Help! AutoCAD opening files in command line, not via dialogue box

[emlyn_altman]

I think I accidently posed my question in the wrong forum so I'm trying again in the AutoCAD General forum... (I have no clue where I sent my original post.)

One of my users said a couple of days ago his AutoCAD 2009 stopped bringing up the open dialogue box to browse for files. For some reason, when he would go to File -> Open, instead of bringing up a dialogue box, AutoCAD would just prompt for the file name/location in the command line. I thought that installing 2010 would get him back on track but unfortunately, he migrated his settings so we're back to square one again.

I tried looking under the Options -> "Open and Save" tab, but couldn't see any setting that would control whether or not the open dialogue box would stop showing.

Any ideas/suggestions?

-Emlyn

[rkmcswain]

Type in FILEDIA, set it to 1

[tedg]

I think I accidently posed my question in the wrong forum so I'm trying again in the AutoCAD General forum... (I have no clue where I sent my original post.)
.....
-Emlyn
That's ok... the moderator moved it for you (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=111736).
Yes, as others suggested, FILEDIA set to 1 should fix your problem.

[oliveoil182411]

For other miscellaneous System Variables for AutoCad 2005 and below, try this searchable pdf:
http://www.hyperpics.com/system_variables/downloads/AutoCAD_System_Variables.pdf

[joe_hughes]

Type in FILEDIA, set it to 1
I just joined AUGI. I searched AutoCAD Help and the AutoDesk Knowledge Base, and found nothing on this problem which cropped up out of nowhere. Using the AutoCAD restore function didn't correct it either! I came here an solved it in less than 5 minutes. Thanks rkmcswain! NOW I know where to come for answers!!!
Joe

[Ed Jobe]

I just joined AUGI. I searched AutoCAD Help and the AutoDesk Knowledge Base, and found nothing on this problem which cropped up out of nowhere. Using the AutoCAD restore function didn't correct it either! I came here an solved it in less than 5 minutes. Thanks rkmcswain! NOW I know where to come for answers!!!
Joe
Welcome to augi, Joe. That's what augi is best at.

FYI, acad variables get changed all the time while you are using it. Sometimes commands change FILEDIA and are supposed to change it back when they finish. But if something happens that prevents the command from finishing properly, the varible doesn't get reset.

[Julesagain]

FYI, acad variables get changed all the time while you are using it. Sometimes commands change FILEDIA and are supposed to change it back when they finish. But if something happens that prevents the command from finishing properly, the varible doesn't get reset.
Now this was an interesting tidbit. I wondered why things would seem to randomly set themselves to different values (the ones I notice the most are highlight and regenauto). But this makes so much sense - if the command needs it to be something else to operate, and then is cancelled or something else happens mid-command, it doesn't finish and reset those variables. Thanks Ed!

Jules