autocad in background

Hi,
I have a system configured for me by someone else, which runs Autocad 2000
in background performing printing operations. I can tell the application is
launched, as it appears in the Task Manager in the processes tab. It does
not appear in the Task Manager > Applications tab (meaning I cannot switch
to it). Autocad is loading the drawing and there is an error when plotting,
I can tell as the machine sounds the warning beep, and the application size
remains still (in task manager).

I have no way of knowing what the error is, as I cannot see the error
dialog, I cannot find a log file from Autocad, and cant seem to find a way
to make the application visible (not in background). The only way out is to
terminate the application.

Firstly, does anyone know how to get acad.exe to start in background mode?
(I have checked the command line switches to Acad.exe and cannot find a
switch for background mode).

Secondly, does anyone know if I can invoke a log file for Autocad, or is
there a way to make the application visible?

Thanks
G.

 

I have a system configured for me by someone else, which runs Autocad 2000

Sounds like this process is controling AutoCAD through ActiveX
automation in which case, their application can set a "visible" flag on
the AutoCAD application. There really are no command line switches to do
this. Typically, my automated plotting applications have a toggle to
control this for this very reason.

I haven't tried it but it might be possible to write another application
to attached to the ACAD session running in the background at toggling
it's visible flag. Again, without trying it, I'm not certain.

Have you tried launching AutoCAD manually and tried plotiing the drawing
manually to see if there's an error that way? If there is, it might be
safe to assume that's what the plotting application is running into in
which case you could fix it manually first.

Otherwise, contact the author of the application and have them add an
option to allow for AutoCAD to be visible or generate a log if the
issues it runs into.


--

Darren J. Young


Autodesk Developer Network
AUGI Inventor Product Chair

Minnesota CADWorks, Inc.
PO Box 1172
Monticello, Minnesota 55362-1172
(763) 295-4433
http://www.mcwi.com
ftp://ftp.mcwi.com