When creating a deployment for AutoCAD you will notice a few more options when modifying the initial settings. In this article, I will identify and explain the normal as well as the extra settings that are included in the deployment setup.
Installation Type
You can either select typical which will automatically install the following
- Express Tools
- License Transfer Utility
- Migrate Custom Settings option
If you select custom you can deselect the options mentioned above.
Support Content
This section allows you to select where your support content is to be installed.
- Support files
- Plotter configuration files
- Data links
- Template file location
- Rendering files
- Help files (if downloaded)
The support can be installed in the following location
- Local user profile folder – locally on each install PC
- Program install file – files will be installed where the program files are installed
- Single shared folder – a folder on a network shared folder
- Custom Folders – you override the folders that Autodesk has specified and specify your own unique folders
Security Settings
In AutoCAD you can set up the security of AutoCAD to whether it can load and run exe’s from a trusted location. This works a little like the user account control that Microsoft has implemented when you want to install programs on your computer.
Search Paths and File Locations
This is the backbone of your AutoCAD install. This will specify the location of where the following files sit on our local PC
- Support file search path
- Trusted location
- Trusted Domain location
- Customization files
- Custom Dictionary file
- Alternate Font file
- Font mapping file
- Printer support file path
- Automatic save file location
- Color book locations
- Data sources location
- Template settings
- Tool palettes file locations
- Log file location
- Plot and publish log file location
- Temporary drawing file location
- Temporary external reference file location
- Texture maps search path
- Action recorder settings
- DGN mapping setups location
Additional Files
You can include additional files eg service packs/updates to install with the initial software install.
User Preferences
You can specify a default profile name as well as create a custom desktop shortcut if you wish. eg Micrographics ACAD 2020.
As an administrator, you can also restrict access to online content like DesignCenter and the Autodesk Account from within the software. Crash error reports can also be customised to not include the computer name as well as an automatic reply can be blocked to the user for possible resolutions to the crash.
