Drawings Opening in New Window (2018)

[jtylerbc]

Hello.  My company is finally getting around to installing 2018 Autodesk software (yes, I know, we're a bit behind).  We're running into an issue on the first few installs.  As primarily an Inventor guy, I'm a little lost and need some help.  We're using AutoCAD Mechanical, but I'm posting it in the general AutoCAD forum because it doesn't really seem like a Mech-specific issue.  The computers involved are a mix of Windows 8.1 and 10 machines.

Instead of opening in multiple tabs, every time we double-click a drawing it opens in a new window.  On all of these machines, we have already associated the files to "AutoCAD DWG Launcher", and verified that the SDI system variable is set to 0.  I saw some references in other posts on this topic to a TASKBAR variable - changing that didn't seem to have any effect.

Can anyone offer me some guidance as to what else could be causing this silly issue? 

[jtylerbc]

Hello.  My company is finally getting around to installing 2018 Autodesk software (yes, I know, we're a bit behind).  We're running into an issue on the first few installs.  As primarily an Inventor guy, I'm a little lost and need some help.  We're using AutoCAD Mechanical, but I'm posting it in the general AutoCAD forum because it doesn't really seem like a Mech-specific issue.  The computers involved are a mix of Windows 8.1 and 10 machines.

Instead of opening in multiple tabs, every time we double-click a drawing it opens in a new window.  On all of these machines, we have already associated the files to "AutoCAD DWG Launcher", and verified that the SDI system variable is set to 0.  I saw some references in other posts on this topic to a TASKBAR variable - changing that didn't seem to have any effect.

Can anyone offer me some guidance as to what else could be causing this silly issue? 

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

It sounds like you have tried everything in these two articles:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/article/Double-clicking-a-DWG-file-opens-a-new-instance-of-AutoCAD

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/article/Double-clicking-a-DWG-file-fails-to-launch-AutoCAD

One of my co-workers found that sometimes,  installing DWG TrueView 2018 (or installing and then uninstalling it) will correct the problem. Try this:

1. Install DWG TrueView 2018 .
2. Startup DWG TrueView 2018 and then exit it.
3. Next, double-click a DWG file in Windows. Then double-click a second one. They should both come up in the same instance of DWG TrueView.

If this works, then exit TrueView and launch and exit AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, and then test double-clicking DWG files again. If it does not fix things, then uninstall DWG TrueView 2018 and test double-clicking DWG files again.

If this doesn't resolve the problem, then try deleting these registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Roaming\OpenWith\FileExts\.dwg

You may need to right-click > Open With, and manually associate a DWG file with AcLauncher.exe (AutoCAD DWG Launcher) or acad.exe.

 [EDITED to correct my typo's of version number]

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

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

It sounds like you have tried everything in these two articles:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/article/Double-clicking-a-DWG-file-opens-a-new-instance-of-AutoCAD

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/article/Double-clicking-a-DWG-file-fails-to-launch-AutoCAD

One of my co-workers found that sometimes,  installing DWG TrueView 2018 (or installing and then uninstalling it) will correct the problem. Try this:

1. Install DWG TrueView 2018 .
2. Startup DWG TrueView 2018 and then exit it.
3. Next, double-click a DWG file in Windows. Then double-click a second one. They should both come up in the same instance of DWG TrueView.

If this works, then exit TrueView and launch and exit AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, and then test double-clicking DWG files again. If it does not fix things, then uninstall DWG TrueView 2018 and test double-clicking DWG files again.

If this doesn't resolve the problem, then try deleting these registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dwg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Roaming\OpenWith\FileExts\.dwg

You may need to right-click > Open With, and manually associate a DWG file with AcLauncher.exe (AutoCAD DWG Launcher) or acad.exe.

 [EDITED to correct my typo's of version number]

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

[jtylerbc]

We do have TrueView 2018 installed.  Is it specifically the 2019 version that fixes it?  The way you mention both release years has me slightly confused as to what you mean.  Keep in mind that we are installing the 2018 software, not 2019 at this point.

