This page lists new capabilities and known limitations for the AutoCAD and Civil 3D MCP server. For an overview of what the server does, see Autodesk AutoCAD and Civil 3D MCP Server.
Autodesk Assistant can now query and explore drawing references — xrefs, data references (DREFs), and block references — through natural language. Assistant accesses reference information and content across the main model and its attached references, so you can navigate complex drawing structures without running multiple reference commands.
| Use case | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Discover references | "What xrefs are attached to this drawing?" |
| Explore reference content | "What objects are in this referenced drawing?" |
| Navigate references | "Show me where this block reference is located." |
| Understand drawing structure | "Which drawings are referenced by this model?" |
| Query referenced objects | "Find the objects in the referenced drawing." |
| Inspect reference properties | "What is the path of this xref?" |
Known limitations
The following are not supported in this release and are targeted for future releases:
Assistant can now manage drawing layers in AutoCAD and Civil 3D through natural language. You can inspect layer information, control visibility, create and delete eligible layers, modify layer properties, set the current layer, and move objects between layers.
| Use case | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Inspect layers | "What layers are in this drawing?" |
| Control visibility | "Turn off all the layers starting with A." |
| Create layers | "Create a new layer called SITE-UTILITIES." |
| Modify properties | "Change the color of the ROAD layer." |
| Manage the current layer | "Make C-ROAD the current layer." |
| Move objects | "Move these selected objects to the UTILITIES layer." |
Assistant can now discover, read, and manage application system variables in AutoCAD and Civil 3D. You can access current system variable values and their metadata, and update supported variables with validation, security, and protection safeguards applied. This lets Assistant troubleshoot and automate workflows without using the command line.
| Use case | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Discover variables | "What system variables are available for controlling object selection?" |
| Read values | "What is the current value of FILEDIA?" |
| Understand configuration | "What does this system variable control?" |
| Modify configuration | "Set FILEDIA to 1." |
| Validate settings | "Check the relevant system variables for this behavior." |