Error or Warning Message

When attempting to start Promis.e, a "Can not find a valid AutoCAD, fail to start" message is displayed.  

Explanation

This message indicates that promis.e for AutoCAD has been installed but a compatible version of AutoCAD cannot be found. Consult the readme, Installation Guide, or Compatibility Chart  for compatible AutoCAD versions.

Note: AutoCAD LT is not the same as AutoCAD, and Promis.e V8i does not support AutoCAD LT.

How to Avoid

Consider Promis.e Standalone

If you do not have AutoCAD or the AutoCAD compatibility for this version of Promis.e no longer matches your version of AutoCAD, consider using the "standalone" Promis.e application that uses an integrated MicroStation-based drafting platform. Contact your Bentley sales account representative for details.

Use the correct installation file

Promis.e for 32-bit AutoCAD, Promis.e for 64-bit AutoCAD, and Promis.e Standalone have separate installation packages. If you intend to use Promis.e Standalone or Promis.e for MicroStation/PowerDraft and are receiving a "Can not find a valid AutoCAD" message, you have installed the wrong version of Promis.e.  Uninstall Promis.e, delete residual folders, then download and install the Promis.e Standalone product.

If necessary, use "manual" start method

If the error message is occurring while a compatible version of AutoCAD is installed and runs by itself without issue, the following procedure can be used to create an alternate shortcut that will launch Promis.e V8i:

1. Create a new shortcut or make a copy of the promis.e V8i shortcut icon on the desktop.

2. Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties.

3. Select the Shortcut tab.

4. In the Target field, three paths and a switch must be entered . Enter the information equivalent to the following:
   
   “path\acad.EXE” “path\ECAD.DWG” /b “path\AutoLoadXXXX.SCR”
   
   The ECAD.DWG file is typically found in "Config" subfolder of the Program Data Folder.
   
   The AutoLoad .SCR file is typically found in a subfolder of the Program Folder
   
   Replace the "path" and "XXXX" strings with actual installed paths and filenames. Paths containing spaces must be enclosed in quotes. The end result should look something like:
   
   "C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2011\acad.exe" "C:\ProgramData\Bentley\promis-e V8i(A)\Config\Ecad.dwg" /b "C:\Program Files\Bentley\promis-e\autocad2010\AutoLoad2011.scr"

5. Enter the path to the folder containing the AutoLoad script file in the Start in field. Paths containing spaces must be enclosed in quotes. It should look something like:
   
   "C:\Program Files\Bentley\promis-e\AutoCAD2010\"

6. Click OK.

7. Double-click the new shortcut to start promis.e.

Error message with manual start method

In some cases, when the new "manual" shortcut is used, the software displays an error message indicating it cannot find some file.  For example:

Source: ECT.ECAD.UI
Desc: The system cannot find the file specified.
Desc: Could not load file or assembly ‘file:///C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\promis-e\Interop.EctEcad.dll’ or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

In these cases, copying all .DLL files that start with "Interop" from the folder containing the AutoLoad script file into the main "promis-e" program folder has resolved the error message.  In the example given in the procedure above, this means copying the Interop...dll files from

C:\Program Files\Bentley\promis-e\AutoCAD2010\

to

C:\Program Files\Bentley\promis-e\

See Also

Compatibility Chart - Promis.e V8i

keywords: "Cannot find a valid AutoCAD, failed to start"