No matching questions found.
Getting Started
What is the Caddex Detail Library?
The Caddex Detail Library is an AutoCAD plugin that lets your team build, share, and manage a library of reusable CAD details. Instead of digging through old drawings or keeping a folder of loose DWG files, you get a searchable, visual library right inside AutoCAD, with previews, tags, version tracking, and cloud sync across your team.
Which AutoCAD products does Caddex work with?
AutoCAD 2025, 2026, and 2027, including Civil 3D and the Architecture, MEP, Electrical, Map 3D, Mechanical, and Plant 3D toolsets. Details drawn with ordinary AutoCAD objects work the same in all of them. Details built from a toolset's own objects, such as walls, ducts, or piping, may preview or insert differently.
How do I access the plugin after installing it?
After installation, a Caddex tab appears on your AutoCAD ribbon. From there you can open the Detail Library palette to browse and insert details, or open the Detail Manager for full review and management. You'll also find buttons for Settings, Account, and Help. To add new details, use the Add Detail button inside the Detail Library palette or the Detail Manager dialog.
Do I need to sign in to use the plugin?
No, you can try it out without signing in. Trial mode gives you a local library of up to 10 details. Cloud sync and batch upload require signing in. Once you sign in, the limit is removed and your details sync across your team.
How do I sign in?
Click the Account button on the Caddex ribbon tab, then click Sign In. A browser window opens for you to log in with your credentials. Once authenticated, AutoCAD picks up your session automatically.
What happens to my trial details when I sign in for the first time?
You'll be asked whether to keep your trial details (they'll be uploaded to your company library) or start fresh (they'll be discarded). This is a one-time choice.
Adding Details to the Library
How do I add a new detail?
You can add details from the
Add Detail button in the Detail Library palette or the Detail Manager dialog. There are five import methods:
- From Current Drawing: Select a block that's already in your open drawing.
- From File (Block): Browse to one or more DWG files and pick specific blocks from them. You can also switch the list to whole drawings, where each file becomes one block.
- From File (XREF): Import an entire DWG file as an external reference.
- From File (PDF): Pick one or more PDF files and choose which pages become details (see PDF Details below).
- Batch Upload: Use an Excel spreadsheet to import and tag many details at once, as blocks, XREFs, or whole drawings (Editors only).
My details are separate DWG files of loose linework, not blocks. Can I import them?
Yes. In From File (Block), switch the list to Whole drawings (one block per file). Each file becomes one block detail named after the file. For many files at once, use Batch Upload > Create Drawing Database.
What is auto-approve?
When adding details, you can toggle Auto-Approve on or off. When on, new details go straight into the approved library and are immediately available for everyone to insert. When off, new details are added with a "New" status and must be reviewed and approved before they appear in the library.
Can I choose how preview images are rendered?
Yes. When adding details, you can select a pen table (a CTB or STB file) to control how the preview is rendered. A standard Monochrome option is always available, and your team can upload its own pen tables through Settings for more accurate representations. You can change a detail's preview style later from the Detail Manager.
Is there a limit to how many details I can add at once?
You can select up to 50 details per import from the standard Add Detail flows, and up to 1,000 details in a batch upload.
Two size limits apply. A single detail is capped at 3 MB: this covers XREF files, each individual block once exported, and each PDF detail's extracted pages. Source DWG files that you search for blocks can be up to 75 MB, since only the blocks you pick get uploaded, not the file itself. Anything over the limit is skipped and listed by name in a summary at the end of the import. If a source file is too large, purge it first, then split it with WBLOCK.
Why is a "Rendering X of Y" window open after my import finished?
Preview images are generated one at a time after the details themselves are imported, so a large import keeps working after the import step completes. The import window shows both phases: the import first, then a "Rendering X of Y" bar with an estimate of the time remaining. The estimate adapts to your machine, so after your first large batch it reflects your computer's own measured rendering speed. You can minimize the window, or close it to let the renders finish in the background. While renders run in the background, a rendering indicator in the Detail Manager (next to Add Detail) shows the remaining count. Add Detail stays unavailable until rendering finishes.
Are there any restrictions on detail names?
Detail titles can be up to 255 characters, matching AutoCAD's own block name limit; tags and category names can be up to 100. Behind the scenes the plugin derives a shorter folder name from the title for file storage, replacing characters that aren't valid in file names automatically. Long titles are shortened on screen with an ellipsis, and hovering shows the full name. During import, if a detail with the same name already exists, the plugin adds a number, like "OUTLET", "OUTLET (2)", "OUTLET (3)", similar to how Windows handles duplicate files.
PDF Details
Can I add PDFs to the library?
Yes. In the Add Detail dialog, click Add PDF as new detail, next to Add Xref. Like Add Xref, it is available only when Auto-Approve is on, because a PDF is approved as it is imported. Viewers can add PDFs too; their PDFs wait as "New" until an Editor approves them. Agency standard plates, manufacturer cut sheets, and scanned legacy details are typical uses.
What is a PDF detail?
