Top Questions
I just installed CustomCAD (version 6) and there is no time left for the demo period. Why?
CustomCAD® is licensed for 30 days (free demo period) from the date of the first installation. Any uninstall/reinstall will not affect that timeline. So, if you are getting ‘license expired’ warnings, you will need to get an updated license. We can extend the demo period (a temporary license extension), so you can evaluate CustomCAD for your needs.
What’s the difference between Standard & Contractor Editions?
For users that already have AutoCAD® 2006 or later, Standard edition is installed on top of AutoCAD® and acts as an overlay program. Contractor Edition is a stand-alone program that has the AutoCAD® drawing functionality built into it.
Do I need to re-license CustomCAD for an update?
If you are updating CustomCAD within a release, you should not need to re-license. If are required to license and have a support agreement, re-licensing should take very little effort. If you need to purchase an upgraded license, then our sales staff will be happy to help you.
Why have license keys at all?
License keys exist to protect against unauthorized use. We created the license key system to ensure that licensed users can use the product without issues and unlicensed users cannot.
When I upgrade, I run Setup.exe and I am greeted by the Welcome screen. I am offered to Modify, Repair or Remove. Which should I use?
Currently, the upgrade process is uninstall/reinstall (the license key will not be affected by uninstallation). This is a bit cumbersome, and we are working to get a more streamlined product update process. So, you need to remove the product first, and then install from the new media
How do I find out what version I am currently licensed for?
The license will be displayed on the invoice/sales order that we sent to you. And, you can always view your currently installed product version in Control Panel>Programs and Features.
I have AutoCAD® and just installed CustomCAD, but I don’t see an Icon on my desktop for CustomCAD. Should I have a desktop Icon?
If you bought CustomCAD Std (standard) and have AutoCAD® installed, then CustomCAD is run as toolbar items from within AutoCAD®. CustomCAD Std does not have an ‘icon’ or any program to run separately. CustomCAD CE does have a program to run, since there is no AutoCAD® installed.
What are the system requirements for installing CustomCAD Version 6.9?
The requirements are very little, most system can run it with ease. Please see the technical requirement documents for more information for minimum and suggested systems.
If I already have CustomCAD installed on my computer, can I Install CustomCAD CE?
CustomCAD STD and CustomCAD CE are separate products and cannot be installed at the same time. In order to install a different version, the original version must first be uninstalled.
How do I enable other users on my PC to use CustomCAD?
Other users can run CustomCAD® CE without problems. CustomCA®D STD can be run for other users (other than who actually installed it), however please contact our technical support for more help. We merely have to run some profile updates to get the CustomCAD® menu/toolbar on the new user’s installation.
How do I get the help file for CustomCAD Contractor Edition?
The CustomCAD menu has a Help menu item on it. When you click on the help menu item, it brings up the CustomCAD User Manual. In order for the CustomCAD menu to show up on your menu bar you must click on one of the CustomCAD buttons that are on the CustomCAD toolbars to start a CustomCAD command. This will automatically load the menu on the menu bar.
Why do I get a import failure message when I try to import my Symons forms import file?
You must add the Symons Forming system to the form system list in the item maintenance area. On the Item maintenance form, choose the panel item type and click on the add new button. click on the 3 dotted button next to system drop down menu. It will bring up the add forming system input window. Add your system name and click on the add button. Now you should be able to import the Symons system.
Is CustomCAD compatible with Windows Vista operating system?
Yes, please see the technical requirements document for full details.
Why do my Walls and Footings appear so dim after drawing?
This is because CustomCAD locks AutoCAD screen items, and in AutoCAD 2008 (and CE) there came a new feature which will dim items which are locked. By default the dimming is set to 50%, but it can be changed. Enter the command “laylockfadectl” at the command prompt and enter 0 for the new fade percentage. This will stop the fading of CustomCAD objects. This will only affect AutoCAD2008 standard and CE versions of CustomCAD.
Why do I get CustomCAD errors immediately after I plot (print) a drawing?
There is a feature of AutoCAD® called “background plotting”. It was a feature designed to improve plotting performance, however it causes a lot of problems. Even Autodesk will suggest NOT printing in background mode because of the problems it can cause.
At the command prompt enter “BACKGROUNDPLOT” and press enter. It will show you your current plotting mode. Enter a “0” and press enter. That will disable background plotting which forces all printing in the foreground. Restart AutoCAD®, look at a drawings wall data form, close the form, perform a plot, and re-open the wall form see if the wall data is viewable again. If the wall form appears, with data in it, then your problem is solved! Ironically, printing may actually be faster for you in foreground mode.
Why is there such a long delay trying to perform common drawing operations (like 10 seconds of delay when selecting brick ledge location on a wall...)
You may be having general system performance issues such as not enough free memory, or the processor may working on too many processes.
However, there is another possibility. If you have imported a print, then the sheer volume of those imported objects may be slowing AutoCAD regen processing. Each time AutoCAD tries to regenerate the screen, it has to sift through each object on the drawing (to see if it is even on this display). Importing a foundation print can create tens of thousands of AutoCAD items (lines, arcs…). If this is happening, you can copy the imported print’s items to a separate drawing, and delete them from your current drawing. This should increase the performance, so that you can get the bulk of your drawing work done. Then, copy the items back into your current drawing (if you need to keep them).