Two Installations w/ OOTB ACAD.CUI - Basics on How Duplicate Mods of First to Second

[CEHill]

With 2023 AutoCAD, a needed refresher on CUIX file strategies ensues. Along with my custom-named user profile and workspace (brought forward from 2022 via Autodesk's nice migration tools), the custom setup so easily assigned on "computer 1" was not available on "computer 2".

My current mastery of CUIX manipulation is lacking and required subject matter study (re)starts.

1. Pointers to subject materials are appreciated.
2. Your comments are worth their weight in gold bullion.

BOTTOM LINE
To have AutoCAD "Vanilla" 2023 installations on both computers 1 and 2 look and operate identically.

Thanks,
Clint

[Ed Jobe]

One easy way:
1. On 2022, Start Menu>AutoCAD 2022>Export AutoCAD 2022 Settings. Saves all customizations to a zip file. Note the path you saved it to.
2. On 2023, Start Menu>AutoCAD 2023>Import AutoCAD 2023 Settings. Browse to the zip file you saved in step 1.

[CEHill]

Hi Ed,

I will file that important fact!
For now, 2022 version was uninstalled but not before 2023 "automatically" i.e., without my interaction (exporting/importing) assimilated my 2022 custom workspaces (possibly other components) on my successful 'Computer 1'.

Now, I must take the rocky path to customize 2023 on "Computer 2".

Input on customizing by creating a custom CUI may be the best path. What are your thoughts?

TWO CONCERNS:

• To maintain consistency between mutliple 2023 installations
• To futureproof migrations (in case the export/import function fails)

[Opie]

Have you analyzed your modified acad.cui? How different is it from the OOTB acad.cui?

Of course, the CUI is no longer just a CUI. It is a CUIX, which is just fancy for a compressed folder with actual CUI files inside among other files. The CUI is just an XML file with a different extension.

You could then extract the CUI from the two CUIX folders and run WinDiff on the two CUI files to see the differences. There may be too many differences to make the check useful, though.

[CEHill]

AH-HA!

I will try this very thing sooner than later.

Thanks Opie!

Have you analyzed your modified acad.cui? How different is it from the OOTB acad.cui?

Of course, the CUI is no longer just a CUI. It is a CUIX, which is just fancy for a compressed folder with actual CUI files inside among other files. The CUI is just an XML file with a different extension.

You could then extract the CUI from the two CUIX folders and run WinDiff on the two CUI files to see the differences. There may be too many differences to make the check useful, though.

[Ed Jobe]

To do what Opie is suggesting, make a copy of acad.cuix, change the extension to zip and then extract.

[CEHill]

To do what Opie is suggesting, make a copy of acad.cuix, change the extension to zip and then extract.

Thanks for that important technique without which accomplishing this task would have been a real head scratcher for me!

[Tom Beauford]

How to export, import, backup, and transfer settings to and from AutoCAD may be helpful.

[Ed Jobe]

The topic Tom linked to has a link, How to Manually Transfer Settings.

Also, the tip I gave you in post 2 works between computers, not just versions.

[CEHill]

How to export, import, backup, and transfer settings to and from AutoCAD may be helpful.

Hi Tom,

I will IMPORT my mobile workstation's "ideal" setup to my 2017 workstation when back in the office tomorrow.

I noticed this help article was published a few weeks ago - a great find.

Thanks to our knowledgeable colleagues, Opie and Ed, for offering some very valuable information on this process as well.

Have a great weekend!

- - - Updated - - -

The topic Tom linked to has a link, How to Manually Transfer Settings.

Also, the tip I gave you in post 2 works between computers, not just versions.

Ah, I now understand. I am sure I will be using this technique!