Hello dgorsman,
I have my ACAD.lsp load the partial CUI every time ACAD is launched. The partial CUI contains a custom set of tools, a tool bar (with the tools), ribbon tab (with the tools), and menu pulldown (with the tools). The ACAD.lsp loads the tool bar in a consistent location, no matter the workspace or profile. With the partial CUI, I don't have to mess around to push it to everyone, it's in a locked location on the network, after I make any needed changes, I simply take the evaluation copy of the CUI I have and overwrite the network instance, then any launch afterwards will provide the updated tool set.
We use AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Civil 3D, and AutoCAD w/ Carlson here, it's a nightmare to manage profiles, and I haven't found a good way to do it... the only way I've seen is to put the command switch into AutoCAD shortcuts, but no matter how much I try, I can not get staff to consistently use the shortcuts to launch AutoCAD, so there goes my means of utilizing Profiles.... Using the ACAD.lsp to load the partial CUI at every launch doesn't require shortcut changes, staff can double-click on DWGs in Windows to launch ACAD if they want (even though I discourage), and I still get my corporate customizations to them.
This may not be the best way to handle, but for my current understanding of how things work, it's been working for us pretty well. The only complaint I get is that it does make launching AutoCAD take a little longer, because I have it reload the CUI, then reload whatever the current workspace is to ensure the tools are displayed (even if the user deletes it in the previous session).
I hope this helps explains the reason to my madness, I am always open to doing things better. Thank you for the interest.
I can't remember the specific reason I bailed on the Enterprise CUI, but I remembering struggling with it for a while, then getting this route to work, and I've never looked back (even though I have wondered the significance/benefit of the Enterprise CUI)...
Here is the portion of my ACAD.lsp that loads the partial CUI:
Code:
;; Load custom menus
(defun Tools (/)
(if (/= (menugroup "TOOLS") nil)
(command "_MENUUNLOAD" "TOOLS")
); end if
(if (/= (menugroup "TOOLS2017") nil)
(command "_MENUUNLOAD" "TOOLS2017")
); end if
(if (/= (menugroup "SLSMC") nil)
(command "_MENUUNLOAD" "SLSMC")
); end if
(if (/= (menugroup "TWTC-OSP-MENU") nil)
(command "_MENUUNLOAD" "TWTC-OSP-MENU")
); end if
(and
(not (menugroup "TOOLS2017"))
(findfile "path\\Tools2017.cuix")
(command "_.menuload" "path\\Tools2017.cuix")
) ;_ and
(and
(menugroup "TOOLS2017")
(menucmd "p30=+POP13")
) ;_ and
) ;_ defun
(BATools)