Shared PC3 file

[Anonymous]

We have shared pc3 files on our network. Everybody's computer is pathed directly to them. Recently, within the past two months, the one we mostly use, seems to change by itself. Grant it, it doesn't show that it was modified. Nobody in the office has made changes to it either. Every day, a few times each day, I have to overwrite it with one that I had saved previously before this started happening. Today, I created a new pc3 file because of this issue. I replaced the old one with this brand new one and within hours, it changed by itself. Can someone explain why or have any ideas that I might try? I really don't want to change our template again and set a different pc3 file to it, but if I have to, I will try. Just worried that that pc3 file will start changing too.

[pendean]

Did you take the extra step of making that folder on the server read-only to everyone? That is done through group policies (you probably already have that) which prevents accidental and deliberate (but silent) changes to all PC3 files.

If not done that way, today is the day you need to change that: all shared content that not everyone is allowed to change must be done like that.

[Anonymous]

No, I haven't done that. I need to speak with my boss before I can make any
changes like that. I can say with 99.9% confidence that nobody changes the
pc3 files. I've made it a point to ask every single person (small company)
if they have changed any pc3 files, all with answers of "no".

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention another thing. When you modify and save a pc3 file, the date changes along with it. This pc3 file that keeps changing, still has the same date as when it was first created, so that pretty much shows that nobody is manually changing it and saving it.

Here is what is happening. When everything is working correctly, we use the pull-down menu on the top in the Plot Dialogue Box, we select, for instance a page setup of 24 x 36. Once that is chosen, it automatically points to the correct plotter, the correct paper size and all the correct settings we use.

When the issue we are having happens, when we use the pull-down menu on the top in the Plot Dialogue Box, we select the 24 x 36. Sometimes it will choose the correct plotter, other times it will just choose "None". When it does choose the correct plotter, the paper size is not correct and none of the settings are correct. Either way, we can not print. I am always having to overwrite that pc3 file with the good backup I have of it. But within hours, it changes again. I have even made a brand new one with the same name and it changed within a few hours.

[mlfgale]

It's 2026 and we are still having this issue with AC 2025. Locking the folder doesn't work. 2 PC's setup the same. If i fix the pc3 file on one and get it working, the other machine get's the NONE as the printer. Again, another bug that never seems to get addressed. Keep adding features no one wants to warrant your BS subscription model, but never address actual MULTI YEAR ISSUES!

[cadffm]

EDITED:

Hi,

Q1: You are the thread starter, or just another one with a similar issue?

Q2: " the pull-down menu on the top in the Plot Dialogue Box, we select the 24 x 36"

On top of the plot dialog is the (named)PageSetup pull-down.

A dwg internal saved page setup, what should set all setting in plot dialog, as saved by the given name (here named with "24 x 36"?)

- Correct until this point? -

All what I can read above doesn't make sense - from point of view how the things working for usual.

Let's say you have 3 Workstations:

A) WS1 - the error appears..

From now, it's never working again, until you overwrite the .pc3. Correct?

B) During the issue at WS1, WS2 and WS3  - both working still well?

   That doesn't make sense (from Acad eyes)

Until this point, I would think in direction of another program what makes the trouble, the only program type I can imagine is a kind of Anti-Virus software.

You cant see any difference inside the .pc3 and the date is also the same,

and other workstations still working well.

My opinion: Because the file did not change!

Thats the only logical reason, for me, for now.

C) WS1, you select your named pagesetup, printer jumps to None.

    There is just one known situation where the plotter jumps to None - when Acad can't read the file.

possible missing printer, it doesn't jump to none

possible missing pc3 (or unreadable), it does jump to none.

Hmm, so the "None" thing doesn't match to my previuous idea, because no software should be influence a workflow inside  Autocad - not unusual  impacts like this.

I would like to read your (and from other readers) about my thoughts.

[pendean]

@mlfgale from your light post alone it appears the 2 PCs in question are not at all sharing the same PC3 file and your edits literally only applied to one of them. We've all done it before and occasionally still do until we catch it. OR there are multiple copies of the one named PC3 file and the one you never edited showed up in a folder polled first by their session instead of the folder you edited in.

Let us know how you double-checked yourself for pathing, locations, dates of PC3 files that changes etc., and by chance did the second PC restart their session first and still having issues?