Issue:
When I load RIBBONWorx and close AutoCAD or BricsCAD, the ribbon needs to be loaded again.
Solution:
When the installer for the plugins is ran, it should install registry entries for each of our plugins. If the user does not have administration rights or the machine is locked down in such a way as to not allow software to modify the registry, then these registry entries will fail to be installed. When this happens the user will need to netload the assemblies. When the assembly is netloaded inside of AutoCAD the software also attempts to install the registry entries. This too can fail for different reasons. When this happens then they will need to be installed manually by using the REGEDIT program inside of windows. Below is an example of RIBBONWorx and of BUBBLEWorx that demonstrate the two types of registry entries for the plugins. Please note that the location of the registry entry is determined by the year of the autocad release and the application type. i.e. AutoCAD vs. Plant3d vs Civil3d vs MEP.
Note: If this needs to be done on multiple machines then do it on one machine and then export the registry entries or use the standard files provided at bottom of this article. You can then import the entries onto the remaining machines.
Registry Entry for RIBBONWorx in AutoCAD 2019 MEP
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1006:409\Applications\RIBBONWorx
Name | Type | Data | Description (Not actually in Registry Entry) |
(Default) | REG_SZ | (value not set) | |
DESCRIPTION | REG_SZ | The Worx Plugins Suite Ribbon | Description of the .NET assembly and is optional. |
LOADCTRLS | REG_DWORD | 0x00000002 (2) | Controls how and when the .NET assembly is loaded |
LOADER | REG_SZ | C:\Program Files\ECE Design\Worx Plugins\AutoCAD\RIBBONWorx.dll | Specifies which .NET assembly file to load. |
MANAGED | REG_DWORD | 0x00000001 (1) | Specifies the file that should be loaded is a .NET assembly or ObjectARX file. Set to 1 for .NET assembly files. |
Registry Entry for BUBBLEWorx in AutoCAD 2019 MEP
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1006:409\Applications\BUBBLEWorx
Name | Type | Data | Description (Not actually in Registry Entry) |
(Default) | REG_SZ | (value not set) | |
DESCRIPTION | REG_SZ | BUBBLEWorx places annotated bubbles with Tags data and Mark numbers on piping component | Description of the .NET assembly and is optional. |
LOADCTRLS | REG_DWORD | 0x0000000c (12) | Controls how and when the .NET assembly is loaded |
LOADER | REG_SZ | C:\Program Files\ECE Design\Worx Plugins\AutoCAD\BUBBLEWorx.dll | Specifies which .NET assembly file to load. |
MANAGED | REG_DWORD | 0x00000001 (1) | Specifies the file that should be loaded is a .NET assembly or ObjectARX file. Set to 1 for .NET assembly files. |
Demand loading registry entries require at least one command to be defined. Along with the commands will be command groups. For the plugins there is only one command group. BUBBLEWorx also only has one command. See further below for an example of DIMWorx that has multiple commands registered.
An example of a plugin that has multiple commands registered.
BricsCAD Addendum
For BricsCAD the process is identical except for the location of the entries.
We have attached some registry files for AutoCAD 2016-2019 and BricsCAD V17 and V18
To use these reg files, you will need to download the file that corresponds to your version of AutoCAD. Make sure to unblock the file in its properties, then double click the file to run it.
Make sure you close all AutoCAD, BricsCAD, or CADWorx software prior to merging these files with your registry.
(Editing the Registry can cause serious issues if not done correctly. Do not edit the registry unless you are completely comfortable within the regedit environment)