Expert: Paul Jordan - 11/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: I can add new pat code into the acad.pat file in notepad, but a day or two latter the program has somehow retrieved the original acad.pat file and I lost my customization.

ANSWER: Hey Bill,

It sounds like you have another acad.pat file on your computer somewhere and Autocad is pointing to it to get it's patterns.  Make sure you have it set to look in the file you're modifying and not some other location.  You'll find where it's looking for the pattern file under Tools, Options, and the top left tab should be files and that will have the location of all your paths that Autocad is using.

Paul

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

QUESTION: Thanks Paul
I checked that earlier. The only thing I found was a shortcut called acad.pat ??? I deleted the shortcut. Hopefully that somehow is the problem. However this is a government computer and I am not allowed access to the registry and etc.... Also they may be replacing altered files with the original? Anyway, right now my customized file is working. I will see what tomorrow brings tomorrow....
billmay

Answer
Bill,

I wonder if you could run a script file off a thumbdrive with your personal acad.pat on it?

I know about the government side of things.  I was in the Air Force for 20 years and fought with the IT folks quite a bit over Autocad issues.  They don't like to give power user status to anyone and to run Autocad, you need that.  You need the rights to update files and Autocad is always changing system files everytime you make a change to a directory, tool palette, or anything else like that.

I wish you luck,

Paul