Cannot edit AutoCAD 2018 Support File Search Paths?

[crls]

Hi,

I created an AutoCAD 2018 deployment today then installed it on my pc for testing. I then tried to add custom Support File Search Paths in Options, but was unable to.  The Add button worked but I could not use the Browse button or paste in my own path.  Additionally, the appearance of all paths listed under the Files tab is grey, implying that it's read-only.

For comparison, I've had Civil 3D 2018 installed on my pc for 1 year and haven't had any issues with editing paths.

I checked the deployment but cannot see any option that would restrict a user from editing paths. I also updated to the latest service pack. I've used AutoCAD for many years and haven't seen this with any prior version.

Below are 2 images, from C3D2018 and AutoCAD 2018 for comparison.

If anyone has ideas why this is happening, I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!

[cadffm]

There is a AKN post about that and possible solutions, but i can not find them in hurry - search for it.

[crls]

Thank you for your reply.  I tried searching but couldn't find an answer.  I'll try again.

[Anonymous]

push - I have the same problem with an Autocad 2017 - Deployment

[crls]

Hi,

I had the same issue with 2018 deployments I created then installed to test, and my colleague in IT suggested the following to me:

"I think this would be it. Not sure about your version, but look for similar in registry.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1001\Variables\TRUSTEDPATHS]

"Owner"="*CADAdmin"

By deleting this string/binary, the content in Options it is unlocked."

This solved it for me. You would need to edit the path for 2017. Good luck!

[curebanasj]

For 2019:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R23.0\ACAD-2001\Variables\TRUSTEDPATHS

Also worked for me.

[ryarmak]

I was hit with this in 2019.  I found the "AKN" article and it said it "could be caused by antivirus" which after finding this registry key, testing it, and it working flawlessly, I think should be updated.

Thank you for the answer I need to get this fix sent out company wide.

[walkermacy]

So, does anyone have any insight as to how this is getting set in the first place? I have never seen this issue in 10+ versions of AutoCAD deployments until it recently started to happen with every installation of 2020 from deployment for me. Is it the "lock security settings" option when creating a deployment that creates is registry value? It's really annoying to deal with and I would like to undo whatever it is that's setting this by default, as we do not need it.

[cadffm]

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@crls  schrieb:

Thank you for your reply.  I tried searching but couldn't find an answer.  I'll try again.

---

I talked about this AKN page - Support File Search Paths and options are grayed out in AutoCAD

- - -

>>"by deleting this string/binary, the content in Options it is unlocked.""

Yes, but this is just 1/3 of the job. Remove alle three(?) owner keys:  legacycodesearch,secureload and thrustedpathes

and think about it - it is per version, so it is possible that one, two or three of this lock per installed version.

Or use AutoDESKs external CAD Manager Tools to manage it for all installed versions

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/downloads/caas/downloads/content/download-install-cad...

- - -

>>"So, does anyone have any insight as to how this is getting set in the first place? "

Do you mean in case it isn't a AntiVirus problem? (what i can never believe - but if they said..)

>>"I have never seen this issue in 10+ versions of AutoCAD deployments"

Security locks are available since 2016?

>>" Is it the "lock security settings" option when creating a deployment that creates is registry value?

äääähm

The Owner *CADADMIN key is the "locked" setting from your security settings ( https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-C108E81C-7A06-477C-A5F8-10AA2FDEB050 )

"USER" don't have access to the registry , this way the settings are save / not editable for users (without admin rights).

[walkermacy]

My experience has been that 99% of the time when the generic answer to a problem is "anti-virus", that is a cop-out for finding a real solution, esp. if the entity telling you that is the developer. I know that there are occasions when AV *is* the cause of any given problem, but my experience has shown that to be not common. In this particular case, our AV software is Webroot, we've had it installed for years, and it has never caused any issue with the options in AutoCAD being locked, which only started happening a couple of months ago. I am quite certain the AV has nothing to do with this. Deleting that registry value ("*CADAdmin") solved the problem, so the real question is why is that registry value being created when previously it never was in any of the many versions of AutoCAD that I've installed via deployment?

The one thing I did change in the current deployment configuration is enabling the "lock security settings" value, which I understood to mean it locks only the settings for executable security, something that's reinforced by the Autodesk help document you linked. It doesn't make sense that it would lock all the support paths as well but that appears to be happening as well. I have disabled the lock security setting in my deployment but have not done another test installation to see what the result is.