topic Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito in Installation & update

alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monitor

Jefferson — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 04:17:38 GMT

My semi-trusty laptop and I sometimes hit the road or head off to a client's place for show and tell. Since it's my "main machine" at home I have an external monitor attached for extended screen real estate when set up at my office, such as it is, but that's another story......

I have found that saving a separate a copied set of preference files, one for the dual monitor set up and another for the laptop as a single monitor, in a handy file I can simply copy these into the appropriate windows folder location before I open an ArchiCAD file and all my screen settings are set as I like without having to take the time to rearrange everything, and back again, etc., etc. [I have been saving copies of my preference files for sometime now since I invest some time in customization, I think they're well worth backing up.]

The trick is saving these files as "read only" so ArchiCAD doesn't overwrite them upon opening. It took me a while to grasp this end of the equation but, for me anyway the time savings are well worth the 10 seconds it takes to drag a copy into the correct folder.

Since I'm not he only one who works like this I was hoping someone more computer savvy than I might have something to add to this, a better or more comprehensive approach.

Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito

TDabney — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:18:58 GMT

Jeff -
I run the same set-up as you - I work off a laptop and have two external monitors that are not the same (an older 21" @ home and a new Apple 23" flat panel @ work). I also make "home visits" w/just my laptop - so I can relate to having to resize all of AC's screens etc... If I'm not mistaken, you're running AC 8.1? In 9.0, there is a new great feature under Options>Work Environment>Plaette Schemes that allows you to save snapshots of how all the screens, toolbars etc... are opened and set up. Thus I have saved 3 - one for work, one for home, and one for just my laptop screen. You can instantly switch from one to the other right in the middle of an AC session. There's no messing w/any of your preference folders.

Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito

Jefferson — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 14:33:29 GMT

Well see what I've been missing!! There's a price for lagging behind the standard upgrade cycle.........

Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 16:03:32 GMT

Hi Jeff,
I was curious why you had one Dell and one HP.
Any happier w/one or the other?
Thanks.

Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito

Jefferson — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 16:32:27 GMT

Christine,

The Dell is/was my first, believe it or not computer, [only been a computer user for about three and a half years, and pile on ArchiCAD for income no less, bold eh? ], and a desktop. When it came time for a second machine, read a backup so no more downtime, a laptop was the best choice for me and the HP was the best thing available with a 17" screen and numeric keypad, in my price range. And I'll probably never own another desktop. If Apple had the built in the extra numeric pad I'd probably be a Mac guy by now. I liken the constant "tuning" of my Window$ machine to an English sports car and it gets old..........

Don't believe I'd buy another Dell. The HP customer service people have been far more helpful and competent, my experience anyway, than the Dell counterparts.

There, more than you wanted to know.........

Re: alternating between laptop only and laptop w/ ext monito

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 16:42:31 GMT

Jeff
Big help! Many thanks