The Autodesk View Registry Tool

You can specify that files with certain file extensions will open in View when you double-click them in Windows Explorer or File Manager. You can also specify whether AutoCAD files display in Internet Explorer using a plug-in or using View.

You can change these choices later with the File Types section of the Options dialog box in Autodesk View.

You can:

Use the Autodesk View Registry Tool to set file associations for AutoCAD files

Set up a shortcut to the Registry Tool

AutoCAD modifies the registry settings for .dwg file types each time it is run. The Registry Tool reminds you that the .dwg registry setting has been changed by flashing the View icon in the right side of the taskbar. The Registry Tool remains running as a separate application, accessible from the taskbar. You need to run the tool to reset it if you want double-clicked .dwg files to open in View.

View runs in browsers that are document object containers. Netscape 4.0 (or earlier) is not a document object container. You can use the DwgX plug-in to display AutoCAD files in Netscape Navigator.


To set file association options for AutoCAD files
 The Registry Tool

To set file association options for AutoCAD files

1	Start the Autodesk View Registry Tool in one of the following ways:

In the Windows Startup menu, click Autodesk View> Autodesk View Registry Tool.

At the Windows Run command line, enter c:\Program Files\Autodesk View\aviewreg.

If you installed View in another location, enter that path instead.

Right-click the View icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar and click Open.

The icon will be in the taskbar if you have run the Registry Tool during the current session or if you added a shortcut for the Registry Tool to the Startup folder.

2	Click the tab for the file type to configure: .dwg, .dxf, or .dwf.

3	When you’re done setting options, click OK.


The DXF Tab
 The Registry Tool

To set options for .dxf files

1	Choose whether you want .dxf files to open in AutoCAD or in View when double-clicked.

Choose whether or not to open files in View when you double-click them.

The Other option will be selected if .dxf is already associated with an application other than those listed.

2	Choose whether you want files to display in Internet Explorer using an ActiveX control (a plug-in), or using View as a document object server.

The DwgX plug-in option is available once you have installed the plug-in. Check our web site, www.autodesk.com/view, to download the DwgX plug-in.

The DwgX plug-in has a limited set of View commands, whereas using View as a document object server provides complete View functionality.

View does not run as a document object server in Netscape Navigator. You must use the DwgX plug-in to display AutoCAD files in Netscape Navigator.


The DWG Tab
 The Registry Tool

To set options for .dwg files

1	Choose whether you want .dwg files to open in AutoCAD or in View when double-clicked. If you have both AutoCAD Release 13 and Release 14 installed, you can choose which release to associate with .dwg.

Choose whether or not to open files in View when you double-click them.

The Other option will be selected if .dwg is already associated with an application other than those listed.

2	Choose whether you want files to display in Internet Explorer using an ActiveX control (a plug-in), or using View as a document object server.

The DwgX plug-in option is available once you have installed the plug-in. Check our web site, www.autodesk.com/view, to download the DwgX plug-in.

The DwgX plug-in has a limited set of View commands, whereas using View as a document object server provides complete View functionality.

View does not run as a document object server in Netscape Navigator. You must use the DwgX plug-in to display AutoCAD files in Netscape Navigator.


The DWF Tab
 The Registry Tool

To set options for .dwf files

1	Choose whether you want .dwf files to open in AutoCAD or in View when double-clicked.

The Other option will be selected if .dwf is already associated with an application other than those listed.

2	Choose whether you want files to display in Internet Explorer using an ActiveX control (a plug-in), or using View as a document object server.

The Whip! plug-in option is available once you have installed the plug-in. Check our web site, www.autodesk.com/whip, to download the Whip! plug-in.

The Whip! plug-in has a limited set of View commands, whereas using View as a document object server provides complete View functionality.

View does not run as a document object server in Netscape Navigator. You must use the plug-in to display AutoCAD files in Netscape Navigator.


To set up a shortcut for the Registry Tool in the Windows Startup folder
 The Registry Tool

To set up a shortcut for the Registry Tool in the Windows Startup folder

1	Use Windows Explorer to find the Autodesk View program group.

2	Right-click the Registry Tool icon and click Create Shortcut.

3	Drag and drop the shortcut icon to the Startup folder.

In Windows 95, the Startup folder is in c:\windows\start menu\programs. In Windows NT, the Startup folder is in Profiles.

4	Right-click the shortcut icon and click Properties.

5	Click the Shortcut tab.

6	In the Target box, at the end of the path, outside the quotes, type a space and then enter -hide.

For example, in Windows 95, the entry in the Target box would be “C:\Program Files\Autodesk View\aviewreg.exe” -hide if View is installed in its default location.

The -hide parameter keeps the Registry Tool from displaying when you start Windows. The tool is available as an icon on the taskbar.

7	Click OK.