CAD tip # 5091:

Question CAD
% platform category

How to run an external EXE program from AutoCAD?

There are several methods how to launch an external .EXE application from the AutoCAD environment.

The easiest way (similarly also in AutoCAD LT) is the function (startapp) - you can e.g. run NotePad by entering (startapp "notepad.exe").

Another method are the commands SH, SHELL and START, which can be used to invoke and external OS command or program.

Another often used method is adding the requested .EXE application to the ACAD.PGP file - creating an command (program) alias. See the PBRUSH command alias definiton as a sample.

AutoCAD offers many other ways to start a program - e.g. the Shell function in VBA, ARX programming environment, MTEXTED setting, etc.

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22.6.2006 24401×

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applies to: AutoCAD ·

See also:
Tip 12120:	Double-click to edit raster images in DWG drawings.
Tip 11276:	Inactive drawing, inactive commands after starting AutoCAD.
Tip 10881:	What is the process acwebbrowser.exe resp. Chromium host executable?
Tip 10866:	Revit LT 2017 in more, "secret" languages.
Tip 10658:	How to open a R/O DWG without the read-only warning?

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Pressing up-arrow repeats also the entered coordinates. Why? « | » Changing the mouse-wheel zoom orientation in AutoCAD or Inventor.

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