topic Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026 in AutoCAD Forum

Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

nfranklin9Q4AQ — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:06:20 GMT

Hey All,

What is the best way to manage tool palettes in a server environment?

I don't understand how to make the content library work for this function

Thanks

@nfranklin9Q4AQ Your post title was modified to add the product name and version and to increase findability by @CGBenner - Original: Tool Palettes on server

Re: Tool Palettes on server

imadHabash — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:12:57 GMT

Hi,

The best way to manage tool palettes in a server environment is to create a centralized network location for them and then use AutoCAD's "Files" tab in Options to point users' "Tool Palette Files" to this server path. You can also set up a "Tool Palette Group" that points to a server-based content library, allowing multiple users to access and share standardized tool palettes and their content, ensuring consistency across the organization. Follow these 8 pages handout and see how it will help. >> Click <<

Re: Tool Palettes on server

nfranklin9Q4AQ — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:20:05 GMT

Thanks for the response. I do not believe this course is current to ACA26. On previous versions, I was able to export groups to a folder on the server, but now I think they want you to use the content browser to manage tool palettes, but I have not found any decent articles that walk you through how to do that

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

avishek.chakrabortyCSXPN — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:07:22 GMT

Hello @nfranklin9Q4AQ

Thank you for bringing this question to the forum. From your description, it sounds like you are looking for ways to manage and share a common AutoCAD Tool Palette in a server environment.

You may find the following Autodesk article helpful: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Network-deployment-of-palette-groups.html

If you encounter any issues while importing Tool Palettes from the server into AutoCAD, please refer to this article: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Issues-importing-tools-palettes-from-the-server-into-AutoCAD.html

Please let us know if these resources help resolve your query. If not, feel free to share more details so that the community can assist you further.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

nfranklin9Q4AQ — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:51:11 GMT

I've saved the ATC files to a network folder, and routed the file path in the profile options.

However, there is no longer an option to "Export All". Please see my screenshot attached below

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

DGCSCAD — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:05:21 GMT

Not sure about 2026, but this works for 2018 as a LISP function:

(command "*_toolpalettepath" "yourpath" "toolpalettes")

Here's an example of how this can work in a network environment...

I have the following LISP commands defined in a acaddoc.lsp:

This sets the network palette:

(defun c:NetPalette () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "N:\\AutoCAD Support\\Tool Palettes" "toolpalettes"))

This will set the AutoCAD default palette:

(defun c:StdPalette () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Roaming\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD 2018\\R22.0\\enu\\Support\\ToolPalette" "toolpalettes"))

This sets a local palette, which allows me to work on changes locally, then copy paste any new tools or changes to the Network Palette (using Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, etc.):

(defun c:LocalPalette () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Roaming\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD 2018\\R22.0\\enu\\Support\\ToolPalette_2" "toolpalettes"))

Notes:

If all users are pointed to the same acaddoc.lsp, then those users will have access to the above network and local palettes using the provided commands defined in that acaddoc.lsp, which should be saved in a SFSP (Support File Search Path) folder on your network.

Make sure only the tool palette author has Read/Write permissions on that network folder holding the network tool palette to avoid any issues.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

avishek.chakrabortyCSXPN — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:53:49 GMT

Hello @nfranklin9Q4AQ , did you have a chance to follow the instructions provided by @DGCSCAD ? Were they helpful?

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

CGBenner — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:41:22 GMT

@nfranklin9Q4AQ

Hi, Did the information provided by @DGCSCAD help you to solve this? If so, please use Accept Solution so that others may find this in the future. Thank you very much!

If you still need help please feel free to provide an update here so we as Community know how we can help you best moving forward.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

nfranklin9Q4AQ — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:15:43 GMT

@CGBenner @DGCSCAD @imadHabash

Saving .atc files to a network folder, and pathing to those folders are not my problem.

My trouble is with exporting the customized palette groups. Currently, I have to create customized palette groups on every computer.

And if there are any changes to those groups, I have to modify each individual computer. I would like to manage the palette groups from one server location

ACA26 does not allow exporting groups anymore, there has to be a palette group folder that I'm not seeing where these groups are saved?

