When you start ICEcad, you can link your ICE file to a new AutoCAD drawing. Once ICE and AutoCAD are linked, your ICE layout appears on a separate ICEcad tab in the new drawing. This drawing is then saved with your ICE file.
To Start ICEcad and Link to a New Drawing
1.Open ICE, and load the ICE file that you want to link to AutoCAD.
Your ICE file opens. This example image shows a layout in ICE 2D plan view:
2.Open a compatible version of AutoCAD.
3.If you want ICE and AutoCAD to appear on the same screen, re-size the windows and place side-by-side.
This example image shows how you can create a split screen with ICE and AutoCAD to enhance your ICEcad work flow:
4.To link ICE and AutoCAD, on the ICE 2D plan view tool bar, click the Start ICEcad icon.
In AutoCAD, the Link to an AutoCAD Document dialog appears.
Tip: If you re-size the ICE 2D plan view window and no longer see the Start ICEcad icon, click on the arrow on the far right side of the toolbar, and choose Connect to DWG.
5.In the Link to an AutoCAD Document dialog, click New AutoCAD Drawing.
In the example image below, the list of open AutoCAD drawings is empty and the Link to Selected Drawing button is inactive because no drawings are currently open.
6.In the Select Template dialog box, choose a template, and click Open.
In this example image, the chosen template is acad -Named Plot Styles:
Your ICE layout links to the open AutoCAD drawing. in AutoCAD, an ICEcad tab opens, displaying the ICE layout. On that tab, the ICEcad ribbon and ICEcad menu are available. In this example image, the layout appears on the ICEcad tab in AutoCAD and in ICE 2D plan view:
You can use the ICEcad ribbon and the ICEcad menu to access ICE functions in AutoCAD. This image shows the function available on the ICEcad ribbon and menu:
Once you link ICE and AutoCAD, you can start working with your ICE layout in ICEcad. Whether you make changes in ICE or AutoCAD, the file automatically updates in both places.
Related Links:
•Starting ICEcad and Linking to an Existing Document
•Updating an Existing ICEcad Drawing
Topic last updated on 3/16/2023.
