AutoCAD MEP 2013 Service Pack 1 Readme

Thank you for downloading AutoCAD® MEP 2013 Service Pack 1

This readme contains the latest information regarding the installation and use of the Service Pack. It is strongly recommended that you read the entire document before you apply the Service Pack to your product. For reference, you should save this document to your hard drive or print a copy.

Contents

You can apply this Service Pack to the following Autodesk® products running on all supported operating systems and languages. Be sure to install the correct Service Pack for your software.

NOTE: You can also use Autodesk Exchange to install the Live Update Maintenance Patches, which automatically shows the correct Service Pack for your product.

32-bit Product
Service Pack
AutoCAD MEP 2013 AutoCAD_MEP_2013_SP1_32bit.exe   

64-bit Product
Service Pack
AutoCAD MEP 2013 AutoCAD_MEP_2013_SP1_64bit.exe

You can apply this Service Pack to AutoCAD MEP 2013 installed from the following Autodesk Design Suite.

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When you apply this Service Pack while running AutoCAD MEP, it is recommended that you do not click the "Automatically close applications and attempt to restart them after setup is complete" option. Instead, close AutoCAD MEP manually, and press "Ignore" at the prompt. It is also recommended that you reboot your system after installing the Service Pack.

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Problems Reported with the Customer Error Reporting Utility

As a result of detailed information from customers who used the Customer Error Reporting Utility, a number of problems were identified and fixed. Updates have been made in the following commands and features:

AutoCAD MEP Service Pack 1

Content

Tool Palette

General

AutoCAD Architecture Service Pack 1

AEC Dimensions

Drawing Management

Grips

Layer Key

Open

Sections

Schedules

Walls

Windows 8

AutoCAD Service Pack 1

3D Navigation Tools

3D Modeling

Autodesk 360

CUI (Customize User Interface)

Design Center

DGN Support

Dimensions

Hatch

InfoCenter

Inquiry

Plot

Point Cloud

Express Tools

Startup

General

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General AutoCAD MEP Updates

The following AutoCAD MEP defects have been fixed:

Cable Tray

Display

Duct

Electric

IFC

MvPart

Performance

Schedule

Section

Sync

Note: Once you apply Service Pack 1, you can no longer sync the AutoCAD MEP Tool Palette to the cloud.

Others

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General AutoCAD Architecture Updates

The following AutoCAD Architecture defects have been fixed:

AEC Dimensions

Annotation Scaling

Autodesk 360

Doors

Elevation Labels

IFC

Migration

Progressive update

Roombook

Schedules

Sections

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General AutoCAD Updates

The following AutoCAD defects have been fixed:

3D Navigation Tools

3D Modeling

Action Recorder

Autodesk 360

Customization Sync

DGN Support

Display Drivers

Dimensions

External Reference (XREF)

Hatch

Field

MLeader

Modify

PDF Export

Performance

Plot

Properties Palette

Ribbon

Selection

Sheet Set Manager

Visual Lisp

General

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New /nolisp Startup Switch and Related System Variables

This Service Pack introduces options to control the operation of AutoLISP and VBA applications in AutoCAD. The new controls provide the following security measures:

For more information see this document.


Note: To enable the autoloading changes to acad.dvb, uninstall the AutoCAD 2013 VBA Enabler, and download and install the latest AutoCAD 2013 VBA module that was updated for the changes made in Service Pack 1 for AutoCAD 2013.

New /nolisp Startup Switch

Start AutoCAD with this switch to disable AutoLISP execution in the current AutoCAD session, including all LSP, FAS, and VLX files. This switch is useful for preventing malicious AutoLISP code from automatically loading and executing.

Disabling AutoLISP has the following effects:

Note: Disabling AutoLISP will prevent the Express Tools and some AutoCAD command tools from functioning and should only be used in emergency situations.

LISPENABLED (System Variable)

Indicates whether AutoLISP is enabled for the current AutoCAD session.

(Read-only)
Type: Integer
Saved in: Not saved
Initial value: 1

0 - AutoLISP is disabled
1 - AutoLISP is enabled

Disabling AutoLISP has the following effects:

This system variable is controlled by the /nolisp startup switch.

AUTOLOAD (System Variable)

Controls whether AutoCAD autoloads acad.lsp/fas/vlx, acaddoc.lsp/fas/vlx, acad.dvb files.

Type: Integer
Saved in: Named Profile/Registry
Initial value: 1

Values:
0 - None of the following 7 AutoLISP/VBA files will be automatically loaded

1 - autoloads the 7 files depending on the value of the AUTOLOADPATH system variable.

AUTOLOADPATH (System Variable)

Controls the folder from where AutoCAD loads acad.lsp/fas/vlx, acaddoc.lsp/fas/vlx, acad.dvb files.

Type: String
Saved in: Named Profile/Registry
Initial value: ""

Valid strings include the following:
"<folder path or paths separated by semicolons>" = Automatically loads the acad.lsp/fas/vlx, acaddoc.lsp/fas/vlx, acad.dvb files only in the specified folders and no other locations, including the current drawing folder. To minimize the possibility of loading a malicious application, always set the AUTOLOADPATH system variable to the unique folder where your authorized applications are located.

"" (empty string) or "." (period) - No path restriction. Automatically loads the acad.lsp/fas/vlx, acaddoc.lsp/fas/vlx, acad.dvb files found in the AutoCAD startup folder, the drawing folder, and the AutoCAD search path, in that order. This duplicates AutoCAD 2012 behavior and is not recommended.

