Setting Up the APS Software Manually

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You performed the automated installation from the APS installation CD and you opened AutoCAD and it looks the same as it did before you installed the APS software. Nothing is new and the APS commands don't work.

Basically something went wrong with the setup. Sorry about that...OK...while we do everything that we can to insure a flawless installation of our software let's face it we can't anticipate all the situations that exist on every computer out there and let's also be honest, AutoCAD skips a track every once in a while too.

We would prefer not to lay blame but instead offer a second method of installation that has an high chance for success.

The steps are as follows:

 

Copy the APS files directly from the APS  CD

The first thing to do is to get the APS files copied to your computer. The files are located in the "APS-20xx" folder on the CD. Copy these files to your computer. For these examples we will be using Windows Explorer to do the copying.

1. Insert the APS installation CD into your CD drive. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click on the "+" sign next to the "My Computer" icon (if it is not already expanded) then click on the "+" sign next to the C: drive (if it is not already expanded).

3. Click on your CD drive so that the contents of the APS installation disc is visible on the right side of the explorer window.

4. Drag the "APS-20xx" folder from the APS CD and set it on the "Program Files" folder as shown in the image at left. The folders and files will copy to your hard drive.

 

 

 

 

Configure the APS Paths

There are two APS locations that need to be included in the AutoCAD path. To add these locations follow the directions below (the procedure is similar for most versions of AutoCAD - for older versions see here)

 

First open the Options ("Preferences" in some older versions of AutoCAD)

 

Click on the "Files" Tab

 

Click open the "+" sign next to the "Support File Search Path" folders

 

Press the "Add" button to add another line (will open the blank box as shown above)

 

Press the "Browse" button

 

Browse to the location that you copied the APS files and click under the "APS-20xx" folder so you can select the "Custom" folder. Once you have selected the "Custom" folder press "OK" and the path will be added to the list.

 

Press the "Add" and "Browse" buttons again just like above and this time browse to the "APS-20xx" folder. When it is selected press "OK" and the path will be added like before.

 

You have now added two new paths to your "AutoCAD Path" and it should look similar to above. Note the order of the two new paths is important. The path with "Custom" should be higher in the list than the one without like shown above.

You may now press "OK" at the bottom of the "Options" dialog and the new paths will be saved.

 

 

 

Load an "APS for Acad-xxxx" menu file

By loading one of the "APS for Acad-xxxx" menu files you will set up AutoCAD to automatically load the APS software.

Type "MENULOAD" (or "CUILOAD" for AutoCAD 2006 and later) at the command prompt.

Note: The APS menu files are meant to be supplemental to your existing menu file(s) do NOT use the "MENU" command to load the APS menu files.

Then press the "Browse" button.

 

Browse to the "...\APS-20xx\Custom" folder where you copied the APS Custom files and select the APS menu file that corresponds with the version of AutoCAD you are using. If you are using AutoCAD 2005 or earlier you will be looking for a ".mnu" file instead of the ".cui" files like shown above.

 

Next press "Load" and the APS toolbars will appear. You might also note that the "APS" menugroup has also appeared. Press "Close" and the menuload dialog will close and the APS software will load. As long as you have one of the "APS for Acad-xxxx" menu files loaded (so that the "APS" menugroup shows up) the APS software will load.

 

Now you may use the new APS toolbars to replace the stock toolbars or if you prefer you may drag buttons off of these APS toolbars and place them on your own toolbars.

To drag an APS button from an APS toolbar to a location on a toolbar of your own, right-click on any toolbar and select "Customize...", then drag buttons to the desired locations. Note when customizing the toolbars that there is one special toolbar that has appeared separate from the others, our "Active Toolbar", it is shown docked on the top of the screen just below AutoCAD's "Standard" toolbar. This is a special toolbar that has the ability to change so only commands relating to the type of drawing being worked on will show. For more on this toolbar see Using the active toolbar.

If you would like to get rid of a toolbar, just drag it so that it is "floating" in the middle of the drawing area and then click on the "x" to close it.

 

Create an APS configuration file

Type "APS-CONFIG" at the command prompt and the dialog above will appear. Press "Save and Exit" to save a configuration file using the default settings.

 

Exit AutoCAD and open it again

Get completely out of AutoCAD and then open it again.

This seems pretty silly but it helps. This makes sure that everything loads the way it is supposed to and tests the setup to make sure the software will load every time you open AutoCAD.

That's it. Enjoy!

 


Is there anything that you find confusing or difficult? Please let us know so we can help!

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