I did notice that if we associate the DWG file type to "AutoCAD Application" instead of "DWG Launcher", it works as intended.  Is there a particular reason why the association would need to be to the launcher? 

If not (or if there is a reason that doesn't apply to us), it's way easier to just do that than play install/uninstall games with TrueView on 50+ computers.

[jtylerbc]

We do have TrueView 2018 installed.  Is it specifically the 2019 version that fixes it?  The way you mention both release years has me slightly confused as to what you mean.  Keep in mind that we are installing the 2018 software, not 2019 at this point.

I did notice that if we associate the DWG file type to "AutoCAD Application" instead of "DWG Launcher", it works as intended.  Is there a particular reason why the association would need to be to the launcher? 

If not (or if there is a reason that doesn't apply to us), it's way easier to just do that than play install/uninstall games with TrueView on 50+ computers.

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I am sorry that I typed both versions - just a mental burp on my behalf. This was intended to be all 2018.

You can certainly associate the DWG to one specific app but that might make it more difficult when switching between Vanilla and Mechanical.

If you already have DWG Trueview installed, try uninstalling it.  Also if you are willing, try the regkey approach.

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I am sorry that I typed both versions - just a mental burp on my behalf. This was intended to be all 2018.

You can certainly associate the DWG to one specific app but that might make it more difficult when switching between Vanilla and Mechanical.

If you already have DWG Trueview installed, try uninstalling it.  Also if you are willing, try the regkey approach.

[jtylerbc]

@john.vellek,

The registry edit seems like a reasonable thing to try - will get with my IT support and see if I can get that done on at least one machine as a test.

If that doesn't work, we will fall back on the idea of just associating to "AutoCAD Application" instead.  The only AutoCAD version we use a significant amount is Mechanical.  Even when not requiring any Mechanical-specific features, it is used because it is the only version where we bother to set up all of our company-specific customizations.

On a slightly different note - Is there a known cause for this issue?  If we're doing something wrong (in our install process, for example) that triggers it, the best solution would obviously be to stop doing that.

[jtylerbc]

@john.vellek,

The registry edit seems like a reasonable thing to try - will get with my IT support and see if I can get that done on at least one machine as a test.

If that doesn't work, we will fall back on the idea of just associating to "AutoCAD Application" instead.  The only AutoCAD version we use a significant amount is Mechanical.  Even when not requiring any Mechanical-specific features, it is used because it is the only version where we bother to set up all of our company-specific customizations.

On a slightly different note - Is there a known cause for this issue?  If we're doing something wrong (in our install process, for example) that triggers it, the best solution would obviously be to stop doing that.

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I wish I knew what caused this as it does pop up frequently. My guess is that when an installer fails to update the registry properly, then the associations are not correct.  If I do find a definitive pattern that causes this I will report back.

[john.vellek]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I wish I knew what caused this as it does pop up frequently. My guess is that when an installer fails to update the registry properly, then the associations are not correct.  If I do find a definitive pattern that causes this I will report back.

[jtylerbc]

@john.vellek,

The registry edit did nothing to change the situation.  It didn't even seem to have lost the existing file associations after deleting the keys.

Additionally, according to my IT guy, only two of the listed keys actually existed on the computer we tested:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg

We have installed on four computers so far - two Win 8.1 laptops, one Win 10 laptop, and one Win 10 desktop.  All have the same issue.  I originally thought the Win 10 laptop was working properly, but it turned out that it had been associated with "AutoCAD Application" by mistake.

[jtylerbc]

@john.vellek,

The registry edit did nothing to change the situation.  It didn't even seem to have lost the existing file associations after deleting the keys.

Additionally, according to my IT guy, only two of the listed keys actually existed on the computer we tested:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg

We have installed on four computers so far - two Win 8.1 laptops, one Win 10 laptop, and one Win 10 desktop.  All have the same issue.  I originally thought the Win 10 laptop was working properly, but it turned out that it had been associated with "AutoCAD Application" by mistake.

