The Definitive Guide to Installing AutoCAD

Architecture 2010
Matthew Stachoni CADapult Ltd

AB222-1

Completely rewritten for 2010, this highly popular installation guide is your single source
for automating the rollout of AutoCAD Architecture 2010 across your organization. We will not only cover
all aspects of creating Deployments, but learn how to design and implement a complete turnkey solution
for incorporating a heavily customized corporate environment into your ACA installations. We will
investigate advanced methods of creating a template user environment that can be applied to all new
installations. We will learn advanced techniques for creating fully "roamable" ACA user profiles, which
can be used across multiple machines and offices for flexibility and ease of management. We will then
create
a set of simple but powerful scripts that will automate ACA installations and implement a fully
customized environment.

About the Speaker:

Matt is currently an AEC software specialist for CADapult Ltd, a leading Autodesk reseller in the
Northern Delaware and Southeast Pennsylvania regions. He mainly provides training and technical
services for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit Architecture. Previously, Matt was a CAD and
IT manager and consulted for several A/E firms in Delaware and Massachusetts. Matt has been working
with and customizing AutoCAD since 1987, and has implemented and managed Autodesk
Architectural Desktop/AutoCAD Architecture in several firms since its initial release.

The Definitive Guide to Installing AutoCAD Architecture

Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................
................................ 2
1. Introduction
.......................................................................................................................................
... 5
Class Notes
...............................................................................................................................
.......... 5
Key Topics
...............................................................................................................................
............ 5
Tools You Will
Need......................................................................................................................
...... 6
Additional Files
...............................................................................................................................
.... 6
Terms, Conventions and Paths
........................................................................................................... 6
2. Strategies for a Well-Managed AutoCAD Architecture
Installation ..................................................... 8
Installation vs. Deployments
.............................................................................................................. 8
The Problem with Deployments and the Path to Enlightenment
...................................................... 9
The End Condition
............................................................................................................................
10
Understanding System, Shared and User
Scopes............................................................................. 11
Strategy #1: Default Deployment and Installation:
.......................................................................... 12
Strategy #2: Server-Side Shared Scope Files
.................................................................................... 13
Strategy #3: Server-Side Shared and User-Scope
Files.................................................................... 13
Important Concepts Influencing Strategy #3
................................................................................... 14
User-Scope Implementation Strategy
Notes.................................................................................... 15
3. AutoCAD Architecture 2010 Deployment Development and Installation Workflow
......................... 16
4. Creating a Development
Laboratory................................................................................................... 17
Introduction...........................................................................................................
........................... 17
The Need for a Development
Lab..................................................................................................... 17
2

The Definitive Guide to Installing AutoCAD Architecture

The Wonders of Virtual

Machines.................................................................................................... 18
Development Machine Requirements
............................................................................................. 19
Using our Host and Virtual Machines in Development
.................................................................... 20
Creating a Virtual Machine
............................................................................................................... 20
Create a Template User Account in your Development VM
............................................................ 21
Map the J:\ drive and add Network Location / Network Places in each VM
................................... 22
Install Necessary Applications in your Development
VM ................................................................ 22
Create a TestUser account in all VMs
........................................................................................... 22
Finish and Clean Up the VM
............................................................................................................. 22
Networking in a
VM..........................................................................................................................
22
Take Snapshots of the Virtual Machines
.......................................................................................... 22
Important Tips Regarding Installations
............................................................................................ 24
5. Deployment Preparation on our Host PC
........................................................................................... 25
Preparing the C:\PCSetup folder
...................................................................................................... 25
Notes on UNCs, Mapped Drives and AdminImage locations
........................................................... 27
Create a Network Place and Map the J:\ drive on the Host
PC........................................................ 28
Preparing the J:\
Drive......................................................................................................................
28
6. Creating Deployments
........................................................................................................................ 29
A Step by Step Guide
........................................................................................................................ 29
7. Inside AutoCAD Architecture
Deployments........................................................................................ 39
Deployment Folder
Structure........................................................................................................... 39
Deployment Installation Shortcut
.................................................................................................... 39
Technical Notes on
Deployments..................................................................................................... 39
8. Testing our Deployment in the
VM..................................................................................................... 40

The Definitive Guide to Installing AutoCAD Architecture

The Windows XP ProgramData Bug

.............................................................................................. 40
9. Windows User Profiles, AutoCAD Profiles, and the Registry
.............................................................. 41
Windows User Profiles
..................................................................................................................... 41
Windows Roaming
Profiles...............................................................................................................
41
The Windows Registry
...................................................................................................................... 42
Importing and Exporting Registry Data
............................................................................................ 43
Your AutoCAD Architecture Profile
.................................................................................................. 43
Summary...............................................................................................................
............................ 44
10. The AutoCAD Architecture 2010
RoamableRootFolder...................................................................... 45
Using a Registry Setting to Re-Path the RoamableRootFolder
........................................................ 45
Technical Notes on the RoamableRootFolder path
......................................................................... 46
11. Creating the Prototype RoamableRootFolder and
Profile.................................................................. 47
Workflow ...............................................................................................................
........................... 47
Adjust your Initial Workspace and
Options...................................................................................... 47
Create the ACATemplateUser Profile
............................................................................................... 47
Export the ACATemplateUser profile to an .ARG file
....................................................................... 48
Delete the ACATemplateUser profile
............................................................................................... 48
Copy the RoamableRootFolder to J:\Users\ACATemplateUser\ACA
2010...................................... 48
Edit the Registry to Re-path the RoamableRootFolder
.................................................................... 49
Notes on Changing the RoamableRootFolder
Path.......................................................................... 49
Configure a new Desktop
Icon ......................................................................................................... 49
Manually Deleting a Profile in the Registry
...................................................................................... 50
Why delete the ACATemplateUser profile?
..................................................................................... 50
Technical Notes regarding .ARG Files
............................................................................................... 51
Default ACA Support
Paths............................................................................................................... 51
4

The Definitive Guide to Installing AutoCAD Architecture

Start up AutoCAD Architecture with the New Icon / Profile

............................................................ 52
Results of our RoamableRootFolder Registry
Change...................................................................... 53
12. An Introduction to AutoCAD Architecture Corporate Customization
................................................ 54
Status Thus Far
...............................................................................................................................
.. 54
Corporate Customization
Tasks........................................................................................................ 54
Designing your Corporate Back-end Folder Structure
..................................................................... 55
Adding Company Support File Search Paths
................................................................................. 56
Setting up a CAD Admin profile
........................................................................................................ 57
Adding the MDI Tabs
ARX................................................................................................................. 58
Saving your Profile after Major
Changes.......................................................................................... 58
Migrating Plotter and Plot Style Tables
............................................................................................ 58
Additional Notes on Plot Styles
........................................................................................................ 59
Notes on Network Drive
Letters....................................................................................................... 60
13. Reorganizing the RoamableRootFolder for Customization
................................................................ 61
Moving Default RoamableRootFolder\Support Files
....................................................................... 61
Modify the Main Customization File Path
........................................................................................ 63
14. Developing Your CUI Strategy
............................................................................................................. 64
Defining the End Condition
.............................................................................................................. 64
Main and Enterprise CUIs
................................................................................................................. 64
The CUIx File Format
........................................................................................................................ 64
Important Interface Changes to ACA.CUIx
....................................................................................... 65
Final CUI design
...............................................................................................................................
. 65
Extending the Default "Architecture" Workspace
........................................................................... 65