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The purpose of this article is to give the user an overview of how to keep customized toolbars from being overwritten and lost when updating their software, eliminating wasted time and the effort of re-inventing the “Toolbar Wheel”.
The CGSurvey Menu files (*.CUI and *.MNR) have all of your menus and toolbars with placement, which can be transferred from release to release. The *.CUI file was first introduced to AutoCAD 2006, prior to that the *.MNU was used.
Scenario 1 No more lost customized toolbars! Now keep your personal customized toolbars from previous versions rather than having to recreate them from scratch with an easy method of transfer to a partial toolbar/menu file to be reused again.
Here is a brief overview of instructions for Scenario 1 :
Method A:
This method may be the easiest and quickest. Before updating to a new software release make a backup copy of your CGACAD17.cui file which is found in folder: C:\Program Files\CGSurvey 8\Support, or if running our CGSurvey for AutoCAD look for same files but in folder C:\Program Files\CGSurvey 17 for AutoCAD\Support. Once the new release of your software is installed you can simple copy the *.CUI file back to the appropriate directory.
If your Toolbar icons display with question marks after the program has been launched, it may be possible that the file name was incorrectly set in the valid working or support search path for the new version of the program. (see Tools>Options- Files Tab to verify paths)
Method B:
To create a copy of an existing toolbar:
- On the command line, enter CUI. Or choose TOOLS>CUSTOMIZE>INTERFACE
- Click the plus sign (+) next to Toolbars.
- Select the toolbar you want to copy/transfer.
- While pressing the CTRL Key, drag the selected toolbar up or down in the list. A plus sign should appear next to it while you are dragging.
- A new toolbar named "Copy of <toolbar>" will be displayed at the bottom of the Toolbars list.
- Rename the new toolbar and add or remove
- Use similar techniques found in Scenario 3 of transferring tools in left & right-side panes.
Scenario 2 Sometimes two users are working on the same computer but want to have their own unique customized toolbars with docking placement, rather than to “setup house” by moving toolbars around again and again after each drawing session. This can be accomplished by creating a Profile. On the Profile tab in the options dialog box, use the export option to save this profile to a location other users can access; however, this is limited to CGSurvey for AutoCAD program only.
Here is a brief overview of instructions for Scenario 2 :
When logged in as one user, use either the MENU, MENULOAD, or the TOOLS>OPTIONS commands to set up the Autodesk software the way you want it to be, with the correct menus, toolbars and options. Then on the Profile tab in the Options dialog box, use the Export option to save this Profile to a location that other users can access. By doing this, the user will at least start with the same menus, toolbars and options as the person who created the external profile but can always switch to Set a Current customized Profile with menu/tools for the next user interface preference.
When another user starts the software and encounters different toolbars he should use the following procedure to import a user profile:
- Type options on the command line or click on Tools>Options.
- Select the Profiles tab.
- Select Import and browse to select the profile to ADD to list
- Here is a potential problem among our callers - When a user “Logs-In” as an Admin or a user with Administrative rights and uninstalls an older release of the software program, and then installs a newer release, the registry for only this “Admin or Administrator” is updated. When another user logs in and starts the program, he will encounter errors pointing to the old directory. Each user has his own registry section, which is only updated when he is logged in.
- To work around this problem or to simplify the process of updating the user profiles: When a user starts the software and encounters similar error messages he should use the following procedure to import the his profile:
- Import file and Select from List, make that Profile as Set Current. This will reload the customized menu and Toolbars with the users preference docking location and user is ready to go.
Scenario 3 Transferring from an Old computer program with previous versions of AutoCAD earlier than 2006 using (*.MNU menu file) to New Computer.
Here is a brief instruction for Scenario 3 :
Transfers user interface elements to or from a main or partial customization (CUI) file, where your interface element data is stored. You open a CUI, MNS, or older MNU file to import or export user interface data. When you open a MNU or MNS files, they are automatically converted to a CUI file format. (The original MNU or MNS files are not modified).
Customizations in panes:
When you type cuiimport on the command line or click on TOOLS >CUSTOMIZE>INTERFACE pull-down menu:
This displays the main CUI file (CGSurv_8.cui by default) in the Left pane.
 This will also list CGSurvey menu, workgroups, and ALL toolbars etc. You may want to open a different CUI or MNU file in the right pane to transfer partial customized files to the Left side of the pane. By transferring data back to the left-side pane, it updates the pre-existing CGmenu. Now, complete the task by clicking on the Apply button located down below and then by clicking on OK to finish.
For further study, I will suggest consulting an AutoCAD manual or reading the AutoCAD knowledge base and even the support page which will explain the finer details of this setup.
Below is a sample Help file found within AutoCAD 2007 help menu, which explains the procedure of the Transfer interface.
Scenario 4 To create a company-wide menu configuration that employees can use but not edit, by creating a standardized company CUI file that has all your company menus, toolbars, templates, palettes, etc. by transferring from one data source to all computers within the company or office. The additional advantage is saving time among many update installs on local PCs and increase flexibility among “Power Users” to aid in further productivity. (Your Cad Administrator can store these customized workspaces in the CUI file, to a server for safe keeping, as well as edit this file by making it their main CUI file).
This Article has only addressed the first three scenarios with short but basic instructions for beginner users. The last scenario No. 4 is best designed for larger companies with Cad Managers and or Administrators to utilize the full benefits of networking systems.
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