One page, or an ordered set of pages, taken from a single PDF and stored as one self-contained PDF file in the library. A single-page PDF is simply a set of one. Each PDF detail has its own preview, searchable text, tags, and version history, and syncs to your team like any other detail. The original PDF is not stored, only the pages you picked.
How do I pick pages from a multi-page PDF?
A single-page PDF needs no picker and imports straight away. For a multi-page file, a page picker opens with a thumbnail for every page. Nothing is ticked to begin with. Tick the pages you want, use Select all or Select none, or type a range such as 3, 7-12 in the Pages box. Zoom the thumbnails with Ctrl and the mouse wheel.
Then choose how the ticked pages become details: One detail per page (the default) or One detail containing the selected pages, kept in page order. Names default to the file name plus the page number, such as "city-standards p3" or "city-standards p3-7", and a single click on a name lets you rename it. To make two separate sets from one book, run the picker twice.
Are there limits on PDF details?
Each PDF detail's extracted file is capped at 3 MB, the same cap as a DWG detail. A vector plate is usually well under that; a scanned multi-page set at 300 dpi often is not, so import scanned pages one per detail or use a lower-resolution scan. The picker shows the running size and will not let you add a set that is over the cap. The picker counts details, not pages, against the 50 per import limit and the 10-detail trial limit, so a trial user importing one detail per page uses one trial slot per page. A PDF that needs a password to open is skipped with a message; a PDF that opens but forbids editing imports normally.
How does a PDF detail insert into my drawing?
Click it in the Detail Library palette like any other detail. The drawing must be saved first. The PDF is copied into the Caddex folder beside your drawing and attached as a PDF underlay with a relative path, the same way XREF details are stored. For a page set, each page drags in turn and the command line reads "page 1 of 3", "page 2 of 3", and so on. Pressing Esc keeps the pages already placed. The Caddex folder needs to travel with the drawing when you share it.
What size does a PDF page insert at?
Its paper size. One inch on the PDF page is one inch in the drawing, converted through the drawing's units, so a landscape letter page measures 11 by 8.5 in an inch drawing and 0.917 by 0.708 in a feet drawing. For a plate drawn at 1" = 1' that you want at model scale, right-click the detail and use Insert with Options to set a scale and rotation; every page of a set gets the same scale.
How do I update a PDF detail with a new edition?
Select it in the Detail Manager. The Edit button reads Update for a PDF. It opens a file picker, then the page picker fixed to one detail with the existing name, and replaces the whole page set in place. The version goes up one step, a change log entry is written, and the previous page set is archived so it can be viewed in the version history. There is no pending version and no review step, the same as saving an edit to a block or XREF. The page count can change. Editors only.
Where can I see which file and pages a PDF detail came from?
In the Detail Manager's version history, each version of a PDF detail carries a line such as "3 pages from city-standards.pdf, pages 4, 5, 6" where a block version shows its change description. The text inside the PDF is captured at import, so the Detail text only search finds PDF details by their contents. Scanned pages contain no text and are found by name, tags, and description only.
What do PDF details not do?
- No change detection, in either direction. Updating a PDF detail in the library never touches pages already placed in drawings; insert the detail again to get the new edition. Changing the file beside a drawing never reaches the library.
- No variants. Create Variant is disabled for a PDF. Add a similar PDF as a new detail.
- No sheet views or callouts. A PDF underlay has no attributes to carry a detail number, so it is treated like an XREF in the Callouts tab.
- No preview style. A PDF is already a plotted document, so pen tables do not apply and the preview shows the PDF as it looks.
- No attribute links, insertion layer, or batch upload for PDFs.
Browsing & Inserting Details
What is the Detail Library palette?
The Detail Library is a dockable palette that stays open while you work. Two tabs run down its edge:
Library and
Callouts. The Callouts tab places callouts to details in your sheet set (see Sheet Set Callouts below). The Library tab has two tabs of its own:
- Details tab: Shows a searchable grid of all approved details with small thumbnail icons and a search box at the top. Hover over any detail to see a larger preview along with its name, tags, and description.
- Filters tab: Contains tag filters, status filters, tag category and category group dropdowns for narrowing down what's visible in the Details tab. While any filter is active, the tab title shows the count, like "Filters (3)", so a filtered list is never mistaken for the whole library.
How do I insert a detail into my drawing?
Click a detail in the Detail Library palette to insert it. The detail follows your cursor so you can see where it will land, then you click to place it. Because the palette stays open while you work, you can insert details one right after another. Just click the next detail in the list and place it.
There's also an "Add All to Drawing" button at the bottom of the palette that inserts all currently visible details in sequence. It respects your active filters and search, so you can narrow the list down first, then add everything that's showing. You'll be prompted to pick an insertion point for each detail as it goes. The button shows the count of details that will be added (e.g., "Add All to Drawing (12 items)"), and you can cancel at any point to stop the remaining insertions.
Add All is limited to 20 details at a time. If your filtered list is longer than that, the button is disabled until you narrow the search further.
