Surfer opens multiple drawings

[JReese-NC]

About two months ago we bit the bullet and upgraded from ACADE 2018 to ACADE 2025 (22.0.81.0 (2025.0.2 update)). Only two CAD users but setup with a shared installation and everything with the migration seemed to go well with testing the major configuration items but I am just starting my first new project in 2025 now and quickly noticed that any time I use the Surfer to go to a Source/Destination or Parent/Child on a different sheet than what I am currently working in; it leaves the current drawing open and opens another drawing where the Source/Destination or Parent/Child resides. Obviously this can quickly result in having multiple drawings open that shouldn't be open. I cannot find a single thing relating to this behavior of the Surfer through searching anywhere so it sure seems like a unique situation.

To make matters worse I was attempting to test this behavior in a "default" ACADE profile but no matter what I do I can't get ACADE to launch in "electrical" mode with any other profile. It appears ACADE is running (not just ACAD) but no electrical commands work and no electrical tabs are on the ribbon. I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong trying this but I essentially just changed the profile name on the shortcut back to <<ACADE>>  (and also tried with a completely new profile) and I also renamed my "\Documents\Acade 2025\AeData\" folder back to original for the default search path location to work. Would this be a correct way to get back to default settings or what am I missing about this part?

[pendean]

If you reset one of your ACADE2025 back to defaults (aka no migration content), does the problem go away?

[arshdeepsingh404]

Hi @JReese-NC 

Unless you have some custom settings saved, the best solution would be to reset AutoCAD Electrical to defaults.

You can also try the following before resetting the software:

You can run the OP (Options) command and go under Profile Tab, select ACADE and press Set Current.

Also, under Workspace settings, make sure ACADE & 2D Drafting & Annotation is selected.

With regards to the surfer command issue you mentioned, The default behavior is when you run surfer command (For example on Source/Destinations Symbols), AutoCAD Electrical will close the current drawing and open the destination drawing.

If you hold shift key while doing this, AutoCAD Electrical will keep the source/current drawing open and also open the destination drawing.

[JReese-NC]

So with my current configuration on my system when I switch out of our customized profile to the <<ACADE>> profile I have no ACADE Workspace options available therefore nothing electrical seems to work in it to test anything.

I reset settings to default and now I seem to have a functional <<ACADE>> profile in the sense that I do have ACADE workspace options and seem to have full ACADE functionality but working in the NFPADEMO project - if I Surf on a source arrow on rung 332 with a destination on the next sheet it leaves demo03.dwg open and then also opens demo04.dwg as well.

I just tested on a second machine and it is doing the same exact thing. Default <<ACADE>> profile in the NFPADEMO project using default data and Surfing from demo03.dwg Source to demo04.dwg Destination ends with both drawings open.

We only have 3 installs here and the surfing issue is the same on all 3. I thought it might be profile related but now after trying this it really takes our profile out of the equation so I'm not sure where to go from here. I can try another fresh install on another system but I don't have the time for that at the moment.

[arshdeepsingh404 · Accepted solution]

Hi @JReese-NC 

I don't think its an issue with your installation. I have AutoCAD Electrical 2025 and I just tested surfing and I can confirm its leaving the drawings open as well on my computer.

Jaya might be able to provide us better insights on this.

Hi @jaya_priya_ramasamy, Do you know if the surfer tool was changed in AutoCAD Electrical 2025?

In previous releases, When you surfer tool with source/destinations arrows (or Parent/Child symbols), It would close the source drawing and open and zoom in of the destination drawing. If you hold Shift key while doing this, It will keep the source drawing open and also open and zoom in on the destination drawing.

In AutoCAD Electrical 2025, The source drawing stays open while surfing regardless of holding down Shift key or Not.

I am not sure if this is an issue that needs to be logged or the surfer tool have been changed.

[jaya_priya_ramasamy]

Hi @JReese-NC and @arshdeepsingh404 ,

I verified this too in AutoCAD Electrical 2024 and 2025. In both, it looks like an issue. I have logged it already and will look into this issue.

Thank you @arshdeepsingh404 for tagging me in to notify.

Regards,
Jaya Priya Ramasamy
Senior QA Analyst
www.autodesk.com

[arshdeepsingh404]

Thanks @jaya_priya_ramasamy  🙂

[JReese-NC]

Thank you both for being able to confirm this issue.

[jaya_priya_ramasamy]

Hi @JReese-NC and @arshdeepsingh404 ,

I discussed this with the team and reviewed the behavior. This change from AutoCAD Electrical 2024, aligns with user requests to keep drawings open, supporting the MDI workflow. With this update, you can open additional DWGs in the session without needing to QSAVE each time for the active, unsaved DWG that's been edited.
If you have any feedback or alternative opinions on this workflow change, please let us know.

Regards,
Jaya Priya Ramasamy
Senior QA Analyst
www.autodesk.com

[JReese-NC]

I guess I find it odd that I can't find anything in release notes mentioning this functionality change - which seems kind of major and I find a single "user idea" with 7 votes recommending a change such as this.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-electrical-ideas/surfer-behavior-in-mdi-mode-is-mimicking-sdi...

I'm confused because from the beginning of using the software (2009/2010) in training we were told from the start when using ACADE you only want to have one drawing open - not working in SDI mode per say but just focusing on modifying a single drawing at a time when using ACADE functionality. My understanding was if you are making changes to multiple drawings opened and don't follow though with all the project wide changes/database updates data can get out of sync due to varying levels of updates performed or not performed and save states within the opened drawings.

I understand everyone works differently and different things work for different people but to me this change is very messy with constantly leaving multiple drawings open when I don't want them open or need them open - and sometimes don't even realize they are open. At the same time I don't care to switch to SDI mode because of having to then launch multiple instances of ACADE just to look at something quickly for reference.

I guess if you are saying there are no issues with having multiple drawings open and being changed at the same time with ACADE now then all is well and we will just have to get used to it but I much rather prefer the previous functionality focusing on changing/working in one drawing at a time.

[arshdeepsingh404]

Hi @jaya_priya_ramasamy 

Thanks for following up on this request. I was wondering about that if this a function change as I remembered reading something about the MDI workflow.

I would use the shift key previously to keep the source drawing open when needed. I guess it would be good if the shift key was still functional and maybe it can do the reverse now that holding shift key will close the source drawing.

@JReese-NC I don't think having multiple drawings open in a project at the same time would cause any problems, I do that all the time with at least 3-4 drawing open. To be honest it sometimes make updating child symbols faster if the other drawing is already open.

Personally I don't like having more than 4-5 open at once and I really like the using the express tools there to quickly close all the drawings. These can be accessed by right-clicking on a drawing name.

1. SAVEALL - This command saves all open drawings in your current AutoCAD session.

2. CLOSEALL - This command closes all open drawings, including the one currently displayed.

3. CLOSEALLOTHER - This command closes all drawings except the active one.

[jaya_priya_ramasamy]

Hi @JReese-NC and @arshdeepsingh404 

Thank you for the feedback and letting me know your opinions. Since there are mixed feelings about this function, let me discuss with the team and see whether we can do something to have both behaviors co-exist.

Regards,
Jaya Priya Ramasamy
Senior QA Analyst
www.autodesk.com

[hwhite]

Have there been any updates to this request?  I have not been able to find anything regarding the status.

[jaya_priya_ramasamy]

Hi @hwhite,

It has been logged as a wishlist. 

Regards,
Jaya Priya Ramasamy
Senior QA Analyst
www.autodesk.com