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Plex-Earth Ribbon Missing, Empty, or Not Working

Updated

Applies to: Plex-Earth 2025, 2026, 2027 

Audience: End users, IT/ Administrators

Overview

After installing Plex-Earth, its ribbon should appear automatically in your CAD application as an additional tab. If the ribbon is missing, blank, showing incorrect buttons, or not responding, this article will help you identify and fix the issue.

Ribbon.png

💡 Ribbon issues are usually straightforward to fix, but they can sometimes indicate a deeper installation or connectivity problem. Follow the steps carefully and in the order provided.

Identify Your Issue

Find the case that best describes your situation and follow the corresponding steps:

Case 1: The Ribbon Appears Wrong (Duplicate or Incorrect Buttons)

Try the following steps in the order listed:

Step 1: Run the Ribbon Fix Command

In the CAD command line, type:

PXV_RIBBON_FIX

Step 2: Switch Workspace

Switch your CAD workspace from Drafting & Annotation to 3D Basics, then switch back (or vice versa).

Step 3: Reload Plex-Earth via CUILOAD

  1. Type CUILOAD in the command line
  2. Unload Plex-Earth
  3. Close and reopen CAD

Step 4: Manually Load Plex-Earth

  1. Type CUILOAD
  2. Scroll down and select PXEARTH27 (or PXEARTH26 depending on your version)
  3. Click NETLOAD and navigate to:

AutoCAD / Civil 3D

Navigate to the Plex-Earth bundle folder:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\PlexEarth.2X.X.XXXX.bundle

Open the Contents folder, then select the subfolder for your CAD version:

  • CAD 2020–2024 → Windows
  • CAD 2025–2027 → Windows.NET8

Select PlexEarth.dll and click Load.

BricsCAD

Navigate to the Plex-Earth for BricsCAD folder:

C:\Program Files\Plex-Earth for BricsCAD\Windows

Select PlexEarth.dll and click Load.

Step 5: Remove Plex-Earth .cuix Files

  1. Close CAD
  2. Open File Explorer and navigate to:
%appdata%\Autodesk
  1. Open the folder for your CAD product and version, for example:
C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD [version]\R[version].0\enu
  1. Find and delete all Plex-Earth .cuix files, such as:
    • pxearth25-r0.cuix
    • pxearth26-r1.cuix
    • Any other similar Plex-Earth .cuix files

⚠️ The .cuix file location differs depending on your CAD product (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, etc.) and version (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027). If you use multiple CAD versions, repeat this step for each one.

Case 2: The Ribbon Appears, But Buttons Don't Work ("Unknown Command")

This usually indicates an installation or connectivity issue.

  1. Complete all steps from Case 1 first
  2. Open the Control Panel and uninstall all Plex-Earth versions
  3. Download and install the correct version: Plex-Earth Download Links and Compatibility

If the issue persists after reinstalling, it is likely a connectivity issue. Follow the steps in Plex-Earth Won't Connect to Service – Connectivity Troubleshooting.

Case 3: The Ribbon Appears, But It Is Empty or Blank

Handle this case exactly as described in Case 2.

Case 4: Two Ribbons Appear for Different Plex-Earth Versions

Plex-Earth 2026 and 2027 cannot be installed alongside versions 5, 5D, 2023, or 2025.

⚠️ Note: Plex-Earth version 4 can be installed alongside 2026/2027, so two ribbons are expected in that case and is not an error.

If you are seeing two ribbons and this is unexpected:

  1. Open the Control Panel and ensure only your intended Plex-Earth version is installed
  2. Uninstall any older conflicting versions
  3. Complete all steps from Case 1
  4. Reinstall the correct version: Plex-Earth Download Links and Compatibility

If the issue persists, please submit your Plex-Earth folders as described in How to Submit Your Plex-Earth Files for Troubleshooting.

Case 5: No Ribbon Appears, But Plex-Earth Is Installed

This may indicate an incompatible CAD version, a ribbon issue, or a connectivity issue. Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Check CAD Compatibility

Verify which version of Plex-Earth is installed via Control Panel. Check Plex-Earth versions and compatibility: Plex-Earth Download Links and Compatibility

⚠️ Plex-Earth does not work with:

  • Older CAD versions than the ones mentioned in the compatibility list for the respective version
  • AutoCAD LT

To resolve incompatibility, install the proper product version for your license key.

Step 2: Follow the steps in Case 1

Step 3: Check connectivity

If nothing worked, follow the Connectivity Issues guide.

 

Still having trouble?

If none of the above resolved your ribbon issue, a clean reinstallation of Plex-Earth may be needed. Follow the full guide here: Clean Installation of Plex-Earth (and Uninstallation)

If the problem persists after a clean installation, contact our support team at:

📧 support@plexscape.com

Include a description of your issue, your CAD version, your Plex-Earth version, and your log files — see How to Submit Your Plex-Earth Files for Troubleshooting for instructions.

FAQs

I ran PXV_RIBBON_FIX but nothing changed. What should I do next?

Continue with the remaining steps in Case 1 in order.

Where exactly are the .cuix files located?

They are located in your CAD application's AppData folder, typically at %appdata%\Autodesk\[CAD Product] [Year]\[Version]\enu.

I use multiple CAD versions. Do I need to fix the ribbon in each one separately?

Yes. The .cuix files are stored separately for each CAD product and version, so you will need to repeat the relevant steps for each installation.

My ribbon buttons are there, but clicking them does nothing. Is this a ribbon issue or something else?

This is most commonly a connectivity or installation issue rather than a ribbon issue. Follow Case 2, and if the problem persists after reinstalling, Check your connectivity using Plex-Earth Won't Connect to Service – Connectivity Troubleshooting.

Can I have Plex-Earth 2026 and Plex-Earth 4 installed at the same time?

Yes. Plex-Earth 4 can coexist with Plex-Earth 2026 or 2027. In this case, Seeing two Plex-Earth ribbons is expected and normal.

My CAD version is compatible, but the ribbon still doesn't appear. What now?

Work through all steps in Case 1 first, then check your connectivity. If neither resolves it, perform a clean installation following the guide in How to Perform a Clean Installation or Uninstall Plex-Earth.

Related Questions

This article explains how to fix Plex-Earth ribbon issues in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or BricsCAD, including missing, blank, duplicate, or non-responsive ribbons. You may have searched for:

  • Plex-Earth tab not showing in AutoCAD after installation
  • Plex-Earth toolbar is missing or disappeared
  • Plex-Earth ribbon is blank or has no buttons
  • Plex-Earth tab is there but commands are not working
  • Two Plex-Earth tabs appearing in the ribbon at the same time
  • Plex-Earth panel not loading after opening AutoCAD or Civil 3D
  • Plex-Earth ribbon buttons greyed out or not responding
  • How to load ribbon in AutoCAD or C3D

Older Version of Plex-Earth?

If you are using Plex-Earth 2023, please refer to the legacy article below for ribbon-specific fixes:

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