To insert a chosen set instead, Ctrl+click details to build a selection. The button then reads Add Selected.
Can I insert several details in a specific order?
Yes. Ctrl+click details in the Detail Library palette to build a numbered selection, then click Add Selected. The details are inserted in the order you picked them, up to 20 at a time.
What is Insert with Options?
Right-click a detail, or a selection of details, in the Detail Library palette and choose Insert with Options. You can set the scale and rotation once for the whole group. Detail numbers are assigned automatically (see "How are detail numbers assigned?").
Can a detail's title, version, or detail number fill in automatically?
Yes, for block details. In the Detail Manager, under Properties, link the title, version, or detail number to one of the block's attributes. The value is written into the block each time it is inserted. The detail number is assigned automatically on insert, continuing from the highest number already in the current space. Blocks that are already placed are not updated if you rename the detail later.
How are detail numbers assigned?
Automatically. When you insert a block detail that has a linked Number attribute, the plugin reads the numbers already on the other Caddex details in the current space and writes the next one. If the layout's existing numbers all follow one scheme, that scheme continues whatever your own setting says, so two drafters cannot mix schemes on one sheet. A cancelled insert leaves no gap. Xrefs, callout blocks, and details without a linked Number attribute are never numbered.
Can I change the numbering scheme or turn numbering off?
Yes. The Numbering section at the bottom of the Callouts tab offers 1, 2, 3; 01, 02, 03; A, B, C; and 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 with a prefix, plus Off. It also shows the next number the current space will receive. The setting is per user and decides only the first number on an empty layout. Off never writes a number, so a firm that numbers by hand can keep doing so.
Where is the Insert button in the Detail Manager?
Inserting is done from the Detail Library palette. The Detail Manager is for reviewing and managing details.
Can I search and filter the library?
Yes. There are several ways to find what you need:
- Search box: Type part of a detail name, tag, or description to filter the list in real time.
- Detail text only: Turn this on to search only the text inside the drawing itself, such as notes, callouts, and dimension overrides, or the text inside a PDF detail's pages. Names, tags, and descriptions are not searched while it is on. Text is captured automatically when a detail is imported or edited.
- Detail + OLE text only: Turn this on to search only the text read from the detail's preview image, which includes scanned or raster content. Recognition is best effort, so results can be imperfect. Turning on one text option turns the other off.
- Wildcards (*?): Turn this on to use * and ? in your search, for example "outlet*2" or "pan?l".
- Whole word: Turn this on to match whole words only. For example, MAN finds MAN GATE but not MANUFACTURER.
- Tag filters: Check tag checkboxes to show only details with specific tags. Tags are color-coded for easy scanning.
- Status filters: Toggle "New" or "Pending" to see details in those states.
- Tag Categories: If your team has set up categories, you can narrow tags by category first.
- Category Groups: For large libraries, groups let you filter categories by higher-level groupings.
In the Detail Library palette the four search options are checkboxes above the detail list. In the Detail Manager they live in the funnel button next to the search box, and the funnel fills with color while any option is on. In both places the options reset when you close the palette or the Detail Manager, so an old setting can't quietly change your next search.
Can I insert a detail that hasn't been approved yet?
A detail that has never been approved ("New" status) cannot be inserted. A detail with a pending edit still inserts its current approved version, and the pending changes become available once they are approved. This ensures only reviewed content makes it into production drawings.
How are XREFs and PDFs stored when inserted into a drawing?
When you insert an XREF or PDF detail, the plugin creates a Caddex folder adjacent to your drawing file (in the same directory) and places the XREF's DWG file or the PDF there. The drawing references the file using a relative path, which keeps things portable: if you move the drawing and its Caddex folder together, the reference stays intact. This also means the Caddex folder needs to travel with the drawing when sharing files with others (for example, via eTransmit or a shared network drive).
Sheet Set Callouts
What is the Callouts tab?
The Callouts tab on the Detail Library palette lists the sheets of your open sheet set and the Caddex details placed on each one, by detail number and title, in the same style as the Sheet Set Manager. From it you place a callout to any detail in the set, jump to a detail's sheet view by double-clicking it, and set how new details are numbered. The sheet set must be open in AutoCAD's Sheet Set Manager. There is no Caddex project and nothing is stored on the server: the plugin automates the Sheet Set Manager, it does not replace it.
How do I enable callouts for a sheet set?
Open a sheet from the set, open the Callouts tab, and click Enable callouts for this sheet set. The choice is saved in the sheet set file itself, so it applies to everyone on the project. From then on, every block detail placed on a sheet layout gets a sheet view framed around it, created when the detail is inserted and updated each time the drawing is saved. Drawings saved before enabling pick up their views the next time they are saved, or when you click the Refresh glyph at the top of the tab.
How do I place a callout to a detail?
Right-click a detail in the Callouts tab and pick one of your callout blocks. The block follows your cursor and you click to place it, in paper space or model space. Right-click a sheet instead to place a callout to the whole sheet. The callout is a native AutoCAD sheet set callout: its number and sheet follow the detail, and Ctrl+click opens the detail's sheet at the view.
