Autodesk Product Support                        October 9, 1992

     AutoCAD(R) Release 12 -- Answers to Frequent Questions

Issues Covered
     Configuration
     Networking
     Plotting
     Digitizers
     General AutoCAD 
     AutoCAD Render
     Advanced Modeling Extension (AME) TM
     AutoCAD SQL Extension (ASE) TM
     AutoLISP (R) / AutoCAD Development System (ADS) TM
     PostScript

Configuration
1)   The following error occurs when attempting to start AutoCAD:

     "BASE.DCL: can't open file."

     AutoCAD cannot find the file BASE.DCL because the support 
directory has not been added to the ACAD environment variable.  
The ACADR12 batch file contains an example ACAD environment 
variable setting.  BASE.DCL contains the layout for dialogue 
boxes used by AutoCAD and application programs.

2)   AutoCAD offers only 3 drivers during configuration.

     The ACADDRV environment variable has not been set to the 
default directory  \ACAD\DRV, which contains the AutoCAD drivers.  
To correct this, use the ACADR12 batch file to start AutoCAD, or 
see Chapter 4 of the Interface, Installation, and Performance 
Guide for information on the ACADDRV environment variable.

3)   The following error occurs when starting AutoCAD:

     "Out of environment space."

     There is not enough DOS environment space available to hold 
the set variables defined in AutoCAD's startup batch file.  To 
increase the DOS environment space, add the SHELL command to the 
CONFIG.SYS file.  For example:

     SHELL=c:\command.com /p /e:1024

     The /e:1024 parameter expands the DOS environment space to 
1024 bytes; the default is 160 bytes.  For more information on 
the SHELL command, consult your DOS manual.

4)   Cannot locate or add additional protected-mode ADI drivers 
     to Release 12.

     All protected-mode ADI driver files (with an .EXP extension) 
must use the correct file name prefix, and must be in the search 
path specified by the ACADDRV environment variable.  Driver file 
name prefixes must begin with the following two characters: DS 
for video displays, DG for digitizers, and PL for plotters and 
printers.  See Chapter 4 in the AutoCAD Interface, Installation, 
and Performance Guide, and read the file README.DRV for more 
information.

     Note: some pre-4.1 ADI drivers require changes to Phar Lap 
switches.  See the next item, # 5, for more information.

5)   The following error occurs when attempting to start AutoCAD: 

     "General Protection Exception."

     The -PRIV Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender TM switch may need to be 
set for compatibility with pre-4.2 ADI drivers.  See Chapter 4 in 
the Installation, Interface, and Performance Guide, and the file 
README.DRV for additional information.

     Note: some pre-4.2 ADI drivers will not work with AutoCAD 
R12.  If problems persist after the -PRIV switch is set, please 
contact the driver manufacturer for additional help.

6)   Cannot reconfigure AutoCAD after selecting the wrong driver.

     To reconfigure AutoCAD during startup, type ACAD -R at the 
DOS prompt.  To reconfigure AutoCAD while in the drawing editor, 
type CONFIG at the Command: prompt, or select Configure from the 
File pull-down menu.  To reconfigure AutoCAD Render, type RCONFIG 
at the Command: prompt, or select Reconfigure from the Preferences 
pull-down menu.  

7)   ACAD -R doesn't reconfigure AutoCAD when using SHROOM.

     SHROOM.COM intercepts all command line switches that start 
with a dash; however, AutoCAD can be reconfigured by placing 
double quotes around the -R option.  For example:

     SHROOM "-R"

8)   The following error occurs when attempting to start AutoCAD:

     "FATAL ERROR: Unable to open temporary configuration file."  

     AutoCAD cannot access the file ACAD.CFG.  If the machine is 
on a network, then consult the "Networking" section of this 
document.  On a non-networked machine, check for conflicts with 
programs or utilities (TSR's) installed in memory (RAM).  The 
easiest way to eliminate all installed programs is to rename the 
system startup files (i.e., AUTOEXEC.OLD and CONFIG.OLD), and 
create simplified versions.  For example: the new AUTOEXEC.BAT 
file should only contain the line PROMPT=$P$G, and the CONFIG.SYS 
file should only contain the line FILES=40.  Reboot the machine 
after the simplified files are complete.

     Note: when the above error no longer occurs, recreate the 
system startup files by adding one line at a time to AUTOEXEC.BAT 
and CONFIG.SYS until the offending program or utility is located.  
After adding each line, reboot the machine, and attempt to run 
AutoCAD.

