Dialog box windows do not open for some commands in AutoCAD products

Autodesk Support

Mar 19, 2025

Products and versions covered

Issue:

Users reported that, when executing a command that should display a browse or other dialog window in AutoCAD products, none appears.

  • This may also occur when selecting buttons within a dialog window that pop out a secondary dialog window, such as Modify in the DIMSTYLE dialog.
  • Affected commands include, but are not limited to:
    • OPEN.
    • SAVEAS.
    • RECOVER.
    • IMPORT.
    • HATCH.
    • XATTACH.
    • MAPIINSERT.
    • SCRIPT.
    • DIMEDIT.
    • DGNIMPORT.
    • QLEADER.
    • UNITS.
    • STEPOUT.
    • IGESOUT.
    • DIMSTYLE.
    • LAYER.
    • PROPERTIES or Ctrl +1.

Also:

  • The software may look like it's frozen and in a loading loop.
  • Pressing the Escape key on the keyboard may cause the software to be responsive again.
  • It might only occur for some Windows users.
  • When using SAVE to save a file, the file path and information appear in the command bar instead of getting the Save window dialog box. This also occurs with other dialog windows in AutoCAD. 
AutoCAD - Options displayed in command line.
  • When using SAVEAS command to save the file with a new name, the command bar shows only options for previous versions, LT / DXF, or it prompts file formats next to the cursor.

Causes:

AutoCAD LT or AutoCAD Products

  • The system variable FILEDIA is set to 0 zero.
  • The system variable CMDDIA  is set to 0 zero.
  • The system variable ATTDIA  is set to 0 zero.
  • The dialog box is positioned in an XY location which cannot be displayed on any of the current monitors.
  • The user profile is corrupted.

Specifically for AutoCAD Electrical

  • This may occur when the location view on project manager is refreshed in background.
    • AEEMXDATAUPDATEMODE is set to 0 zero. 
  • Sometimes scripts or commands may turn off the FILEDIA while running. So, if it was canceled before completing, the FILEDIA may not have been set back to its original state.
  • This may occur if there is any incomplete execution of the task that involves projectwide updates by opening and closing the drawings. 
    • Aborting using the Esc key when the drawing is in progress across the project.
    • Aborting using the Esc key when renumbering the sheets is in progress using AEPROJUPDATE.
    • An unexpected abort of a custom script when running for each drawing, using project wide utilities.
AutoCAD Electrical - Project Wide Utilities dialog box

Solution:

Set the following variables to the specified values for AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD Products

  • For File dialog box variable, enter FILEDIA and set it to 1.

  • Command dialog box variable, enter CMDDIA and set it to 1. 

  • Attribute dialog box variable, enter ATTDIA and set it to 1.

    • Note: When setting a variable value, be sure to have only one instance of AutoCAD running.

  • Move dialogue box windows back into view. See Dialog windows do not display in an Autodesk application.

  • Reset AutoCAD or the user profile to defaults. See How to reset AutoCAD to defaults.

  • Clean uninstall and re-install AutoCAD LT or AutoCAD Products. See Clean uninstall of AutoCAD or verticals.

  • Set values of the variables by editing startup lisp (LSP) file.

    1. Edit the acad20xx.lsp file, in this folder:

      • C:\program files\autodesk\autocad 20xx\support.

    2. Add a line (or lines) which set the specified variables to the desired values.

      • For example, If modified acad2025.lsp file. A line that sets the FILEDIA variable to 1 when starting the program, has been added. 

      • Code : (setvar "filedia" 1)

FILEDIA set to 1 in startup LISP

Note: As AutoCAD LT able to use LSP (LISP) files from 2024 version. If using AutoCAD LT 2023 or an earlier version, this method cannot be used, so AutoCAD LT 2024 or the latest version of AutoCAD LT must be used. 

  • Using the System Variable Monitor.

    • Some third-party software and LISP routines may set the FILEDIA variable to zero.

    • The System Variable Monitor can configure a list of system variables whose modifications cause an alert.

    • To add FILEDIA (or CMDDIA) to the System Variable Monitor

      1. On the command line in AutoCAD Products, type SYSVARMONITOR.

      2. Verify that FILEDIA is set to 1.

      3. To receive a notification about FILEDIA being 0, enter 1 in the Preferred column.

System Variable Monitor Dialog Box

Note: If FILEDIA is not on the list, click Edit List, select FILEDIA under Available System Variables, and click the Right Arrow (>>) to move FILEDIA to the Monitored System Variables list.

Set the following variables to the specified values for AutoCAD Electrical

Specifically for AutoCAD Electrical, set the system variable AEEMXDATAUPDATEMODE to 1.

Products:

AutoCAD Products;

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