The AutoCAD connection
PlateDesignTools talks to a running AutoCAD via COM automation. The header shows a coloured dot plus the active drawing's name and AutoCAD version, or grey "AutoCAD not connected" when none is running. Click ⟳ to re-check the connection or pick up a drawing switch — the app also polls every few seconds.
- "AutoCAD not connected" — start AutoCAD (with a drawing open), then click ⟳. The first time an operation runs, the app may launch AutoCAD itself if none is open.
- The drawing name in the header is stale — it refreshes every few seconds and after each operation; click ⟳ to update now. Operations always act on whatever drawing is active in AutoCAD at the moment they run, regardless of what the header shows.
- AutoCAD closed or crashed mid-operation — re-open AutoCAD, click ⟳, then re-run the operation.
- A COM error appears right after you press ESC — that's the AutoCAD prompt being cancelled. If it's reported as an error rather than "cancelled", just re-run.
Common problems
- Excel reading errors — check that the selection includes the header row, and that the header names match the aliases in Settings → Excel columns. See Operations › Excel data format.
- Nothing happens / wrong layer used — confirm the active profile (header combo) and its layer names under Settings → Layers.
- Clearance check found nothing / found too much — verify the minimum-clearance value is in drawing units (not µm if your drawing is mm), and that the right objects are selected. Tune arc / circle resolution under Settings → Clearance (DRC) for unusual cases.
- An operation is slow on a large drawing — clearance and Excel-import scale roughly with the number of objects; click Cancel in the status strip if you need to stop.
- The app won't start or crashes on launch — check the log (
%LOCALAPPDATA%\PlateDesignTools\logs\app.log) and your AutoCAD version, then email us with both.
License errors
For the full licensing flow see Licensing & trial. The three errors you're most likely to hit:
- "This license key has reached the activation limit" — the key is already activated on another PC. Deactivate it there (⚙ → License… → Deactivate this machine) and try again, or buy another seat.
- "Could not reach the license server" — check internet / firewall; the app contacts
api.lemonsqueezy.com. It keeps working offline for up to 14 days.
- "This license has expired" — renew at pricing, then re-enter the key in ⚙ → License….
The log file
A rotating log is written to %LOCALAPPDATA%\PlateDesignTools\logs\app.log. Uncaught errors and warnings end up there; ⚙ → Show log in the menu shows recent entries live in a panel inside the app. WARNING-level messages also surface in the status strip at the bottom of the window.
Getting help
Email [email protected] with:
- What you were doing (which section, which button).
- The exact error message, if any.
- Your AutoCAD version (shown in the PlateDesignTools header).
- The log file
%LOCALAPPDATA%\PlateDesignTools\logs\app.log as an attachment.
We respond to every message.
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