topic Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place in AutoCAD Forum

Lock Tool Palette content in Place

burniksapwet — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:45:02 GMT

Need help in locking the content inside tje tool palette. This is basically trying to lock the items inside the tool palette in place because I always accidentaly move stuff around. Take note that I am not talking about locking the whole tool palette in place, I know how to do that. Thank you so much.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

rkmcswain — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:21:39 GMT

Are these your own personal tool palettes (i.e.: not shared among multiple users on a network)?

The only way I know is the make the file that stores this data READ-ONLY.
This will not prevent you from moving them around in AutoCAD, but it will prevent those changes from being saved.

The file is

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2016\Rxx.x\enu\Support\Profiles\<profileName>\Profile.aws.

IDK what other side effects this might have.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

nrz13 — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:40:12 GMT

NEVER MIND. Forgot about Tool Palettes...

Original post:

What do you mean by "Tool Palette"? The classic Toolbar interface, or the 2009 and newer Ribbon interface?

I'm not able to drag buttons or panels when toolbars are locked. When I unlock them, I'm able to drag panels on the Ribbon, but buttons on the toolbars and Ribbon remain locked, which is the expected behavior, I think, unless you're editing them in the CUI.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

pendean — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:56:52 GMT

Short answer: No, the content is movable always.

Why not visit AUGI.COM and see if it's a whishlist or start one: I think it has traction. You can also make that a suggestion to Autodesk here http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794

In the meantime, open your mouse driver and see if you can shorten the click/release time (if it offers it).

Good luck.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

burniksapwet — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 17:26:13 GMT

This is for me as well as the group I handle. So the palettes are in a network. They are all already read only as well. It would be easier if we are all on the same page in terms of location of blocks, etc inside the tool palettes. Sometimes due to human error one might move one by accident which is what I am trying to prevent. Thank you.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

Crass — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 23:27:17 GMT

I am looking for this feature as well. I assume it has not been added in the last several years. If there isn't a way to lock the locations, is there a way to reload / reset to the network versions? Thanks

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

cadffm — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:23:35 GMT

>" If there isn't a way to lock the locations,"

No 😞 [except if c++ or .net can handle it? I don't now about these APIs]

>"is there a way to reload / reset to the network versions?"

Just the only quick&dirty way :

You have to re-write the palette data (by this step the guid-names changes and the profile.aws

didn't know about "the new" palette data. Acad reads the data the first time and add the information

of order in the profile.

I don't know about other or better no easier ways, except to override the profile.aws every restart,

but then you override all other informations too. [Not a good way and just for one who know about all thing in the background]

or more smart and complicated:

A script on every restart (windows) which EDIT the profile.aws

Yes, it was i stupid idea to store these things in the profile without a reset-button.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

Crass — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 16:48:54 GMT

Haven't tried this method yet but it looks like it may hold some promise. Look at page 13 of this handout:

CAD Manager’s Guide: Using Tool Palettes for Managing Standards and Configuration

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

cadffm — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:20:43 GMT

Not 13, but page 12.

This is 'how to do' what i wrote above:

Just the only quick&dirty way :

You have to re-write the palette data (by this step the guid-names changes and the profile.aws

didn't know about "the new" palette data. Acad reads the data the first time and add the information

of order in the profile.

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

Crass — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 22:00:17 GMT

Oops. I wasn't smart enough to comprehend the solution in your response. The trick seems to work though even if it feels like a hack. Thanks!

Re: Lock Tool Palette content in Place

cadffm — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 23:24:46 GMT

I had only described the technique in the background, not how to do it. 👍

Here would be the other approach mentioned above, editing the profile.aws
but for this you need a program that makes the change (before ACAD is started)
otherwise it makes no sense 😉

(You can edit the order or just delete the content in < Tool Order > section, then acad will import the original order )