What is a callout block, and how do I make one?
A callout block is a library block whose attributes hold AutoCAD's sheet set placeholder fields, such as ViewNumber and SheetNumber, the same way the callout blocks in AutoCAD's sample sheet sets do. Add it to your library like any block, then tick Callout block under Properties in the Detail Manager. Callout blocks never get sheet views (ticking Callout block turns the Sheet views checkbox off) and never appear in the Callouts tree. Attribute links are off for them because their attributes hold fields.
Why is a detail greyed out in the Callouts tab?
It has no detail number. A detail can only be called out when its linked Number attribute holds a value on the sheet. Link a Number attribute under Properties and make sure the placed block carries a number.
Do callouts update when I renumber or move a detail?
Yes. Sheet views are reconciled each time the detail's drawing is saved: position, number, and title are re-read from the placed block, and views for erased details are removed. Callouts in other drawings pick up the change when their fields next update, on open, regen, or plot. A number typed into the Sheet Set Manager for a Caddex view is overwritten at the next save, because the block's attribute is the source of truth.
Which details get sheet views?
Block details placed on a layout of a sheet in an enabled sheet set, with Sheet views ticked under Properties. Details in model space, xref and PDF details, callout blocks, details with Sheet views turned off, and details pasted in from another drawing do not get views and cannot be called out.
Can I stop a detail from getting a sheet view?
Yes. Each block detail has a Sheet views checkbox under Properties in the Detail Manager, on by default. Turn it off for symbols such as a north arrow or a bar scale that sit on sheets but are not details to call out. The setting is read when the detail is inserted and stamped on that placement, so changing it later does not add or remove views for copies already in drawings. Copies made inside a drawing keep the mark. Ticking Callout block turns Sheet views off automatically. The checkbox is also in the Approve, Create Variant, and multi-detail edit dialogs. Editors only.
Do callout links work in PDFs and eTransmit packages?
In a PDF, a link works only when the callout's sheet and the detail's sheet are published together in one job with Include Hyperlinks on. A single sheet plotted alone links to a drawing file, which a PDF reader cannot follow. Callout fields carry absolute paths, so a set extracted from eTransmit loses cross-sheet links, the same as native callouts.
The Detail Manager
What is the Detail Manager?
The Detail Manager is a full-screen dialog for reviewing, organizing, and approving details. It shows a filterable detail list on the left, metadata and tags in the center, and a large preview image on the right. This is where approvals, edits, duplications, and annotations happen. A toggle in the toolbar switches between this Detail View and a List View that shows the whole library as a sortable table.
What is the List View?
The List View shows your library as a table with sortable columns for Detail, Properties, Description, and Tags, plus a preview of the selected row. Switch to it with the Detail View / List View toggle in the Detail Manager toolbar. You can select multiple rows with Ctrl or Shift click and edit them together: right-click to edit Tags, Properties, or Description for every selected row at once, rename a detail with Edit Title, or delete the selection. Double-clicking a cell opens the same edit dialog. Your selection is kept when you sort or switch views, and cleared when you change filters.
Who can access the Detail Manager?
Users with the Editor role have full access. Viewers can browse, insert, and add new details from the Detail Library palette but cannot open the Detail Manager. Details added by Viewers won't appear in the library until an Editor approves them.
Can I edit detail names, descriptions, and tags?
Yes. Click directly on the name, description, or tag area in the Detail Manager to edit it in place. For the name, press Enter or click away to save. In the description, Enter starts a new line and clicking away saves. Press Escape to discard changes.
Note: If a detail has pending versions awaiting approval, all metadata editing is temporarily locked. A tooltip explains: "Editing disabled. Approve pending details to edit." Resolve the pending versions first, then edit freely.
Approval Workflow
Why do details need to be approved?
The approval workflow ensures quality control. When someone adds a new detail or modifies an existing one, the changes go through a review step before they become part of the official library. This prevents unreviewed content from ending up in production drawings.
What are the different detail statuses?
- New: Just added, never approved. Visible in the Detail Manager but not in the Detail Library palette.
- Approved: Reviewed and accepted. Available for everyone to insert.
- Pending: An approved detail was modified, and the changes are awaiting review. The original approved version remains available for insertion while the pending version is under review.
How do I approve a detail?
Open the Detail Manager, select the New or Pending detail version, and click the Approve button. The version number increments and the detail becomes (or remains) available in the library.
What do the version numbers mean?
- 0.0: A new detail that has never been approved.
- 1.0, 1.1, 1.2...: Approved versions. The first approval sets 1.0, and each approval after that bumps the second digit.
- 1.1.1, 1.1.2...: Pending versions (edits awaiting approval). A third digit is added to the approved version they came from.
The second digit rolls over at 9, so approving an edit to version 1.9 produces 2.0.
What happens to the old version when a new one is approved or saved?
