topic Re: Open File issue in AutoCAD Forum

Open File issue

azad.Nanva — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:34:42 GMT

How should I know which one is AutoCAD and which one is Civil 3D?

Re: Open File issue

pendean — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:31:55 GMT

@azad.Nanva Its best if you launch the program you need first, then open the file: that's the Autodesk to the dilemma.

Do you have a constant need to jump between both applications? Or is your issue perhaps more specific?

Re: Open File issue

paullimapa — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:36:42 GMT

The change inside the Open With menu could only happen if you have access to the registry:

To open registry enter the following keyboard combinations:

Winkey+R

Then inside the Run dialog box enter:

Regedit

Drill down to this location:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache

Next on the right pane look for the following entry for example AutoCAD 2025:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025\acad.exe.FriendlyAppName

Double click to open this string to edit then enter:

AutoCAD 2025

Repeat on the right pane look for the following entry for example AutoCAD 2026:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2026\acad.exe.FriendlyAppName

Double click to open this string to edit then enter:

AutoCAD 2026

Now the Open with menu would look something like this:

Re: Open File issue

azad.Nanva — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:19:59 GMT

@paullimapa hi,
Thank you for your guidance. This is a good point, and I will use the registry to get rid of some issues, but the truth is that this should be resolved by the programmer. It was a good solution, although I received a different answer.

(view in My Videos)

Do you have anything else for me?

Re: Open File issue

paullimapa — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:45:40 GMT

Since I'm not a Civil 3d user I did not test my Open With solution.

But looking at your screenshots of the registry and reading up on how Civil 3d is launched I think I see the issue.

Since Civil 3d uses the same acad.exe as vanilla AutoCAD but with specific switches, there's no way to distinguish the two under the Open With menu:

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-distinguish-Civil-3D-from-AutoCAD-in-Task-Manager.html

Another solution though not as good is to add program shortcuts into Explorer's Send to menu.

To customize the Windows "Send to" menu, press Winkey + R, type shell:sendto

and hit Enter to open the folder containing the SendTo menu shortcuts

Next open another Explorer pointed to this location:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Look under Civil 3d as well as vanilla AutoCAD folders for their respective shortcuts and copy+paste to the SendTo folder location.

Now when you right mouse click on a dwg and select Send to you should see different AutoCAD shortcuts to open.

The drawback with this is that it will launch a new session of AutoCAD and not use a currently opened session.

Re: Open File issue

pendean — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:40:32 GMT

@azad.Nanva wrote:
...but the truth is that this should be resolved by the programmer...

Sadly no one here is that, and Autodesk is not going to change how their programs launch today or anytime this year sadly for anyone asking here.

Your only solutions honestly are only work-arounds: find one that is the least troublesome to adopt.

Best of luck.

Re: Open File issue

azad.Nanva — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:01:40 GMT

@paullimapa

@pendean
Thanks a lot to both of you for your help.
It’s a bit disappointing that the developers of a program with hundreds of millions of users seem so unconcerned about their users.

Re: Open File issue

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:16:11 GMT

Hi,

>> How should I know which one is AutoCAD and which one is Civil 3D?

There is no option to select a specific type or version of AutoCAD using Windows Explorer and right-click OOTB.

However, for me it's the best workflow to start the type and version of AutoCAD I need and then drag&drop the dwg-file into the AutoCAD application window. (much easier than having to select with right click between AutoCAD 2024, AutoCAD Map 3D 2024, Autodesk Civil 3D 2024 ... and all versions up to 2027 / and this even does not contain all possible AutoCAD tool sets like AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, ... that would be a list you don't like then too 😉 )

- alfred -