FAQ: Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor

These FAQs answer some of the most commonly asked questions about customizing the user interface and using the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor.

Migrating/Upgrading

How do I get my menu customization from a previous release to work in the new release?

Your previous menu customization data is stored in a MNS/MNU, CUI, or CUIx file. You can migrate your menu customization to the new release using the Migrate Custom Settings utility or the Transfer tab of the CUI Editor.

Commands

How do I create a new command and add it to a user interface element, such as a ribbon panel?

Commands are created and managed through the Command List pane on the Customize tab of the CUI Editor. Once the command has been created, it can be added to different user interface elements.

For example, to add a command to a ribbon panel, expand the Ribbon and Ribbon Panels node in the Customizations In <file name> pane, and then the ribbon panel you want to modify. Drag the command from the Command list to the ribbon panel you want to add it to.

Double Click Actions

When I double-click an object, why does nothing happen?

The PICKFIRST and DBLCLKEDIT system variables both need to be set to 1 to enable double-click editing.

Workspaces

Why do my changes not appear after I click Apply?

This happens when the workspace to which you made changes is not the current workspace. To see the changes, set the modified workspace current.

Enterprise CUIx Files

How do I edit an enterprise CUIx file if it is read-only in the CUI Editor?

An enterprise CUIx file can only be edited when it is loaded as the main CUIx file or as a partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. It is recommended that you load the file as the main CUIx file when you need to make edits. If you create a workspace that needs to include user interface elements from the CUIx file that is normally designated as the main CUIx file, load the main CUIx file temporarily as the enterprise CUIx file while making edits.

Pull-down Menus

Why is my pull-down menu not displayed on the menu bar?

Workspaces are used to control the display of pull-down menus on the menu bar.

How do I change the order of a pull-down menu?

Workspaces are used to control the positioning of pull-down menus on the menu bar.

How do I display the menu bar?
The display of the menu bar can be changed using the MENUBAR system variable. Set the MENUBAR system variable to 1 to display the menu bar.

Toolbars

Why do my toolbars not stay in the same place after I close and restart the program?
This is most commonly due to the way toolbars are loaded at startup when a combination of main, enterprise, and partial CUIx files are used. Use the /w command line switch as part of your Windows Desktop shortcut. This causes the program to reload the workspace upon startup and place the toolbars in their correct locations.
Why do my icons on a toolbar display as a cloud with a question mark after I migrate them from a previous release using the Transfer tab of the CUI Editor?

This happens because the images for the custom icons used by the user interface elements are not located in the program's Support File Search Paths. Locate the missing images using Windows Explorer or File Explorer, and copy them to the location defined under the Customization Files Custom Icon Location node on the Files tab of the Options dialog box. By default, the path under the Custom Icon Location node is

  • Windows XP: <drive>:\Documents and Settings\<user profile name>\Application Data\Autodesk\<product name>\<release number>\<language>\Support\Icons
  • Windows 7 or Windows 8: <drive>:\Users\<user profile name>\AppData\Autodesk\<product name>\<release number>\<language>\Support\Icons
Why does my toolbar flyout not work?

A flyout might not work for correctly because

  • No commands have been assigned to the toolbar that is referenced.
  • A control is part of the toolbar that is referenced.
  • The referenced toolbar was removed from the CUIx file, or the alias assigned to the toolbar was changed.
Why do I get a message box when I try to use a toolbar flyout?

The message box is displayed when a toolbar that is being referenced as a toolbar flyout cannot be found. Verify that all necessary CUIx files are loaded, and the alias assigned to the flyout matches the toolbar in the CUIx file. To resolve the problem, perform the following steps:

  1. Launch the CUI Editor and select the flyout on the toolbar that is not working properly.
  2. In the Properties pane, review the value of the Source Toolbar property.

    Use the Find option to look for a toolbar element with an alias that matches the text string in the Source Toolbar property of the flyout that does not work. If one is not located, remove the flyout from the toolbar, and drag the toolbar that you want to reference as a flyout onto the toolbar.

  3. Close the CUI Editor and test the flyout to verify the problem has been resolved.

Related Concepts

Related Reference