Changes to acad2013.lsp and acad2013doc.lsp Autoloading Behavior

The acad2013.lsp and acad2013doc.lsp files will now be loaded only from their default installation folders:
   <install folder>\Support
   <install folder>\Support\<language>

Changes to the Options Dialog Box

The "Load acad.lsp with every drawing" checkbox on the System tab of the Options dialog box (ACADLSPASDOC system variable) is disabled when AUTOLOAD or LISPENABLED has a value of 0.

Recommended Setup and Repair Workflow

For the best protection from malicious AutoLISP and VBA applications set AUTOLOADPATH to a unique folder location and set AUTOLOAD to 1.

If your installation has already been impacted by a malicious application that runs on startup, following these general steps:

1. Start your AutoCAD-based product with the /nolisp startup switch.
2. Find and remove all malicious code.
3. Repair any affected files.
4. Set AUTOLOADPATH to a unique folder location and set AUTOLOAD to 1.

After taking these steps, you can remove the /nolisp startup switch from the shortcut properties of the program's desktop icon, and resume the normal operation of your AutoCAD-based application.

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Note: You cannot install AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Mechanical side-by-side when you have one of the listed products installed, and have service pack applied already. You will need to uninstall the service pack first, before the other listed products can be installed.

Note: Autodesk Sync (AdSync) patch will automatically get installed with the AutoCAD MEP patch.

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Before You Begin

As you prepare to install this Service Pack, keep the following in mind:

Back Up Custom Files

It is recommended that you back up all custom CUIX, MNR, and MNL files before you apply this Service Pack.

Administrative Privileges

During installation, you will be prompted for the original installation media or a network image. In order to apply this Service Pack, you must have administrative privileges to install and uninstall products.

Network Deployment

Administrators can deploy this Service Pack over a network using the Deployment Wizard.

About Your Product

After you install the Service Pack, updated product information displays in the About dialog box.

Reboot

After you install, it is recommended to reboot your system even if not prompted.

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About Windows Command Line Switches

The following Microsoft Windows command line switches are built into this Service Pack:

Instructions about how to use the /e command line switch are included in the installation procedures that follow.

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Apply This Service Pack to a Stand-Alone Installation

Follow these instructions to install this Service Pack on a single computer.

  1. Download the Service Pack and save it to any folder.
  2. If required, insert the product media (for example, the AutoCAD installation disc).
  3. Find the folder where you saved the Service Pack and double-click the executable (EXE) file.

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Apply This Service Pack Through a Local Network

Follow these instructions to install this Service Pack on multiple computers using your Local Network.

  1. Download the Service Pack and save it to any shared folder on your Local Network.
  2. Find the shared folder where you saved the Service Pack, and double-click the executable (EXE) file.

Note: Installation through your local network using the CAD Manager Control Utility is not supported for this service Pack.

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Apply This Service Pack to a Network Administrative Image

The following distribution method applies only to administrative images created with the Deployment Wizard. After you complete these procedures, subsequent deployments of your product will include this Service Pack.

In all cases, append this Service Pack to the deployment. The only time it is appropriate to merge the Service Pack is if you intend to distribute the deployment through a group policy object.

The patch (Service Pack) file that you download contains an MSP (Microsoft Patch) file, which you extract from the executable file using the /e (extract) switch. For an example of the syntax, see step 2, below.

  1. From the Autodesk Product Support website, download the Service Pack EXE file to your local computer.
  2. On the Start menu (Windows), click Run. Enter the following information and click OK.

    <local_drive:>\<patch_name> /e <local_drive:>\< patch_name>.msp

  3. Insert the Autodesk media and launch setup.exe.
  4. Select Create Deployments. Click Next.
  5. On the Begin Deployment page, in the Specify the Deployment Location box, enter the shared network location where you would like to create an administrative image, or click Browse to find a location. Users install the product from this location.
  6. In the Specify a Deployment Name box, enter the name for your deployment.
  7. Continue through the Deployment wizard, open and configure the deployment in the product configuration page, click Add to find the Service Pack extracted in Step 2. Notice that the Service Pack has been added in the Include Service Pack(s) from local drive or local network box. Close and return to the product list.
  8. Follow the instructions in the Deployment wizard to complete the Service Pack deployment.

Note: When AutoCAD MEP service pack is included in deployment, the deployment will only install the AutoCAD MEP product service pack without update files for Autodesk Sync. Please execute the downloaded service pack EXE again to install Autodesk Sync SP1.

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Uninstall This Service Pack

Windows XP

  1. From the Start menu (Windows), click Settings > Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
  3. In the Add or Remove Programs window, select the Show Updates option.
  4. Find the appropriate Service Pack in the list of programs. Click Remove.

Windows 7

  1. From the Start menu (Windows), click Control Panel.
  2. Click Programs.
  3. Click Programs and Features.
  4. In the Programs and Features window, in the left pane, click View Installed Updates.
  5. Find the appropriate Service Pack in the list of updates. Click Uninstall.

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Thank You

We want to express our appreciation to all our customers who identified these issues and reported them to us. Their reports gave us the opportunity to improve the product and to provide you with the best solution in general design and drafting. We also thank you for your continued business, and for your feedback regarding this release.

Respectfully,

Autodesk AutoCAD MEP Product Team

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Copyright ©2012 Autodesk, Inc.