Wrong Version Opening Files

[jmoore284]

I currently have multiple versions of AutoCAD installed on my machine (AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD Electrical 2007, AutoCAD Electrical 2008, and AutoCAD 2010). After installing 2010 an issue began that I had solved with past releases however it has stumped me this time.

Typically I open all drawing files via Windows Explorer as opposed to doing so from within AutoCAD using the "Open" command. After installing 2010 when I double click a file it opens in 2010 however I need for it to open using 2008.

From within Windows Explorer I went to "Tools...Folder Options...File Types". I then selected the "DWG" file type and hit browse. I then selected the acad.exe executable which is located within the AutoCAD 2008 folder. Now when I double click a file it opens it using AutoCAD 2004.

I believe part of the issue is a result of all AutoCAD executables being named "acad.exe" as opposed to "acad2008.exe, etc". Is anyone aware of a system variable or any other method that would control which version is used to open drawings?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

[scott.wilcox]

In my experience, clicking on a file in explorer launches the last version of AutoCAD you were using.

If you want it to open in a particular version, start that version and close it out. Any files clicked should now launch in that version.

FYI, Autodesk does not recommend opening files through explorer, but by starting AutoCAD and opening the file with AutoCAD.

[jmoore284]

I have also tried just what you stated. I have opened a drawing file within 2008 and then closed both the drawing and application. I then launched 2008 and once fully loaded double clicked my file. It continued to open in 2004.

Also, the option of opening my drawings via the AutoCAD "Open" command is out of the question. I have drawings separated within folders for various customers, lets say 10 or so of these at any given time. Within some of these customer folders I have them broken down by areas of the plant, then project, etc. One customer folder for instance easily has 300 sub-folders.

If I were to use the "Open" command I would spend an enormous amount of time browsing back and fourth between locations, thus making it impractical.

[jaberwok]

Double-check that you have pointed to the right acad.exe in \folder options\file types\etc..
Scott's comments depend on the default "DWG launcher" being selected instead of a specific .exe file.

[derek.96018]

Can you not set the default setting within windows to use a specific program ?

Right click a file, go down to "Open With", scroll over to the right, scroll to the bottom and choose "Open with...."

Choose the Autocad application, check the check box for "Always use selected program to open..." and Ok.

Does that work for you ?

[jmoore284]

I believe right clicking on a file and selecting "Open With" takes me to a similar menu as if I were to select "Tools...Folder Options...File Types". I tried your method with the same result as before. When I browse to select the executable I want, I navigate to the "ACADE2008" folder and select the "acad.exe" file. I then select that I would like for this file type to always open with the selected program. It then opens the drawing file using AutoCAD 2004.

[derek.96018]

hmmm, trying to be simple..... did you try closing all windows of AutoCAD (at least) and making those changes.... or even rebooting your computer ?

[dgorsman]

Something else you may want to try is dragging the drawing file icon into the open AutoCAD application area (not inside a drawing, which would be treated like INSERT). It also lets you open multiple files at the same time.

[jmoore284]

I have tried closing AutoCAD, confirmed the task was no longer running, made the changes, and then relaunched AutoCAD with no luck. I've been using the drag from Windows Explorer to AutoCAD method as a work around and feel that for now it is my best option. I would however prefer to resolve the issue so that I can go back to opening directly from Windows Explorer as I always have.

[dgorsman]

I have tried closing AutoCAD, confirmed the task was no longer running, made the changes, and then relaunched AutoCAD with no luck. I've been using the drag from Windows Explorer to AutoCAD method as a work around and feel that for now it is my best option. I would however prefer to resolve the issue so that I can go back to opening directly from Windows Explorer as I always have.

The trouble with the double-click-to-open method in AutoCAD, unlike some other files such as Word or Excel documents, is you could have multiple versions, each with multiple profiles, not to mention other non-AutoCAD DWG programs to choose from. Always best to make sure to open the file once the proper program is up and running with the correct settings. By the by, have you tried double-clicking on LNK shortcuts within the AutoCAD open file dialog?

[jmoore284]

I have opened the version of AutoCAD I wish to use as well as multiple drawings. I then go to Windows Explorer and double click a drawing which resides in the same folder as the others but it opens in 2004. I am not familiar with an "LNK shortcut".

[jmoore284]

Is there by chance any system variables that may control this?

[dgorsman]

I have opened the version of AutoCAD I wish to use as well as multiple drawings. I then go to Windows Explorer and double click a drawing which resides in the same folder as the others but it opens in 2004. I am not familiar with an "LNK shortcut".

AKA desktop shortcut, which are files with an LNK extension.

[jmoore284]

Still no luck. Since the last time I posted I purchased AutoCAD Electrical 2010. Before installing I uninstall-ed the trial I was running of AutoCAD 2010. I am experiencing the same issues; when I double click a drawing it always opens in AutoCAD 2004. I have tried right-clicking on the file and telling it to open with the "acad.exe" file located within the AutoCAD Electrical 2010 folder but it does not seem to care. When I told it to open with the 2010 executable it did change the icons for all of my drawings to that of 2010.

If anyone can solve this mystery it would be greatly appreciated as it is costing me major time at this point.

[RobertB]

Still no luck. Since the last time I posted I purchased AutoCAD Electrical 2010. Before installing I uninstall-ed the trial I was running of AutoCAD 2010. I am experiencing the same issues; when I double click a drawing it always opens in AutoCAD 2004. I have tried right-clicking on the file and telling it to open with the "acad.exe" file located within the AutoCAD Electrical 2010 folder but it does not seem to care. When I told it to open with the 2010 executable it did change the icons for all of my drawings to that of 2010.

