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Question

I have some crap here. Will you help?

If you are unable to describe the problem, then try to use typical solutions to problems from this page. There you will find a description of how to properly report bugs and request support. Questions and problems of AutoCAD can be discussed in the user community here, for this you do not need to own licenses, but you need to clearly state the essence of the problem.

Question

What programs do these plugins work with? What versions?

 All A>V>C> plugins work with the latest versions of AutoCAD and BricsCAD.  More details here

Question

Where are the plugin files? Where to write a plugin if I get it like 7z archive?

All plug-ins for AutoCAD are in the folder

c:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\

Each plug-in there own folder with the extension .bundle

AppData folder is in the user's profile and is marked as hidden. If you do not see the AppData folder, it means that the Explorer does not show hidden files. You can simply type appdata in the address bar or go to Explorer settings and enable the display of hidden files and folders. Or just copy path 

%APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

and past it in Windows Explorer address line.

You can install a new plug-in for AutoCAD simply writing files in ApplicationPlugins. And for remove any plug-in, you can simply erasing the “.bundle” folder (when closed AutoCAD course). AutoCAD constantly monitors what is in the folder and itself loads the new plug-ins. At the same time it copies menus-files to folder Support. It is also sometimes necessary to clean from unnecessary menu-files (.cuix and .mnr)

There are two more places from which AutoCAD itself will download bundle-plugins. This is the common folder c:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins and the AutoCAD’s own folder c:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\Plugins. In order to avoid confusion, recommended keeping these folders empty.

BricsCAD does not work with the bundle folders and will not download anything. You can unpack the plugin in any folder and then configure the launch from BricsCAD.

If you have the system of automatic updates of plugins enabled (and it is enabled by default), then new versions of plugins will be launched from the folder:

c:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\AVC\Plugin\<last version>

Question

My antivirus reports that the installer contains a virus. Where can I get an installer without viruses?

The message you received is a lie. The installer that you can find from the links on this site does not contain any viruses. But the actions of any program installer are indistinguishable from the actions of a virus: the installer elevates its rights to administrator, removes unnecessary programs and writes new ones, replaces plugin dll files, and edits the Windows registry. Viruses do the same. Therefore, any antivirus swears at any unfamiliar installer. This is normal. But the situation is worsened by two more circumstances - installing plug-ins for AutoCAD is very different from installing conventional programs. Typical installation systems known to antiviruses (such as Install Shield) cannot be used. In addition, the AVC plugin installer does not have a digital signature. This signature does not save from anything, but it costs money, so it does not exist. It is about all this, and not about viruses, that your antivirus program warns you about.

The solution to this problem is simple - temporarily disable your antivirus. Then download the installer and install the plugin. Now you can turn on the antivirus.

If you are unable to defeat antiviruses, then you can download the plugins as a 7z archive and install them manually in the correct folder.

Also, the auxiliary programs Updater.exe and FileCopy.exe cause an inadequate reaction of antiviruses. These programs automatically update plugin versions. They need to be included in the exclusion list of your antivirus. If you do not use plugins auto-update, then these programs can be removed.

Question

I installed the plug-in and see new buttons in AutoCAD. But click on any of them leads to the error message "Unknown command xxx".

This problem is artificially invented for you Windows developers. Any file downloaded from the Internet can be marked as blocked. A blocked library AutoCAD will not load. Therefore, you will see a button, but you cannot run the command from the blocked plugin. So that Windows could not lock the files published 7z-archives, rather than ZIP. But this does not always save. You will have to find a locked file, go to properties and click the Unlock button. The main library is in each plugin directory

\AVC_xxx.bundle\Content\Windows\AVC_xxx.dll

Locate the file, open its properties, and check whether the Unlock button does not appear on the first tab of properties. Click it and restart AutoCAD.

This problem occurs mainly when installing the plugin by unpacking it from the archive. But it is better to use the installer from this site (install.exe), which can trick Windows, blocking problems do not occur.

Question

Plugin buttons / menu disappeared. But its commands can be run from the command line

If you see that the plugin itself is loaded (there is a message in the command line about loading) and you can call commands from the plugin by simply typing their name in the command line, then you have a problem loading the Partial Customization File. 

You can try using the "Reload Menu" button, which is located on the "Common Options" tab in the A>V>C> Options Palette. Call the palette with the AVCOptions command. But if this does not help, try to solve the problem using standard AutoCAD tools.

In AutoCAD, everything is done from the Customize User Interface window. Call it with the _CUI command.

