Possible? From Windows Explore, to open AutoCAD DWG file Read Only?

Has anyone had experience modifying the righ-click menu to add "open as read
only" option in the Windows Explore app?

 

I've never tried such a thing, but possibly a VBScript that uses Windows
Script Host to make it Read Only, then changes the file's property back
after Acad has it open? (It could be assigned as an action for
Explorer....I think)

Just a thought.

 

Looking into DDE right now....
Researching...
I'll post if I get an answer.
Thanks,
Dan

 

Dunno Dan??? Maybe because you have it open read only and are trying to
compile it? I don't get that message when I compile - and thats the file
I'm compiling

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

I am using VB6, OPENREADONLY was just what I named the project. Are you
using VB6, or Net? Can you compile it, and zip it up in an attachment?

 

Update,
The acad.exe process still starts, but does not finish opening a file read
only.
So I have yest to discover the problem.

I tried to modify the lines:
Set cadApp = GetObject("AutoCAD.Application")
to
Set cadApp = GetObject("AutoCAD.Application.16") 'researching the Help
files-Still no luck

So for now, I have written an old-school DOS batch file to open the file
read-only and associated it with the extension into Explore, so I can
right-click on a file, and select "Open As Read-Only" and then AutoCAD just
prompts that the file is read-only, or in use, and I hit OK.

Batch code:
ATTRIB +R %1
%1
ATTRIB -R %1

I would still like to make this a VB process, and eliminate the user from
having to hit OK, thus by the drawing being opened via VB, and setting the
option TRUE, but I still do not know why it isnt working yet. It looks
good, but my experiance is limited.

For what its work, I am using XPpro(SP1)/ACAD2k5
Thanks again!
Dan



Untill then, the install progrm works great, and I created an old DOS batch
file to open the drawing read

 

I'm assuming you created the exe Mike gave you and it works but doesn't open
the dwg. The exe takes a command line arg, which, when run by right clicking
on a dwg in explorer, will be the path to the dwg. If you just try to run
the exe, you are trying to run the Open command without suppying a file name
and it will hang. This little app is designed to only be used by right
clicking on a dwg.

 

Correct, I understand that, and for some reason Ed, it will not open up the
file. I cannot verify if the EXE is working properly other than ACAD does
open up, partially, but I do not see the grphics screen, and the process is
ran, but the file will not load. I have setp and compiled the .exe, and I am
attempting to run from Explore through a right click. Thats Exactly how I
setup the DOS Batch file until I get this working.

Thanks,
Dan

 

It is opening the file perfectly - you just can't see it =) I left out a
line. After the End If and before the cadApp.Documents.Open..... add:

cadApp.Visible = True

As for changing the Acad.Application to a specfic number, that's up to you.
As written, it'll open the last version of AutoCAD that was run *if* you
are in a multi-install environment.

As for compiling the installer, that you'll have to do because you're the
only one who knows where the cad_file_opener EXE will be placed. FWIW the
class mod compiles fine and I'm using the same setup as you -
XPSP1/2005/VB6SP5. While I do use .NET mostly these days, this is not .NET
code --- you can tell by how we access CAD. If it were .NET, Try..Catch
loop would've been used.

-- Mike
___________________________
Mike Tuersley
CADalyst's CAD Clinic
Rand IMAGINiT Technologies
___________________________
the trick is to realize that there is no spoon...

 

Great! That did the trick. Thank you very much Mike. I have learned so
much from this group.
The code is not compiled/installed/and working well. Others have mentioned
this need, so I home many will be able to utilize the code you have kindly
offered.
Have a great week,
Dan

Final Code with addition:

Option Explicit

Sub Main()
Dim msCommand As String
msCommand = Command$()
'Check to see if anything was there
If msCommand <> "" Then
Dim cadApp As Object
On Error Resume Next
Set cadApp = GetObject("AutoCAD.Application")
If Err Then
Err.Clear
Set cadApp = CreateObject("AutoCAD.Application")
Do
Err.Clear
Resume
Loop While Err.Number = 429
End If
cadApp.Visible = True
cadApp.Documents.Open msCommand, True
cadApp = Nothing
End If
End Sub

 

Update #2 Hope you have a sense of humor with me....I am learning, and was
over eager.
Just discovered ACAD was opening up in a new window each time, so I changed
the following line:

From:
Set cadApp = GetObject("AutoCAD.Application")
To:
Set cadApp = GetObject(, "AutoCAD.Application")

That made a difference for me.

a HUGE thanks goes to Mike......AGAIN! Its people like him, that helps this
industry grow, and become more efficient.

Thanks, Dan

Final Code with modifications (Take 2):

Option Explicit

Sub Main()
Dim msCommand As String
msCommand = Command$()
'Check to see if anything was there
If msCommand <> "" Then
Dim cadApp As Object
On Error Resume Next
Set cadApp = GetObject(, "AutoCAD.Application")
If Err Then
Err.Clear
Set cadApp = CreateObject("AutoCAD.Application")
Do
Err.Clear
Resume
Loop While Err.Number = 429
End If
cadApp.Visible = True
cadApp.Documents.Open msCommand, True
cadApp = Nothing
End If
End Sub