Problem resizing # command lines - won't "stick"

[smeagol]

I can't get AutoCAD to keep the number of command lines visible. I can set it in options to 3, but when I close CAD and restart it always returns to a size of 1.

I start CAD using "C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2000i\acad.exe" /p "c:\Rebis201\AutoPLANT_PDS.arg"

I have edited the profile in the registry and set the key CmdVisLines to 3 but CAD always opens with 1 line. When I go back and check the registry the key CmdVisLines is set back at 1. (I have administrative privledges on this machine)

I have edited the AutoPLANT_PDS.arg file as well.

Funny thing is, everything worked fine for several months. We recently started using the Batch Plot Utility that ships with AutoCAD. I can't prove it, but I believe that this utility may of created this problem. I noticed the problem shortly after using this utility for the first time.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[SteveSmith]

I've been using the Batch Plot utility for sometime
and have never seen this problem. Could it be that the settings in Acad itself are overriding the registry?
Go to Tools>Options>Display and check the settings there and see if setting it to 3 there does the trick.

Good luck, Steve Smith
Product Engineer
Staco Energy Products Co.

http://www.stacoenergy.com

 

[smeagol]

Yes, I have tried setting it inside of AutoCAD. It always changes back to one after I quit AutoCAD and restart.

I just noticed yesterday that it doesn't matter what profile I start up with, I always have a command line of 1 height.

Are there any other files besides .arg or any other places in the registry besides the profile area that AutoCAD loads information from at startup?

Thanks for your help Mr. SteveSmith.

 

[Striker]

There are two locations that AutoCAD will store profile information regarding the size of the command line window. One is the FixedProfile and the other is the current profile specified as default in the Profiles key. I believe that if you have a value in Profiles that determines the window size, it will be overridden by the value in FixedProfile. Also, there is an issue with the stored size of the display window overriding the command line window. It seems the Display window has precedence over the Command line window, and as such will force the command line window to resize according to available space. Incedently, the issue could be related to the batch plot utility, since it does not open the AutoCAD window fully, however when it closes, the registry is updated. Try this...

Open AutoCAD and maximize the size of the AutoCAD window. When you do this, the AutoCAD command line may no longer be visible.
Resize the AutoCAD window so that the command line is visible.
Select Tools > Options > Display > Window Elements to set the number of command lines displayed.
Maximize the AutoCAD window again.
To confirm that the problem is resolved, exit and restart AutoCAD.

Let us know the status of your resolution.

 

[tigrek]

I wonder if the problem occurs when you start acad without reference to:
AutoPLANT_PDS.arg
then change the settings to 3 lines, save and open again without this arg file.

If no problem then, it may be that the manual editing of arg file has corrupted syntax of a line or two.

Gollum gollum

http://www.homescript.com

 

[smeagol]

Striker - I performed the operations in your list. Of course, it changed the command line height for that session of AutoCAD. However, when I closed AutoCAD and started a new session it was back to 1 row.

Later, as an experiment, I reduced the drawing area size from maximum to a window that is smaller than my command line height. When I restarted AutoCAD the drawing area was still windowed, but the command line had reverted to 1 row.

The FixedProfile area of the registy didn't contain the CmdVisLines key. I added it (as a DWORD) and set it to 3 but it had no effect. I have removed it since it didn't help.

tigrek - The problem occurs even when I start AutoCAD by double clicking on the AutoCAD.exe file in the AutoCAD directory. The .arg files have the proper height. It's the registry key CmdVisLines that keeps changing from 3 to 1 when I start AutoCAD.

Striker & tigrek - Thanks for the help.

 

[smeagol]

bump

 

[DetroitPickles]

Smeagol,

Have you tried deleting the CmdVisLines registry setting? If you delete it, does it come back all by itself?

Mr. Pickles

 

[Striker]

Ok, I know this is perhaps a long shot, but what the heck, nothing else seemed to work....

If the profile you are specifying does not specifically exist in the profiles section of the registry, then the default standard profile will always be used. Check the default profile in the options dialog or type CPROFILE at the command line to see what the current profile is. If the profile does not match the profile specified in the AutoPLANT_PDS.arg file then that could be the problem, in any case, you could go to the profiles section in the Options dialog and import the AutoPLANT_PDS.arg file as a new profile and set it to current, then export the new profile after you have reset the correct number of command lines you want visible. One word of caution, create a backup of your existing AutoPLANT_PDS.arg file just in case something goes terribly wrong.

Keep us informed of your progress.....

 

[smeagol]

DetroitPickles - Yes, and it did return after removal.

Striker - It didn't help. I even deleted the AutoPLANT_PDS profile and reimported it. It came in with the proper # of command lines, but when I restarted CAD I was back to 1.

BTW, when I typed in the CPROFILE command it said AutoPLANT_PDS (read only). Should it say read only? My .arg is not read only and I do not believe the term applies to registry keys.

Since nothing has worked so far, I got desperate. I went to another machine and exported from their registry the following keys: FixedProfile, <<Unnamed Profile>>, and AutoPLANT_PDS. I BACKED UP THE SAME KEYS ON MY MACHINE. Then I imported the keys from the other machine into my registry. Then, to get my preferences of toolbars, etc. I loaded AutoCAD, deleted the AutoPLANT_PDS profile, and then imported my AutoPLANT_PDS profile from the .arg file on my machine. I set the AutoPLANT_PDS profile as current and closed AutoCAD.

I then opened AutoCAD..... and IT WORKED!!!! 3 command lines!

I can only assume some window height setting had priority and was forcing the command window to reset to a height of 1.

My plan is to keep a good copy of those registry keys on my machine as a backup to correct this problem if it occurs again.

Consider this problem resolved. However, I am curious about the CPROFILE showing my current profile as (read only).

Thanks to everyone who helped.

 

[Striker]

CPROFILE is a &quot;read only&quot; system variable, in effect forcing you to either use the /P xxxx.arg call or manually change the profile in the options dialog. I suppose it prevents unscrupulous users from chnging the system variable with a lisp routine, anyway, I am glad that you did figure it out.

Cheers......

 

Fix:

Resize the application window to allow multiple command line window text lines, but not maximized. Set text lines to 3. Save. Exit.

Restart.

Joe

 

[tigrek]

Moral of the lesson: leave the registry alone and live with whatever you have got. Gollum.

 

[JHubbard]

/p &quot;c:\Rebis201\AutoPLANT_PDS.arg&quot;
The /p causes autocad to modify the registry with the values stored in the &quot;.arg&quot; file.
You can modify this file in the same way you would the registry.