I have a problem...

Well several actually. I have been trying to convert an a2k menu/start up suite to 2004, and I'm beginning to realise that I'm failing miserably.

So I asked a very good friend to send me a clean acad.mnu file in case I had done something.

And I unloaded all partial menus. And I deleted all of the acad.mns, acad.mnr,acad,mnc files everywhere (on c: and d. And I deleted the support file folder I had set up. And when I boot a2k4 I don't have a screen menu. I mean I turn the screen menu on, but it remains blank. I've tried this several times. I'm assuming that a reinstall is in order? Which seems mighty intolerant - seeing as I've only played with loading a partial menu - which unfortunately is not up to acad 2004 standards.

Now I'd love to lose my screen menu for the real estate, but the pop menus won't work, nor will the image menus. Strangely many of the custom commands work, but that is secondary. I need those pop menu's to work, as well as the image menus - or I may as well put a2k4 on the shelf forever.

Now I didn't write the original menu files, and my knowledge is more lisp oriented - so I may need some ideas as to what to do, where to go. I have read the help files several times, and I have tried to structure the new partial menu to match the current format. Any ideas from people who have rewritten menu files are very welcome. As well as whether I should reinstall acad 2k4.

Thanks for the patience.

Jamie Duncan

 

Jamie,
I'll take a look at the menu source, if you would
attach to E-Mail:

Bob

 

If you're using Architectural Desktop 2004, that might explain part of your problem, because it simply does not have a Screen Menu at all (in adt.mnu). But "Plain" AutoCAD 2004 does (in acad.mnu).
Kent Cooper, AIA

...
And I unloaded all partial menus. And I deleted all of the acad.mns, acad.mnr,acad,mnc files everywhere (on c: and d. And I deleted the support file folder I had set up. And when I boot a2k4 I don't have a screen menu. I mean I turn the screen menu on, but it remains blank.

 

I am using plain vanilla acad, so I'm not sure why this is happening.

Jamie Duncan
If you're using Architectural Desktop 2004, that might explain part of your problem, because it simply does not have a Screen Menu at all (in adt.mnu). But "Plain" AutoCAD 2004 does (in acad.mnu).
Kent Cooper, AIA

...
And I unloaded all partial menus. And I deleted all of the acad.mns, acad.mnr,acad,mnc files everywhere (on c: and d. And I deleted the support file folder I had set up. And when I boot a2k4 I don't have a screen menu. I mean I turn the screen menu on, but it remains blank.

 

Thanks,

when I get home tonight, I'll do a reinstall, and then if it happens again,
I'll send it to you. I'll also try the migration tools for menus.

Jamie Duncan

 

Jamie,
OK. I have 'ported' 20 or so menu's into a2k4, a2k5, so it
won't be a problem. You probably don't need to 're-install' acad, just menuunload / menuload should get it, as long as
the 'image' .slb's are available in support path..and menu
'syntax' is valid.

Bye the way. No Charge.

Bob

 

Thanks Bob, I may take up your offer. But why the basic menu isn't working
is a real puzzle.

I would like to communicate more with you on htese matters, but it will have
to wait till tonight - my acad2k4 is only on my home machine.

Jamie Duncan

menuunload / menuload should get it, as long as

 

Delete the MNC and the MNR, and reload the MNS.

This was previously clarified for me, because the was the files are being
packed is different.

--

AUTODESK
Authorized Developer
http://www.Cadentity.com
MASi

I am using plain vanilla acad, so I'm not sure why this is happening.

Jamie Duncan
If you're using Architectural Desktop 2004, that might explain part of
your problem, because it simply does not have a Screen Menu at all (in
adt.mnu). But "Plain" AutoCAD 2004 does (in acad.mnu).
Kent Cooper, AIA

...
And I unloaded all partial menus. And I deleted all of the acad.mns,
acad.mnr,acad,mnc files everywhere (on c: and d. And I deleted the
support file folder I had set up. And when I boot a2k4 I don't have a screen
menu. I mean I turn the screen menu on, but it remains blank.

 

SNIP<And I deleted all of the acad.mns, acad.mnr,acad,mnc files everywhere
(on c: and >

did all that, read the help, figured it out, and still no luck.

Jamie Duncan

 

Although I can't see your mns or custom menu, would you be interested in
seeing how I structured it?

Just download my MASi, and see how my menu is structured for comparison.

Nothing gets installed into autocad and easy to uninstall.

 

Jamie,
I'm just waiting for this evenings E-Mail.

Bob

 

Too many repsonses to read through, but if someone didn't mention it,
you should NEVER delete the .mn* files. If you had just copied and
pasted you special items into the 2004 acad.mnu and re-compiled it,
everything would have been alright. You MUST have the .mn* files for the
re-compilation to proceed.
I had the same things - I merely did what I suggested above (keeping a
copy of the original acad.mnu for 2004) and each time I need to add
something, I modify the acad.mnu and re-compile.

 

Walt,
Not getting 'picky', but..
I think that editing the 'acad.mnu' - adding items is not as good as using 'partial' menus, giving them a ***MENUGROUP name, ***POP1, ***TOOLBARS, ***IMAGE, ***SCREEN (if needed)
Then, in Lisp:
(if (findfile (strcat ec_drv "/ec/miec/menus/secmiec.mnu"))
(progn
(if (= (menugroup "EC") nil)
(progn
(command "_MENULOAD" (strcat ec_drv "/ec/miec/menus/secmiec"))
(menucmd "P15=+EC.POP1")
); end progn
); end if
); end progn
); end if

 

Just so you know, the MNR file from 2002 to 2004 or 2005 are not compatible.

So you have to recompile the MNS or MNU to generate these files again so
that 2004 or 2005 will accept them.

Just remember that they get recompiled in 2004 or 2005.

 

didn't delete the mnl files, just mnc, mnr & mns. I wanted to force a clean
menu for a2k4 - I am converting to partial menus for the custom stuff.


Jamie Duncan

 

nice lisp, thanks. And if one use the menuload command - and then exits
acad - doesn't acad automatically add the menus?

Just curious.

Jamie Duncan

'partial' menus, giving them a ***MENUGROUP name, ***POP1, ***TOOLBARS,
***IMAGE, ***SCREEN (if needed)

 

Hey Bob. Still at work, now I'm leaving to go pick up some things and hten
am heading home.

Thanks for being so patient.

Jamie Duncan

 

Okay, this is my third pass stripping the customization portions out of the
acad.mns file from a2k. I've moved the accel stuff to the end. Now portions
are good, but the pop menus, the icon/image menus and the screen menu are
dysfunctional. The toolbars seem allright...pretty pathetic. I really
should run the migration tool and see what happens. Anyway, it's in
customer files - see if you can make sense of it.

And thanks for the help Bob.

Jamie Duncan

 

Jamie,
Yes, they should re-load when you invoke ACAD. That is why (in the lisp), you check for menugroup nil - it's not there, so load it..

Bob

 

Jamie,
I just got the file..was up town. I'll be working on it..
Bob