Support file paths disappearing

[Anonymous]

Hello all 

so this year we moved some files/folders to network drives, allowing the instructor to modify the files and maintain them with out needed to request assistance from IT like when it is on the local drive (our local drives have a program called deep freeze that makes it so changes on here wont stick) 

 problem being when I add the network drive path into the support file paths, I'm loosing 6 of the default paths removing a lot of content that is required for the instructors. If i remove said network path, the default ones repopulate. 

I have changed the order the paths load in, and manually re-added the paths, but as soon as autocad loads the network path, the other paths are gone

Any Ideas? 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

welcome @Anonymous!

>> I'm loosing 6 of the default paths

AutoCAD removes paths from the list of support folders in case these folders were not available during a start of AutoCAD.

The reason was that AutoCAD used a lot of performance when invalid paths existed as support folder ... so to get rid of the repeating "find path calls" these folders were removed.

As long as the folders are always present and accessible AutoCAD would not have dropped these folders (by default).

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

not sure that really makes sense with my scenario, how would adding a single network path make the local paths unavailable?  

Again simply removing the network path and the others re-appear, so they still exist and  would be accessible. 

And if Autocad thinks for some reason these paths are in-accessible how would i change that? 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> how would adding a single network path make the local paths unavailable?

As long as the local paths

• were available
• were not blocked by any permissions
• were not moved away temporarily

...they should not be (would not have been) removed from the list of supported paths.

So I see 2 possible reasons:

• while you changed your settings the folders were not available for AutoCAD
• the sum of characters of all support-paths were too long (some time ago I have seen that an AutoCAD release had reduced the length of that path-string, but can't find it now.

- alfred -

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

I am familiar with Deep Freeze but I have not utilized it in the past. From my understanding, it does a system restore at reboot. So, that makes me wonder how your Windows profile gets set up.  Is it a roaming profile? If so, do you have full permissions to the roaming folders? Also, the ACAD20XX.cfg is typically stored in a local folder.

Can you take a couple screen captures for me that show the file paths before and after you try to put in the network path? Or even prepare a quick Screencast showing this process?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am awaiting some more details on your issue.  I am happy to assist if you can help me help you. Have a good weekend - I hope to hear from you on Monday.

[Anonymous]

Deep Freeze essential locks the c drive in place, and any further customization is stored as a temporary cache, that is dumped at reboot.

We do not use roaming profiles, but instead create a "default profile" that is copied as users sign in. 

Yes there are extra steps with permissions we have to take, and any file in question are accessible to all users (or the "everyone" security group if you are familiar) .

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Have you tried running a Batch Command to map all the paths prior to starting AutoCAD? Or setting all the paths in a default ACADDOC.lsp?

[Anonymous]

maybe I'm not describing it right or a visualization will help, see images attached

I logged in with a local account (no network drives) you can see the Network drive listed in the support file paths, but since it is not loading all the default paths are as well, which can also be seen in the "working paths" 

I then mapped the network drive manually and re-opened autocad, the result most of the default paths disappear

Manually re-adding does not help, the instructors have found a few things this alters

I have checked the permissions on the share, and it is "full control" as it should even though I would think the permissions on their should not affect the local files. remove the network drive completely and every thing besides the custom tool bar that is stored on the network drive operates perfectly. 

I am currently in the process of creating a spot on the C: drive for the custom toolbar but I suspect this should work fine as this is how the instructors have it set up on their laptops (problem being on the Teacher stations in the computer labs) 

Being educational our license also does not permit us support from autodesk outside of this very forum

If anyone has seen this or has any ideas as to actions I can take it is appreciated!

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

Thanks for the extra detail but I do understand the issue you are describing.  I have however, never seen this issue and I can find no other cases that sound similar.

I wonder if if the image that gets deployed has an error in it that is preventing this from working correctly.

Are you adding the network share to just the Support File Search Path? Or, are you adding it to the Working Support File Search Path and Trusted Locations as well?

If you add the path and then save the workspace are you then able to see if all the paths are retained?

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