1Overview
infrADAC ACAD is a managed AutoCAD plugin loaded by the installer-configured startup script. It stores asset/project data in the drawing database, uses a partial CUIX ribbon and works with AutoCAD ObjectIds, XData, blocks, layers and transactions.
Installing into another AutoCAD profile, repairing the ribbon, understanding selection behaviour or diagnosing an ACAD-only result.
2Product differences
The task is shared where possible, but selection, interface integration and model operations follow the host shown below.
This article describes the active product: AutoCAD owns geometry, selection, transactions, blocks, CUIX and transient graphics.
3ACAD ownership boundaries
AutoCAD owns model data and UI integration; infrADAC supplies definitions, forms and command logic.
| Feature or choice | Current behaviour |
|---|---|
| Loader | Installer-managed tagged acaddoc.lsp loads the ACAD assembly for documents.Routine NETLOAD steps are unnecessary. |
| CUIX | The partial infrADAC_Tab.cuix is extracted to the local root and attached to the current workspace.Ribbon updates can be repaired independently from the plugin files. |
| Drawing storage | Uses XData, named-object dictionary records, blocks/layers and model-space entities.Data travels with a saved DWG. |
| Civil/ground support | Can use native Civil surfaces when their runtime APIs are available, plus generic TIN/3DFACE sources.Ground lookup can integrate with Civil design data. |
4Start and verify ACAD
Check loader, ribbon and selection context before diagnosing task-level behaviour.
Confirm startup integration
Normal startup does not require manual NETLOAD.
- Start AutoCAD using the configured profile.
- Allow the tagged
acaddoc.lsploader to load the ACAD assembly. - Accept the disclaimer and check licence status.
Install or repair the ribbon
The embedded CUIX can be compared and refreshed.
- Open the infrADAC tab.
- If missing or stale, run
ADACCUIX. - Choose Add, Reset or Remove; Reset unloads/reloads the partial menu and rebinds it to the active workspace.
Use AutoCAD selection patterns
Many commands honour an implied selection.
- Preselect assets for Edit, Clone, Generate, label and direction commands.
- Leave nothing selected when a command should affect all blocks/highlights.
- Use Escape/clear selection before changing from targeted to global scope.
Maintain drawing state
Project, asset and surface data live with the drawing.
- Save after project/profile/asset changes.
- Use Audit and Clean before exchange.
- Use Modify Installation when a different AutoCAD local profile should become the active target.
5Before you begin
- Use a supported AutoCAD installation and the configured Windows/CAD profile.
- Save drawings before installing, resetting or removing the ribbon.
- Keep project and profile folders accessible to the current Windows user.
6Troubleshooting
AutoCAD reports an assembly load or trust issue
Confirm the installer-targeted path, AutoCAD trusted locations/security settings and file permissions. Use Modify Installation instead of manually relocating only the DLL.
ADACCUIX adds the file but no tab appears
Reset the CUIX, reload the workspace/menus and verify the active AutoCAD profile/workspace is the one modified.
Commands affect all objects instead of selected ones
Confirm the command supports preselection and that the implied selection is still active immediately before running it.
7Developer notes
These notes explain the technical boundary behind the visible product behaviour.
| Feature or choice | Current behaviour |
|---|---|
| Managed host integration | ACAD runs inside AutoCAD and uses its managed database services, document locks and transactions for every persistent drawing change.A failed transaction is rolled back by the host rather than leaving a partly written asset. |
| DWG data model | Project records, asset XData, blocks, layers and supporting identifiers are stored against AutoCAD database objects.Saving and transferring the DWG preserves the infrADAC object relationships. |
| Runtime compatibility | The ACAD assembly targets the supported AutoCAD API generation and is loaded through the installer-managed startup entry.Copying a DLL between unsupported AutoCAD versions can bypass the compatibility and deployment checks performed by the installer. |