[jtylerbc]

Update:  On a second attempt, IT found the first three of the listed keys (never found the fourth).  This was repeated on a second machine, with the same results.

On both computers, even after deleting the third key, there was no change in the multiple-window behavior.

[jtylerbc]

Update:  On a second attempt, IT found the first three of the listed keys (never found the fourth).  This was repeated on a second machine, with the same results.

On both computers, even after deleting the third key, there was no change in the multiple-window behavior.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I have seen a similar problem when multiple versions of AutoCAD are installed on one system. Occasionally it can be resolved by re-associating all DWG with AutoCAD Mechanical 2018 and restart Windows. Then re-associate all DWG with the launcher, start AutoCAD Mechanical (not by double-clicking a DWG), and drag and drop a DWG onto the Start page. 

Please let me know if this works for you as well. 

All the best,

If my post was helpful, Likes are always welcome.

And if it answered your question or solved your problem, please select the Accept as Solution button.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I have seen a similar problem when multiple versions of AutoCAD are installed on one system. Occasionally it can be resolved by re-associating all DWG with AutoCAD Mechanical 2018 and restart Windows. Then re-associate all DWG with the launcher, start AutoCAD Mechanical (not by double-clicking a DWG), and drag and drop a DWG onto the Start page. 

Please let me know if this works for you as well. 

All the best,

If my post was helpful, Likes are always welcome.

And if it answered your question or solved your problem, please select the Accept as Solution button.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I am checking back to see if you were able to get AutoCAD Mechanical to open drawings as tabs in a single window.

All the best,

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

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

I am checking back to see if you were able to get AutoCAD Mechanical to open drawings as tabs in a single window.

All the best,

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

[jtylerbc]

@cheryl.buck,

Got pulled into something a little more pressing, so unfortunately I haven't had the chance to try your solution yet.  Hopefully will have time to give it a shot tomorrow.

[jtylerbc]

@cheryl.buck,

Got pulled into something a little more pressing, so unfortunately I haven't had the chance to try your solution yet.  Hopefully will have time to give it a shot tomorrow.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi John,

Understood, I look forward to hearing the results. 

All the best,

[cheryl.buck]

Hi John,

Understood, I look forward to hearing the results. 

All the best,

[jtylerbc · Accepted solution]

@cheryl.buck,

Unfortunately, this did not help.  The only way I have been able to stop it from opening in multiple windows is to set to "AutoCAD Application" instead of "DWG Launcher". 

[jtylerbc · Accepted solution]

@cheryl.buck,

Unfortunately, this did not help.  The only way I have been able to stop it from opening in multiple windows is to set to "AutoCAD Application" instead of "DWG Launcher". 

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

Thank you for coming back with an update. It sounds like there might be something in Windows that is preventing the AutoCAD Launcher from referencing the AutoCAD .exe.

I am glad you are able to accomplish this by associated the AutoCAD application instead of the AutoCAD Launcher.  It does seem likely it is an environmental issue. As John Vellek said, if I learn anything I will also report back. 

All the best.  

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @jtylerbc,

Thank you for coming back with an update. It sounds like there might be something in Windows that is preventing the AutoCAD Launcher from referencing the AutoCAD .exe.

I am glad you are able to accomplish this by associated the AutoCAD application instead of the AutoCAD Launcher.  It does seem likely it is an environmental issue. As John Vellek said, if I learn anything I will also report back. 

All the best.  

[CADMENOC1]

Hello, I have been reading all the possible solutions to this problem. We have just updated to ACAD Mechanical 2021 along with Windows 10 (finally) and I have the same problem. I have tried all possible solutions except the registry changes. Nothing has worked for me so far. I am wondering if there has been a solution to this problem. Any information regarding this would be helpful.

[CADMENOC1]

Hello, I have been reading all the possible solutions to this problem. We have just updated to ACAD Mechanical 2021 along with Windows 10 (finally) and I have the same problem. I have tried all possible solutions except the registry changes. Nothing has worked for me so far. I am wondering if there has been a solution to this problem. Any information regarding this would be helpful.