Autocad LT 2017 but 2014 LT is still on my computer

[meb58]

I downloaded 2017 LT today...no apparent trouble; I turned off popup blocker and it took about 10 minutes.  I am however surprised to see the old version - 2014 LT - still on computer.  I was prompted to migrate 2014 to 2017...??? 

In any event, my intuition says that I should only have version 2017 installed and that the download would have removed 2014?  Or am I about to learn something new about software?  I know very little to begin with.

Thank you.

[john.vellek]

Hi @meb58,

You are correct that the 2017 install did not remove the older version.

This is by design.  Many users like to have several versions on their computers.

You can go to Windows Programs to remove the older version if you want to take it off your system.

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

[meb58]

Thank you John!

As I have an inherent mistrust of things electronic...I actually do not trust myself...I have another related question which may be so fundamental as to make shake your head.  apologies in advance.

My challenge is that I want to create a new 2017 template...I cannot seem to open a 2017 blank drawing...and there in file type, there is no 2017 DWT choice.  Or is this by design too...or related to having both programs available?  

Again I apologies for what feel like rudimentary questions.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Michael

[john.vellek]

Hi @meb58,

So, you start AutoCAD LT 2017 and see the start screen. At the bottom you see Learn and Create. If you click on Create do you then see a big box on the left side that says "Start Drawing"?

If so, click it. Then when you are in the drawing, add the things you want in the template. Finally perform a saveas and save it as a DWT file.

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

[meb58]

Hi John,

I went through that process...when I attempt to save the drawing as, at the bottom there is no choice, in file type, to save as, AutoCAD LT 2017 DWG.  I only have 2014 DWG available.  Or does this not matter anymore with the new versions?  I have available only my old templates to choose from, no blank drawing.  Again, apologies if I am a bit dense.

I also have to figure out how to reference unreferenced drawings...

Michael

[meb58]

...going further...because I have no choice but to save a drawing as 'File Type AutoCAD LT 2014, all of the drawings created in 2017 LT open in the old 2014 LT format.  

I also created a new drawing in 2017, but when opening either of the two LAYOUT 1 or LAYOUT 2, all of the layers and objects from my 2014 template appear.

Just odd.   Unless I am missing something big here.  I wonder what would happen if I down load 2017 LT onto a computer with previous AutoCAD program?  

It's as if I begin creating a new drawing in 2017 LT, but saving it to 2014 LT reverts the drawing back to 2014 LT.  I would have thought that the 2017 LT download would have written over the 2014 program...or deleted it.  I am wildly confused.

Oddly too, related ?, I cannot save a drawing to documents from 2017 LT...I must first create a folder (a client folder), then save to it.  Never had this trouble with 2014 LT.

I am glad that I can still use 2014 LT so that I can continue to work. 

[pendean · Accepted solution]

>>>...I have an inherent mistrust of things electronic...<<<
And that is why Autodesk chooses not to mess with your computer by not removing older versions: they give you the ultimate control.

You seem to have some missing knowlwedge, so let's help you with some of it:

1. LT2013 through LT2017 use the same exact DWG file format. There is no LT2014 file format, there is no LT2017 format, they are all 2013DWG file formats.

2. To start a new template file in LT2017 do you see a big gray box that says START DRAWING when you open LT2017 on it's own? There is a word TEMPLATES in a light gray bar underneath it with a gray down arrow. Click on it and you'll see the factory template files Autodesk bundles with LT1017.

[meb58]

Aha!  Thank you Dean.  

When I clicked on the template drop down yesterday I neglected to experiment with the AutoCAD Imperial/Metric options at the bottom..I simply saw the old templates from 2013 LT and made an assumption about my choices.  Thank you!  This solves my dilemma.

In the past I ordered the very detailed SDC Tutorial books...I'll order those now.

I do have some knowledge gaps for sure, but I appreciate your patience and help.

Michael

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @meb58,

I suggest that the first thing you do is to set your default template file in AutoCAD LT 2017. Please start the program and then type OPTIONS. In the Files tab there is a section called Template Settings. Expand that to see the Default Template File Name for Qnew. Assign a template from your AutoCAD 2017 installation such as ACAD.dwt or ACADISO.dwt.

This should take care of opening the incorrect templates inadvertently.

As Dean pointed out in his post, the file format is the same across 2014-2017 versions. Make sure that when you save your files that you are saving in 2013 format.

As far as having to create a folder to save your drawing files from AutoCAD LT 2017, this is a Windows operating system issue as AutoCAD does not control this functionality. Please check to see that your user account has administrator permissions. Are you working off an external drive of some sort or a network?

To start drawings, click on the Start Drawing area on the Start screen and optionally drop down the templates menu to select which template you want the new drawing to be based upon.

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

[meb58 · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

Thank you, I just finished creating a template as you suggested.  All set.  Thank you again!  I think that I was suffering from analysis paralysis yesterday; learning a new program whilst trying to maintain client commitments.  

Michael