If anyone can solve this mystery it would be greatly appreciated as it is costing me major time at this point.For the AutoCAD 2010 family, assign DWG files to the AutoCAD DWG Launcher and not Acad.exe.

[irneb]

The official way is to use the launcher. This "should" open the last ACad version which you had open. See this thread: http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=98023&highlight=launcher

There is a method for forcing a specific version however: http://www.forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=91559

See jaberwok's post #2. It's very important to have the DDE settings just right, otherwise each DWG file will start a new session of ACad (as if SDI=1). Please note this isn't recommended and future ACads could have some things working differently. Apparently it doesn't work with 2010 already. But seeing as you actually want a different version than 2010 to open, it might just be a solution (as it works for my 2008 ).

[peter.ashby142724]

if you open a windows folder, go to the tools tab and folder options, now to the file types and select the .dwg file extension. click the advanced button and you will get the edit file type box up, in here you can specify multiple versions of CAD under open (just give them a different name) and more importantly which one is the default.
I have my microstation set up with multiple versions, and now have the option of clicking to open in the default, or if I right click I get the choice of which version I want to use (without having to go through open with)
See this tutorial for microstation, autocad can be set up similarly
http://www.la-solutions.co.uk/content/FileAssociations.htm
OK yes I know the example is microstation but it works the same for autocad.
note that each of the links has to point to the relevant autocad .exe file to work
Peter

[irneb]

While that works fine with most other programs, ACad has this funny quickiness of opening a separate session for each DWG you double click. Therefore the Launcher is used, or the DDE trick as per jaberwok's post.

But using your method combined with jaberwok's, could work in the same way. Only 2010 has an issue when you don't start the DWG through the launcher.

[jaberwok]

if you open a windows folder, go to the tools tab and folder options, now to the file types and select the .dwg file extension. click the advanced button and you will get the edit file type box up, in here you can specify multiple versions of CAD under open (just give them a different name) and more importantly which one is the default.
I have my microstation set up with multiple versions, and now have the option of clicking to open in the default, or if I right click I get the choice of which version I want to use (without having to go through open with)
See this tutorial for microstation, autocad can be set up similarly
http://www.la-solutions.co.uk/content/FileAssociations.htm
OK yes I know the example is microstation but it works the same for autocad.
note that each of the links has to point to the relevant autocad .exe file to work
Peter

FYI, this doesn't work in Windows_7 but see this thread (http://www.forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=113449) for similar.

[peter.ashby142724]

FYI, this doesn't work in Windows_7 but see this thread (http://www.forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=113449) for similar.
Ah I dont have windows 7 yet so didnt know, thanks, I do know now though

[jmoore284]

Thanks everyone. I re-associated the ".dwg" file type with the "AutoCAD Launcher" and it seems to have worked. There are times when I will need to use various versions of AutoCAD and as long as I remember to manually open the version I want to work in, I should be fine.

[irneb]

Thanks everyone. I re-associated the ".dwg" file type with the "AutoCAD Launcher" and it seems to have worked. There are times when I will need to use various versions of AutoCAD and as long as I remember to manually open the version I want to work in, I should be fine.Uhmm, not exactly. This is where the Launcher falls apart: it remembers which acad was last closed, not opened. So you could open 2004, then close it and open 2008. Double click on a DWG and it gets opened in 2004.

IMO this is contra-intuitive to the user. ADesk should look at changing this behavior to use the last version opened instead. Or actually the most intuitive would be the last version activated, which would allow the user to have 2 or more versions running at the same time - then bringing a specific version to the fore, and from then on (until he/she's activated another version) that would be the default for double clicks.

[jaberwok]

Thanks everyone. I re-associated the ".dwg" file type with the "AutoCAD Launcher" and it seems to have worked. There are times when I will need to use various versions of AutoCAD and as long as I remember to manually open the version I want to work in, I should be fine.


Uhmm, not exactly. This is where the Launcher falls apart: it remembers which acad was last closed, not opened. So you could open 2004, then close it and open 2008. Double click on a DWG and it gets opened in 2004.

IMO this is contra-intuitive to the user. ADesk should look at changing this behavior to use the last version opened instead. Or actually the most intuitive would be the last version activated, which would allow the user to have 2 or more versions running at the same time - then bringing a specific version to the fore, and from then on (until he/she's activated another version) that would be the default for double clicks.

jmoore284 -
If you combine that with dgorsman's suggestion (post #8 in this thread) you should be okay. Just open all the versions of acad that you want to use and drag files from explorer.

Something else you may want to try is dragging the drawing file icon into the open AutoCAD application area (not inside a drawing, which would be treated like INSERT). It also lets you open multiple files at the same time.

[SPARKYFEETS]

Hello,

I know this is an old thread but I was looking for how to set AutoCAD to be a default program for all "dwg's" in windows 7. I clicked on the link to the thread that you mentioned but it was not found. Do you remember how this is done?

Thanks

[derek.96018]

On my computer (yes, Win 7) I right click a .dwg file go down to 'Open With' and arrow to the right.... at the bottom is a Choose default program... option then choose Acad

[jaberwok]

Hello,

I know this is an old thread but I was looking for how to set AutoCAD to be a default program for all "dwg's" in windows 7. I clicked on the link to the thread that you mentioned but it was not found. Do you remember how this is done?

Thanks


On my computer (yes, Win 7) I right click a .dwg file go down to 'Open With' and arrow to the right.... at the bottom is a Choose default program... option then choose Acad

No, choose "AutoCAD DWG Launcher" unless you are using a very old version of acad.