9)   Invalid configuration in Release 11 after using Release 12.

     Each AutoCAD version requires its own configuration file, 
ACAD.CFG.  To specify the location of configuration files, use 
the ACADCFG environment variable in each AutoCAD startup batch 
file.  See Chapter 4 in the Installation, Interface, and 
Performance Guide for more information on AutoCAD's environment 
variables. 

Networking
1)   The following error occurs when attempting to start AutoCAD: 

     "CANNOT FIND <display driver information> DISPLAY DRIVER, 
     display disabled.  See file: \<path>\<driver_name>.EXP FATAL 
     ERROR: Can't start display driver."

     AutoCAD is unable to locate the display driver because it 
has been moved or erased.  On a network, this error occurs if the 
logical drive where AutoCAD resides has been remapped.  To 
correct this, change the drive mapping or delete the file 
ACAD.CFG, and reconfigure AutoCAD.  

2)   Dialogue box reports the following error when accessing 
     drawing files on a network drive:

     "Unable to write to that directory.  
      Do you want to continue?" 

     AutoCAD Release 12 makes a DOS file open call that some 
networks do not support.  When this happens, AutoCAD reports that 
the drawing directory is read-only, and will not allow access to 
drawings located on network drives.  To correct this, either run 
AutoCAD from a local disk, or install the R12LAN patch 
(R12LAN.ZIP) which is available on CompuServe, or from Autodesk
Product Support.  Affected networks include: MicroSoft LAN Manager, 
Lantastic, IBM LAN Server, 3Com, and DEC Pathworks (some other 
networks may also be affected).  Artisoft, the maker of 
Lantastic, has made a patch available to repair their software.  
Please contact Artisoft for more information about their patch.

3)   The following error occurs when attempting to configure 
     Release 12 on a network drive:

     "FATAL ERROR: Unable to open temporary configuration file."

     This error is caused by the problem noted above.  See 
previous question, # 2.

4)   Dialogue boxes do not show directory dot symbols ".." when 
     accessing a Novell network drive.

     Novell's software has an option to show directory dots.  To 
turn on directory dot symbols, add the statement SHOW DOTS = ON 
to Novell's SHELL.CFG file.  Consult your Novell documentation 
for more details.  

5)   The following error occurs when running AutoCAD on a network 
     drive:

     "Too many open files."

     This error has two possible causes:  a) The FILES setting in 
CONFIG.SYS is too low.  AutoCAD requires a minimum setting of 40 
(i.e., FILES=40).  b) Some networks have their own file handles 
setting.  On Novell the setting is in the network's SHELL.CFG 
file.  On PC-NFS the setting is in the network link driver in 
CONFIG.SYS.  See your network configuration manual for more 
information.

6)   AutoCAD R12 will not plot to a captured network parallel port.

     AutoCAD ADI drivers must communicate directly through a 
network node's physical parallel port, and will not communicate 
through a captured network parallel port.  To plot to a network 
printer which is configured through a captured parallel port, use 
the AutoCAD AUTOSPOOL feature which is documented in Chapter 5 of 
the Interface, Installation, and Performance Guide.  Further 
details are given in the attached paper, AutoCAD Release 12 386 -- 
Network Plotting.  

Plotting
1)   Plotter pens do not lift between letters in text entities.  

     The PLOT command's pen width setting is too wide.  This can 
happen if the pen width is specified in millimeters rather than 
inches when the plotting units are set to inches. For example: a 
plotter pen width of 0.35 millimeters should be specified as 
0.014 inches if the plotting units are set to inches.

2)   Plotted dimension arrowheads do not touch extension lines.

     The pen width is set wider than the actual plotter pen, and 
the Adjust Area Fill option is on.  To correct this, either 
specify the correct plotter pen width or turn the Adjust Area 
Fill option off.


3)   AutoCAD plots much more slowly in Release 12 than in Release 
     11.

     This problem is corrected in Release 12 c1.  We recommend 
that you install this incremental update to Release 12.  There 
are also updated plotter drivers residing on CompuServe which
correct this problem.  The file containing these fixed drivers
is named PL386.ZIP.

4)   AutoCAD draws random lines on plotted output.

