Finding the AutoCAd Application folder using VB.Net

[GeeHaa]

Hi,

Is there a way to find the AutoCAD Application folder when AutoCAD is not running? I need to copy an ACADDoc.lsp file to the support folder on Installs.

Thanks

[_gile]

Hi,

You can get it via the registry.

Look for the 'AcadLocation' value in the 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R20.0\ACAD-E001:409' key.

This path may differ according to the AutoCAD version but you can get it from the HKCU\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\<CurVer value>\<Curver value>.

        // Get the AutoCAD current version registry key
        private static string GetAcadCurVerKey()
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(@"Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\");
            using (RegistryKey acad = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(sb.ToString()))
            {
                sb.Append(acad.GetValue("CurVer")).Append(@"\");
                using (RegistryKey curVer = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(sb.ToString()))
                {
                    return sb.Append(curVer.GetValue("CurVer")).ToString();
                }
            }
        }

        // Get the acad.exe location for the AutoCAD current version
        private static string GetAcadLocation()
        {
            using (RegistryKey rk = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(GetAcadCurVerKey()))
            {
                return (string)rk.GetValue("AcadLocation");
            }
        }

[_gile · Accepted solution]

Maybe this is more readable.

C#

// Get the AutoCAD current version registry key
public string GetAcadCurVerKey()
{
    RegistryKey rkcu = Registry.CurrentUser;
    string path = @"Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\";
    using (RegistryKey rk1 = rkcu.OpenSubKey(path))
    {
        path += rk1.GetValue("CurVer");
        using (RegistryKey rk2 = rkcu.OpenSubKey(path))
        {
            return path + "\\" + rk2.GetValue("CurVer");
        }
    }
}

// Get the acad.exe location for the AutoCAD current version
public string GetAcadLocation()
{
    RegistryKey rklm = Registry.LocalMachine;
    string path = GetAcadCurVerKey();
    using (RegistryKey rk = rklm.OpenSubKey(path))
    {
        return (string)rk.GetValue("AcadLocation");
    }
}

VB

' Get the AutoCAD current version registry key
Private Function GetAcadCurVerKey() As String
    Dim rkcu As RegistryKey = Registry.CurrentUser
    Dim path As String = "Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\"
    Using rk1 As RegistryKey = rkcu.OpenSubKey(path)
        path += rk1.GetValue("CurVer")
        Using rk2 As RegistryKey = rkcu.OpenSubKey(path)
            Return path & "\" & rk2.GetValue("CurVer")
        End Using
    End Using
End Function

' Get the acad.exe location for the AutoCAD current version
Private Function GetAcadLocation() As String
    Dim rklm As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine
    Dim path As String = GetAcadCurVerKey()
    Using rk As RegistryKey = rklm.OpenSubKey(path)
        Return DirectCast(rk.GetValue("AcadLocation"), String)
    End Using
End Function

[GeeHaa]

Thanks Very Much this works perfectly.

[Jedimaster]

If you do not want to have to open up the registry

Dim objapp As Object = Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application.AcadApplication

objapp.path

appears to work

[GeeHaa]

Thanks,

I like that better.

[kdub_nz]

---

GeeHaa wrote:

Thanks,

I like that better.

---

GeeHaa, 

that code requires AutoCAD to be running, which is contrary to the request in your original post.

Regards,

[GeeHaa]

Thanks,

Its been so long ago I forgot I was using it in an installer that runs outside of AutoCAD. You are correct.

[Anonymous]

I had to change one line in order for windows to find the entire registry path 

RegistryKey rklm = Registry.LocalMachine;

RegistryKey rklm = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry64);