Run Environments
The Script Manager and the Layout/Plot Manager can run their work in one of three environments. Pick the environment from the eye-icon menu at the right end of the toolbar, or set a default per manager in Settings (Ctrl+6).
| Environment | What it does |
|---|---|
| CAD | Starts a new, visible AutoCAD instance for the run |
| CAD attach | Runs inside an AutoCAD instance that is already open on your machine |
| Background | Runs in headless AutoCAD console processes with no CAD window at all |
Indium launches a fresh AutoCAD (or Civil 3D) instance, processes the files one at a time in it, and closes it when the run finishes. Use this when you want to watch commands execute, or when a plotter or script needs the full AutoCAD environment.
CAD Attach
Section titled “CAD Attach”Instead of starting a new instance, Indium uses an AutoCAD that is already running and idle:
- If exactly one matching instance is running, Indium attaches to it directly.
- If several are running, a dialog asks which one to use.
- If none are running, Indium falls back to starting a new instance (same as CAD mode).
When plotting, the running instance must match the CAD version selected in Settings and the active profile. If it doesn’t, Indium shows an error instead of plotting in the wrong version.
Files are processed one at a time, just like CAD mode. This is the fastest visual option when you already have AutoCAD open, since there is no startup cost.
Background
Section titled “Background”Indium runs headless AutoCAD console processes (accoreconsole.exe) with no visible window. Files are distributed across multiple parallel workers, making this by far the fastest option for large batches.
Background mode is also the most interactive to monitor:
- Output streams live into the per-file terminal (Script Manager).
- If a script stops at a prompt, you can type an answer directly into that file’s terminal.
Choosing Defaults
Section titled “Choosing Defaults”- Settings → Script manager → Environment: default for script runs (initially Background).
- Settings → Layout manager → Environment: default for plotting (initially CAD).
The toolbar environment menu changes the same setting, so the choice sticks between sessions.