simple idea to stop people uising drawings not in the current project

[ccad2509]

Since big ideas are out and trying to add standard features that appear across all the major products is also out

how about a simple but effective solution from wscad

when your in a drawing that is not part of the current open project a great big padlock appears which takes over the full size of your schematic drawing

big clue there that your not in your currently open project it does not stop you editing/copying in the drawing

so how many postings end up with the person realising hes not in the currently open project

Simple solution to a recurring problem

My eyes are open

why reinvent the wheel when somebody else has thought of it first !!!!!

Still Not A Consultant

Just A User

[Icemanau]

Locking a dwg like that would be a very bad idea....

I've lost count on the number of times I have had someone come up from the workshop and request a minor change or clarification on a different project than the one I'm working on.

It's easy to open the dwg and make the minor change or check what they are talking about at the moment, but if it's locked with a big graphic over the screen, you can't do anything and have to waste time finding and opening the project (especially if it's completely closed).

Then there are the dwgs that are openeed to copy part of the circuit, especially when the dwg is from another source.

As for all the posts that end up not simply not working on a dwg in the active project, I don't see all that many in the forum.

Regards Brad

[Anonymous]

I know exactly what you are talking about, Brad.  But he did say "big clue there that your not in your currently open project it does not stop you editing/copying in the drawing". 

Maybe that was an edit, but I agree with what I see as the original post.  As well as agreeing with you.

It IS an issue with new users that haven't fully grasped the concept that some things just don't work if you aren't working on a file in the active project.  Maybe not a padlock, but some kinid of obvious alert.  Perhaps something that could be adjusted for "in your face"-ness as the user matures.

[Anonymous]

Here's an ugly workaround. Requires you to pick which commands you want to "protect" and then make an edit to the ribbon menu for each one.

Example: you want to avoid confusion with the RETAG command and pop up an alert if the active drawing is not in the active project.

Step 1: determine the AcadE command name for the Retag command. One way to do this: Start the command. Cancel out. Right click and select "Recent Input". The command name listed is "AERETAG". That looks right.

Step 2: Edit the ribbon entry for the RETAG command. Find the "Retag" entry. Find the AERETAG command substring (it will likely be "^C^C^P_AERETAG"). Edit it to look like this:

Now, when someone tries to run the RETAG command on a drawing not in active project, this alert pops up instead of the command launching:

[t_chaws]

Hi, 

Thank you for your idea. We have added your suggestion to our review bucket. 
We encourage you to post more ideas and dont forget to give kudos to other ideas that you support.

Best Regards, 

AutoCAD Electrical Product Team

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to a more detailed response.

https://nateholt.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/active-dwg-not-in-active-project-h
ow-to-add-alert-to-selected-commands/



Thanks,

Nate Holt.

N8 Consultants LLC

Toledo, OH, USA