     This problem is corrected in Release 12 c1.  We recommend 
that you install this incremental update to Release 12.  There 
are also updated plotter drivers residing on CompuServe which
correct this problem.  The file containing these fixed drivers
is named PL386.ZIP.

5)   Houston Instrument plotters work with Release 10, but not 
     Release 12.

     The Release 12 driver uses different communication settings 
from earlier versions. Set the plotter to use 9600 baud, no 
parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit.

6)   Release 11 plotting script doesn't work in Release 12.

     Some older plotting scripts will work after the system 
variable CMDDIA is set to 0. In Release 12, AutoLISP remains 
active during the PLOT command so AutoLISP routines can be 
written to do an even better job of plotting than scripts.  Here 
is an example of a Release 12 PLOT command written in AutoLISP: 

     Command:  (command "PLOT" "e" "n" "filename" "") 

7)   EPSON LQ printer does not work when connected via a serial 
     port.

     The cable configuration specified in the Interface, 
Installation, and Performance Guide is incorrect.  The proper 
cable configuration is:

      Printer        Computer
        2   --------   3
        3   --------   2
        7   --------   7
                  --   6
                 |
                  --   20


Digitizers
1)   The cross-hairs freeze or become jumpy.

     This problem is corrected in Release 12 c1.  We recommend 
that you install this incremental update to Release 12.  There 
are also updated digitizer drivers residing on CompuServe which
correct this problem.  The file containing these fixed drivers
is named DG386.ZIP.

2)   The digitizer doesn't respond in Release 12, but it worked 
     in Release 11.

     This problem is corrected in Release 12 c1.  We recommend 
that you install this incremental update to Release 12.  There 
are also updated digitizer drivers residing on CompuServe which
correct this problem.  The file containing these fixed drivers
is named DG386.ZIP.

3)   The following error occurs when entering the AutoCAD drawing 
     editor:

     "Digitizer Not Responding -- Analog Circuitry Failure." 

     Release 12 has a new command, REINIT, which will re-
initialize the digitizer and other peripherals.  This command 
replaces the old work-around for this problem, which was to issue 
a PLOT command followed by a Control-C.

4)   Dialogue slider bars will not operate when configured for 
     the digitizer.

     Access to dialogue box slider bars requires ADI 4.2 drivers.  
To obtain a newer driver, contact either the manufacturer of the 
tablet, or the original supplier of the ADI driver.

General AutoCAD
1)   Release 12 drawings display degree, diameter, and tolerance 
     symbols as question marks ("?") in Release 11 Extension for 
     Windows (AEW).

     Release 12 drawing files are compatible with Release 11, but 
Release 12 font files have changed.  Release 12 fonts contain 8-
bit international characters.  To allow drawings created in R12 
to display degree, diameter, and tolerance characters in R11 AEW 
correctly, do the following:
     a)  Confirm that the directories in the R11 ACAD search path 
         contain only R11 fonts.
     b)  Start AEW, and use the STYLE command to modify the text 
         style so that only the font name is specified without the 
         associated font path.  To do this, select TYPE IT from the 
         style dialogue box when it requests a text .SHX file name, 
         and enter the text style name at the command prompt.

2)   Spacer files, *.AC$, are no longer in the drawing directory.  

     AutoCAD Release 12 no longer uses spacer files.  The timed 
AUTOSAVE feature is provided to protect against data loss due to 
disk full conditions.  See the AutoCAD Reference Manual and the 
Interface, Installation, and Performance Guide for more 
information on AUTOSAVE.

3)   ZOOM Extents or ZOOM All causes the drawing to regen.

     In order to calculate the extents of the drawing, AutoCAD 
must perform a regen.  To ZOOM to the full size of the drawing 
without a regen, use the VMAX or DYNAMIC options instead of 
EXTENTS or ALL during ZOOM.

4)   What is the small box centered on the cross-hairs?

     The box on the cross-hairs is an entity selection box for 
GRIPS and PICKFIRST.  To turn off GRIPS, set the system variable 
GRIPS to 0.  To turn off PICKFIRST (noun-verb selection), set the 
system variable PICKFIRST to 0.

5)   Some of the pull-down menu items are grayed out.

     AutoCAD has loaded the menu lisp file ACAD.MNL, which 
contains AutoLISP functions required by the AutoCAD menu file, 
ACAD.MNU.  ACAD.MNL sets the grayed-out status on some of the 
pull-down menus.  To correct this, if a customized menu is being 
used, rename it from ACAD.MNU to something else (CUSTOM.MNU), or 
rename ACAD.MNL to something else (TEMP.MNL) so that it will not 
load automatically.

