overwrite Vectorworks Preferences.xml from script

[Jayme McColgan]

i have a script that replaces the Vectorworks Preferences.xml file but when i go to restart VW22 for the new preferences to take effect it takes the current settings in the app and rewrites the file i jsut put in there. 

 

is there a way to "reload" the Vectorworks Preferences before closing it? the only way i can find to replace the existing file is to do it while VW is closed... 

[twk]

34 minutes ago, Jayme McColgan said:

the only way i can find to replace the existing file is to do it while VW is closed... 

Yes, this is my experience as well. I believe Vectorworks writes all settings to XML settings files at application exit/close

[JBenghiat]

Yes, VW writes preferences to disk on close. This sounds potentially dangerous— using SetPref calls to make the changes you want is probably a better option anyway. 

[Jayme McColgan]

On 10/30/2022 at 9:16 PM, JBenghiat said:

Yes, VW writes preferences to disk on close. This sounds potentially dangerous— using SetPref calls to make the changes you want is probably a better option anyway. 

hmm using SetPref() might be a better idea. are there any other files that writes the file on close? 

[MullinRJ]

43 minutes ago, Jayme McColgan said:

are there any other files that writes the file on close? 

 

I would imagine the four SavedSettings files work the same way.

 

SavedSettings.xml

SavedSettingsDialog.xml
SavedSettingsRsrcMgr.xml
SavedSettingsUser.xml

 

And I just noticed "IFC_DM3_DefaultMapping.xml" is in the same User Settings folder, so I imagine it may be rewritten at closing, too; as well as the XML files in the DWG_DXF and DWF folders. 

 

Raymond

[Jayme McColgan]

On 10/30/2022 at 9:16 PM, JBenghiat said:

Yes, VW writes preferences to disk on close. This sounds potentially dangerous— using SetPref calls to make the changes you want is probably a better option anyway. 

 

using VW 2022, vs.SetPref() in the install script seems to be crashing VW. i have removed everything from the install script except the SetPref stuff and it still crashes. when i remove all the SetPref lines it completes like normal.  bug? known issue?

 

vs.SetPref(49,False) #hidePageBoundary

 

 

[tbexon]

Do you need to set the preference in the install file? Could you not just set it when whatever script you are installing first runs?

[Jayme McColgan]

On 11/27/2022 at 5:19 AM, tbexon said:

Do you need to set the preference in the install file? Could you not just set it when whatever script you are installing first runs?

not really... the install file is how will be distributing all the custom plugins, workspaces, preferences, and such to the users in our company. the current process is painful...  i need the ability to set all the preferences while installing all the plugins and workspaces.