Expand the "Partial Customization File" branch and find a file with the name of the plugin in it. For example, AVC_PRO. If there is such a file, unload it. The unload command is in the context menu of the file. Apply the settings with the Apply button. And then reload the partial adaptation file "AVC_xxx.cuix" from the plugin folder. The plugin folder contains these files for different languages. For example, for the Avc_Pro plugin and English menus, you need to load the file:

c:\Users\<your_user_name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\AVC_Pro.bundle\Contents\Resources\En\AVC_Pro.cuix

After saving the settings and closing the dialog, buttons and menus should appear immediately. If not, try one more trick: switch the workspace to any other, and then back.

If this does not help, try cleaning the Support folder (see the next question) and doing it all over again.

In BricsCAD, unloading and loading partial customization files is done using the _CuiLoad or _CuiUnload command. And file has extension ".cui" , not ".cuix".

The installer (install.exe) will help clean all folders. It has a button to completely remove all traces of A>V>C> plugins. After that, a clean new installation of the plugin with the same installer guarantees correct operation. Just remember to save your settings to a .reg file.

Question

The plugin swears at the lack of connection to the A>V>C> Server

Indeed, new versions of plugins necessarily require an Internet connection to the server.  The problem may be due to a malfunction of your Internet channel, a clock lag on your computer, a connection blocking on your firewall or antivirus. More details about this and about ways to solve problems - in this article.

If the connection was, but lost, then first of all, force synchronize your computer's clock in the Windows settings and restart the computer.

There are cases of occasional outages due to the slow response of the AVC server. However, no connection warnings won't stop you from working for a few more days before the plugins get blocked. Thus, if you called at least one A>V>C> command on Friday, then you can safely go to the prairies for the weekend and work there without the Internet - nothing will be blocked until Monday.

Question

The plugin cannot be activated. Error "This implementation is not part of the Windows Platform FIPS validated crytographic algorithms"

This error indicates that the Use FIPS-compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing system policy setting is enabled in Windows, which restricts the use of encryption algorithms. More information about it can be found on the Microsoft website. To resolve the error, this setting must be disabled (contact your network administrator if this is controlled through domain policy).

Question

I installed the new version of the plugin, but the new buttons are displayed, all of the buttons from the old version

You can try using the "Reload Menu" button, which is located on the "Common Options" tab in the A>V>C> Options Palette. Call the palette with the AVCOptions command. But if this does not help, try reinstalling the plugin "clean":

Close AutoCAD. Remove AVC_xxx.bundle plugin folder.

c:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\AVC_xxx.bundle\

Next, go to the folder "Support" 

c:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2018\R22.0\enu\Support\

In this folder, it is necessary to find files and AVC_xxx.CUIX AVC_xxx.MNR and delete them.

Start AutoCAD 1 times. You should see that the old buttons have disappeared. 

Now close AutoCAD and install the new version again.

If you created your own ribbon or toolbars or workspace or drag the plug-in command on the Quick Launch toolbar, you may have to adjust all manually again for each version of the plugin. For this reason, I try not to change the names of commands and keys figures. And if I do this I'll warn users in the description of the new version.

Question

I want to use the old version of the XXX plugin, but after installing another plugin, I found that all the plugins were updated. How do I get the old version back?

It is fundamentally impossible to use simultaneously different versions of different A>V>C> plugins. All A>V>С> plugins are always run from one dll file and always have the same version. By updating one of the plugins, you update the others. By installing a new plugin using the installer, you update all plugins to the latest version. This behavior cannot be changed in any way. However, you can use the automatic update system to rollback to older versions of plugins. That is, after installing the plug-in, go to the A>V>C> Options Palette on the Update Programs tab, select one of the old versions and click "Roll back". All plugins will revert to the old version.

Question

I run the plugin installer, downloaded from the Autodesk App Store. I checked that there was a plug-in folder in the folder ApplicationPlugins. But it does not work; new buttons will not appear. 

If you do not have pure AutoCAD, but one of the industry "verticals" (Architectural, Electrical, etc.), then there is no guarantee that the plugins will work correctly. Plugins are tested in pure AutoCAD. And you won't see the A>V>C> buttons and commands in Architectural, Electrical, and the like if you installed the plugin from the Autodesk App Store. If you still want to take a chance - install plugins with an installer.exe. All verticals are checked in this version. Everyone who tried to use A>V>C> plugins in Architectural was satisfied, everything worked.

You can also make any plugin work in any add-on yourself. To do this, you need to find the PackageContents.xml file in the plugin folder, open it for editing (this is a simple text, you can edit it in Notepad)

• Search for the Platform= parameter and change its value from "AutoCAD|ACADM" to "AutoCAD*". An asterisk means that the plugin is suitable for all add-ons. This text must occur many times in the file. We need to replace everything.

• Save the file and run Autocad.

Question

I upgraded the Autocad to the new version and all A>V>C> plugins disappeared somewhere.

