Load the CADmep .ARX

If you installed Fabrication CADmep, it is important to understand that it is possible to run AutoCAD without running Fabrication CADmep. If you installed Fabrication CADmep after installing AutoCAD, the Fabrication CADmep installation creates a desktop shortcut icon that automatically loads the Fabrication CADmep .arx file whenever Fabrication CADmep is launched from that shortcut. If you launch AutoCAD on its own, then you must use the APPLOAD command to load the Fabrication CADmep .arx file, and thereby launch Fabrication CADmep.

Fabrication CADmep does not display any user interface components in the AutoCAD ribbon. However, when Fabrication CADmep is successfully loaded, the following user interface components are visible within the AutoCAD application window:

• CADmep Service palette
• CADmep toolbar
• CADmep right-click menus.

For more information, see Introduction to CADmep.

To load the Fabrication CADmep .arx file in AutoCAD:

1. Start AutoCAD.
2. Once AutoCAD has fully loaded, at the command line, type APPLOAD and press Enter. The Load/Unload dialog is displayed.
3. On the Load/Unload Applications dialog, navigate to and select the following .arx file:
   • C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Fabrication<release>\CADmep\CADmep20_1x64.arx (for 64-bit AutoCAD)
4. Click Load.

Note: If you open a drawing that contains CADmep items in AutoCAD, the Fabrication CADmep .arx automatically loads and launches Fabrication CADmep. Also, the TAKEOFF command launches the CADmep.arx.