Locking Settings

This task explains how to run a session in administrator mode for the purpose of locking settings so that other users running a session with the same environment inherit those settings and cannot change them.

An administrator can also take advantage of this mechanism to set default settings which, although not locked, are proposed to users as a starting point.

By default, there is "zero administration" of settings: user settings are stored in the CATSettings environment.

The following scenario walks you through a procedure useful for locking settings for users of the default environment created at installation. This is a useful procedure if you are interested in locking settings, but do not want to multiply environments on the same computer.

The scenario described reflects the Windows platform only, but the feature is also supported on AIX. It is also applicable to all product lines, not just CATIA.

Do not confuse running a Version 6 session in administrator mode with logging on as administrator (a system concept).

This task shows you how to:

Scenario 1: Lock Settings for the Default Global Environment

This task explains how to lock settings for the default global environment.

  1. Log on as an administrator.

    You must belong to the Administrators group, or have the privileges assigned to the Administrators group.

    For the purposes of this particular scenario only, you need to log on as administrator because you are going to modify the default global environment CATIA.V6R2012.B211

  2. Select the Start > All Programs > CATIA > Tools > Environment Editor V6R2012 command. command to display the Environment Editor.

    You will see an environment with the following name: CATIA

  3. Click the CATIA.V6R2012.B211 environment to display the corresponding environment variables.

  4. Locate the following environment variable: CATReferenceSettingPath :

    Note that the default setting for this variable is empty.

  5. Reset the variable so that it points to an existing folder, for example:

    CATReferenceSettingPath    E:\users\administrator\LockSettings

    then click Set, then OK to save and exit the environment editor. This folder will contain the setting locks you will create later. The folder access rights must be set up for read access only for end users, and read/write for the person creating the setting locks.

  6. Run a session in administrator mode using the following command:

    cnext -env CATIA.V6R2012.B211 -admin

    or: 

    cnext -admin

    The session is started using the default global environment, and a message informs you that you are running in administration mode. Click OK in the message box to proceed. If prompted by the License Manager, reserve at least one configuration license then restart a session in administrator mode.

  7. Select the Tools > Options... command.

    The "Options" dialog box is displayed. Note that a lock symbol like this:

    appears opposite each option in the tab:



    Pointing the cursor to a lock symbol displays a message indicating the name of the folder/directory containing the lock settings. This is particularly useful for administrators who need to identify which lock settings are active when there are multiple levels of concatenated locks.

  8. To set the locks, click on one of the appropriate lock symbols.

    For example, click the lock symbol for the Drag and Drop option:



    The lock symbol now looks like this:

  9. Click OK to confirm.

    The lock settings are stored in the folder referenced by the CATReferenceSettingPath environment variable you reset earlier.

  10. Exit the session.

  11. Start a session with the normal startup command, as a normal end user and using the same environment.

    This means that you enter the command:

    cnext -env CATIA.V6R2012.B211

    and NOT: 

    cnext -env CATIA.V6R2012.B211 -admin

    You will see this after selecting the Tools > Options... command:



    The lock symbol now looks like this:

    Because the drag and drop option was locked, end users running this environment will not be able to perform drag and drop operations.

Scenario 2: Lock Settings for User Environments

This task explains how to lock settings for user environments.

You do not necessarily have to log on as administrator to customize an environment and set locks on settings: the lock mechanism is not limited to the global environment only.

You can customize your own user environments to store your own settings in a location referenced by the CATReferenceSettingPath environment variable. To do so:

  1. Start a session using the command: 

    cnext -env myenv -admin

    where "myenv" is the name of the user environment.

  2. Lock settings in the same way as described in the first scenario.

    Then, other end users starting a session on the same computer, with the normal startup commands and using the same environment, will inherit the locked settings.