Post deployment tools/setup strategy?

[randyspear6624]

We predominantly use civil 3d and AutoCAD. We have some Revit users but they look after their own setup.
Every year we spend a couple weeks updating tool palletes, standards, documentation, deployment setups and computer images when have to upgrade to the latest version of AutoCAD.
Since civil 3d can't be deployed with any settings or profile and our installs have been pretty sketchy over the past few years (missing support files, constant express tool errors, layer manager issues), we've decided to deploy the products as is (or out of the box) to eliminate our IT trying to trouble shoot deployment or image mistakes.
Besides adding to the startup lisp, is there anything else that can efficiently stream line the setup for the user?
Most of the stuff I can do through a setup tool palette but it's getting that initial tool palette pathed.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[tmullins]

You can set your palette location (preferably on a locked down server) in your Options then export that .arg out to a central location. Then add the path to it in a desktop shortcut target. Example:

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2018\acad.exe" /ld "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2018\\AecBase.dbx" /p "L:\C3D\Profiles\ProfileName.arg" /product "C3D" /language "en-US"

Insert your path in the example (L:\C3D\Profiles\ProfileName.arg). That should copy the initial profile and settings into the user's registry. Would that work for you?

We have written a custom program for running all AutoCAD software so we don't have to deal with this but I have used the above method when initially testing a new release.

[randyspear6624]

I'm familiar with specifying the profile.arg location in the desktop shortcut but are you saying there's a way to push that desktop shortcut to all our users?

[tmullins]

I figured you were probably aware how to do that...but just in case.....

Your IT folks should be able to push out an icon on log in unless there is a way in your deployment, but like I mentioned we have written a program to run AutoCAD so I haven't researched those methods.

[randyspear6624]

Thanks. You can now (maybe I never noticed before) include custom desktop icons in the deployment.
However, the icon doesn't work until you run the default icon first so civil 3d can set up user support folders.
So currently we have two icons, an "initial load" and our "profile load".
Anyway to get around this little hiccup?

[ArchD]

How many offices are you setting up? Are there different disciplines to set up or is it one shared setup for all?