When you approve a pending version, save an edit opened from the Edit button, or update a PDF detail, the previous approved version is automatically archived. For an edit, the copy is taken when you click Edit, so closing the drawing without saving archives nothing. The archive includes the preview image so you have a snapshot of what the detail looked like before the change. Only one archive is kept per detail (the most recent previous version), and archived versions are viewable in the Detail Manager's version history dropdown.
Can I reject a pending version?
Yes. Select the pending version and click Reject (the Delete button reads Reject while a pending version is selected). The pending changes are discarded. The current approved version and any other pending versions are unchanged.
Editing Details
How do I edit an existing detail?
Select the detail in the Detail Manager and click the Edit button. A confirmation dialog warns you that changes will affect all users. The detail's source DWG file opens in AutoCAD for you to modify. When you save your changes, the plugin automatically regenerates the preview images, bumps the version, and archives the previous version, with no manual sync needed. For a PDF detail the button reads Update and replaces the page set instead (see PDF Details).
What happens when I modify an inserted detail in my drawing?
If Track Changes is enabled for that detail, the plugin automatically detects the modification. For blocks, detection happens when you save the drawing. For XREFs, detection happens when the XREF is reloaded in AutoCAD (e.g., via XRELOAD or after closing an in-place edit with REFCLOSE). A dialog appears asking you to describe what changed. The modified version is saved as a pending version in the library, complete with revision cloud annotations showing exactly what changed. Someone on your team then reviews and approves (or rejects) the change.
What if I make additional edits to a detail that already has a pending version?
If you continue editing a detail that already has a pending version from a previous save, the existing pending version is updated in place: the plugin overwrites it with your latest changes rather than creating a separate pending version. This keeps things clean: one pending version per user per detail, always reflecting your most recent edits.
Why does a "Detected Changes" dialog appear when I save my drawing?
When you save a drawing that contains tracked block details, or reload a tracked XREF, the plugin compares the current state against its approved baseline. If it finds differences, it shows the Detected Changes dialog so you can document what changed and why. This description becomes part of the pending version's change log, giving reviewers context about the modification.
You can click Show Preview to see a side-by-side comparison with revision clouds highlighting exactly what changed. When you're ready, click Document & Continue to save the pending version with your description.
This dialog only appears for details that have Track Changes enabled. It won't interrupt your work for untracked details.
What does "Track Changes" detect?
Track Changes monitors geometry-level edits: moved, resized, or reshaped entities, text content changes, hatch modifications, and an object's own color, linetype, or lineweight overrides. It does not trigger on attribute value changes, or on turning layers on/off or freezing/thawing them. Layer visibility isn't treated as a change. Layer edits such as renaming or recoloring a layer are tracked for XREF details (an XREF keeps its own layers in its own file) but not for block details (a block adopts the host drawing's layers when inserted, so its layer state isn't part of the detail).
Can I turn Track Changes on or off?
Yes. Each detail has its own Track Changes checkbox in the Detail Manager. Enable it for details where you want automatic change detection; leave it off for details you don't need to monitor.
Creating Variants
How do I create a copy or variant of a detail?
Select a detail in the Detail Manager and click Create Variant. Give the new detail its own name, description, and tags. It is added to the library as a separate detail, already approved.
Create Variant and Edit creates the copy and opens it for editing right away.
You can also create a variant from a pending version. If someone submits a change that you'd rather keep as a separate detail instead of replacing the original, select the pending version and click Create Variant. The pending version is then marked as resolved.
Create Variant is disabled for PDF details; add a similar PDF as a new detail instead. The Create Variant dialog also carries the Insertion layer and Sheet views settings, which start from the source detail's values.
Annotations & Markup
Can I annotate detail previews?
Yes. In the Detail Manager, you can draw annotations directly on the preview image using three tools:
- Text: Add text notes at any position.
- Highlight: Draw colored rectangles to call attention to areas.
- Leader: Draw arrows with text labels pointing to specific features.
Annotations are saved and synced with the detail, so your whole team can see them. Details with annotations automatically get a
"Comments" system tag for easy filtering.
What happens to annotations when a pending version is approved?
Annotations are not carried forward through the approval process. When a pending version is approved, any markup on the approved detail is cleared. This is intentional: annotations are meant for review commentary, not permanent documentation. If you need to re-annotate the newly approved version, you can add fresh markup after approval.
Can I zoom into previews?
Yes. Click the Zoom button in the markup toolbar, then click the preview image to zoom in. This is helpful for reviewing fine details or reading small text in the preview.
Tags & Organization
How do tags work?
Tags are labels you assign to details to make them easier to find. Each tag gets an automatically assigned color that stays consistent across all team members' machines. You can add or remove tags by clicking the tag area in the Detail Manager. Editors can also pick a specific color for any tag: right-click the tag and choose Change Tag Color. The chosen color syncs to your whole team.
What are system tags?
Three tags are managed automatically by the plugin:
- New: Applied to details that haven't been approved yet.
- Pending: Applied to details with pending edits awaiting review.
