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How to restore the classic workspace in Windows based AutoCAD products

Technical Support

Issue:

Newly installed releases of AutoCAD products on Windows systems have a ribbon based interface. You would like to know how to configure AutoCAD and restore the classic workspace that uses toolbars instead.

Causes:

The toolbar based interface, or classic workspace, was last included by default in AutoCAD 2015. The newer releases use the ribbon based workspace instead.

Note: This does not apply to AutoCAD for Mac, which does not have a "workspace" based interface like the Windows version.

Solution:

 
Click the arrows and follow the steps for the methods below: 
 
Use a script to streamline the manual steps

Download and run the script included in the Classic Workspace Script.zip file attached to this article:

  1. Click the attached ZIP file to download it.
  2. Extract the ZIP file to find the ClassicWS.scr script file.
  3. Start AutoCAD.
  4. Drag the ClassicWS.scr file into any drawing window or use the SCRIPT command to run it.
Note: The ZIP attachment also contains CUIx files from AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014. These files may be used to manually import the Classic Workspace as described later in this article.
 
 
Add the toolbars with Customize User Interface for AutoCAD
  • Drag and drop method:

    1. Enter the CUI command to open the Customize User Interface window.

    2. Select a workspace or create one.
    3. Click the plus symbol to open the Toolbars tree on the left side.
    4. Drag the desired toolbars to the Toolbars tree on the right side.
    5. Click Apply and then OK to close the configuration editor.

Note: To learn more, watch this Screencast: Toolbars and Workspaces in AutoCAD 2015.

 

  • Customize Workspace method:

    1. Enter the CUI command to open the Customize User Interface window.

    2. Select a workspace or create one in the Customizations in All Files pane on the left.
    3. Click the Customize Workspace button in the Workspace Contents pane on the right.
    4. Click the plus symbol next to Toolbars in the tree on the left. 
    5. In the list under Toolbars, check the box next to toolbars to add them to the selected workspace. They will be shown under Toolbars on the right (see below).
    6. Click Done on the right.
    7. Click Apply and then OK to close the configuration editor. 

How to drag and drop or customize a workspace in the Customer User Interface (CUI)

 
Manually add toolbars with the Quick Access Toolbar
  1. From the Quick Access Toolbar, select Show Menu Bar.
    How to show the menu bar in Quick Access Toolbar 
  2. From the Tools menu, select Palettes > Ribbon. Alternatively, enter RIBBONCLOSE on the command line.
  3. From the Tools menu, select Toolbars > AutoCAD.
    How to select visibility of tool bars in AutoCAD for Windows.  
  4. Select a toolbar and dock it around the canvas/drawing area.
  5. Select any other desired toolbars.
  6. Select Tools > Workspaces > Save Current As and save the workspace.
 
Import or Migrate the workspace from a previous version
  • Import the workspace:
    1. From the Manage tab in the ribbon, click Import. 
    2. In the customization editor, click the Transfer tab. The current configuration file is in the right pane of the window.
    3. Extract the ZIP file to find the ClassicWS.scr script file
    4. In the left pane, load the configuration file, acad.cuix, from the extracted ZIP file, or AutoCAD 2014 or earlier.
    5. From the workspace list in the left pane, drag AutoCAD Classic to the workspace list in the right pane.
    6. Click Apply and then OK to close the configuration editor.

Note: To learn more, watch this screencast: Import AutoCAD Classic workspace from the previous version.

Import button under the Manage tab in the AutoCAD ribbon.

  • Migrate the workspace - If a previous version of AutoCAD is still installed on the system, or if its installation folders are still present:

    1. Go to Start menu > AutoCAD [LT] version - language > Reset settings to defaults.
    2. Complete the reset process. 
    3. Once the software starts, close it.
    4. Open the software again. The Migrate Custom Settings tool will display.
    5. Choose the desired version from the drop-down menu and other settings as needed.
    6. Confirm with the check mark.

AutoCAD Migrate Custom Settings dialog.

 
Add the toolbars with Customize User Interface in AutoCAD Mechanical, Architecture and MEP

    Products:

    AutoCAD Products;

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