AutoCAD Architecture - System Variable Expert Not Persistent?

[BillAllenSE]

I swear I keep changing the system variable Expert to 5 from zero, but I keep having to do it. Yes, in the same drawing!

How do I fix this? 

Hint: I must not be much of an expert if I don't know how to do this.

🙂

[pendean]

This is not the ARCH forum @BillAllenSE but if it is an AutoCAD issue then maybe we can HELP: please explain how/when/where this might be changing all on its own so someone can replicate it.

Also, are you aware EXPERT variable is literally "not saved" under many circumstances?

And confirm your year version of ARCH as listed in the program's ABOUT command.

Also, do you use SYSVARMONITOR command at all? It might help you find the trigger if you've not been able to identify it.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@BillAllenSE wrote:

... Yes, in the same drawing! ....

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But in the same editing session of the drawing?  As pointed out by @pendean , it's not saved when you close the drawing, so it will be back to the default the next time you get into it.  You can force it to be changed to what you want in every drawing you open or create, with an entry in an acaddoc.lsp file.

But if it's reverting within the same editing session in a drawing, then something else is going on.

[BillAllenSE]

Pendean - Once again, you criticize me for posting an AutoCAD question here. The first time, you chastised me for not mentioning I was running ACAD Architecture.

[BillAllenSE]

No, it's persistent when I'm in a session.

O.K., I now see that it's not saved, making it a worthless system variable. IMO, this system variable should be persistent with every file I open on this machine.

[cadffm]

Hi,

>>" making it a worthless system variable"

No. Perhaps in your case or mind, but not generally and for everyone.

The impact can be great depending on the setting surrounding the circumstances.

>>". IMO, this system variable should be persistent with every file I open on this machine"

Please not for me, thank you.

If you like to have Expert always set to >0

Set up your own custom ACAD.lsp with your favorite setting like

(setvar "EXPERT" 1)

Pointing out that it is good to state which software you are using is just as correct and sensitive as pointing out that this board is not specifically for this software.
And since there is a native AutoCAD command or setting in e.g. Architecture can behave differently, it makes sense to post on the board of the software used - which is in the next door.
You don't always have to take criticism or suggestions negatively, you should also be happy that you are supported.

[pendean]

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@BillAllenSE wrote:

...criticize ...chastised....

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That's on you my friend.

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@BillAllenSE wrote:

... O.K., I now see that it's not saved, making it a worthless system variable. IMO, this system variable should be persistent with every file I open on this machine....

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Not reading about the command in HELP may be the real issue here: so is it changing while in a single DWG file while you work in it? If yes, how does someone way over here recreate that please? Does it change back when you jump between DWG files? I'm trying to get it to change in a session in a DWG in ARCH2023 and plain AutoCAD2023 and I'm not able to do it. I must not be replicating your workflow.

You also never answered an earlier question: do you use SYSVARMONITOR?

[Kent1Cooper]

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@BillAllenSE wrote:

No, it's persistent when I'm in a session. ....

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If it's changing on you within a drawing session, then setting it the way you want in an acad.lsp or acaddoc.lsp file as suggested would not help.  If you're not changing it, there is something changing it for you -- it does not change on its own.  That implies something like a custom command that is changing it, and presumably not changing it back as it should when it's done.  Assuming you have some AutoLisp custom command definitions, maybe you can find one that's doing this, and if so, it should be correctable to restore the setting, or editable to be able to do its thing without changing the setting.  If you have custom commands coming from some kind of compiled files [e.g. .arx or .vlx], you won't be able to do that unless you have access to the authors or the source files they were compiled from.