Content
# vn-autocad-claude
> 🇻🇳 **Tiếng Việt:** đọc hướng dẫn đầy đủ tại **[README.vi.md](README.vi.md)**.
An MCP server that lets **Claude** (Claude Code & Claude Desktop) control **AutoCAD** —
draw, edit, query, layers, blocks, annotations, screenshots, plot to PDF — using plain
language. Works with **full AutoCAD** and **AutoCAD LT 2024+** on Windows, and runs
**headless (no AutoCAD needed)** on macOS/Linux via the `ezdxf` backend.
This is a Vietnamese-friendly fork of [puran-water/autocad-mcp](https://github.com/puran-water/autocad-mcp)
(MIT). See [NOTICE](NOTICE) for the list of changes. Maintained by [@andyluu98](https://github.com/andyluu98).
---
## What works where
| Backend | Platform | Needs AutoCAD running? | What it does |
|---------|----------|------------------------|--------------|
| **File IPC** | Windows | Yes — full AutoCAD or LT **2024+** | Drives the live drawing you have open |
| **ezdxf** (headless) | Windows / macOS / Linux | No | Reads & writes `.dxf` files directly |
`AUTOCAD_MCP_BACKEND=auto` (default) picks File IPC when an AutoCAD window is found,
otherwise falls back to headless ezdxf.
> On **macOS** AutoCAD does not expose AutoLISP/COM, so only the **ezdxf** backend is
> available there. That is enough to generate and edit `.dxf` drawings from Claude.
---
## Requirements
- **Python 3.10+**
- **[uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)** package manager
- **Git**
- For the live (File IPC) backend: **Windows 10/11** + **AutoCAD 2024+ or AutoCAD LT 2024+**
---
## Quick install
### Windows (PowerShell)
```powershell
git clone https://github.com/andyluu98/vn-autocad-claude.git
cd vn-autocad-claude
./scripts/install.ps1
```
### macOS / Linux
```bash
git clone https://github.com/andyluu98/vn-autocad-claude.git
cd vn-autocad-claude
./scripts/install.sh
```
The install script runs `uv sync` and prints the exact MCP config line for your machine.
---
## Connect to Claude
### Claude Code (CLI)
```bash
claude mcp add autocad-mcp --scope user \
--env AUTOCAD_MCP_BACKEND=auto \
-- "<ABSOLUTE_PATH>/vn-autocad-claude/.venv/<bin-or-Scripts>/python<.exe>" -m autocad_mcp
```
- Windows venv python: `...\.venv\Scripts\python.exe`
- macOS/Linux venv python: `.../.venv/bin/python`
The install script prints the full line ready to copy.
### Claude Desktop
Add to `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"autocad-mcp": {
"command": "<ABSOLUTE_PATH>/vn-autocad-claude/.venv/Scripts/python.exe",
"args": ["-m", "autocad_mcp"],
"env": { "AUTOCAD_MCP_BACKEND": "auto" }
}
}
}
```
Use `.venv/bin/python` (no `.exe`) on macOS/Linux.
---
## Load the dispatcher in AutoCAD (Windows live backend only)
1. Open AutoCAD and open/create a drawing.
2. In the command line, type **`APPLOAD`** → load `lisp-code/mcp_dispatch.lsp`.
You should see `=== MCP Dispatch v3.1 loaded ===`.
3. To auto-load every time: `OPTIONS` → **Files** → **Trusted Locations** → add the
`lisp-code` folder, then add `mcp_dispatch.lsp` to the **Startup Suite** (APPLOAD → Contents).
Quick manual load alternative (paste in the AutoCAD command line):
```
(load "<ABSOLUTE_PATH>/vn-autocad-claude/lisp-code/mcp_dispatch.lsp")
```
---
## Verify
Restart Claude, then ask it to call `system(operation="status")`. You should get
`{"ok": true, "backend": "file_ipc" | "ezdxf"}`.
Then try: *"draw a circle radius 50 at the origin"*.
---
## Troubleshooting
Full playbook (also readable by Claude Code itself): **[CLAUDE.md](CLAUDE.md)**.
| Symptom | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| `AutoCAD detected but mcp_dispatch.lsp not loaded` | Re-`APPLOAD` the LISP; keep AutoCAD open; restart Claude. |
| `AutoCAD window not found` | Open AutoCAD with a drawing, or it will use the ezdxf backend. |
| Commands time out on full AutoCAD | The COM trigger should handle this; ensure the drawing window is active and the LISP is loaded. |
| `uv sync` fails on macOS about pywin32 | `pywin32` is Windows-only and already guarded; update `uv` and retry. |
---
## Privacy
This repository contains **no drawings, no credentials, and no personal data**.
The IPC working directory is `C:\temp` (Windows) — your `.dwg`/`.dxf` files stay on your
machine and are git-ignored. Never commit `claude_desktop_config.json` or `.env`.
## License
MIT — see [LICENSE](LICENSE). Original copyright retained per the upstream project.
