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02. Installing and Loading FLUID DESK Software

Contents

Obtain the installer for the version that you want to install:

  • This is usually done from the FLUID DESK website, www.fluid-desk.com; You will have to select Your preferred Language, CAD environment (AutoCAD, BricsCAD or FLUID DESK BIM) and its version; the available installer(s) will be listed, with the latest one automatically selected. You will have to register your e-mail address before being able to proceed with the download.

Before opening the downloaded package, You should already have your CAD system (AutoCAD or BricsCAD) installed, configured and running. This does not apply to the FLUID DESK BIM platform, which itself is included in the package that You have downloaded from our website.

Run the installer:

  • For packages supporting AutoCAD, You will be prompted to select which version(s) of AutoCAD You want to install our program for. Because different AutoCAD versions require different program binaries, You will not be able to install the program for incompatible editions at the same time. You can, however, install the program one or more times, as long as you do so in separate directories!

AutoCAD 2015 / 2016
(no longer supported)

AutoCAD 2017
(no longer supported)

AutoCAD 2018
(no longer supported)

AutoCAD 2019 / 2020

AutoCAD 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024

AutoCAD 2025

  • For BricsCAD, each platform version (and language) will come with the corresponding installer.

Running the program:

Once installation has successfully completed, You simply have to run Your CAD system; our modules (and menus) will load automatically. If for any reason this is not the case, You still have the option to configure Manual Loading by selecting Tools \ Load Application… from the Menu Bar or by typing the command _APPLOAD on the Command Line.

To make sure that our software is always loaded on startup, You must add all installed modules in the window above. For AutoCAD, you have to add them to the “Startup Suite” option, while for BricsCAD, You simply have to add each one to the list using the “+” button and then check the corresponding “AutoLoad” option. Note that the location of these files will depend on the selected CAD environment and installation directory; as for the file extensions, .arx is for AutoCAD, .brx is for BricsCAD and .frx is used by FLUID DESK BIM. You should add the following modules, in this order:

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\FLM3Loader.arx / .brx / .frx
    FLM 3.0 (FLM_ABOUT)

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\Vnp5Loader.arx / .brx / .frx
    Ventpack 5.0 / 6.0 (VNP_ABOUT)

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\Hyp5Loader.arx / .brx / .frx
    Hydronicpack 5.0 / 6.0 (HYP_ABOUT)

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\Snp5Loader.arx / .brx / .frx
    Sanipack 5.0 / 6.0 (SNP_ABOUT)

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\Pe5Loader.arx / .brx / .frx
    Project Explorer 5.0 / 6.0 (PE_ABOUT)

  • C:\Program Files\FDBES\FLM3\SLDLoader.arx / .brx / .frx
    SLD 5.0 (SLD_ABOUT); this module is no longer supported!

Once the program is installed and properly loaded, You should see the Toolbars, Menus and Ribbons automatically in your chosen CAD environment. If You don’t see those for any reason, please run the command FLM_MENU. If that still does not help, please see the next FAQ article, “Loading, Managing and Customizing Menus“. You can also double-check that the modules have successfully loaded by running the *_ABOUT commands as listed above; those should always display the “About” window for the corresponding application module, that usually looks something like this:

Updated on October 6, 2025

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