Load LISP Automatically in AutoCAD: Startup Suite and acaddoc.lsp

Why load LISP automatically

A LISP file loaded with APPLOAD is only available in the current drawing. Instead of loading it again in every drawing, you can load LISP automatically in AutoCAD so your commands are ready each time.

There are two common ways: the Startup Suite in the APPLOAD dialog, and an acaddoc.lsp file in a support folder. First save your .lsp files to a permanent folder such as C:\eplisp. If you move the files later, automatic loading stops working.

Method 1: The Startup Suite

This is the easiest method and needs no code.

• Type APPLOAD at the command line.
• In the Startup Suite area at the bottom right of the dialog, click Contents...
• Click Add... and select your .lsp file.
• Close both dialogs. The file now loads automatically.

Method 2: An acaddoc.lsp file

acaddoc.lsp is a file AutoCAD looks for in the Support File Search Path every time a drawing opens. It loads the first copy it finds. The file does not exist by default; you create it.

Create a plain text file named acaddoc.lsp in Notepad, add one load line for each tool, and save it in a support folder. You can add that folder under OPTIONS > Files > Support File Search Path. To avoid security prompts, add the same folder to Trusted Locations as well.

(load "C:/eplisp/boq.lsp")

acaddoc.lsp vs. acad.lsp

acaddoc.lsp loads with every drawing. acad.lsp, by default, loads only once when the AutoCAD session starts, so drawings opened afterward may not have your commands.

Setting the ACADLSPASDOC system variable to 1 makes acad.lsp load into every drawing as well; the default is 0. Putting your own load lines in acaddoc.lsp is simpler and avoids that confusion.

Do not edit the version-numbered acad20xx.lsp and acad20xxdoc.lsp files. Those belong to AutoCAD.

Which method to choose

If you use a few tools on one computer, the Startup Suite is enough. If you manage several computers or a shared office setup, acaddoc.lsp gives you more control.

• Startup Suite pro: set up in a few clicks, no code.
• Startup Suite con: the list is tied to your user profile and does not follow you to another profile or computer.
• acaddoc.lsp pro: a plain text file you can copy, back up and share from a network folder.
• acaddoc.lsp con: if several acaddoc.lsp files are on the search path, only the first one found loads, and an error in the file can stop the remaining lines from loading.