Exporting and Importing Profiles Autocad 2007

If you dont have a server then you will need to find the current .cui files and any other custom files they may have, and copy them to the new users directories. The location of the cui files may vary, but a search should give them to you.

"Are you saying that if I transfer "all" CUI files from one users machine to another machine, they will have the same toolbars present?  That is all I need to do?"

Those would be the files, along with the bmp's that make up the icons.
You would need to make sure you put the files in the correct directory. You can see the support file search paths in autocad by looking in the "files" tab in the options dialog. to get that you can just type in options at the command line or it should be in the tools menu.
 You can familiarize yourself with how autocad searches for files in that tab, I think the cui's go in the directory that the "custimization files" segment points too.

You may have to open up the cui interface in acad and do a "load partial customization file" to get any custom cui's to load correctly.

If you are able to save a profile from the existing user and copy the cui's to the new user using the same directory structure, then theoretically you should be able to load the profile and it should load all the cui's for you.

I would give all of this a trial run before you are up against a clock, its going to take a little bit of trial and error to get it to go smoothly.
I hope that helps.

As Norrin_rad suggests, a server based setup is the best if you have more than a few users. It'll take some time to get it setup but from then on out, it's a lot easier. You'll cumulativly be spending a lot more time managing all this without the some sort of standards in place.

If done properly, new users just import a profile and they are done. As Norrin_radd suggests, it wsounds as if the supporting CUI files aren't present on the new system The Profile holds which Menu is loaded (Enterprise & Main menu) and those menu's then contol which partial CUI's are loaded. Without those CUI's being located in the new system or a location in the new user's windows profile, the AutoCAD profile won't be able to find or load them.

Even if you don't go with a server based setup, It's recommended you pull your customization outr of the default install folders because it's Windows Profile based and specific to that one user. A different user log's in and they then no longer have the required files. If multiple people use the system, or you need to log on as an admin, you don't have access and giving yourself a copy means you're starting to propogate copies of the same thing all over meaning sa nightmare if you ever want to update something fro all users.

In addition to the CUI files, you may or may not want copies of PC3, PMP, CTB, STB, MNL, PGP, Acad.LSP, AcadDoc.LSP or whatever else may have been customized.

I know you don't want to look into the server setup yet but you should work toward that. You mentioned that each user may have things tailored to just them. This can also be accomplished. You just need to segregate your corporate standard stuff from user based stuff. Donig this makes future upgrades easier as all the individual stuff you or the end user has done, can easily be brought into the new version. Ultimately, with nothing more than a custom profile in a new version of AutoCAD, you should be able to roll out an upgrade, and all your stuff and the user's custom stuff all comes along automatically.

When you get to that point, post a new question and we'll be glad to help you out.

Autocad has extensive help files.
You can look up "profiles (of environment settings)", cui, customization, plot styles, search paths, and all those file extensions that darren had mentioned along with dvb files in the help search. Also I relied heavily on the info on the net.
This is really not that easy of a thing to do imho. It takes alot of time and you really need to document what works since everyone has a unique setup. Thats why darren and I suggested the standard server set up. It helps tremendously if the users are already using a standard way of doing things.
I've only had to manage 2 indentical seats and a few LT seats and to me its had its nightmarish moments, I cant imagine having to manage multiple depts with users doing their on thing.  we'll be here to help.
good luck

There can be a lot or it doesn't have to be, it all depends what is customized. I spend the better part of 2 years at a compnay slowly developing the framework I used, ithers do things idfferent. As you said, there's no clear cut way as it depends on what your goals and objectives are.

I recenly setup a scheme that allowed the database of a third party application that runs within AutoCAD to be replicated locally on the local system as there were a large number of users running laptops that needed to disconnect and work from the field. Within the last month, I changed my approach 4 times from my first implementation. They're all similar, but there were slight nuances based on how I saw things working, how often a manager called me to set up a new user, etc. The system I have not easily allows me to setup and update systems when they are connected witthout ever interrupting the user. It's still not as nice as I'd like but but it's a continuous process, making little changes for the better over time.

Take the same approach, do what you need to now, and examine what parts in particular are a real pain then try to find creative ways you could do them easier. Push just the CUI's to the network, or whatever or even something as simple as the ACAD.PGP. Then builfd on it over time.

Of course, keep in mind the vast majority of AutoCAD users don't ever do any of this. The use it out of the box or manually setup each system. There's nothing wrong with that if you have other tasks with more return. But as someone who manages technilogy and integrations, my #1 focus after solving the customers imediate need, it to make ME more efficient which allows me to get a lot more done. I can't take 3 months to setup everything start to finish as I have things to do so I just pick away at little pieces as I go.