Hydratec Inc.

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AutoCAD Based Launching HydraCAD (Ribbon/Toolbar/Location)

Button: Opening Error Type: Shortcut error

Description:

When trying to open HydraCAD after a recent install, you get this error or one similar to it;

"Missing shortcut", Windows is searching for acad.exe.  To locate the file yourself, click Browse.

AND

Problem with Shortcut - The item 'acad.exe' that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved, so this shortcut will no longer work properly.

Nearest match based on size, date, and type:

Do you want to fix this shortcut to point to this target or do you just want to delete it?

Solutions:

Cause:

The icon pointing to HydraCAD has the wrong location for acad.exe

Click CANCEL at the 2nd error message then follow instructions
Solution:

We must point the HydraCAD icon to the proper location of AutoCAD.

 

1. Open a new session of Notepad and move it to the side

 

2. On the desktop, right click the AutoCAD icon, select PROPERTIES, go tot he SHORTCUT tab then highlight the entire TARGET, and right-click COPY it to your clipboard.  It will look similar to this;

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2023\acad.exe"  /product ACAD /language "en-US"

Paste it into Notepad

 

2. Right-click the HydraCAD icon and paste its TARGET into Notepad  It'll look like this;

 

C:\Users\WindowsUserName\Desktop\acad.exe -p "HydracadVersion57"

 

3. Our goal is to replace the HydraCAD path pointing to acad.exe with the one from the AutoCAD path

 

 

The new target will look similar to this (based on your year of AutoCAD and the HydraCAD version.

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2023\acad.exe" -p "HydracadVersion57"

 

4. Copy the full path from Notepad and paste it into the HydaCAD icon's target. Completely replace the entire contents.

 

 

5. Click OK, you should be all set
Updated: April 29, 2024, 9:26 a.m. Created: April 13, 2023, 5:28 p.m.