help point out since head-banging is not the best approach.

I suspect you have a lot more going on with your PC and setup than you are able to comprehend or share here remotely. It happens to everyone. I recommend you spend a little time and money and seek out a AutoCAD specialist in your area willing to drop by, observe the issues, have full live ccess to your PC on site, and fix them.
Your regional Autodesk reseller may be able to do it for a fee: or may be able to put you in touch with an AUGI memeber willing to do the same for a fee. This would be the best solution to completely solve this startup and 'close' issue you need to address here.

I'm dropping off this thread as I believe I've gone as far as I am able to assist you. Good luck my friend, catch you on the next query you have about the program in these forums.

[Anonymous]

I've been drawing the same way for 15 years and it is my preference to launch AutoCAD in separate instances (for the reasons I have previously stated). I tried your method of one instance of AutoCAD spread out across multiple screens and I did not like it. 

All I want to do is get a solution that 1) opens up AutoCAD in separate instances, and 2) does not have a "dummy instance" of AutoCAD open up every time I open an existing drawing.

Sorry you werre not able to answer these very simple requests and I'm sorry that the AutoCAD Help menu is completely useless.