6)   The following error message is given when menu items are 
     selected:

     "Unknown command.  Type ? for list of commands." 

     AutoCAD was unable to locate the file ACAD.MNL, which 
contains AutoLISP functions required by the AutoCAD menu file, 
ACAD.MNU.  ACAD.MNL and the compiled menu file, ACAD.MNX, must be 
in the same directory.

7)   Will a customized Release 11 menu work with Release 12?  

     Yes.  Existing customized menus will work without 
modification in AutoCAD Release 12.  If your custom menu is 
called ACAD.MNU, then rename ACAD.MNL to another name so 
unnecessary AutoLISP routines are not loaded.

8)   Do I need to translate Release 12 drawings into Release 11?  

     No.  Release 12 drawing files are compatible with Release 
11.  To convert a drawing file into a Release 10 compatible 
format, use the utility DXFIX.EXE, which is located in the 
\ACAD\SUPPORT subdirectory and is documented in the AutoCAD 
Extras Manual.

9)   Why does the Release 12 STATUS command report that only 60% 
     of the program is loaded into memory, while 99% of the program 
     was always loaded in Release 11?

     Release 12 uses the -DEMANDLOAD Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender 
switch to speed loading the executable into RAM.  This switch 
allows AutoCAD to load only portions of the program needed on 
startup instead of loading the entire executable.  Phar Lap's 
configuration utility, CFIG386.EXE, can be used to remove the -
DEMANDLOAD switch.  See Appendix E of the Installation, 
Interface, and Performance Guide for more information.

10)  How much hard disk space is needed to install AutoCAD 
     Release 12?

     Installation of all files requires 26 Megabytes.  A minimum 
of 11 Megabytes is needed if only the Executable and Support 
files are installed.

11)  The following error occurs when using the DXFIN or IGESIN 
     commands:

     "Not a new drawing -- only ENTITIES section will be input." 

     To correct this, unload AVE Render if it is loaded, quit the 
current drawing, and begin a new drawing without using a 
prototype drawing.  Issue the DXFIN or IGESIN command in the new 
drawing.

12)  How can I change the colors of AutoCAD's dialogue boxes?

     On the 386 platform, use the command DLGCOLOR.  On other 
platforms, use the native desktop color editor.  


AutoCAD Render
1)   Why does a different view appear when I render in a 
     viewport?

     You have chosen a specific view in the SCENE menu.  If you 
wish to render your current view, modify your current SCENE and 
change the view to *CURRENT*.

2)   Why does the surface information attached to an AME part no 
     longer apply after the part is changed or updated by AME?

     Whenever an AME part is changed or updated, AME rebuilds the 
database for the part.  This destroys the connectivity between 
AME's original entity handle and the Render surface.  To correct 
this, re-apply the surface finish to the entity.  Note: this does 
not affect surfaces attached by reference to the AutoCAD Color 
Index (ACI).

3)   The following error occurs when initializing the AutoCAD 
     Visualization Extension (AVE):

     "AutoCAD's combined Display/Rendering driver supports < 128 
      colors."

     The AutoCAD display driver must be able to display 256 
colors for AVE to render to a viewport.  To correct this, 
configure both AutoCAD and AVE Render for 256-color displays.


Advanced Modeling Extension (AME)

1)   Will AME version 1.0 or 2.0 work with Release 12?

     No.  Only AME version 2.1 is supported with Release 12.

2)   Are AME 2.0 models compatible with AME 2.1?

     Yes, they are completely compatible.


AutoCAD SQL Extension (ASE) 
1)   The following error occurs when attempting to access a 
     database with ASE:

     "Error opening database."

     ASE requires a DOS environment variable to specify the 
location of available databases.  The name of the environment 
variable depends on the database driver being used.  When 
accessing dBASEIII+ files, any name can be chosen for the 
environment variable.  For example:

     SET INVENTORY=C:\PROJECT\DBASE.

     Note: the environment variable name must be supplied to 
ASE's ASESETDB command. See appendix A in the SQL Extension 
Reference Manual for additional information.

2)   The following error occurs when initializing ASE's dBASE IV 
     driver:

     "Driver was not initialized"

     Before ASE can initialize the dBASE IV driver, the following 
     conditions must be met:  
     a) The SQL portion of dBASE IV must create the file SYSDBS.DBF, 
        which points to all available databases.  
     b) The environment variable SQLHOME must be set to the 
        directory containing the file SYSDBS.DBF.