- Comments: Applied to details that have annotations/markup.
You can't add or remove system tags manually. They update automatically based on the detail's state.
Are any tag names reserved?
Yes. New, Pending, Comments, Project, Projects, and Caddex are reserved, in any capitalization. They cannot be used as a tag, tag category, or category group name.
What are Tag Categories?
Tag Categories let you organize your tags into named groups (like "Discipline", "Phase", or "Building Type"). When categories are enabled, the filter panel shows a category dropdown that narrows the tag list, making it easier to find the right filter in large libraries. Categories are set up by Editors in Settings > Tag Categories.
What are Category Groups?
Category Groups are an additional layer of organization on top of Tag Categories. They group categories together for advanced filtering in very large libraries. For example, you might group "Electrical" and "Mechanical" categories under an "MEP" group. Set these up in Settings > Category Groups.
Pen Tables (CTB / STB) & Preview Rendering
What are pen table (CTB and STB) files used for?
Pen tables control how line colors and weights appear when a drawing is plotted. AutoCAD has two kinds: CTB (color-dependent plot style tables) and STB (named plot style tables). The plugin uses them to generate print-accurate preview images, so your detail previews look like they would on paper.
How do I upload a CTB or STB file?
Go to Settings > Manage Company Standards. Click Upload File, browse to your .ctb or .stb file, and optionally add a description. The file becomes available as a preview style when adding new details.
Does Caddex support named plot styles (STB)?
Yes. Upload .stb files in Settings > Manage Company Standards, the same way as CTB files. When adding details, the preview style list is grouped by kind. A drawing can only plot with a pen table of its own kind, so Caddex matches them for you and never converts your drawings.
What happens if I pick a pen table that doesn't match a drawing?
When you import from files, Caddex checks each file first and asks once which pen table the other-kind files should use. If a mismatch still reaches the render, that detail is rendered with Monochrome and listed in the import window.
How does the plugin decide which pen table to use when re-rendering previews?
Each detail remembers the pen table it was last rendered with, and Re-render uses that table. If it has since been deleted from Settings, Monochrome is used instead.
How do I re-render a detail's preview?
Select the detail in the Detail Manager and click the Re-render button at the top of the toolbar beside the preview image. The preview is regenerated using the detail's stored preview style. Re-render works on the current version of a detail; it appears disabled when an older version is selected.
Can I change a detail's preview style after it is imported?
Yes. In the Detail Manager, choose a different preview style under Properties and the preview re-renders. In the List View you can select several details and change them together.
What if I don't upload any pen tables?
A standard monochrome option is always available. It renders previews in black on white, which works well for most use cases.
Why does a scanned detail show a "Scanned content" box instead of the image?
The block picker previews you see while choosing details to import are drawn by AutoCAD's internal preview engine, which can't render scanned or embedded (OLE) content. Rather than show an empty frame, the plugin draws a labeled box where the scan sits. The stored preview generated after import uses the full plot pipeline and shows the scanned content correctly, so this affects only the picker previews.
Why isn't my detail preview centered in the preview panel?
When Caddex renders your detail, it calculates the extents of all of the content
1 in the detail so that nothing is excluded. It's possible to have hidden or orphaned AutoCAD data that lies outside the visible extents of your detail. Look for things such as orphaned hatch boundaries or text blocks that extend beyond the edge of your detail. You can use the Cleanup tool described below to help with this process, but many times it takes opening the file and using the Select All and Quick Select commands to find this hidden or orphaned data.
1 The Caddex preview excludes, by design, the following items:
- Wipeouts
- Text background masks
- Objects on the Defpoints layer
- Objects set to not plot
Why do I see revision clouds where no changes were made, or font and dimension style changes in my detail previews?
This typically happens when the Standard AutoCAD style has been edited rather than creating a company-specific style. Caddex recommends not editing the default Standard style that ships with AutoCAD for text, dimensions, multileaders, and tables. The reason is that when you copy content from one drawing to another, the Standard styles in the target file are used in place of the Standard styles from the source file. This can cause unexpected differences when collaborating with other designers or sharing drawings with third parties. When rendering your detail for the preview, Caddex copies your detail to a sideloaded database to perform the rendering. This sideloaded database already contains the Standard styles, and if you have edited the Standard styles in your detail, those edits are replaced with the default AutoCAD Standard style. The best practice is to create your own custom styles. Regardless of the preview, your CAD detail will not be modified by Caddex, except in specific situations (see the Drawing Cleanup tool below).
Layer Standards
What is a company layer standard?
A layer file from your office (a .dws drawing standards file, a .dwt template, or any .dwg) uploaded once per company. Editors can then pick, per detail, which of its layers the block is inserted on. When anyone inserts that detail, the layer is created in the drawing from the standard's definition if it is missing. There is one standard per company; a second upload replaces it.
How do I upload a layer standard?
