Topic: Open Read-Only.... From Windows Explorer??

[DIW_CADtech]

Anyone have any tips or windows modifications to open files from windows explorer read only.

This would solve two major problems for us. 

1.  Engineers opening files in the wrong version and saving...  causing all kinds of problems with our clients..

2.  Quick way to grab blocks from other files without risk of modifying the file. (ok.. this is more of a preference )

Any ideas on how someone could add that drop-down to windows explorer?

Thanks in advance for any assistance!!

[cadtag]

for preference 2, you can go with ADC instead to browse to the drawing you want.

I'll be interested in approaches to #1 though

[Greg B]

Anyone have any tips or windows modifications to open files from windows explorer read only.

This would solve two major problems for us. 

1.  Engineers opening files in the wrong version and saving...  causing all kinds of problems with our clients..

2.  Quick way to grab blocks from other files without risk of modifying the file. (ok.. this is more of a preference )

Any ideas on how someone could add that drop-down to windows explorer?

Thanks in advance for any assistance!!

Right Click -> Preference -> Checkbox to Read Only

I'm guessing I'm missing the bigger picture here though.

[BuckoAk]

Give this a shot, I set this up for my users.
http://www.cad-notes.com/open-autocad-drawings-as-read-only-using-right-click-from-explorer/


If you don't want to use the Send-To side of things, you can add this straight into the Right-Click by editing the Registry with the following"
You will need to change the Drive to your own destination, create the reg file or edit your reg then export the reg file out then apply to the other users.

[dgorsman]

I've taken to dragging DWG files onto the TrueView desktop icon.  Guarantees read-only.

[DIW_CADtech]

Ya greg, I can't just switch everything to read only.. the othe CAD technicians here will start plotting my slow and painful death.  While that would solve the problem of engineers opening 2012 DWG's with Civil 3D 2014, that would cause a whole new set of problems...

What I'm looking for is a way to make it easy for the Engineers to do the right thing.  Not to militantly prevent them from editing.  If there was a option in the right click dropdown menu in explorer, that gave them an option to open read only, They would use it.. It would be quick and convenient.  Everybody likes to choose things that are convenient.. and nobody likes excessive use of server security.  It just gets anoying very quickly. 

I'm all about making things easier.. with less oversight & management.

This kind of mentality makes people happy.

-DIW

[DIW_CADtech]

Buck,

While this has gotten me a bit further, I seem to have missed something.. See my screen shots This generates the dropdown option, however i get an error.   Don't get too huffy with me.. I never play with regedit...   this is new turf for me. There is an option for creating different types of "Keys"  I chose a "String"  I thought bionary was clearly not correct.  In any case  this is what is in the VB Script File.

On Error Resume Next
dim cmd_arg
set cmd_arg=wscript.Arguments
Dim acadApp
Set acadApp = GetObject(, "AutoCAD.Application")
If Err Then
Err.Clear
Set acadApp = CreateObject("AutoCAD.Application")
End if
acadApp.visible=True
acadApp.WindowState = normal
acadApp.Documents.Open cmd_arg(0), True


Where Did I go wrong?

[DIW_CADtech]

It may be important to note that the script works fine in the SEND TO application that was in the link you posted.  That works fine.  That working is what gave me the .. uh.. courage, to toy with Regedit.   

- Please Advise...

 :ugly:

[BuckoAk]

-DIW

Your close, I should have started with the basic info first.
The reg info was meant to be run from a .reg install file,  so lets start from scratch

• In the registry delete the string you added i.e "Command" "@="\"wscript.exe U:\\Misc Acad\\Open Civil 3D (Read Only).vbs %1\""
• Next Right Click on "Open with AutoCAD - READ ONLY"
• Select New > Key > Rename to "Command"
• Copy and Paste the Following:      wscript.exe "C:\\OpenReadOnly.vbs" "%1"

You should see the following: