Datasheet

Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process
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involve a programming language. Following is an overview of the startup
options in AutoCAD:
✦ Command line switches: Command line switches are parameters that
can be defined with a shortcut file that is used to start AutoCAD.
Command line switches can perform a variety of tasks, from starting
with a specific drawing template to specifying the default workspace.
For more information on command line switches, see “Using command
line switches” later in this chapter.
✦ Acad.dvb: Acad.dvb is a VBA project that is automatically loaded at
startup. For more information on the Acad.dvb file, see Bonus Chapter 3
on the Web (www.wiley.com/go/autocad2009aio).
✦ Acad.lsp, Acaddoc.lsp, Acad2009.lsp, Acaddoc2009.lsp: These AutoLISP
files are automatically loaded at the startup of AutoCAD. Neither Acad.lsp
nor Acaddoc.lsp ships with the program but instead must be created by
you. For more information on the files Acad.lsp, Acaddoc.lsp, Acad2009.
lsp, and Acaddoc2009.lsp, see Bonus Chapter 3 at www.wiley.com/go/
autocad2009aio.
✦ Acad.mnl: Acad.mnl is an AutoLISP file that is associated with the Acad.cui
customization file and is loaded when the customization file is loaded. For
more information on the Acad.mnl file, see Chapter 3 in this minibook.
✦ Acad.rx: Acad.rx is a plain text file that defines which ObjectARX or
ObjectDBX files should be loaded at startup. For more information on
the Acad.rx file, see Bonus Chapter 3 on the Web
(www.wiley.com/go/autocad2009aio).
✦ Appload — Startup Suite: The Startup Suite is a feature of the Application
Load dialog box to load custom programs developed with AutoLISP, VBA,
and ObjectARX. For more information on using the Startup Suite, see
Bonus Chapter 3 on the Web (www.wiley.com/go/autocad2009aio).
✦ LISP Files node: The LISP Files node in the Customize User Interface
(CUI) Editor can be used to load files when the CUI file is loaded. For
more information on adding AutoLISP files to the LISP Files node of a CUI
file, see Chapter 3 in this minibook.
Of the startup options that were just mentioned, AutoCAD LT supports only
the use of command line switches. All the other options are related to pro-
gramming, which AutoCAD LT does not support.
Using command line switches
Command line switches control the behavior of AutoCAD when it is started
from a desktop shortcut or the Start menu. You can customize the desktop
shortcut so that a specific drawing template is used to create the default
drawing displayed when AutoCAD is started. You can use command line
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