Installing an AutoCAD Add-in for Multiple Users

This page describes how to install Design Master HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, or Photometrics for multiple users. It applies to both multiple single-user licenses and to floating licenses.

Download the latest installer from these links:

• Design Master HVAC Installer
• Design Master Electrical Installer
• Design Master Plumbing Installer
• Design Master HVAC & Electrical Installer
• Design Master HVAC & Plumbing Installer
• Design Master Electrical & Plumbing Installer
• Design Master HVAC, Electrical, & Plumbing Installer
• Design Master Photometrics Installer

The installer must be run from a workstation, not on the server itself. If you are unable to install to the server folder from the workstation, download and run the Limited Privileges Installer below.

The software should be installed on a network folder that all users in the company have access to. If you are installing more than one of our programs, they should all be installed to the same location. Do not install the programs to separate folders.

The software does not need to be fully installed on each computer that is going to run the software, but some components do need to be present on the machine. Install these components using the Design Master Components installer below. All three of our programs use the same components.

If an update ever requires that the Design Master Components be reinstalled, we will make that clear. Otherwise, you can assume that you do not need to reinstall it when you install an update to our software.

It does not need to be reinstalled if you install a new version of AutoCAD or BricsCAD.

Download the Design Master Components installer from this link:

• Design Master Components

Each computer that is to run the software needs to have AutoCAD configured. If you have multiple versions of AutoCAD on your computer, this needs to be done for each version of AutoCAD.

If you are using BricsCAD, see the instructions below.

To configure AutoCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed. If you are given a warning that the file is in use or read-only, press the Yes button to open the drawing in read-only.
2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load/Unload Applications dialog box will open.
3. Browse to the Admin folder.
4. Select the VLX file that corresponds to the program you are loading and press the Load button.
   • HVAC: hvac-loadInAutoCAD.vlx
   • Electrical: elec-loadInAutoCAD.vlx
   • Plumbing: plumb-loadInAutoCAD.vlx
   • Photometrics: photo-loadInAutoCAD.vlx
5. Press the Close button.
6. You will be asked to select an installation type. Press the Network or Network Laptop button.
   • Network: Use this when the computer is a desktop connected to the network. The customization files will always be located on the server.
   • Network Laptop: Use this when the computer is a laptop that is disconnected from the network at times. The customization will load from the server when connected to the network and from the local computer when not connected.
7. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the OK button to finish the configuration.
8. The first time a command is run on each computer, you will be asked to install your license. Enter the license ID and password we emailed to you and press the Activate button.

Each computer that is to run the software needs to have BricsCAD configured.

If you are using AutoCAD, see the instructions above.

To configure BricsCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed.
2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load Application Files dialog box will open.
3. Press the Add / + button.
4. Select the DES file that corresponds to the program you are loading.
   • HVAC: hvac-loadInAutoCAD.des
   • Electrical: elec-loadInAutoCAD.des
   • Plumbing: plumb-loadInAutoCAD.des
   • Photometrics: photo-loadInAutoCAD.des
5. Press the Open button.
6. Press the Load button.
7. You will be asked to select an installation type. Press the Network or Network Laptop button.
   • Network: Use this when the computer is a desktop connected to the network. The customization files will always be located on the server.
   • Network Laptop: Use this when the computer is a laptop that is disconnected from the network at times. The customization will load from the server when connected to the network and from the local computer when not connected.
8. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the OK button to finish the configuration.
9. The first time a command is run on each computer, you will be asked to install your license. Enter the license ID and password we emailed to you and press the Activate button.

If you are transitioning from a local install to a network install, saving the changes you made to the customization is recommended. To do this, copy all the files from the customization folders from the local drive to the network. For more information about this process, visit Backing Up and Transferring Customization Files.

To install an update to the software, download the installer using the links in the Run the Installer section. Run the installer and install it to the same location on the network.

When installing an update, you must update all three programs at the same time. Do not to update one program and not the others.

It is necessary to have AutoCAD or BricsCAD closed on the computer you run the installer on. You do not need to close AutoCAD or BricsCAD on the other computers with our software installed.

The next time a user opens a drawing in AutoCAD or BricsCAD, Design Master will be updated automatically. They will be prompted to restart AutoCAD or BricsCAD if necessary.

None of your existing customization will be overwritten during the update process.

Some Windows configurations that limit install privileges do not work well with our installer. We provide this limited privileges installer to help with those cases.

First, download and run the regular installer from above.

After you have run that installer, download and run the limited privileges installer:

Design Master HVAC, Electrical, & Plumbing Limited Privileges Installer