Installing Design Master Photometrics

This section describes how to install Design Master Photometrics.

If you are installing the software to your local machine, follow the Installing Locally instructions. A local install is recommended if you are the only one using the software.

If you are installing the software to a network server, follow the Installing on a Network instructions. A network install is recommended if you will have multiple people using the software, as it ensures everyone is using the same version and customization.

If you are a current user installing an update to the software, follow the Installing an Update instructions.

Installing Locally

Run the Installer

Download and run the latest Design Master Photometrics installer.

Configure AutoCAD

After the software is installed, AutoCAD needs to be configured. If you have multiple versions of AutoCAD on your computer, this needs to be done for each version of AutoCAD.

If you are using BricsCAD, see the Configure BricsCAD section below.

To configure AutoCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed. The default install location is C:\Program Files\Design Master Software\Admin.

   If you are given a warning that the file is in use or read-only, press the button to open the drawing in read-only.

2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load/Unload Applications dialog box will open.

   tip

   If you receive an "Unknown command" error, you are running AutoCAD LT, which does not support third-party add-ins. Full AutoCAD is required to run the software.

3. Browse to the Admin folder. The default install location is C:\Program Files\Design Master Software\Admin.

4. Select photo-loadInAutoCAD.vlx and press the button.

5. Press the button.

6. You will be asked to select an installation type. Press the button.

7. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the button to finish the configuration.

8. The first time you run a command, you will be asked to install your license. You have three options:

   • To begin a trial of the software, press the button. Text inserted on drawings will randomly be watermarked until a license is installed.
   • To purchase a license, press the button.
   • If you already have a license, press the button, enter your License ID and Activation Password in the fields provided, and press the button.
   tip

   If you don't know your license ID and password, visit the License Key Request page to have them emailed to you.

Video Demonstration

Configure BricsCAD

After the software is installed, BricsCAD needs to be configured.

If you are using AutoCAD, see the Configure AutoCAD section above.

To configure BricsCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed. The default install location is C:\Program Files\Design Master Software\Admin.

   If you are given a warning that the file is in use or read-only, press the button to open the drawing in read-only.

2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load Application Files dialog box will open.

   tip

   If you receive an "Unknown command" error, you are running BricsCAD Lite, which does not support third-party add-ins.

3. Press the / button.

4. Select photo-loadInAutoCAD.des and press the button.

5. Press the button.

6. You will be asked to select an installation type. Press the button.

7. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the button to finish the configuration.

8. The first time you run a command, you will be asked to install your license. You have three options:

   • To begin a trial of the software, press the button. Text inserted on drawings will randomly be watermarked until a license is installed.
   • To purchase a license, press the button.
   • If you already have a license, press the button, enter your License ID and Activation Password in the fields provided, and press the button.
   tip

   If you don't know your license ID and password, visit the License Key Request page to have them emailed to you.

Video Demonstration

Installing on a Network

Run the Installer

Download and run the latest Design Master Photometrics installer. When the installer asks for the install location, specify a location on the network.

warning

The installer must be run from a workstation, not on the server itself. If you are unable to install to the server folder from the workstation, see the Limited Privileges Installer section below.

Installing the software on a network folder that all users in the company can access is recommended. If you are installing more than one of our programs, they should all be installed to the same location. Do not install the programs to separate folders.

Install Components Once on Each Computer

The software does not need to be fully installed on each computer that is going to run the software, but some components do need to be present on the machine.

Download the Design Master Components installer here.

tip

The Design Master Components only need to be installed one time for each machine.

All of our CAD-based programs use the same components. They do not need to be reinstalled if you install a new version of AutoCAD or BricsCAD, or if you install an update to our software.

If an update ever requires that the Design Master Components be reinstalled, we will make that clear.

Configure AutoCAD

Each computer that is to run the software needs to have AutoCAD configured. If you have multiple versions of AutoCAD on your computer, this needs to be done for each version of AutoCAD.

If you are using BricsCAD, see the Configure BricsCAD section below.

To configure AutoCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed.

   If you are given a warning that the file is in use or read-only, press the button to open the drawing in read-only.

2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load/Unload Applications dialog box will open.

   tip

   If you receive an "Unknown command" error, you are running AutoCAD LT, which does not support third-party add-ins. Full AutoCAD is required to run the software.

3. Browse to the Admin folder.

4. Select photo-loadInAutoCAD.vlx and press the button.

5. Press the button.

6. You will be asked to select an installation type.

   • Press this button when the computer is a desktop connected to the network. The customization files will always be located on the server.
   • Press this button when the computer is a laptop that is disconnected from the network at times. The customization will load from the server when connected to the network and from the local computer when not connected.

7. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the button to finish the configuration.

8. The first time you run a command, you will be asked to install your license. Press the button, enter your License ID and Activation Password in the fields provided, and press the button.

   tip

   If you don't know your license ID and password, visit the License Key Request page to have them emailed to you.

Configure BricsCAD

Each computer that is to run the software needs to have BricsCAD configured.

If you are using AutoCAD, see the Configure AutoCAD section above.

To configure BricsCAD:

1. Open the install.dwg file in the Admin folder where Design Master is installed.

   If you are given a warning that the file is in use or read-only, press the button to open the drawing in read-only.

2. Type APPLOAD at the command line and press ENTER. The Load Application Files dialog box will open.

   tip

   If you receive an "Unknown command" error, you are running BricsCAD Lite, which does not support third-party add-ins.

3. Press the / button.

4. Select photo-loadInAutoCAD.des and press the button.

5. Press the button.

6. You will be asked to select an installation type.

   • Press this button when the computer is a desktop connected to the network. The customization files will always be located on the server.
   • Press this button when the computer is a laptop that is disconnected from the network at times. The customization will load from the server when connected to the network and from the local computer when not connected.

7. You will be asked to configure your installation settings. The default folder locations are provided for you. Press the button to finish the configuration.

8. The first time you run a command, you will be asked to install your license. Press the button, enter your License ID and Activation Password in the fields provided, and press the button.

   tip

   If you don't know your license ID and password, visit the License Key Request page to have them emailed to you.

Limited Privileges Installer

Some Windows configurations that limit install privileges do not work well with our installer. We provide this limited privileges installer to help with those cases.

1. Download and run the regular Design Master Photometrics installer.

2. Download and run the Design Master Photometrics Limited Privileges Installer.

Installing an Update

Download and run the latest Design Master Photometrics installer.

warning

AutoCAD or BricsCAD must be closed on the computer you run the installer on.

Select the location you previously installed the software to. The default location will be named Design Master Software.

warning

Do not install it to the Admin folder.

None of your existing customization will be overwritten during the update process.

If you have previously had trouble with the standard installer, download and run the Design Master Photometrics Limited Privileges Installer instead.

Updates for Network Installs

Install the update to the same location as where you originally installed Design Master Photometrics.

You do not need to close AutoCAD or BricsCAD on the other computers with our software installed.

The next time a user opens a drawing in AutoCAD or BricsCAD, Design Master Photometrics will be updated automatically. They will be prompted to restart AutoCAD or BricsCAD if necessary.

Troubleshooting

If the update does not work, run the Installation Settings command. Confirm that everything is set correctly in the dialog box.

After confirming everything is correct, press the button. This will force an update of all of your settings.

Close AutoCAD or BricsCAD, then run the installer again. This process will fix most problems you might experience when installing an update.