MSCAD 2004 desktop configuration

Q) I have taken the time to setup the new desktop in MSCAD, exactly as I like it, with my palettes docked right where I want them.  Now how can I get this layout to all of the other machines in my office, to keep things consistent?

A) The layout is stored in the computers Registry.  It is not just a simple copy of a CFG file, like MSCAD2002 had, but it can still be done – CAREFULLY.

*** If you mess anything up in the Registry Editor, you can cause MAJOR problems in the computer – so follow these steps Very Carefully! ***

1)      Make sure no programs are running in Windows.

2)      Go to the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen and go up to RUN and pick it:

3)      Type in the command REGEDIT and pick OK to continue:

4)      On the left side of the next dialog you should see the following:

If you see any “-“ signs in front of anything, please pick on them to change them to “+” signs, then your screen should look the same as this one.

5)      Carefully pick on the following “+” signs…

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

SOFTWARE

MSCAD2004

Once you have done this your dialog should look something like this:

At this point, pick on the word MSCAD2004 so it is highlighted.

6)      Now go under the File menu and pick on Export.  You will get a dialog like this on screen.

Make sure the selection at the bottom shows the same as in the above dialog.

- Selected Branch with HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MSCAD2004.

- Enter in a file name such as  mscad2004-regedit.reg.  Then pick Save.

7) Then exit from the Registry Editor by picking the red X in the top right corner of the screen.

8)      Now that the registry items have been exported from the original computer, you now need to copy the mscad2004-regedit.reg file to the second computer.

9)      Redo steps 1, 2 and 3 from above on the second computer.

10)  Now go under the File menu and pick on Import.  You will get a dialog like this on screen.

Locate the REG file that you brought from the other machine.  Pick on it and then hit Open

11) The file will be read into the registry on this computer, over-writing anything already there.  You should then see a message like this to indicate the procedure is complete.

12) Exit from the Registry Editor.

13) Run MSCAD2004 and the desktop layout should now match the first computer.

Glen W. Cameron, C.E.T.

Technical Support Manager