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

DGCSCAD — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:19:30 GMT

The method I described utilizes one central location for your networked Tool Palettes that you can add/modify/etc. (manage) and will be instantly available to all users, so there is no exporting, nor modifying or creating customized palette groups on each individual computer. You modify the 'shared' palette on the server.

For 'grouping', you can create as many TAB's as needed on each main palette. You can also create as many main palettes as needed, then give them each a command name as I described.

Here's that same method (message 6).

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Simon_Mathews — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:49:25 GMT

theres a youtube video on autocad university channel from justin johnson that explains it pretty well .

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

avishek.chakrabortyCSXPN — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:21:08 GMT

Hello @nfranklin9Q4AQ,

Please refer to the following link, which includes a video explaining how to manage Tool Palettes in a network environment.
https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Managing-Tool-Palettes-Network-Environment-2021#video

Kindly let me know if this helps.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

avishek.chakrabortyCSXPN — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:44:32 GMT

Hello @nfranklin9Q4AQ ,

Did the video link provided help you resolve the issue? If so, please mark the response as Accepted Solution so that others can benefit from it in the future. Thank you!

If you still need assistance, feel free to provide an update here so the Community can continue to support you.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Crass — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:39:27 GMT

Hello @DGCSCAD - I know that this thread is a little old but thought I'd add my question here to add to this discussion. I'm looking for resources and direction on how to control permissions for modifying tool palettes. Previously I've had a separate network drive where only the CAD manager had read/write access and so could modify the palettes but other CAD users had only read access so this way they could not inadvertently mess up the tool palettes. This worked fine, but for IT reasons this more challenging to execute at my current firm. Are there alternate means of deploying and managing this (e.g. SharePoint) that you or others know of? I watched the videos in this thread and they don't really go into that aspect of the set up.

Tagging @imadHabash @nfranklin9Q4AQ and @CGBenner as well.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Simon_Mathews — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:59:07 GMT

personally id avoid anything to do with SharePoint and AutoCad, they seem to be incompatible at times. our company went onto Sharepoint and within weeks we moved all our CAD files back onto the server.

Honestly the way you had it was perfect . For what reason can you not continue it that way at your current firm? i would have a word with your IT leader and discuss.

i guess you could still be the main builder of the palette. then export each tab (.xtp) and have other users just import each .xtp files in but each time you make a change you would have to export and have them re-import again so it could be pretty long winded

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

DGCSCAD — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:04:51 GMT

I'll echo what @Simon_Mathews has said. Most 'Cloud' services networking between itself and AutoCAD have had quite a few reported issues, so it's not very stable.

As far as permissions on a network folder, that 'should' be fairly straight forward unless there's some other underlying issue at hand.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Crass — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:31:32 GMT

Hi @DGCSCAD - Thanks for the reply. So you are suggesting to establish permission on a specific folder within the for example the CAD support folder and not necessarily a separate drive, right? I will talk to our IT team about this.

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Crass — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:40:33 GMT

Thanks @Simon_Mathews - I'll try to make a stronger pitch for that system

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

DGCSCAD — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:47:05 GMT

The permissions can be set for any network folder on any network drive.

For example:

S:\CAD Support\My Tool Palettes

In this example, permissions would be set for the 'My Tool Palettes' folder and all subfolders. Those permissions would have the author(s) as Read/Write and all other users as Read Only.

To make sure all users are pointing to the same Tool Palette, here is one example of how to achieve this...

These user defined commands should be placed in a startup routine (acaddoc.lsp or Startup Suite):

(defun c:MyTP () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "S:\\CAD Support\\My Tool Palettes" "toolpalettes"))
(defun c:StdTP () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Roaming\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD 2018\\R22.0\\enu\\Support\\ToolPalette" "toolpalettes"))

The MyTP command shown above will load your user defined Tool Palette.

The StdTP command shown above will load the AutoCAD default Tool Palette.

Note: Change the red folder designations above to the version you are going to associate with this Tool Palette.

HTH

Re: Tool Palettes on server - AutoCAD 2026

Crass — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:03:16 GMT

This is helpful. Appreciate it. One somewhat related question: In a multi-office + remote worker scenario would you mirror this to different servers (e.g. East + West) or do you think it is simplistic enough that a distant remote connection would suffice. I know there are many many variables involved but want to make the setup simple and curious how others tackle this. Thanks