Autodesk–Migrate 32bit Profile to 64bit

As we have seen, 64bit operating systems have become the norm, for most organizations. When upgrading a production CAD user from 32bit to 64bit, the default installation paths change slightly.

Example:
32bit O/S installation path: C:\Program Files
64bit O/S installation path: C:\Program Files (x86)

For other administrators that care about their production users, and want to maintain their production staffs current 32bit profile, avoiding leaving the user to re-create their profile. Even using a new base profile, can be cumbersome for some of the customizers.

Here’s how:

• Launch the users Autocad, go into options, profiles tab, then export their current profile to a network location, one that you will be able to access.
• Open the exported *.arg profile using notepad as the editor
• Perform a find & replace, to find “Program Files” & replace with “Program Files (x86)”
• Click Replace All, then save and close the file
  
  
  
• On the new 64bit system, launch the Autocad product, go into options and import the profile we just modified.

This will maintain all custom toolbars, menu’s and other customizations the user made to their profile. You just migrated over the users profile maintaining the same friendly familiar environment the user was used to on their 32bit machine.

Dell Powervault 124T–Multiple Magazines

For other network admins, that use a 124T tape drive, the following will allow you to swap/pull both magazines w/o having to re-run a second import/export job.

When swapping multiple tapes in both left & right magazines, initiate the import/export inside of backup software (ie. backup exec), once that alert pops up, on the tape drive navigate to commands, export, left magazine. After swapping all the tapes in the left magazine, on the powervault navigate to the right magazine, then when you push the left magazine back in, click enter on the powervault to force the right magazine to pop out.

quick overview of the steps:

• initiate imoprt/export inside of backup software (ie. backup exec)
• on the tape drive console navigate to commands, eject, magazine (left magazine)
• on the tape drive console navigate to the opposite magazine (commands, eject right magazine)
• push the current magazine back in, simultaneously push enter on the tape drive console to eject the opposite magazine

This is a little trick I learned that will save you time from having to run multiple import/export jobs, when changing multiple tapes.

Excel 2010 workbook blank after opening

Today I encountered an issue in excel, where I was unable to see the contents of an excel workbook, after opening it. Both by double clicking the file from explorer, as well as opening excel fully, then opening the workbook..

In most cases where a workbook is opened and the data is not seen, simply checking the hide/unhide option of the workbook resolves it. This time it was not so easy for me.

This particular instance was one where when any workbook was opened, it was minimized inside of excel, and there were no tabs/options to click to maximize it.

The solution was to click CTRL+F10, which brought the workbook up as the main window inside excel, after which the contents of the workbook was again visible.

(CTRL+F10 is a shortcut to minimize/maximize workbooks inside of excel)

Next time you open an excel workbook and it’s not hidden, and all you see is a blank grey page, remember to click CTRL+F10, to maximize your workbook, so it’s visible to you.

Hope this helps others, and saves you from going banana’s =D