Expert: Bill DeShawn - 11/11/2008

Question
We have two stations in our small office. If a drawing is done on one computer you are unable to open it
without "save as" on the other. No one else has the drawing open. I can't find project manager in the newer versions(unable to find a lot as this is just AutoCad)

Answer
Nancy:
Are you running a network version of AutoCAD?  Stand-alone versions with a file server?  Stand-alone versions without a file server?

If DWG is on a file server, often times restarting AutoCAD will break any connection AutoCAD might think there is between the drawing and an open session by deleting the DWL files associated with the drawing on exiting AutoCAD.  You can't delete the DWL file manually unless AutoCAD abandoned any connection to it and just left it "out there, dangling".  If all attempts on both computers fail to restore the ability to open the drawing, them you might need to boot the server.  

Make sure wherever the drawing is, both users are to have equal permissions and privileges to the resident drive.

BTW, If you haven't done so thus far, I recommend applying this hotfix to your two computers with AutoCAD 2007  If you save down to 2004 or to 2000 for consultants with older versions, you will need to apply this to your computer so they won't lose the ability to Copy to clipboard, paste, or to WBLOCK in the drawings you send them.

Let me know how things go.
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

It appears I forgot to give you the URL for the hotfix.  Here it is:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7450124&linkID=...
Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn