I really NEED to complain about the way Autodesk is handling the new autoload functionality in 2012 products... I spent 3 days figuring out things and it won't work my way.
Prior versions has the ability of netloading tools and, with the great DemandLoading class which I found at ADN we have a great way of using our tools all the time. Once loaded with NetLoad, the next sessions the tools are available. What this class does is writing registry keys in the section Applications and there are the tools described which are loaded the next time.
So, since 2012 versions we have a new, great *cough* and easy *cough* way of loading tools. Create a map with the extension .bundle, write an xml-file with some tags and options and AutoCAD 2012 should load the tools during startup. Well, I admit, the thought behind was good, but the finish of this construction is [fill in a nasty word of your choice].
I created a tool which shows a palette when it loads. So I put it in a .bundle map, created the xml, started AutoCAD and voila, it works. Yippee! Untill I restarted AutoCAD and I was treated with a Fatal Error dialog!! Grrr!!!! I restarted AutoCAD and it worked like I wanted. Until I restarted AutoCAD and got the Fatal Error again! And I got alternately this Fatal Error once and then not. WHY!!!!
What does the autoloader thing do? Checking the way it works I found out that there is a new section in the Registry named AutoLoader. Here are the tools described which should be loaded. During startup this section will be filled with information, ALSO there is a key added in the Application section. Why is that? Don't know. Then I found out that while closing AutoCAD the key in the section Application is deleted. Wtf? At startup the key is added and at closing the key is deleted? Why couldn't Autodesk think of a better way of handling tools? Like in the existing section with a new parameter or so? Why so complicated with adding and deleting? Because this is giving me trouble. The next time I startup AutoCAD, when AutoCAD has autodeleted the key in the previous session, I get the Fatal Error! When I check the Registry, I find a newly added key in the section Applications. So there is a key which will load the tool the next time.
And that will happen. When, after a Fatal Error, I startup AutoCAD, it works perfectly, the tool is loaded again and it is like I want. But when I close AutoCAD, the Registry key is deleted again so I get the Fatal Error the next time. But right before the Fatal Error the key is added so after that I don't get the Fatal Error. And so on and so on...
I give up on this new functionality.