AutoCAD DWG Launcher

[Anonymous]

Why isn´t any option for Civil 3D here when choosing default program for DWG files?

All these red icons are for AutoCAD 2015, 2016 and 2018.

For Civil 3D blue icons are missing here!   

Please see the pic!

[neilyj666]

My understanding is that dwg files will open in whatever product was last used to open them - it is also best practice to open the application and use File > Open

[wfberry]

1.  First locate where your particular version has stored the startup "Acad.exe".  If you have an existing Icon that shows this location write it down.

2.  Rt click a .dwg file.

3.  Go to Properties.

4.  Select Change.

5.  Keep scrolling down this page until you get to

   "Look for another app on this pc."  Select this.

6. Browse & Select the acad.exe that you located in step 1.

Bill

[AllenJessup]

I usually drag the drawing into a customized desktop icon using the Icon Switches.

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2019\acad.exe" /ld "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2019\\AecBase.dbx" /p "<<C3D_Imperial>>" /product "C3D" /language "en-US"

[Anonymous]

Ok, I am trying to start Civil 3D by the way you decribing but I only find ACAD.exe that starts up AutoCAD 2017.

So I can select a dwg and then choose "open with" and then point to ACAD.exe in the folder as below:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\ACAD.exe

But I can not find equivalent ACAD.exe for Civil 3D! 

As Allen Jessup  mentioned the only way is using a desktop shortcut with a switch as below:

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\acad.exe" /ld "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2019\\AecBase.dbx" /p "<<C3D_Imperial>>" /product "C3D" /language "en-US"

So civil 3D is not going to show up on right click menu because ther is no equivalent ACAD.exe for Civil 3D...

Do  I get it correctly???

[wfberry]

The answer is NO.

You have not been very specific about which version you want to start with.  I am making an assumption that it is 2018.

I have stripped off all to the last parts of Allen's icon info.

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\"acad.exe" 

Substitute 2017 the above with 2018 and use Windows Explorer to confirm it is there.

Bill

[Anonymous]

Thanks, So what I understand is that there is no way to add Civil 3D to the windows right menu.

I have three options when I select a file but these are for AutoCAD, not AutoCAD Civil 3D:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2015

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2018

But the way you describe it Civil 3D starts with ACAD.exe and a switch! This was news for me!

Is there away to but a text next to the icons so one knows what version those are pointing to?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I hade to work with REGEDIT, and finally there is an "Open With Civil 3d" in the menu!

[MSchille-1994]

How did you do this?

[pendean]

@MSchille-1994 You are asking a fellow user that is no longer a participant in these forums (aka they will never get your reply). Sorry.

AFAIK what you want is not an option too. I've never seen a viable solution for the ask above.

[neilyj666]

My reply from 2019 still holds true and is pretty much foolproof i.e. open the product and then use File > Open