Loading Cap in AutoCAD

1. Fully close and exit AutoCAD.
   
   
2. Open Worksheet.
   
   
3. From the Worksheet "Help" tab, choose Diagnostics.
   
   
4. Click the Advanced Maintenance… button in the lower right of the "Diagnostic" window.
   
   
5. Click the button “Integrate with AutoCAD”
   
   
6. Close the "Advanced Software" window and then close the "2020 Diagnostic" window.
   
   
7. Open AutoCAD and Type CAP on the command line and press Enter.
   
   
8. Cap should then load. If Cap does not load, perform the manual integration described below.  

The first step is to verify that the "Support File Search" path and "Trusted Location" path in the AutoCAD options has the installation folder for Cap listed. The default installation directory for Cap will be C:\Program Files (x86)\2020\CAP Studio. Follow the steps below to integrate Cap into AutoCAD: 
 

1. In AutoCAD type OPTIONS on the command line and press enter. 
   
   
2. Click the Files tab and expand Support File Search Path.
   
   
3. Verify that the installation folder for Cap is listed under Support File Search Path.
   Note: Refer to reference image below
   
   
4. Expand the Trusted Locations folder. 
   
   
5. Verify that the installation folder for Cap is listed under Trusted Location.
   Note: Refer to reference image below
   
   
6. If either location is missing the path, then use the ADD and BROWSE buttons on the right to navigate and select the path and then press OK. The goal here is to make sure that CAP installation path is added to both sections as indicated in the image below. 
   
   
7. Click Apply and then close the Option Window once the paths have been added. 

 

 
After the paths have been verified or added, try typing CAP on the command line and press enter. Many times the problem was simply the missing path and Cap will now load properly. If Cap still does not load, then it will be necessary to use the APPLOAD  command.  
 

1. Type APPLOAD on the command line and press enter. 
    
2. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\2020\CAP Studio. 
    
3. Select the appropriate .ARX file for your version of AutoCAD and click the Load button. 
   
   
   • For AutoCAD Versions 2021 - 2024 select the file named CAPDesigner24x64.arx and click Load.
   • For AutoCAD Version 2025 select the file named CAPDesigner25x64.arx and click Load. 

You should then see Cap begin to load. You can close out of the Load/Unload Applications dialog. At this point Cap should be loaded. Once it is loaded, it will stay integrated so that the next time you open AutoCAD, just typing “CAP” on the command line will load the application. If for any reason you are missing the .ARX file mentioned above, then Cap was probably not selected when the software installation was performed, resulting in only the Worksheet application being installed. In that case, run your software setup file again to reinstall the software, choosing a modify installation, and ensuring Cap is selected as an installed component.
 

If you would like to enable the AutoCAD legacy pulldown menus, so that you also have the 2020 Office menu available at the top in addition to the ribbon, you can follow the steps below.  

1. Type MENUBAR on the command line and click Enter.
   
   
2. Set the value to 1 and then click Enter.
   
   
3. The top row of menus should then be displayed.