My Plug-In isn't loaded by AppAutoLoader on Autocad Startup

[serbestcihangir]

Hello Everyone,

I have plug-in and I bundled it according to explained process in help documentation.  But it isn't loaded by AppAutoLoader on Autocad startup. I tried all of suggested way in this forum. But I couldn't find any solution.  I am using AutoCAD 2021. My PackageContents.xml content is below. Please anyone can help me?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<ApplicationPackage 

  SchemaVersion="1.0"

  AutodeskProduct="AutoCAD"

  ProductType="Application"

  AppVersion="1.0"

  Author="---------"

  Name="Grid Line Plug-In for AutoCAD"

  Description="Draws grid line with automatic labeling"

  Icon="./Contents/Resources/Grid_Line.ico"

  HelpFile="./Contents/Resources/SC_Grid_Line_for_AutoCAD_Help.htm"                    

  ProductCode="[C715545E-4761-4A03-90FA-51097B92616B]"

>

  <CompanyDetails 

    Name="-------------"

    Url="---------------"

    Email="-------------------" 

  />  

  <RuntimeRequirements OS="Win32|Win64" Platform="AutoCAD*|AutoCAD" SeriesMin="R15.0" SeriesMax="R24.0"/>  

  <Components>    

    <ComponentEntry AppName="Grid Line" ModuleName="./Contents/GridLine.dll" AppType="Dependency" LoadOnAutoCADStartup="True" LoadOnCommandInvocation="True" LoadOnRequest="True"/>

    <RuntimeRequirements OS="Win32|Win64" Platform="AutoCAD*|AutoCAD" SeriesMin="R15.0" SeriesMax="R24.0" SupportPath=".\Contents\"/>

    <Commands GroupName="ADSK_APPAMANAGER">

      <Command Local="GRIDLINE" Global="GRIDLINE" Description="Launches the Grid Line command."/>

      <Command Local="GL" Global="GL" Description="Launches the Grid Line command."/>

    </Commands>

  </Components>  

</ApplicationPackage>

[_gile]

Hi,

If you want your plugin to load at startup, remove the following attributes:

LoadOnCommandInvocation="True" LoadOnRequest="True"

And you do not need the <Commands ...> ...</Commands> part.

The Autoloader mechanism only work since AutoCAD 2012, so the SerieMin value should not be less than 18.2.

The <RuntimeRequirement .../> should not be part of the <Components> ... <Components/>.

Read the Autodesk Autoloader White Paper.

Try like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ApplicationPackage 
  SchemaVersion="1.0"
  AutodeskProduct="AutoCAD"
  ProductType="Application"
  AppVersion="1.0"
  Author="---------"
  Name="Grid Line Plug-In for AutoCAD"
  Description="Draws grid line with automatic labeling"
  Icon="./Contents/Resources/Grid_Line.ico"
  HelpFile="./Contents/Resources/SC_Grid_Line_for_AutoCAD_Help.htm"                    
  ProductCode="[C715545E-4761-4A03-90FA-51097B92616B]"
>
  <CompanyDetails 
    Name="-------------"
    Url="---------------"
    Email="-------------------" 
  />  
  <RuntimeRequirements OS="Win32|Win64" Platform="AutoCAD*" SeriesMin="R18.2" SeriesMax="R24.0" SupportPath=".\Contents\"/>  
  <Components>    
    <ComponentEntry AppName="Grid Line" ModuleName="./Contents/GridLine.dll" LoadOnAutoCADStartup="True"/>
  </Components>  
</ApplicationPackage>

[serbestcihangir]

Hi Dear Gilles ,

Kindly, thank you for your reply. 

I had inspected the article that you linked, before. And I have tried the xml code that you suggested. But, unfortunately it didn't solve my problem.  My plug-in isn't still uploaded on AuoCAD startup.

[_gile]

Does your plugin works as expected if you netload it from the .bundle folder?

If so, what's the value of the APPAUTOLOAD system variable?

[serbestcihangir]

Yes. I have loaded it via NETLOAD from .bundle folder. And, it worked as expected. 

APPAUTOLOAD System Variable is 14.  I have tried with 2 but it didn't change anything. 

[_gile · Accepted solution]

I made a try with the upper XML example and all worked as expected.

I build a simple GridLine.bundle folder which contains the PackageContents.xml file with the upper code and a Contents folder which only contains a GridLine.dll file (this app only shows an alert dialog box displaying "GridLine loaded" at initialization).

Attached a ZIP file containing the GridLine.bundle folder.

Don't forget to Unblock the ZIP before extracting all in an ApplicationPlugins folder (I did my test in %appdata%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins).

You can replace the GridLine.dll by yours.

[serbestcihangir]

Dear Gilles,

Thank you so much for your help.

Your example worked very well. I replaced my .dll with your  example. Now, my plug-in is running. 

I think, there was a problem in my .bundle structure. 

Many thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have the same problem.

I do not realy understand what i can do with the zip file.

But you say there was somthing wrong in your folder? 

Can you explain how you fixed it? 

[serbestcihangir]

Hi,

As far as I remembered; the problem of my plug-in was wrong folder name. After reviewing carefully , I realized, the folder name that I declared in PackageContents file and the real folder name was not match.  When I corrected it, plug-in was loaded successfully. 

But you are mentioning about zip file. Be aware of that all of files in bundle should be original.  AutoCAD can't read any zip file.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Oh this is not the problem for me.
Than I have to keep searching 😄