Hydratec Inc.

Need to save a card for later?

Create a bookmark folder in your browser of choice (Chrome, Firefox...), and save individual cards in your bookmarks to view here later.

AutoCAD Based Launching HydraCAD (Ribbon/Toolbar/Location)

Error Type: Security Error

Description:

When opening HydraCAD, you only receive this error message and not a HydraKEY error with the golden X.  If you receive a HydraKEY error, search for the linked HydraCARD in that message box as it takes priority.

 

Security Error:  One of the following conditions is likely;

HydraCAD is unable to function under these conditions

  • Lock database needs updating in HydraKEY
  • Accounting flag on your account
  • Hardware lock not plugged in
  • Extra ACAD.RX file found in folder in Support File Search Path
  • Sentinel driver is missing
  • InstallPath registry item set to wrong drive

After AutoCAD opens, press F2 to view the command prompt, see if the text below appears.  If yes, see solution 1.

Could not find file HCAD_ENV.INI

Is 2024; error: no function definition: PRINTEM

 

 

Solutions:

1.
Cause:

If using a USB or digital lock (not a Gemalto entitlement), the lock database is out-of-date and should be updated.
Solution:
  1. Open HydraKEY and confirm your Long Term Authorization's status is ACTIVE, or confirm your USB lock's serial number is visible under Hardware Lock Number.  This verifies you have security installed.
  2. Click the button for UPDATE VERSION PERMISSIONS.  This will download a file to your computer. 
  3. You must then install the file to update the database.
  4. Try to re-open HydraCAD.
2.
Cause:

Hardware lock or digital lock is not eligible for the HydraCAD version being used
Solution:
  1. Contact Hydratec with serial number of hardware lock or your digital authorization.
  2. Open HydraKEY and report the Authorization number or the hardware lock number

 

Hydratec employees: confirm there are not any accounting flags on the account

 

 
3.
Cause:

If using a USB hardware lock, it's possible the 64-bit drivers have been altered by anti-virus or a Windows update.  HydraCAD is not finding the hardware lock or lock drivers and therefore will not open to the Hcad tools.
Solution:
  1. Confirm the hardware lock is plugged in and lit up (if it has a light).
  2. Open stand-alone HydraCALC to confirm the computer is recognizing the hardware lock
  3. If you have HydraKEY installed, open it and verify your USB serial number is visible under Hardware Lock Number. 
  4. Select UPDATE VERSION PERMISSIONS to download the file via your web browser. 

  5. Install the file, likely in your DOWNLOADS folder.

 
4.
Cause:

Check the Support File Search path
Solution:
  1. Type OP at the command prompt and select the FILES tab. 
  2. Check the Support File Search Path to confirm the HES folder is included.  If necessary use the MOVE UP button to move the HES folder to the top of the list.
5.
Cause:

If using a USB lock, re-install the hardware lock drivers.
Solution:
  1. Uninstall the Sentinel System Driver from the Windows Control Panel, Add-Remove Programs list.
  2. Then, install the driver by running Sentsetup.exe in the \HES\Common folder 

 

**Note** This step may be less reliable since the company who supplied the USB locks are no longer supporting the lock drivers.  Many have found it works, but for others it does not.

 
6.
Cause:

Mismatched version of HydraCAD installed versus AutoCAD version.

 

Verify you've installed the proper version of HydraCAD for your AutoCAD.

AutoCAD 2016 & AutoCAD 2017   = HydraCAD v54

 

AutoCAD 2018                                = HydraCAD v55

 

AutoCAD 2019 & AutoCAD 2020    = HydraCAD v56

 

AutoCAD 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 = HydraCAD v57

 

The solution is to delete all the Hydratec profiles installed and start over.
Solution:

1. In AutoCAD 20xx, go to [Tools|Options], go to the PROFILES tab and make <<unnamed profile>> your current one.  Delete any and ALL HydraCAD profiles

 

2. Close AutoCAD 20xx

 

3. From Windows START, go to [AutoCAD 20xx] and select RESET SETTING TO DEFAULT.  You don’t need to backup or save anything for that process.

 

5. Close AutoCAD when it opens

 

6. From Windows START, go to [HydraCAD v50 Software] and select [CONFIGURE AUTOCAD FOR HYDRACAD V??] (make sure you're configuring the correct version of HydraCAD)

 

7. Follow the prompts and at its conclusion, attempt to open HydraCAD v57 again.
7.
Cause:

InstallPath registry item not set to correct drive
Solution:
  • Use Regedit to change Registry.
  • Locate the following keys and change them to reflect proper drive letter, followed by colon, no backslash!


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\HYDRATEC\Ver50\InstallPath

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\HYDRATEC\Ver50\InstallPath

Set both to C:  or S: or whatever
8.
Cause:

User has an extra ACAD.RX file which is being referenced.
Solution:

To check to see if another ACAD.RX file was loaded (usually by a 3rd party add-in), at the command prompt in AutoCAD, type in; 

(findfile "acad.rx")

It will report the location of the loaded file;  If it is not the location shown below, it means you have to find the extra one and delete it or merge its contents into the one in the HES folder;
"C:\\hes\\hydracad\\ver50\\programs\\versionXX\\acad.rx"  Be aware, a blank ACAD.RX file in another folder will not show up with the findfile command, however it must be found and deleted.
9.
Cause:

Open HydraLIST and/or HydraCALC to see if they give a security error.  If no error and they open, check the solution.
Solution:
  • If you have HydraKEY installed, open it and verify your USB serial number is visible under Hardware Lock Number. 
  • Then select UPDATE VERSION PERMISSIONS to download the file via your web browser.  Then install the file HydraVERSION+Install.exe, likely saved in your DOWNLOADS folder
10.
Cause:

For Hydratec: Confirm the direct link library file has been updated with the HydraKEY version permission update.  Verify no accounting flags.

 

For Hydratec: if you've confirmed the lock is in eligible for the version of HydraCAD being used, send them YOUR long term authorization to test or use their long term on your computer to verify it's eligible.  You must confirm both versions of HydraCAD are the same.
Solution:

One user's direct link library did not update even though we confirmed HydraKEY updated.  If sharing via Sharefile, it will download as locked and the file must be unlocked (GAB)

 

 
11.
Cause:

Possibly needs an update even if the software says it's current.
Solution:
  1. Download the update from ShareFile saving it to your local hard drive.
  2. Unzip the file by right clicking on it and choosing Extract All to your local drive.
  3. Then run SETUP.EXE application as administrator.
12.
Cause:

You may get the orginal error message, but when you try to close or save the drawing, you'll also get this error message.

 

User-added image

 

"All of the possible directories for storing temporary files either do not exist or are readonly. Please correct this situation before running AutoCAD again"

Bad/corrupt/too many externally referenced files
Solution:

See this Autodesk link;

Remove the files that are xref'd into the drawing then attempt to open the drawing again.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2024, 12:04 p.m. Created: March 1, 2019, midnight