localrootprefix vs roamableroot prefix and allusers folder questions

Can someone point me to the answers to some of these questions?

Regarding the following groups of directories:

...\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\.....
...\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data\Autodesk\....

1) What is the difference between the information stored in the
each of those directories?
2) What information should go where?
3)Is the <All Users> area used only once when the application is first
launched by that user or is it continually used?


With regard to the following groups of directories:
....\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\...
....\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data\Autodesk\....
4)What is the difference between a localrootfolder and a roamablerootfolder?
IOW, what files should go where? Does the presence of a file in both
places have a hierarchy of resolution?

5) Is there a rationale for where to put what and why AutoCAD needs all
these directories?

Thanks

 

Here is my take on it:

1) All Users is available as a RO folder for limited user accounts. So if
there are any files that the user will want/need to modify, they need to be
located in the user's profile path.

2) see above

3) It will be continually used, but remember that the files are RO to the
limited user.

4) Files located in Local Settings do *not* replicate up to the user's
network home folder when WinXP/2k Roamable profiles are enabled. Files
located in Application Data *do* replicate.

5) Yes.
#1 reason is to support limited user logins. Yippee!
#2 reason is to support roamable profiles. So Joe can login to another
machine and have all his expected customization there also.


--
R. Robert Bell


Can someone point me to the answers to some of these questions?

Regarding the following groups of directories:

...\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\.....
...\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data\Autodesk\....

1) What is the difference between the information stored in the
each of those directories?
2) What information should go where?
3)Is the <All Users> area used only once when the application is first
launched by that user or is it continually used?


With regard to the following groups of directories:
....\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Autodesk\...
....\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data\Autodesk\....
4)What is the difference between a localrootfolder and a roamablerootfolder?
IOW, what files should go where? Does the presence of a file in both
places have a hierarchy of resolution?

5) Is there a rationale for where to put what and why AutoCAD needs all
these directories?

Thanks

 

Thanks Robert. Most of that makes sense.
In answer to #4, could you explain the replication. Is
it automatic or do I need to copy customization files to
both places. I've had so much trouble conceiving what
is actually happening that I have generally point things
like plot styles to the all users area rather than keeping
multiple copies of everything.

I generally use the support paths in the options command
to explain where things go. How do the local and roamable
locations relate to that.

Regards,
Doug

 

Roamable profiles are enabled at the domain controllers for the user's login
account. Once they are enabled, files/folders in Application Data are
replicated upon login/logout. Files/folders in Local Settings are *not*
replicated.

It boils down to what you think the user will need at a new workstation to
duplicate their own setup from their "home" workstation. Personally, I
haven't enabled roamable profiles because my users rarely roam. I think it
is better from a CAD management perspective to have most of the support
files in a central network location that is RO for the users. I do permit a
user Custom partial menu, and that is located in Application Data of course.
All the other files in Application Data that are installed by default I have
left, as our profile for the office places our network folders first in the
search paths.

--
R. Robert Bell


Thanks Robert. Most of that makes sense.
In answer to #4, could you explain the replication. Is
it automatic or do I need to copy customization files to
both places. I've had so much trouble conceiving what
is actually happening that I have generally point things
like plot styles to the all users area rather than keeping
multiple copies of everything.

I generally use the support paths in the options command
to explain where things go. How do the local and roamable
locations relate to that.

Regards,
Doug

 

Thanks Robert. Good explanation.

So where do you put plot styles and such? Upon installation,
AutoCAD can't even find its own predefined plot styles on
my system until I run the options command and manually
browse to where AutoCAD has put them.

<gripe mode>
I personally hate the file dialog provided with ADT3.3-
ADT2005 to browse for support files. The paths are so long
and the window so short that you can't read the existing paths
while you are browsing to the new paths. Why we can't
do relative browsing from the currently specified location
is a mystery to me.
</gripe mode>

 

Our plot support files are located in network folders. I haven't run into
the performance issue so common with many shops, but we don't have a large
number of support files either.

If I did need to move those local, I would use the Application Data roamable
folders per the default install.

--
R. Robert Bell


Thanks Robert. Good explanation.

So where do you put plot styles and such? Upon installation,
AutoCAD can't even find its own predefined plot styles on
my system until I run the options command and manually
browse to where AutoCAD has put them.

<gripe mode>
I personally hate the file dialog provided with ADT3.3-
ADT2005 to browse for support files. The paths are so long
and the window so short that you can't read the existing paths
while you are browsing to the new paths. Why we can't
do relative browsing from the currently specified location
is a mystery to me.
</gripe mode>

 

Thanks Robert.