Topic: Default App

[ronjonp]

I have LDD and regular AutoCAD 2002 installed on my system. How do I set it so that when I double click a drawing file to open it, it will open with 2002 and not LDD?

Thanks,

Ron

[Keith™]

The funny thing about that is I have the funny situation that the last version I use is the version that tries to open the next drawing I double click on. But to fix it so it opens only with a certain program, open a window, click tools, folderoptions, select "file types" find DWG, highlight it, click the "Change button" beside "opens with" select the program from the list, if it is not in the list, select Browse then browse to the program you want to use to open it. Close all windows and you are in business.

[daron]

I would just open the app that you want to have open first. What version is LDD?

[ronjonp]

Thanks Keith, but that didn't do it . Daron, I'm using LDD 3.

[Keith™]

It should indeed do it unless you have something wierd going on. The operating system is what handles the opening of files regardless of the program itself. If the drawing extension is being reassociated it is being done so by AutoCAD itself. I have had no problem with it on my system, but then again, I do not use LDD.

Incedently, if you have a LDD template specified as your base template it will automatically load the arx files required for LDD (even in 2002). For example, I have a 2000 and 2002 loaded on my system, 2002 is ADT3.3. If I use my default profile and open a 2002 drawing with ADT objects it will automatically load the ADT arx modules in 2000, effectively turning 2000 into ADT3.3 so I could really have A2k w/ADT3.3 and A2k2 w/ADT3.3 at the same time. It is the ARX that makes the program, not the program itself.

[daron]

Question: Is ldd3 based off of Autocad 2i, 2002 or 2k4?

[ronjonp]

Based off of 2002.

[Keith™]

However if you have A2k and A2k2 w/LDD you can actually load LDD in 2000 (contrary to popular belief)

[daron]

Why then do you have vanilla-2002 and ldd-2002 when having ldd-2002 already contains vanilla-2002? You still have a choice, just don't use AECC objects.

[Mark]

LDD/Map defaults to last one you opened. In other words if you opened LDD then close it and dbl-click on a file LDD will start. What I do is create a shortcut in my "SendTo" folder to the one I want to open. You have to include all arguments in the shortcut. like this:
"C:\Land Desktop 2004\acad.exe" /p "C:\Land Desktop 2004\map.arg"

[Keith™]

Why then do you have vanilla-2002 and ldd-2002 when having ldd-2002 already contains vanilla-2002? You still have a choice, just don't use AECC objects.

The short answer is that AEC objects are simply addons in arx modules. I did an experiment once and changed the support path to 2002ADT 3.3 in 2000. When I opened 2000, it was plainly 2000, but as soon as I opened a drawing with ADT objects, the window title in 2000 changed to the ADT title, along with the icon, menus and all. Now once the AEC objects are loaded, all drawings saved from that point on, have ADT embedded objects. This DOES NOT work with 2004 and 2000/2 the ARX modules are handled differently.
Why someone would have both is a mystery, perhaps Autodesk does not want you to know this for fear that the transfer of ARX modules would become common in the work place.
Essentially buy 1 ADT/LDD/MDT and 10 or whatever plain AutoCAD.. then path the plain AutoCAD to the installation of the ADT/LDD/MDT and voila...instant addon... at no additional expense.
I am sure it is probably covered in their software license, but it perhaps is obscure.
Anyway, for those of you who are not faint of heart and have the rersources, give it a try...you will be suprised.

[daron]

That is a neat idea. I might just have to dig into the legalities of that one.