Where are Expresstools in 2009.

[revacservice]

Just loaded 2009, but can not find express tools on the set up disks, I'm using mechdesktop as part of the inventer suite by the way.

Any help much appreaciated.

Regards

Don Smith

[CADDmanVA]

I use vanilla, so I can't be sure about this. Anyhow...

Express Tools are part of the default install. You can find them by clicking on the Ribbon Menu (the big "A"). Their under the heading for Express. I don't know of a way to place them on the actual ribbon bar, short of customizing the CUI to do it. Worth a shot though if you're and avid ET user.

[irneb]

In Vanilla it's there (installed automatically) it just doesn't show up in the ribbon. You have to turn on the toolbars / got through the menu. Unless of course it's because I've had my 2008 setup migrated to 2009 & that brought Express with?

[revacservice]

Thanks for the suggestions, but they do not appear in the on the Ribbon Menu (the big "A"), I've tried typing "expressmenu" at the command prompt as and get "Unknown command "EXPRESSMENU". Press F1 for help."

I just accepted the defaults during installation, and I've tried looking on the installation disks without any luck.

I must be missing something.

Regards

Don Smith

[irneb]

Here's a couple steps you can check:

Browse to your AutoCAD installation. This should be C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2009 (at least on XP it is). Under this there should be an Express sub folder. If it isn't then it's not installed with your version of AC2009 - mine's simply the Vanilla-like AC2009.If this does exist then:
Make sure that path's added to your support paths: Click the Options button (lower left) in the "Big-A" menu to open the Options dialog. Open the 1st page called Files. If it's not there then click Add & Browse to set the new path to this Express sub folder. Close the Options dialog. (see Capture_0 attached)
Type CUI at the command prompt - this opens the Customize User Interface dialog. Check the loaded menus by clicking the down-arrow next to the drop-down at the top-left. Check if acetmain.cui is listed. If not then do step 4, else skip step 4 & continue with step 5. (see Capture_1 attached)
Click the "Load partial custtomizations file" button (the one with a blue Plus sign over a folder icon just right of the dropdown). Browse to where your roaming profile folder is placed. In XP it's C:\Documents and Settings\<< Your User Name >>\Application Data\AutoDesk\AutoCAD 2008\R17.2\enu\Support. Then select & open the acetmain.cui file. (see Capture_2 attached)
Select your current workspace on the treeview top-left. Click the Customize Workspace button top-right. Open the Partial CUI Files branch (at the bottom) of the treeview (top-left) open the EXPRESS branch. Check the box next to Menus. Click the Done button (top-right). And finally close CUI by clicking the OK botttun (bottom-mid). (see Capture_3 attached)
You should now at least have Express under the "Big-A" menu.

[dzatto]

I'm using ACA, and it's not installed by default. Autodesk doesn't support the express tools, so they don't have them checked. You need to go to the disc, under custom install (I think that's it), and check the express tools box. Not sure why they are on in Vanilla but off in ACA. ~shrug~.

You can also install them through you "add a program" wizard. Just insert the disc, and add the express tools. Once you have them installed, you may need to type EXPRESSTOOLS on the command line to load them.

[revacservice]

Thanks for eveyones help, I could not find them on the four installation disks that come with inventor, so I copied the files from my 2008 installation and touch wood they are now working fine.

Thanks again

Don Smith

[CADDmanVA]

Heh...dang verticals. You think you're getting some awesome upgrade from vanilla, then you get short changed just like that [snap]. Why, back in the day, we drew everything using lines...didn't even have arcs and the like back them. Nope, we didn't need em.


Wow...it's been a really long week...longer than I thought from the looks of it...

[tony.gray]

I am operating ACA-A 2009. All the Express command locations, Menu bar, Big A dropdown, are visible. All CUI info seems to be there, yet I continue to get "Unknown command" for all Express cmds. Doesnt even recognize Expressmenu.

Any further suggestions would be helpful.

[RobertB]

Was Express Tools actually installed in the deployment? The existence of the CUI is no verification of that since it copies without Express Tools being deployed.

Use Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, Modify install of AutoCAD, see if Express Tools was deployed.

[Railrose]

When I installed ACAD, I told it to install everything on the disk. Express tools didn't show up. Fixed it, though.

Type EXPRESSTOOLS in the command line. After it initiates, type EXPRESSMENU.

From there, you can go to the big red "A" & they should show up.

[robert.1.hall72202]

I had to select express tools during the installation.
I have Inventor.

And yes, copying the tools from a prior version does work.
I wouldn't suggest it in case there have been some updates
to the commands. They may need some tweaks to work
with the new software.

[Railrose]

Quite a few of the express tools have been migrated into the main part of the program.

[tcone00]

I don't have administrator priviledges [edited]! I can't check whether express was installed or not. It doesn't seem that it was because even though it shows up in the menu browser, none of the commands work.

[irneb]

Ensure that the path to the Express folder (directly under the AutoCAD200# folder in Program Files) is listed under Support Paths.

Assuming you're on Vista ... I'd highly recommend you get some extra rights to your own PC (speak to your Admin) ... a lot of stuff in AC could go hay-wire if you can't see / use certain folders.

If you're on XP you shouldn't have a prob with this.

[tcone00]

Ensure that the path to the Express folder (directly under the AutoCAD200# folder in Program Files) is listed under Support Paths.

Assuming you're on Vista ... I'd highly recommend you get some extra rights to your own PC (speak to your Admin) ... a lot of stuff in AC could go hay-wire if you can't see / use certain folders.

If you're on XP you shouldn't have a prob with this.I made sure it was in the support path and I'm running XP. The commands still don't work and I really need the text2mtext one. Can anybody help?

[irneb]

I made sure it was in the support path and I'm running XP. The commands still don't work and I really need the text2mtext one. Can anybody help?Is it only the txt2mtxt that's not working ... is say blockreplace working?

If this is the case, then it seems one or more files in the Express Tools folder is deleted / corrupt. Open C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2009\Express, look for the following files:

ACETAUTO.LSP: the 40th line should read (acet-autoload2 '("leaderex" "txt2mtxt" nil "txt2mtxt" 1)) this basically tells ACAD to load the next file if this command is issued.
LEADERX.ARX: this is a comnpiled add-on to ACAD.Try manually copying these from your install DVD to ensure that no corruption has occured. Remember to change their file properties so read-only is not checked - this is usually set if you copy from CD / DVD.

[tcone00]

Is it only the txt2mtxt that's not working ... is say blockreplace working?

Thank you so much. I don't have that lsp file and I don't think express tools was ever installed on my machine. Unfortunately, I have a computer control freak of a boss so I don't have admin rights and can't check the installation. I've tried explaining it to him but it's low priority on his list. Thank you for your suggestion!

[jaberwok]

Thank you so much. I don't have that lsp file and I don't think express tools was ever installed on my machine. Unfortunately, I have a computer control freak of a boss so I don't have admin rights and can't check the installation. I've tried explaining it to him but it's low priority on his list. Thank you for your suggestion!

The simplest first check will be to use Explorer or My_Computer to look into the acad programme folder and see if there is a sub-folder named "Express".