Shape Extraction for AutoCAD Hip Tip: Working with Other AutoCADs

As released the technology preview of Shape Extraction for AutoCAD supports 32-bit and 64-bit versions of:

• AutoCAD 2011 // more
• AutoCAD Architecture 2011 // more
• AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 // more
• AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 // more

We have already gotten feedback from other AutoCAD vertical application users that they too would like to get into shape. In terms of functionality, Shape Extraction for AutoCAD will work with all AutoCAD 2011 based applications. It's just a question of the installer. The installer only locates the flavors that are listed as supported. We did not have time to test Shape Extraction with all flavors before our initial technology preview. We wanted to get feedback on the concept itself before expanding our reach.

So since it is a question of install and not compatibility, if you have one of the flavors above that the installer supports, you can install for that flavor. After having done so, you can use APPLOAD in an unsupported flavor to manually load the Shape Extraction ARX app.

For example Autodesk Labs Director of Engineering, Keshav Sahoo, provided the details to an AutoCAD MEP user who wanted to convert his point cloud data into geometric shapes. Keshav told him:

If you really want to try it in AutoCAD MEP, copy the these files (ShapeExtractionApp.arx, PointCloudAlg.dll, pclab.cuix, ann.dll) to your install dir of MEP (say, after installing it somewhere else), and it should work.

I’m assuming you know how to load a cuix file, otherwise, below are some instructions:

1. Load the cuix file by doing the following:
   • Select “CUI” tool from the “Manage” ribbon. Or, just type “cui” on the command line.
   • Scroll down on the top half of the dialog until you find “Partial Customization Files”. Right click and select “Load Partial …” and pick pclab.cuix.
   • Restart acad and you should have shape extraction in the point cloud ribbon.
2. Load ShapeExtractionApp.arx file using APPLOAD command or arx/load or some other way. You might want to select it as one of the apps to load at start up in APPLOAD if you're going to be using this often.

Thanks Keshav. So now armed with this information, even more of you can get involved:

Free Download of Shape Extraction for AutoCAD technology preview

Manually expanding our ability to get more feedback is alive in the lab.