1Overview
Profiles are .idc packages containing schema definitions, metadata, optional user overrides, supplementary assets and host-specific drawing resources. The Profile panel in Settings provides the full lifecycle; ADACProfile opens the current profile editor directly. DWG blocks and equivalent appearance configuration are consumed only by ACAD and BCAD.
Changing receiver requirements, distributing a profile, creating an organisation variant or recovering a damaged profile.
2Profile package contents
A profile change can alter definitions, requirements and appearance at the same time.
| Feature or choice | Current behaviour |
|---|---|
| Protected defaults | DefaultProfile and DefaultProfile_* entries cannot be deleted.A known fallback remains available. |
| Create options | A new profile can be blank, clone the loaded profile, merge supplementary assets and/or merge user overrides.Teams can choose a clean start or an inherited configuration. |
| Profile metadata | Stores name, author, revision, ADAC standard, complex-geometry flag and optional icon.Audit and users can identify the exact package context. |
| Loaded profile | Extraction updates CurrentProfile and CurrentStandard and refreshes effective definitions.Asset and audit changes take effect together. |
3Profile actions
Open the Profile panel in Settings, then choose the lifecycle action that matches the intended change.
Load or reset
Loading changes the effective project definitions.
- Select a profile and choose Load.
- Confirm the unsaved-data warning and choose whether existing project/global data should be cleared or maintained.
- Use Reset to Default only when the shipped default is intended.
Create, clone or edit
Choose which content the new package should inherit.
- Choose Create, then optionally clone the loaded profile, merge supplementary assets or merge user overrides.
- Set name, standard, revision, complex-geometry acceptance and profile image.
- Edit supplementary assets and save the package.
Move or share
Use IDC files as the controlled exchange format.
- Use Export to copy the current profile to an IDC file.
- Use Import Profile to add an IDC package.
- When changing the profile folder, choose whether existing profiles should move.
- Delete only unprotected profiles; deleting the current profile reverts to DefaultProfile.
4Product differences
The task is shared where possible, but selection, interface integration and model operations follow the host shown below.
The Settings profile panel and ADACProfile editor run inside the AutoCAD integration.
BCAD provides the same package controls and stores profiles in the configured Windows folder.
Profiles and Supplementary definitions are managed in the desktop host. Later native 12d operations consume the changed definitions; DWG block resources and equivalent display controls are not DCAD capabilities.
5Before you begin
- Export a backup of a custom profile before editing or deleting it.
- Know the target ADAC standard and receiver requirements.
- Save the current project because loading another profile can change audit and asset behaviour.
6Troubleshooting
A profile will not load
Verify it is a valid IDC ZIP package with info.json, the standard-specific DefaultAssets file and all resources required by the active product. Reimport a known-good copy.
A default profile cannot be deleted
That protection is intentional. Clone or create a custom profile and load it instead.
Edits do not affect the current project
If a non-current profile was edited, load it. If the current profile was edited, reopen affected forms and rerun audit so effective data is refreshed.