3)   Can drawing attributes be converted to a database for use with 
     ASE?

     Yes.  The Release 12 Bonus CD contains the program 
ASEUTILS.EXP, which will convert drawing attributes into a database 
file.

4)   Can the key column in an ASE table be changed?

     To change the key column, first delete all links to the 
table, then re-establish each link.


AutoLISP / AutoCAD Development System (ADS)
1)   What C compilers are supported?

     32-bit:   MetaWare version 1.73, Zortech C++ version 3, and 
               Watcom version 9.0.

     16-bit:   Microsoft C version 5.1 or later, Borland C++ 
               Version 2, and Turbo C++ version 2 or later.

2)   Will Release 11 ADS routines work with Release 12?

     Yes.  Most Release 11 ADS routines work fine; however, if 
you have problems, consult the manufacturer of the ADS routine 
for more information.

3)   What has happened to AutoLISP function (atomlist)?

     The (atomlist) function was used to list all the names of 
the AutoLISP system-defined functions and symbols.  In Release 
12, this function has been replaced by the (atoms-family) 
function.  To get a list of all the AutoLISP system-defined 
functions and symbols, enter: 
        
        Command:  (atoms-family 0) 
        
     To get this list in a string form (so it can be used for later 
processing), enter: 

        Command:  (atoms-family 1)


PostScript
1)   Where can I get more PostScript fonts?

     AutoCAD uses Adobe Type 1 Fonts.  They are sold under the 
name "Adobe Type Libraries," and are available at local computer 
stores.  See Chapter 10 of the Customization Manual for 
additional information.

2)   Can I distribute an .SHX file which I have compiled from an 
     Adobe .PFB file?

     No.  Adobe's copyrights prohibit distribution of any files 
derived from PostScript fonts.

3)   AutoCAD plots PostScript fonts as outlines.

     AutoCAD will plot filled PostScript fonts only if the PSOUT 
command is used to generate the PostScript file, and if the file 
is then sent to a PostScript printer. AutoCAD's PLOT command will 
not generate filled PostScript fonts.

4)   Why do Courier fonts appear on the PostScript plots?

     Either your PostScript printer does not contain the font 
which you specified, or the font file mapping table in the file 
ACAD.PSF is incorrect for your printer.  To correct this, 
download the correct PostScript font to the printer, or update 
the font mapping in the ACAD.PSF file.  See Chapter 14 in the 
Reference Manual and Chapter 10 in the Customization Manual for 
more information.

5)   Images imported with the PSIN command have a gray rather 
     than a white background.

     AutoCAD's color palette does not contain white, so the PSOUT 
command uses gray instead.  Note: images imported into a system 
using a white display background will print with a black 
background.

6)   Entities print lightly or with dashes when using the PSOUT 
     command.

     Color PostScript files print in shades of gray on a 
monochrome printer.  To generate monochrome PostScript files, add 
the following lines into the file ACAD.PSF, immediately before 
the line containing the text "*sampleprolog":

        *bwprolog /ACADColor
        {pop pop pop pop} def

7)   Fill patterns created with the PSFILL command obscure 
     geometry.

     Since PostScript files are sensitive to the order in which 
the geometry is drawn, and PostScript fill patterns are always 
opaque, any geometry under a fill pattern will not show through.  
For example: to display a word in a box which is filled with a 
50% gray pattern, first draw the box, fill the box, then write 
the text.  

     Note: the following steps will move objects in front of a 
filled area:

        Command: COPY
        Select object:  Select the objects you wish to move in 
                        front of the fill area.
        <Base point or displacement>/Multiple:  0,0,0
        Second point of displacement:  Press Return.

        Command: ERASE 
        Select object:  Issue P for the previous selection set.
        Select object:  Press Return.



                  Autodesk Trademarks 
AutoCAD and AutoLISP are registered in the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office by Autodesk, Inc.  ACAD, Advanced Modeling 
Extension, AME, AutoCAD SQL Extension, ASE, AutoCAD Development 
System, and ADS are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.  
                                
                 Third-Party Trademarks 
MS-DOS is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of 
Microsoft Corporation.  386|DOS-Extender is a trademark of Phar 
Lap Software, Inc.
