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GeoTools V12 is compatible with AutoCAD 2012 and all Autodesk (except LT) applications built on the 2012 platform.
The aim of this post is to explain the configuration and settings required to navigate and switch between workspaces and have access to the GeoTools menu at all times. This post also explains how to configure and use GeoTools with AutoCAD 2012.These instructions apply equally to AutoCAD 2011 and 2010 which support the workspace user interface.
The GeoTools executable installer is the same, whether you are using AutoCAD 2004 or 2012. You can download it here. After download, install it by double-clicking on the geotools.exe file.
At the end of the installation, you will be prompted to select the user profiles with which you wish to use GeoTools. This appears in a dialog box and will list the user profiles of all the versions of AutoCAD (from 2004 onwards) installed on your computer, not just AutoCAD 2012. If you have multiple flavours of the same version (like AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD Map 3D 2010), each one of those and their corresponding profiles will be listed as well. See screenshot below for an example of what the profile selector dialog looks like:
As you can see, I have AutoCAD versions 2010, 2011, 2012 , each with a number of user-defined profiles. But, I need to install GeoTools only for one of my profiles, namely GT12-EN. I have chosen only this profile now. Click on Install.
Now, start your AutoCAD 2012 with the profile that you have chosen. For those of you who want to know how to launch AutoCAD with a specified profile, here is a tip. Your launch string should look something like this:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD Map 3D 2012\acad.exe /p "GT12-EN"
This would launch AutoCAD on my computer with the profile GT12-EN.
The GeoTools toolbars are all displayed automatically during the first install. They can be switched on/off selectively (or by category) from the GeoTools->Toolbars and Flyouts menu.
In AutoCAD 2012, GeoTools functions are available as pull-down menus, icon menus, or directly at the keyboard. In AutoCAD 2012, there is a new feature on the command line that will prompt for the command name when you type the first few characters of the command. If you type GT_on the command line, you will see a complete list of all the GeoTools commands pop up in a small dialog box. This makes it easier for you to remember and access the commands.
The screenshot above shows how you can dynamically see the GeoTools commands by simply typing GT_ on the command line. Notice that it is now showing the 'Planning and Analysis Workspace' of Map 3D 2012. The GeoTools menu bar is not visible. You can make it visible by clicking on the 'Customize Quick Access Toolbar' button found at the top of the screen (see screenshot below).
Once you check the item 'Show Menu Bar', you will see the GeoTools menu at the top of the screen. You will also notice that the menu bar automatically becomes visible each time a GeoTools command is started. Once you have the menu bar visible, you can pull it down and start using the GeoTools commands in the usual way.
In AutoCAD 2008 and above, the GeoTools pull-down menu is automatically visible in the 'AutoCAD Classic / Map Classic workspace' only. In other workspaces, the GeoTools pull-down menu can be accessed by clicking on the 'Customize Quick Access Toolbar' found at the top of the screen, and selecting the 'Show Menu Bar' item.
You can now see the GeoTools pull-down menu as shown in the screen-shot below:
In the AutoCAD Classic workspace, the menubar is visible by default and the GeoTools menu appears appended to the end of the main menu as shown below:
Based on user feedback, in earlier versions on AutoCAD, most of our users used AutoCAD with the Classic workspace. We recommended using GeoTools using the Classic workspace for a more familiar feel. However, we now find many users have adapted to the task-specific tabbed-ribbon workspaces and are comfortable with it. GeoTools pull down menu co-exists with the ribbon-based workspace and works perfectly fine if you follow the instructions shown above. We now no longer recommend that you use the Classic workspace only. The choice is yours.
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