Expert: Bob - 1/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: I've been drafting since release 11.  I am currently working in ADT 2004.  The company i work for already had the computer set up when i arrived.  we have a profile called acad in the profile setup, and it allows the original cad style layer manager that came with acad2000.  we recently installed adobe acrobatpro 8.0. i entered the menuload command and unloaded the adobe menu from the toolbar cause it drives me nuts. when i next used the layer manager, it had reverted to the adt style layer manager. why? and how do i change it back.  I've already reloaded the profile. nothing changed. using a gateway with xp sp2 and adt 2004.
Thanks, Angela

ANSWER: Hi -- I put a call in to one of my old teachers, who should remember this -- it all changed with 2006.  I tend to wipe out of my brain the old parts of the programs, as they are replaced.

Meanwhile, I deciphered your message as best I could --- tell me if I have it wrong.

1-- I dont remember ACAD and ADT having a different layer manager in ANY release. (I started with ADT2) Are you sure that is what you mean to say?  Tell me what is different.
2-- Do you mean you removed the Adobe menu from the MENU BAR (the correct name for the thing across the top of the screen)?-- If so, was it not merely one more category at the top of the screen?  You are entitled not to like it --- but I am at a loss to understand how it got there, without someone adding it (or allowing the Adobe Installer to add it????)

For now. I suggest you go to HELP, and type in profile, then create one all over again, after first checking to be certain it is not there. What I suspect is that you changed profiles accidentally, and the other still exists. I believe I recall, on the old releases, that doing XXX normal thing (something to do with layer manager) switched to the ADT profile, and one has to reset.

The problem I find with many long time users is that they remember when Autodesk was totally full of crap, and detached themselves too much from listening or learning new features, so they customize 2008 back to R12, or marry shortcuts that are no longer shorter.  So I always mention that I believe it is better to keep up in small increments, as things progress.  (Easy for me to say, since I am the type who likes to do that.)

I am glad, in a way, that you are using ADT 2004 only as AutoCAD, because most of the improvements in ADT came after that early release.
I also like Acad 2008 300% better, but the ADT is 3000% better.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: THANKS, BUT GOT IT FIGURED OUT.  
RE:1 YES THEY ARE DIFFERENT.  OLD STYLE DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE STUFF WITH KEYS AND SNAPSHOTS. FINDING XREFS AND THE LIKE IS A LOT SIMPLER (PROBABLY ONLY CAUSE I'M USED TO IT BEING THE OTHER WAY. IF I HAD TIME I'D PROBABLY GET USED TO THE NEW WAY-BUT ALAS...).  
RE:2- YES THE "MENU BAR". BOSS ADDED ADOBE TO COMPUTERS W/O THINKING TO UNCHECK THE COORD WITH AUTOCAD FEATURE. IT WAS FOUR CATEGORIES AT TOP THAT I NEVER USE AND I KEPT FORETTING THEY WERE THERE AND HITTING THEM INSTEAD OF EXPRESS. (MUSCLE MEMORY-WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO.)

FOR THE RECORD-ANYONE ELSE HAS THIS PROBLEM--
GO TO YOUR ORIGINAL MENU FILES & PROFILE FILES AND RELOAD ALL.  YOU'LL HAVE TO REBUILD ANY OF YOUR TOOLBARS, BUT...

(I'M KIND OF GLAD I'M ANAL AND TEND TO SAVE A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL MENUS/PROFILES AS "ACAD MENU NAME"-1.MNC OR"ACAD PROFILE NAME".AWS AND LOAD MINE UP.  THAT WAY THE ORIGINAL IS UNCORRUPTED AND I CAN ALWAYS RESAVE TO MY NAME AGAIN AND RELAOD.)

THANKS AGAIN.
ANG

Answer
Hi

Glad you have it solved, and

YES, FOUR EXTRA menus would drive me nuts, too.

You are saving the menus etc the smart way --- and you can save a copy of toolbars too.

2008 is very groovy -- 2009 in a few weeks. Tell the boss I said that ONLY if you just do plain AutoCAD is that 2004 MAYBE cheaper to keep than upgrade.

BOB