What does AcConnectWebServices.arx do?

[wai1954]

G'day,

In trying to track down what the dreaded "ding" is when I launch AutoCAD, I have managed to identify what I believe to be the bit that might be the problem.

At the bottom of the splash (logo) image there is a series of loading... messages to indicate what is happening, and the "ding" is heard immediately after AutoCAD reports:

"Loading plug-in... AcConnectWebServices.arx"

AutoCAD does not crash. It finishes loading and keeps running OK. If I opwn or double-click on another drawing after AutoCAD loads, there is no "ding" as there is no re-loading of this plug-in.

I have tried (arxload "AcConnectWebServices.arx") once a drawing has opened, and there is no indication of an error then.

I have applied all updates. There is nothing to update according to the Application Manager.

What does this plug-in do? Is the "ding" an indication of success or something failing?

Thanks.

[stevetamplen]

Hello wai1954;

It is the plugin that connects your system to the parts of AutoCAD that are accessed through the internet, mainly A360.

As long as you are not receiving any error messages I would not worry about it, unless you are having some type of connectivity issues.

[wai1954]

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@stevetamplen wrote:

Hello wai1954;

I think it is the plugin that connects your system to the parts of AutoCAD that are accessed through the internet, like the Help file, or A360.

As long as you are not receiving any error messages I would not worry about it, unless you are having some type of connectivity issues.

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I do not appear to have any issues. I have a 100/40 fibre connection.

It's just that a beep indicates that something is wrong, or something is successful.

By rights, AutoCAD should have the ability to log the load process during startup and before it gets written to the text screen history. It's not that it will be used all the time, but could be used to resolve many issues.

[stevetamplen]

Hello Ian;

Well, since there isn't an error or a problem it makes it a little difficult to diagnose. When there is an error, you will get an error log, or at lease an error message.

I have opened AutoCAD 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016 and none of my versions "ding" when opening, so I cannot reproduce the behavior you are seeing (or, more correctly, hearing). I have searched through all of the settings in AutoCAD and Windows, and cannot find a place to enable/disable a "ding" when loading anything related to AutoCAD.

1. What version of AutoCAD do you have?

2. What OS are you using?

3. Do you have multiple versions of AutoCAD on your system?

4. Have you tried logging into a different Windows user account to see if the same behavior occurs?

Please let me know the answers to these questions, and I will try to determine what is happening on your system.

[wai1954]

In answer to your questions.

I have AutoCAD 2016.

Operating System is WIndows 7 Pro 64 bit.

Only 2016 on the system.

Yes, I have tried logging in with another account but the same thing happens.

Why I think it is an error is that if I go into the Options dialog once AutoCAD has started and turn off the option to "Beep on error", the beep during the startup also stops, however that would be the same as putting in industrial grade ear plugs. The error is still occurring, only I have effectively put my fingers in my ears 🙂

[stevetamplen]

Are you talking about the setting on the System tab to "Beep on error in user input"?

[wai1954]

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@stevetamplen wrote:

Are you talking about the setting on the System tab to "Beep on error in user input"?

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Yes. This is saved in the registry and so does not require a drawing to be loaded, I have finally managed to do a Screencast with sound to show where this happens. It is before any ACAD.LSP or ACADDOC.LSP is even looked at.

Hope it all comes through OK.

[stevetamplen]

Well, that setting only has an effect if you are inputting information, and since the program has not finished loading at the point where the sound occurs, you cannot input any info at that time. 

I do not see how that setting would relate, unless there is some kind of add-on or customization you have that is causing a problem.

Are you running OOTB, or are there customization files being loaded?

[wai1954]

I have taken all the customising off, no ACAD.LSP, no ACADDOC.LSP, and no ACAD.RX.

I have even removed any partial menus.

Also, from the sreencast clip, you can see this is way before any of these files are accessed. This is AutoCAD loading the core of the program.

Further, as this is occurring during the loading of the core program, when a drawing is loaded later, there is no beep and here the ACADDOC.LSP file with the customising is loaded.

Why I ask what the file does is because it is the only way to try and figure out what is happening.

Does the program write to the registry, or read from the registry?

Is it trying to access some other software or hardware?

Is it trying to do something before another component it relies on has loaded?

The thing is that AutoCAD installs with the beep on input error disabled by default, so if you do not turn it on, you would never know that there might be an issue.