Launching
Start the Rhino environment inside AutoCAD, and choose which Rhino it runs.
Launching Rhino.Inside.AutoCAD
With the plug-in loaded, you can start the Rhino environment from inside AutoCAD.
- In AutoCAD, run the
RHINOcommand — either by typingRHINOat the command line or by clicking the Rhino button on the Rhino.Inside.AutoCAD toolbar. - A brief loading screen appears while the Rhino engine starts.
- The Rhino window opens alongside AutoCAD, running in full (windowed) mode.
Rhino running inside the AutoCAD session after the RHINO command.
You now have Rhino and AutoCAD running together in the same session. A few things worth knowing:
- Units are converted, not forced to match. Rhino and AutoCAD can each use their own unit system — Rhino.Inside.AutoCAD converts between them as geometry is exchanged, so everything stays at the correct scale regardless of the two settings.
- It's the same Rhino. This is a full Rhino instance — Rhino 8 or Rhino 9, depending on which you're running — so your installed plug-ins and Grasshopper add-ons are available.
- One environment per session. Running
RHINOagain won't start a second Rhino; it brings you back to the running instance.
Checkpoint. You should have the Rhino window open next to AutoCAD.
- If you do, the environment is running correctly and you're ready to preview geometry.
If something went wrong:
- If instead you saw an expired message, see Troubleshooting › "This version has expired".
- If you saw a licensing message, see Troubleshooting › Rhino licence issue. If your licence comes from a Zoo server, see Rhino can't get a licence from your Zoo server.
Choosing which Rhino to use
Rhino.Inside.AutoCAD can host Rhino 8 or Rhino 9. If more than one hostable version is installed, it asks which to use the first time you start it in a session.
Pick a version for this session, or "Always use …" to stop being asked.
| Your situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| One hostable Rhino installed | It's used, with no prompt. |
| More than one | You're asked which to use. |
| A remembered choice exists | It's honoured, with no prompt. |
| None hostable | The plug-in doesn't load, and the commands report why rather than failing silently. |
The dialog gives you three options:
- Use version — runs that version for this AutoCAD session only, and asks again next time.
- Always use version — remembers the choice so you aren't asked again. You can change it later on the Settings tab of the support dialog.
- Cancel — saves nothing and leaves Rhino unloaded for the rest of the session.
Pre-release installations with version keys such as 9.0-WIP are recognised, and your choice is saved to %APPDATA%\Bimorph\RhinoInsideAutoCAD\UserSettings.json.
Changing the Rhino version takes effect the next time AutoCAD starts. It can't be switched inside a running session, whether you change it here or on the Settings tab.
Which Rhino your host can run. AutoCAD and Civil 3D 2025, 2026 and 2027 can host Rhino 8 or Rhino 9. AutoCAD and Civil 3D 2024 runs on the .NET Framework and can host Rhino 8 only. See Prerequisites.
With Rhino running inside AutoCAD, the next step is Grasshopper. Continue to Grasshopper.