Yes, when changing versions of the AutoCAD and even just when installing the service pack, the internal number of AutoCAD changes. And all the plugins in the PackageContents.xml file are written, with which specific versions of AutoCAD versions this plug-in works. You will have to urgently change all the plug-ins along with the Autocad. We try to update A>V>C> plug-ins quickly and in a few days (if it does not happen terrible), then you will see new versions on this site. With the App Store, things are much worse. There the publication of the new version takes a month or more.

But in most cases you can patch the plugin yourself. After Autodesk has not changed anything in AutoCAD for a long time, it is not necessary to reprogram plug-ins, it is only necessary to change the version number. Try to do so: find the PackageContents.xml  file in the plugin folder, open it for editing (this is plain text, you can edit it in Notepad) Start the search for the SeriesMax parameter and replace it with a new version of the AutoCAD everywhere. For example, upgrading Autocad 2021 to AutoCAD 2024, find SeriesMax="R24.0" , replace with SeriesMax="R24.3"

If such a substitution of the numbers does not work, then you will have nothing to do but wait for the release of a new version of the plug-ins.

Question

Every time AutoCAD starts, it displays the message "AVС_ххх.dll File not found". But everything works.

This message occurs if AutoCAD searches for a long-deleted plug-in. It turns out AutoCAD itself writes some plug-ins into autoload via the Windows registry. It's easy to remove. It is only necessary to find unnecessary records. Open the registry editor on section

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R25.0\ACAD-1001:409\Applications

(Revision R25 and localization number 409 of the AutoCAD can be different in your system)

And find there all the subsections in which there is a LOADER key containing the path to the AVC_ххх.dll file. 

A subsections can have any name. But it must be removed entirely.

You can safely delete all the subsections from this registry sections, because all A>V>C> plugins will load from the bundle folder.

Question

Plug-in not work in AutoCAD 2017 SP1. No buttons shown, no command work.

Try Autoloader patch

Question

I have only a dozen solids in model but LAY and SAW command freeze on a minute!

Try to call for the same object command MassProp. A>V>C> programs use this command to calculate the volume of a solid. This command must return a result immediately. If this command will work too slowly, it means that you use solids with extremely complex shapes. To complicate the AutoCAD works unbearable freeze just any solid having splines on the edges. Such complex solid appear, for example, when you trace the picture with a spline and then extrude a spline to solid. Or when you import objects from other programs. Even if you are not using A>V>C> plugin, you still will not be able to work with such objects. Highly recommended to explode it and cut around approximately the lines and arcs, in any case not using splines. Please note that when you merge lines and arcs into a polyline with the JOIN command sometimes makes a spline instead normal polyline. Will have to Tinker - do not use JOIN, draw a polyline and extrude again. You will get a performance gain in tens and hundreds of times, will save your time and nerve cells.

Another reason for the freezes is solids converted from polygonal models (from Mesh or PolyfaceMesh). Such models have simple flat faces, but the number of faces goes off scale beyond all reasonable limits. There may be tens or even hundreds of thousands of them. While A>V>C> program is looking for the facade and ends, it will have to loop through all these faces, calculate their area, and analyze the geometry. This can take up to half a day. For every solid! Therefore, never convert meshes to solid. Always redraw parts.

Question 

Why do I see #### instead of the name and size of the part?

If you see the #### characters inside the texts or tables of AutoCAD, then you have used the FIELD and AutoCAD for some reason could not calculate the field values. If the field is not automatically calculated, then the user may have corrupted the FIELDEVAL variable settings. To update the fields manually, use the _UPDATEFIELD command. To disable the fields in all AVC command you can use the main Common Options of AVC. The SAW command has its own "Use fields" checkbox for each Sawing style.

Question 

Sometimes I see some empty buttons in A>V>C> toolbars and ribbon panel. Or instead of the icons a cloud is depicted.

• • Close AutoCAD

  • Go to folder 

c:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\Rxx.x\enu\Support\

• • Delete all AVC_xxx.cuix and AVC_xxx.mnr

  • AutoCAD will create them again at startup.

Question

When I use Smart Leader I cannot seem to force it to read the part number that’s assigned by the SAW/LAY tool. I’ve tried the %n% script and neither works. Is there a way for it to list the part #?

The numbers of items that the LAY and SAW command can output  (%row% substitution) are not saved anywhere. You will not be able to use them in Smart Leader. But it's not a problem. Use the AVC Properties Palette and Numbering plugins to give the name=number for each part. It  programs specially created to solve your problem. It all included into the package AVC_KIT. Now you can display this number in Smart Leader using %name% substitution. And you can use properties Kind and Info for long description of part. They accessible in Smart Leader too (use %kind% and %info% substitutions).  

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