Expert: Shauna Anderson - 9/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Shauna,
I was sent a drawing produced on AutoCAD 2004 which I had to modify. My PC crashed when I tried to print the drawing as a .pdf. Since then the Tools Properties Dialogue Box is blank on all of my drawing files. Any idea how to get it back? I use AutoCAD 2006.
Thanks,
Declan.

ANSWER: Hi Declan,

It has been a while since I have seen the 2006 interface. When I go to the Tools pull down, I don't have properties - so I'm shooting blind here.

First - check the system variable FILEDIA and make sure it is on (1). That makes sure your dialog boxes are on. (Sounds like it is though) You might try toggling that back and forth.

The next thing to try is doing a repair of the installation. I'd bet the crash has lost some info that ACAD is trying to locate. Just go to Control Panel and act as if you were going to remove it, and you are given the option to repair.

If that does not do the trick - then are your other dialog boxes working?

If you would like to follow up - tell me EXACTLY how you're getting to this box and I would be glad to take another run at this.

-Shauna



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

QUESTION: Hi Shauna - Thank you very much for your quick response. Unfortunately I am not clear on what you mean by FILEDIA. I tried the remove option via the control panel and was not given the option to repair.
I get to the Properties Dialogue Box by selecting an element such as a line or some text on the drawing and right clicking on it or alternatively I go via the Tools option on the Toolbar. I noticed since that Tools Inquiry Area no longer works either. Thanks again. Declan.

Answer
Ahhh - okay - I think I can help...

You can turn the Properties off and on using CTRL +1.  (not F1)
Once it is on, you can right click on the Title Bar and tell it to anchor left or right - it will keep it up as a palette that will fly out when you roll over it. It can also be anchored open with the double arrow near the top of the palette. Or you can have it close up and not anchor it.

Here is what I think will happen:
If you use the CTRL +1 and you still do not see your properties, then the palette has gotten slid off the visible part of your screen. This does not happen often, but I've had this! I had to right click on the Windows Desktop and go to Properties then the Settings tab and pick a resolution that was ridiculously small, but then I could see the missing palette and pull it back into where I wanted it - like the middle of my acad screen.

Let me know if this fixes you up!

Regards,
Shauna