"read only" layout tabs?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Is there any way to set a layout tab to be "read only" so that the model space can not be accessed from the tab etc.?

I want to be able to view each layout yet be forced to edit in model space only, protecting all view ports from accidental changes.

Thanks for any help!

 

BTW I already set all view ports to locked. I still want to dummy proof this, if it's practical and not too much code involved. It's simply not worth slowing the system down for such a minor privilege.

Thanks

 

Set the viewport to locked. Put the viewport on a layer called "Viewports"
(so that you can isolate them) and LOCK the VIEWPORTS layer. That SHOULD do
it (although someone can unlock the layer.

You probably could create a reactor to LOCK the VIEWPORTS layer anytime
someone unlocks it--just make sure to put up some kind of warning that
they're not permitted to unlock the layer--maybe even use some kind of
rudimentary password system so that certain people CAN unlock the layer when
needed. I have never created a reactor yet--so I can't help there.

this, if it's practical and not too much code involved. It's simply not
worth slowing the system down for such a minor privilege.

 

slowing down? minor? I do alot of my work in MS through the PS viewports. I
can't imagine anyone taking away this powerful tool. As suggested, and you
say you've already done, lock the viewports and be done with it. What
happens when you create new layers that need to be seen in some VP's and not
others?

If you have users that unlock them and mess up the view, warn 'em once,
terminate the second time. And, IMHO, if you have to "dummy proof" something
like this you must have dummies working for/with you that really shouldn't
be in this line of work in the first place.

 

Perhaps CADLOCK can do just that... http://www.cadlock.com

can not be accessed from the tab etc.?

only, protecting all view ports from accidental changes.

 

Thanks for your perspective, but we are doing 2D drawings for swimming pools, which isn't rocket science. We finish our drawing in less than an hour and seldom ever reopen the file. On occasion a sales person will open the file or someone else. Few people in the company actually have CAD training because we are so customized that it really wouldn't help anyway. I am only looking to protect the work that we do.

I wouldn't call them dummies, but they can be clumsy. Due to the volume of drawings that we deal with, it's just better to be safe than sorry. If this offends you then It's a good thing that you don't work with us.

 

Well put.

pools, which isn't rocket science. We finish our drawing in less than an
hour and seldom ever reopen the file. On occasion a sales person will open
the file or someone else. Few people in the company actually have CAD
training because we are so customized that it really wouldn't help anyway. I
am only looking to protect the work that we do.

of drawings that we deal with, it's just better to be safe than sorry. If
this offends you then It's a good thing that you don't work with us.

 

"....less than an hour and seldom ever reopen the file. .... I am only
looking to protect the work that we do."
In that case why not just print for a hard copy, create a dwf for "looking"
at and backup & delete the dwg file and be done with it?

" it's just better to be safe than sorry."
Same as above....

"If this offends you then It's a good thing that you don't work with us."
It doesn't offend me, it just seems to me that you are trying to address a
problem, that may, or may not, exist, in the wrong place. For instance, why
use a $3k CAD package to do these types of drawings when there are much
cheaper alternatives?

Jeff <<<----Glad to be working without my hands tied behind my back..... ;-)

 

Out of the 2500+ pools we draw each year we maybe redraw, due to indecisive customers, etc., about 1%. This means that we will have to reopen the files and edit them. Also, we maintain our original ".dwg" files for warranty and remodel issues. We've been doing pools and spas since 1947. We use "a $3k CAD package to do these types of drawings" (since R10) for the power of customization, which is why I posted this question in the customization discussion group.

Apparently (Jeff Mishler) failed to read the ground rules of this discussion group.

"Ground Rules :
1. Do not post messages that are inflammatory, nonconstructive, or at odds with the aims of the discussion groups."
_________________________________________________
"Lead, follow, or at the least get out of the way!"

 

Gee, If you think Jeff's post broke the Ground Rules, you might want to avoid anything I post.

I think he was just pointing out that crippling a powerful feature of AutoCAD may not be desirable, and then he offered viable alternatives. Myself, I think it'd be easier all around if you just dropped the $99 bucks for VoloView.

 

Dear MiD-AwE,
How you took my contructive criticism as a failure to abide by the ground
rules is beyond me. You asked for a solution that 99.9% of the users here
would never want. You were given some alternatives. If you would do a search
of this group for my name, you will find that I freely give of my time and
help many others. If I fail to see the need for something I will usually
just pass it by, or, as in your case, I may ask questions to better see
where the poster is coming from.

In light of this, here is a VBA solution that will ensure that the layer
"Viewport" is locked after the issuance of a Layer command. In order for it
to be of use, you must have the viewports' display locked, which you've
already done. Create a VBA project, add this code to the ThisDrawing Module,
and save as acad.dvb in your support folder. You may want to password
protect it first to keep people from altering the code. Add a new text file
to your support folder named acad.rx and place the following line in that
new file: acadvba.arx Note, for R2004+ change that to acvba.arx (I think
that's what it is, I only have 2002, check your documentation to be sure)

Short of this solution, I don't see any other way to accomplish what you are
after.

Have a nice day.

Option Explicit
Private Sub AcadDocument_EndCommand(ByVal CommandName As String)
If UCase(CommandName) = "LAYER" And ThisDrawing.ActiveSpace = acPaperSpace
Then
Dim lay As AcadLayer
On Error Resume Next
Set lay = ThisDrawing.Layers.Item("Viewport")'Change this to whatever
layer you place your VP's on
If lay Then
lay.Lock = True
End If
End If
End Sub

 

Wow, thanks. I guess I had you all wrong. I mistook you for one of those hagglers I find in many other discussion groups. Please accept my apologies. And, now that I'm going to try and stay an active member of this group, maybe I'll be able to return the favor.

have a nice day to you as well.