Menu Icons

[Racer24ksi]

Working with LT...

In creating new buttons with macro routines, each button has an icon associated with it. I find that as I create a new icon, CAD prompts me to "save" or "save as" and I give it a descriptive "name.bmp". The bitmap is saved under the name that I gave it, but it is also saved under a generic name of ICON####.bmp. Unfortunately, the menu file uses the generic name instead of the descriptive name.

Is there some way to avoid this? My office guru says "that's just the way CAD is" but I'm hoping otherwise. It becomes a problem when you want to create a universal menu file to be used on several computers that do not rely on a server for central data storage. With generic names, it is too easy to lose track of what button is what, and chances are you will end up with smiley faces at the next computer.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Bill
Racer24ksi

 

[Racer24ksi]

Still looking for thoughts and ideas regarding Icon files, use, and management.

Thanks again...

Bill
Racer24ksi

 

[djavon]

Use notepad to edit the ICON####.BMP entries within the corresponding MENU.MNS file, changing them to the correct NAME.BMP names. When AutoCAD reloads, it will see that the MNS file has changed & recompile the MNC to have the new name associations. The BMP's must be in the support file search path or the path explicitly named in the MNS file.

Example contents of Tim.mns:
//
// AutoCAD menu file - Z:\Menus\Tim\Tim.mnc
//

***MENUGROUP=Tim

***TOOLBARS
**LAYER_CONTROLS
**TB_LAYER_CONTROLS
ID_Layer_Controls_0 [_Toolbar("Layer Controls", _Right, _Show, 0, 2, 1)]
ID_UserButton_0 [_Button("All Layers On", "ICON.bmp", "ICON_16_BLANK&quot]^C^C-Layer;on;*;;
ID_UserButton_1 [_Button("All Layers Off", "ICON6500.bmp", "ICON_16_BLANK&quot]^C^C-Layer;off;*;;;


***HELPSTRINGS
ID_USERBUTTON_0 [Turn All Layers On]
ID_USERBUTTON_1 [Turn All Layers Off]

//
// End of AutoCAD menu file - Z:\Menus\Tim\Tim.mnc
//

Change to:
//
// AutoCAD menu file - Z:\Menus\Tim\Tim.mnc
//

***MENUGROUP=Tim

***TOOLBARS
**LAYER_CONTROLS
**TB_LAYER_CONTROLS
ID_Layer_Controls_0 [_Toolbar("Layer Controls", _Right, _Show, 0, 2, 1)]
ID_UserButton_0 [_Button("All Layers On", "My_Layer_On.bmp", "ICON_16_BLANK&quot]^C^C-Layer;on;*;;
ID_UserButton_1 [_Button("All Layers Off", "My_Layer_Off.bmp", "ICON_16_BLANK&quot]^C^C-Layer;off;*;;;


***HELPSTRINGS
ID_USERBUTTON_0 [Turn All Layers On]
ID_USERBUTTON_1 [Turn All Layers Off]

//
// End of AutoCAD menu file - Z:\Menus\Tim\Tim.mnc
//

 

[Racer24ksi]

So you're saying that the "save as" option in the bit map editor of AutoCAD does not automatically adjust the name in the menu files, correct?

Manual editing of the .mns file is the only option?

And does this create more problems from a management perspective, or is it worth the time and effort?

My tendency would be to do just what you described, but it is tedious. I want to make sure that it is a good practice before doing it every time.

Bill
Racer24ksi

 

[djavon]

It does not change the name in the menu file. It's the only option i've found so far, but I'm only dealing with a few users so it's not a real big deal for me to do it this way. I agree it's tedious, but it beats the heck out of re-creating the menus because the icons all changed to smiley faces. I'm sure willing to listen to other suggestions. If you hear of any, be sure to post them.

 

[jimp178]

Dumb question I know but I have this old drawing sent to me with a note diameter to be concentric to within 0.127mm T.I.R. Datum A. For the life of me I cannot remember what T.I.R. stands for. Thanks in advance JimP178

 

[dsi]

JimP178: Your question should be posted as a new thread since it has nothing to do with menu icons. It will get more exposure. DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
While I welcome e-mail messages, please post all thread activity in these forums for the benefit of all members.