Go to Settings > Manage Company Standards and click Upload File. Choose a .dws, .dwt, or .dwg. The plugin reads the layers on your machine and shows the list, with colors, linetypes, lineweights, and descriptions, and asks you to confirm. Layer 0, Defpoints, and xref layers are skipped. The drawing itself never leaves your machine, only the layer definitions. You need to be signed in to a company account.
How do I set the layer a detail is inserted on?
In the Detail Manager, under Properties, use the Insertion layer dropdown directly below the Number attribute row. The same dropdown appears in the Edit dialog, in the multi-detail editor so you can assign many details at once, and in the Approve and Create Variant dialogs. The default is Current layer, which inserts on whatever layer is current in the drawing. Blocks only. Editors only.
What happens when I insert a detail whose layer is not in the drawing?
The plugin creates it from the standard: color, linetype (custom linetype definitions travel with the standard), lineweight, description, and plot style in named plot style drawings. If the drawing already has a layer of that name, it is used exactly as it is and never changed. If no standard exists, or the layer is no longer in it, the detail inserts on the current layer.
Does the insertion layer change how the detail looks?
Only partly. A block reference sits on one layer, but the geometry inside the block keeps its own layers. Geometry drawn on layer 0 or set to ByBlock takes the insertion layer's color and linetype. Geometry on named layers inside the block keeps its own look. Freezing the insertion layer hides the whole detail. The plugin never remaps the layers inside a block.
What happens if I replace or remove the layer standard?
Details assigned to a layer the new standard no longer has insert on the current layer, and their dropdown reads Current layer until an editor reassigns them. Removing the standard does the same for every detail.
Drawing Cleanup
What is the Drawing Cleanup tool?
It's a batch utility under Settings > Pre-Import Drawing Cleanup that prepares DWG files before importing their blocks. It helps reduce file sizes and resolve common issues.
What cleanup operations are performed?
Always performed:
- Purge unused items (3 passes)
- Audit with auto-fix
- Reset scale list to defaults
Optional (you choose):
- Overkill: remove duplicate/overlapping geometry
- Set By Layer: reset color, linetype, and lineweight overrides
- Detach missing references: XREFs, PDF, DGN, and image underlays whose file cannot be found. References whose file exists are kept, including Caddex PDF underlays.
- Convert STB to CTB plot styles (not needed for previews, since STB drawings are supported directly)
Cloud Sync & Collaboration
How does syncing work?
The plugin syncs your detail library with the cloud so your whole team stays up to date. Sync runs automatically in the background when you're signed in, and you can also trigger it manually with the Sync button.
Why can't I open the Detail Library or Settings right after signing in?
The first sync on a new machine downloads your whole library. While that's running, the Detail Library, Detail Manager, and Settings are held closed and show a message asking you to wait, so you don't browse a half-downloaded library. This is a one-time wait, and it only happens again if a very large number of details arrive at once. Everything opens normally as soon as the download finishes.
Can I work offline?
Yes. All details are stored locally, so browsing and inserting works without an internet connection. Changes you make while offline are queued and synced the next time you're connected.
What happens if two people edit the same detail that was added to different projects?
Each edit creates a separate pending version. The Detail Manager shows all pending versions, and a reviewer can approve, reject, or create variants from each one independently.
What is the config lock?
When an Editor opens the Detail Manager or Settings, the plugin acquires a temporary lock to prevent conflicting changes. Other users see the interface in read-only mode with a message like "Read-only, Locked by [Name]". The lock releases as soon as the editor closes their dialog. After 10 minutes of inactivity the editor sees an idle warning with a 30 second countdown: clicking "Stay Open" keeps the lock, and if nobody answers, the window closes and the lock is released. If the editor's session crashes or loses its connection, the lock expires on its own within 5 minutes.
In read-only mode, you can still browse details, view previews, search, filter, and add new details from the Detail Library palette. You just can't edit, approve, delete, or modify existing details and their metadata until the lock is released.
Account & Updates
How do I check for plugin updates?
Click the Account button on the Caddex ribbon tab. The Your Plugins section at the bottom shows each installed Caddex plugin with its current version. If an update is available, you'll see an amber "Update available" notice and a button to get it. Installs from caddex.io show a Download button that fetches the installer. Installs from the Autodesk App Store show an Update button that opens a short migration page on caddex.io: you uninstall the Autodesk copy once and install the website version, and from then on updates arrive like any other caddex.io install. Installs deployed by your IT department show "Managed by your IT department" instead of an update button, and updates arrive through your IT rollout.
You'll also see an orange dot on the Account button whenever an update is available, and a one-time notice when you next click a Caddex ribbon button, showing what's in the new release. "Remind Me Later" dismisses it for the current AutoCAD session.
How do I change my display name?
Open the Account dialog and click on your name. A dialog appears where you can enter a new display name. This name appears in change logs and lock notifications across your team.
How do I sign out?
Click the Account button, then click Sign Out. Note that after signing out, you won't be able to return to full trial mode. You'll need to sign back in to continue using the plugin.
Does the plugin collect usage data?
