Installing Custom Menus and AutoLISP® Files

Custom Menu files and AutoLISP programs can be installed in an existing folder on the AutoCAD Support File Search Path or in a new folder which must be added to the AutoCAD Support File Search Path. The AutoCAD Support File Search Path specifies the folders that AutoCAD search for support files. Support files include menu files (mnu, mns, mnr, mnc), font files (shx, tff), AutoLISP files (lsp, mnl, vlx), linetype files (lin), program parameter files (pgp), multiline styles (mln), script files (scr), and help files. AutoCAD also searches these folders when inserting a block without a specified path.

Placing customized support files in a separate folder makes it easier to locate the files, copy the files to other computers and migrate the files to newer versions of AutoCAD.

To place custom Menu files and AutoLISP programs by CCAD inc. other developers in a separate folder, begin by creating the new folder. The new folder does not need to be located within the AutoCAD folder. Note:Locating a folder within the AutoCAD folder does not automatically add it to the Support File Search Path.

The folder may be a shared network folder, but be careful, it is not recommended that you share Menu files. These files are changed by AutoCAD when a user customizes toolbars graphically within AutoCAD.

For this illustration, let the folder name be MyPrograms located on the C drive. The path of the folder is C:\MyPrograms.

Next, copy the custom Menu files and AutoLISP programs to the C:\MyPrograms new folder. Make sure to include any BMP files (used by toolbar buttons) in the folder as well.

Now begin AutoCAD. The C:\MyPrograms folder needs to be added to the AutoCAD Support File Search Path.

AutoCAD 14 - Select Tools > Preferences

AutoCAD 2000-2004 - Select Tools >Options

Typically you will also be loading a Menu file next. Type Menuload at the command line and press ENTER. Make sure the Menu Groups tab is on top. Select the Browse… button to locate the menu file. You will have placed this file in the C:\MyPrograms folder. By default you will be loading an MNS or MNC file.

MNS files are customizable menu files containing macro codes and command strings that control the menu bar, toolbars and other input areas. The MNS file is updated when you customize toolbars graphically within AutoCAD. If this file doesn’t exist, it is created by loading the MNU file. The MNU is the Menu Template file and is not altered by AutoCAD. Warning: If you load an MNU file it will over write its companion MNS file and you may destroy toolbar customizations that were made graphically within AutoCAD. You will not destroy toolbar customizations of other menu files.

The MNC file is binary compiled file that controls the appearance of the menu. If this file doesn’t exist it will be created from the MNS file.

After you locate the MNS or MNC file, left-click on the Load button. The Menugroup name defined in the menu file should be displayed in the list. The Menugroup name is frequently the same as the menu file name, but this is not required. If the menu doesn’t contain pull down menus, you can close the window.

To display pull down menus, left-click on the Menu bar tab and select the Menugroup containing the desired pull down menus. Click on a pull down menu name in the list on the left. Left-click on the Insert >> button. The menu item will be added above the highlighted menu in the list on the right. After you’ve added the desired pull down menus, close the window.

AutoCAD 14 - You will need to restart AutoCAD for these changes to take effect.

AutoCAD 2000-2004 - You are ready to start using your custom menu and files.

Note: If you are running AutoCAD 2004 along side of another version of AutoCAD, create a separate folder for your customized files for use with AutoCAD 2004. AutoCAD 2004 recompiles the menu files, rendering the toolbar button blank when used in any other version. You can fix this by deleting the MNR and MNC files in the non-AutoCAD 2004 folder and restarting AutoCAD 14, 2000-2002. The MNR and MNC files will be recompiled.