AutoCAD Warning - Shortcut file not found

[supportS5WL9]

Hello -- we have some customized plot styles that are used. On occasion, an engineer will go to print a plot and will receive the following error. When we go into the folder, we will see a .lnk shortcut. This doesnt hurt anything but has become a minor annoyance. Does anyone know what is causing this?

[handjonathan]

Hi @supportS5WL9 

Thanks a lot for posting your question to the forums!  

The warning indicates that one of the search paths in AutoCAD contains a Windows shortcut (a .lnk file) to a nonexistent target. This could occur after upgrading to a new installation of AutoCAD.
 

Example: The Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard.lnk shortcut file contained in the Printer Configuration Search Path has a target that points to the styshwiz.exe file that was used by a previous installation which is no longer on the system.

 

The warning may also indicate that there is a Windows shortcut with a nonexistent target in the same folder as the DWG file that is being opened. When opening files, AutoCAD tries to resolve all shortcuts that are in the same folder as the drawing file. All invalid .lnk files in the folder will be mentioned in the warning message.

Notes:

• No warning was presented in earlier releases of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. A shortcut file without an existing target in the printer folder could delay the opening the Plot or Page-Setup dialog box, but no message would appear. This issue will also occur if a .zip file is located in the folder.
• In cases where a shared folder (network folder) used in multi-user environment, the link might be added by one of the users and its target might only exist on the local machine of that user. 

Solution:

The warning message is benign and can be ignored. However, to resolve it, do any of the following:

• Reset AutoCAD to defaults.
• Verify support paths.
  1. On the command line in AutoCAD, type OP and press Enter key.
  2. In the Options dialog box, click the Files tab.
  3. Check the contents of the search paths to make sure they point to correct, existing locations. In particular, look under "Printer Support File Path" and verify the paths under "Printer Configuration Search Path" and "Plot Style Table Search Path."

• Delete all invalid shortcuts that are alongside drawing files or repair them by restoring the file or folder that they point to (see note below).
  • To check a shortcut, right-click it and choose "Open file location" to see if the system can find an existing file or folder.
• Check the Add-A-Plotter Wizard and/or the Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard shortcuts.
  1. On the command line in AutoCAD, type PLOTTERMANAGER and/or STYLESMANAGER and press Enter.
  2. Right-click the Add-A-Plotter Wizard and/or the Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard shortcut and choose "Open file location" to see if it points to a valid file.
  3. If it does not point to a valid file, either delete the shortcut or try to repair it (see note below).

Note: As an alternative to choosing "Open file location" when checking a shortcut to fix it, right-click and choose "Properties" and then look at the Shortcut tab. Verify that "Target" and "Start In" file paths point to existing target files. For example, the Add-A-Plotter Wizard should point to the addplwiz.exe file and the Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard file should point to the styshwiz.exe file, both located in the AutoCAD program folder.

[pendean]

Delete the lnk file listed at that location. That's it.