Sharing Background Maps, Data Sources, etc.

Most of the ‘Spatial Manager’ application settings can be shared between different users in a company or organization, so they do not need to repeat the same configuration processes on every workstation or for every user in a workstation

‘Spatial Manager’ Data Sources & User Background Maps

Thus, the Data Sources (Shortcuts or User Data Sources), User Background Maps and even Tasks settings can be replicated to any ‘Spatial Manager’ user because they are stored in a set of simple files. All you need to do is copy these files from one computer to another

You can even share some configuration files between different applications. For example, you can define a set of User Background Maps in ‘Spatial Manager for AutoCAD’ and replicate it in ‘Spatial Manager Desktop’, assuming you are a user of these applications

Which configuration files can be shared and which cannot?

WARNING: Be sure to copy any original configuration file that you plan to replace in to order to restore it later if you want to return to the original configuration

The following is a list of the configuration files and the options when sharing:

• BackgroundMaps.config and BackgroundMapGroups.config
  • Settings: User Background Maps and Groups, as well as the configuration of some default Background Maps when needed
  • Can be shared between different users/workstations: Yes
  • Can be shared between different applications: Yes
  • Note: It is imperative to share both files together
• Shortcuts.config
  • Settings: Shortcuts to local or network folders and disks
  • Can be shared between different users/workstations: Yes
  • Can be shared between different applications: Yes
  • Note: Take care with the network disks and folders and their accesses from a particular user/workstation
• UserDataSources.config
  • Settings: User Data Sources (USD) defining the accesses to spatial Servers and/or specific files with parameters
  • Can be shared between different users/workstations: Yes
  • Can be shared between different applications: Yes
  • Note: As with the Shortcuts, take care with the network disks and folders and their accesses from a particular user/workstation. In addition, take care with the accesses to any particular spatial Server
• Tasks.config
  • Settings: User Data Sources defining the accesses to spatial Servers and/or specific files with parameters
  • Can be shared between different users/workstations: Yes
  • Can be shared between different applications: No
  • Note: All the Tasks parameters must coincide (Shortcuts, USD, etc.)
• UserSettings.config
  • Settings: Application general configurations
  • Can be shared between different users/workstations: No
  • Can be shared between different applications: No
  • Note: Although in some cases it can work, this configuration should never be copied

Where to find the application configuration files?

‘Spatial Manager’ Configuration folder (for AutoCAD, in this sample)

WARNING: Be sure to copy any original configuration file that you plan to replace in to order to restore it later if you want to return to the original configuration

The “*.config” files can be found inside the user “AppData” folder:

• ‘Spatial Manager for AutoCAD’
  • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\OpenCartis\Spatial Manager for AutoCAD
• ‘Spatial Manager for BricsCAD’
  • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\OpenCartis\Spatial Manager for BricsCAD
• ‘Spatial Manager for ZWCAD’
  • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\OpenCartis\Spatial Manager for ZWCAD
• ‘Spatial Manager Desktop’
  • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\OpenCartis\Spatial Manager Desktop

Backup Configuration files

It is important to mention here that, when working with any ‘Spatial Manager’ application, the modified configuration files are updated every time you exit from the application, and the corresponding backup files are created on a “Backup” folder including the previous settings values

One more note for expert users

WARNING: Be sure to copy any original configuration file that you plan to replace in to order to restore it later if you want to return to the original configuration

The “*.config” files are formatted using XML structures. If you know how to edit XML files you can even merge data between different configuration files. Thus, for example you could merge User Background Maps definitions coming from different configuration files

If you want to learn more about the ‘Spatial Manager’ configuration files, please review the following technical resources:

· Blog entry

Technical Wikis:

· Spatial Manager for AutoCAD
· Spatial Manager for BricsCAD
· Spatial Manager for ZWCAD
· Spatial Manager Desktop