AutoCAD LT doesn't have a "Profile", or does it?

AutoCAD LT does not have a "profile" you can access through the Options dialog, however it's just registry entries, so you can access them and change the defaults if needed.

Note:  editing the registry is dangerous, don't do this unless you are an Registry or IT expert or play one on tv.  Even Autodesk thinks so:

Warning! Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable. Microsoft provides a wealth of critical information that you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com.

Use the Microsoft® Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as well as the system.dat and user.dat files as outlined for your operating system in the Microsoft Knowledge Base and in the related article, How to backup the system registry. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

 

For 2015, you can open the registry editor and browse to:

1)      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT\R21\ACADLT-E001:409\Profiles

2)      Expand out “<<Unnamed Profile>>” and there it is, just like in AutoCAD!

 

Now, what can you do with it?  Not much except edit it here.

If you try to use a /P switch to launch using a name that doesn't exist (or one that does) something like /P “TestProfile”, then LT gives an error that it cannot find a file.  You can browse to any .dwg and it will load, but it does not add the new profile to the registry like AutoCAD does.

So, if you need to ensure everyone has the same profile you have two options:

1)       Sit at each computer and set it up.

2)      Setup one system, go into the registry and export it, then import the registry keys into the other machines.

 

Here’s what I recommend if you really want to try sharing the registry/profile.

1)      Make your changes in the AutoCAD LT Options dialog and exit LT.

2)      Go into Regedit and export that “<<Unnamed Profile>>”.

3)      On another machine that has the SAME version of LT, right click the Reg file and import it into the Windows Registry.

4)      Launch LT and ensure your settings took effect.

 

To Export the registry key:

1)      Open the registry editor (Start>Search  and enter REGEDIT in the search field)

2)      Browse to and select:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT\R21\ACADLT-E001:409\Profiles\<<Unnamed Profile>> ”

3)      Right click “<<Unnamed Profile>>” and select “Export”.

4)      Save it to a folder (you can also click the Desktop” selection in the left sidebar list) and it and give it a name.

5)      Use Windows Explorer to copy it to a network share or email it to the other computers.

 

To Merge it into another machine:

1)      Browse to where you saved the reg file.

2)      Right click the file and select Merge.

 

3)      Click “Yes” on the warning.

 

The Merge has been completed when you see this.

 

After exporting my Profile, I changed the background to White and exited LT.  Then went back in to ensure the background was still white.  It was.  Then I merged the settings and ran LT (no reboot necessary) and it was back to black!

Now run LT and you should see the updated/changed settings.

 

Comments

[Jörg]

nice tip.
next step is, when you are working with different porfiles, to write a batch file. In the batch you first import the reg with the profile you want use and the start autocad lt