The plugin sends anonymous feature-usage events: which features were used and when, along with the plugin and AutoCAD version. They are tagged with a random installation identifier, not with your name, your email, or your drawings. See the
Privacy Policy for details.
Downloading & Exporting
Can I download all my details as DWG files?
Yes. Go to Settings > Download Details, choose a destination folder, and the plugin exports all approved details as individual DWG files.
Troubleshooting
I can't edit a detail's name, description, or tags.
If a detail has pending versions awaiting approval, metadata editing is locked. Approve or delete all pending versions first, then try again.
I can't insert a detail.
Details in "New" status must be approved before they can be inserted. A detail with a pending edit still inserts its current approved version.
The "Add Detail" button options are all disabled.
If you're in trial mode, you may have reached the 10-detail limit. Sign in to remove the limit.
I don't see any pen tables in the preview style dropdown.
The Monochrome options are always available. For additional options, an Editor needs to upload CTB or STB files through Settings > Manage Company Standards.
My previews look wrong.
If the preview image is the wrong scale, many times this can be caused by content that extends out past the edges of the detail. These can be things such as text objects with large extents, hidden geometry, orphaned data or empty hatch patterns.
My preview is shaded, at an angle, or cropped.
The drawing was saved in a 3D view or with a shaded visual style. Save it in top view with the 2D Wireframe visual style, then add it again or re-render the preview.
Adding an XREF fails with a "file in use" error.
The source drawing is open in AutoCAD. Save and close it, then add it again.
Another user has the library locked and I need to make changes.
The lock releases as soon as the other user closes their Detail Manager or Settings dialog. If they leave it open and idle, they are prompted after 10 minutes and the lock releases if they don't respond. If their AutoCAD session crashed or dropped its connection, the lock expires on its own within 5 minutes. You can still browse, search, and insert details while in read-only mode.
Sync isn't working.
Check your internet connection and try signing out and back in. If the issue persists, check for plugin updates. An older version may have compatibility issues.
I accidentally deleted a detail.
Deleted details cannot be recovered and must be re-uploaded to the library. Be sure to confirm when prompted before deleting.
My detail's revision clouds don't look right.
Revision clouds are generated automatically by comparing the modified geometry against the approved version. They highlight areas where changes were detected. After approval, the clean preview (without clouds) replaces the annotated one. While revision clouds are only ever added to a detail that changed, there can be some false positives in the revision cloud placement. Typically these are due to subtle changes in position or text or Dimension styles that may vary between the original detail and the parent project drawing.
The plugin isn't loading in AutoCAD.
Make sure you're running a supported version of AutoCAD (2025, 2026, or 2027, 64-bit, Windows). Civil 3D and the AutoCAD toolsets are supported. Restart AutoCAD after installation.
The Insertion layer dropdown is disabled.
No company layer standard has been uploaded yet, or the detail is an xref or a PDF. Upload a .dws, .dwt, or .dwg in Settings > Manage Company Standards. Viewers do not see the dropdown.
The Callouts tab says this drawing is not part of a sheet set.
The sheet set must be open in the Sheet Set Manager, and one of this drawing's layouts must be a sheet in it. Unsaved drawings cannot be looked up. If the set is open and the message stays, click the Refresh glyph.
Inserting a PDF detail says to save the drawing first.
A PDF detail is copied into a Caddex folder beside the drawing, so the drawing needs a location on disk. Save it, then insert again. XREF details work the same way.
A PDF page shows the old edition after the detail was updated.
Updating a PDF detail never changes pages already placed in drawings; insert the detail again to place the new edition. If you deleted the Caddex folder beside a drawing by hand and reinserted in the same AutoCAD session, AutoCAD may keep showing the page it cached under that path. Restart AutoCAD.
Feedback & Support
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
You can submit a bug report or feature request from the plugin's Help button on the Caddex ribbon. Pick "Report a Bug or Request a Feature" and a browser window opens with the form pre-filled with your plugin and AutoCAD details.
Or send feedback directly from the website: caddex.io/feedback. Tell us what happened, attach screenshots if it helps, and we'll respond within 24 hours. Keywords: bug, report, issue, problem, feedback, feature request, support.
Roles & Permissions Summary
What can each role do?
| Feature |
Trial |
Viewer |
Editor |
| Browse & search details | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Insert approved details | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open Detail Manager | Yes | No | Yes |
| Add new details | Yes (up to 10) | Yes | Yes |
| Approve / reject details | Yes | No | Yes |
| Edit detail metadata | Yes | No | Yes |
| Batch upload | No | No | Yes |
| Add PDF details | Yes (up to 10) | Yes | Yes |
| Update a PDF detail | Yes | No | Yes |
| Place sheet set callouts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mark a block as a callout block | Yes | No | Yes |
| Turn Sheet views off for a detail | Yes | No | Yes |
| Manage pen tables (CTB / STB) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Upload the company layer standard | No | No | Yes |
| Set a detail's insertion layer | No | No | Yes |
| Manage tags & categories | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cloud sync | No | Yes | Yes |