Specifying default folder for DesignCenter

[Anonymous]

I would like to use our design center as a place to access our standards library and default to this location.

I am referencing this troubleshooting link:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Specif...

I would like it to navigate to this location:

S:\2 DESIGN STUDIO\LIBRARY\CAD STANDARDS\BLOCKS

I can get the macro syntax to work up to S:\2 DESIGN STUDIO but I can't get it to work through all the subfolders. 

I've inputted the macro syntax like this into the CUI:

^C^C_adcnavigate;s:/2designstudio;library;cadstandards;blocks

What do I need to change for the navigation command to work?

Then is there a way to export this so all users in the studio can use it?

Thanks!!!

[Johneng]

When writing a macro a semi-colon (;) tells autocad to hit the enter key. So keep the one after adcnavigate add one after blocks and get rid of the rest. Make sure to use only forward slashes ("/") in the path. A backslash ("\") in a command macro is interpreted as a pause for user input. If your path contains spaces you will need to enclose it in quotes. ^C^C_adcnavigate;"s:/2 design studio/library"

When you have some free time may I recommend you read An Introduction to Macro Writing at the link below. Start on page 4 Writing Macros.

https://forums.autodesk.com/autodesk/attachments/autodesk/520/11526/1/AU09_SpeakerHandout_CP214-1.pd...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information. I copy and pasted your syntax to see if that would work but it doesn't navigate to the library folder.

I'm not sure how it is written incorrectly. I've attached the image of where it takes me but I am looking to get design center to open directly into our standard block library. 

Please advise.

Thanks for the link, I read through last night and it all is simple and makes sense until I try it and it doesn't work. Hm.

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

please don't forget that the DesignCenter has favorites and a home-button.

This gives you more control to go back to some specific folders when you have left your folder for any reasons.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Looking to get the design center to default to the location as specified in the previous posts.

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@Johneng wrote:

.... So keep the one after adcnavigate add one after blocks and get rid of the rest. ....

---

No need to add one at the end -- Enter is fed in at the end of any macro unless it ends with a control character.  And of course, you want to replace the rest with forward slashes, not just get rid of them.

[Anonymous]

Hi Johneng, 
I am not following when you say "keep the one after...", "...add one after blocks"

Here is the macro, can you adjust to describe what you are saying?

^C^Cadcnavigate;"S:/2 DESIGN STUDIO/LIBRARY/CAD STANDARDS/BLOCKS"

Thanks!

[Kent1Cooper]

That looks like it ought to work, but I confess I'm having trouble getting a similar format to work for me here.  I'm getting an "Unable to resolve complete path" message, even though I know my path is correct.

The way I've done this kind of things is with a command definition rather than a "raw" macro.  In my case, this works [as an example of something with a space in part of the file path]:

(defun C:KC ()
  (command "adcenter" "adcnavigate" "K:/AutoCAD/LIB/Div11 EQUIPMENT/Appliances/KITCHCAB.dwg/Blocks")
); end defun

[I forget why the ADCENTER command is included -- I think maybe ADCNAVIGATE doesn't ask for a path/folder/drawing if ADC hasn't yet been called, or some such thing....]  That puts the Design Center not just in a particular folder, but in the Blocks listing within a particular drawing.  Usually I just type KC [for Kitchen Cabinets, only coincidentally my initials], but that could be put into a macro in a menu item:

^C^CKC

and it does work there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response. Something so simple seems pretty complicated now. I'm not sure I understand your response entirely but with making a few tweaks it still doesn't work. 

It takes me to the main folders but won't navigate to the blocks folder.

Not sure I understand the defun.

This is the macro now. Still doesn't work.

^C^C "adcenter" "adcnavigate" "S:/2 DESIGN STUDIO/LIBRARY/CAD STANDARDS/BLOCKS"

[Kent1Cooper]

Command names in an AutoLisp (command) function need to be in double-quotes, but not in a macro.  Try removing them from around the command names [but not from around the filepath].  And the first command name should follow the ^C^C immediately, with no space between [the space will recall the most recent command].

[Johneng]

Sorry for not getting back here sooner I woke up to a 45 foot tall tree laying in my front yard this morning that I had to deal with. I believe I was wrong in thinking that you needed to put the path in quotes. I tested it locally without the quotes and it worked for me. Please try the following macro.

^C^Cadcnavigate;S:/2 DESIGN STUDIO/LIBRARY/CAD STANDARDS/BLOCKS;

[Anonymous]

I'm still unable to get it to navigate the extent of the file path. It stops at 2 Design Studio. ??

[Anonymous]

WOW Johneng! That's a bit of a problem, yikes. Was there a big storm last night? Thankfully it didn't fall on the house.

GOLDEN - this worked!!! Geez, I read the link you sent and it makes perfect sense but for some reason I was just unable to figure it out.

I'm leading a team of people who are not up to speed on many of the autocad tricks and capabilities. Where we want to go is challenging my expertise too and putting the pressure on for me to be the teacher - there goes my billable time. 

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am unsure how one would set more than one folder as default. ADCNAVIGATE is the correct command to set up a default location but there is no out-of-the-box way to have more than one default location. Perhaps using Favorites makes sense to do this.

To set a "Home" location you can also browse your folder tree in Design Center, Rt-Click the desired folder and select Set as Home

Of course you could also replicate the drawings from Design Center into custom Tool Palettes where you have a bit more control over look and function.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Hi Johneng,

The macro isn't holding. It won't default to this location:

^C^Cadcnavigate;S:/2 DESIGN STUDIO/LIBRARY/CAD STANDARDS/BLOCKS;

I don't understand why.

Please help!

Thanks,

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous, Did you not see @Alfred.NESWADBA's post or mine on how to set the default folder? You shouldn't have type in anything in a macro.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Oh, sorry I missed those replies. Thanks for the simplier approach.

I originally started with this AutoDesk link which does indicate to default the folder it needed to be done with a macro.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Specif...

Now what do you mean getting the Design Center into a custom Tool Palette?

The next step is to take our blocks and place them into a custom tool palette to be able to use through dragging and dropping into our drawings.

Maybe what you are talking about gets us one step further?

Thanks!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Here is a post I made about a week ago that shows how easy this might be for you to implement.

Please start another thread if you want to explore this topic further. I am always happy to help out.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

John, Awesome! I will definitely read, watch, test and then start a new thread if I have questions.

Best, Amy

[Anonymous]

If there are spaces in the directory path it will be read as an enter and stop.  encase the directory path in quotes and it should work.

Don't forget about custom palettes for standardization.  Create a custom palette on a shared drive then call it via the "toolpalettes comand after changing the "toolpalettepath" to the location on the shared drive.

I built a function to alternate between a "standard" Civil-Structural toolpalette, the OOTB toolpalette, and a personal custom toolpalette. 

(princ "\n                 ToolPalette Utilities...")
(defun c:tpcs () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "S:\\ACAD2015\\CS\\Palettes\\cs" "toolpalettes"))
(defun c:tpstd () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Roaming\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD 2015\\R20.0\\enu\\Support\\ToolPalette"  "toolpalettes"))
(defun c:tpmy () (command "*_toolpalettepath" "C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Roaming\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD 2015\\R20.0\\enu\\Support\\ToolPalette_2"  "toolpalettes"))
(princ "   ... Loaded")
(princ "\n      USe TPSTD for Standard ACAD Palette")
(princ "\n      USe TPCS  for Civil-Structural Palette")
(princ "\n      USe TPMY  for Personal Palette")
(princ)

Check out Matt Murphy class here