2004

Table Of Contents
64 | Chapter 5 Customize the Drawing Environment
Customize Startup
You can use command line switches to specify several options when
AutoCAD starts. For example, AutoCAD can run a script, start with a specified
template drawing, and display a specified view when a drawing is opened.
With command line switches, you can also set up several AutoCAD icons,
each with different start-up options.
Command line switches are parameters you can add to the acad.exe com-
mand line associated with a Windows shortcut icon or the Windows Run
dialog box. You can include several switches within a single command line.
Valid switches are listed in the following table.
/b
Script name Designates a script to run after AutoCAD starts
(b stands for batch process). Scripts can be
used to set up drawing parameters in a new
drawing file. An SCR file type is assumed.
/t
Template file name Creates a new drawing based on a template or
prototype drawing. A DWT file type is
assumed.
/c
Configuration folder Specifies the path for the hardware
configuration file that you want to use. You
can specify a directory or a particular file. A
CFG file type is assumed. If you don't set the /
c switch, AutoCAD searches the executable
directory and uses the ACADCFGW or
ACADCFG environment variable as a way to
define the configuration file and directory
location.
/v
View name Designates a particular view of the drawing for
display at startup of AutoCAD.
/s Support folders Designates support folders other than the
current folder. Support files include text fonts,
menus, AutoLISP files, linetypes, and hatch
patterns. The maximum number of folders
you can specify in the path is 15. Each folder
name is delimited by semicolons.
/r Default system pointing
device
Restores the default system pointing device. It
creates a new configuration file (acad2002.cfg)
and renames the previous acad2002.cfg file to
acad2002.bak.