NETLOAD

Short answer

The AutoCAD command that loads a managed .NET plugin DLL into the running session.

NETLOAD is the command you type at the AutoCAD command line to load a .NET (C#/VB.NET) plugin DLL. It accepts a single argument — the full path to the DLL — and reflects over the assembly to register any classes marked with [CommandMethod]. NETLOAD only loads the DLL for the current session; to load it on every startup, register the DLL via an AutoCAD bundle, a registry entry, or AUTOLOAD. NETLOAD is the manual one-shot equivalent of how AUTOLOAD-registered plugins start.

Related guides

How to NETLOAD a .NET Plugin in AutoCAD

Load a C# / VB.NET plugin DLL into AutoCAD with NETLOAD, troubleshoot common load errors, and set up auto-load so you don't NETLOAD every session.

Browse related listings

AutoCAD .NET Plugins (C# / VB.NET)

Verified .NET plugins for AutoCAD and the AutoCAD verticals. NETLOAD-ready DLLs and one-click .bundle installers, with explicit AutoCAD version compatibility on every listing.

Related terms

AUTOLOAD

Two related AutoCAD mechanisms for loading plugins on demand: the (autoload) LISP function and the auto-load registry/bundle keys used for .NET DLLs.

.NET plugin

A managed assembly (C#/VB.NET DLL) that uses Autodesk's .NET API to add commands and behaviour to AutoCAD or Civil 3D.

CommandMethod

The .NET attribute you place on a method to expose it as a typeable AutoCAD command after NETLOAD.

ObjectARX

Autodesk's C++ runtime extension SDK for AutoCAD. The lowest-level, highest-performance way to extend AutoCAD.