Key Features
Hurricane automates repetitive AutoCAD tasks so you can batch edit, plot, and manage drawings in minutes instead of hours. Watch Hurricane batch plot and wizard video tutorials or explore the Hurricane batch plot FAQ for details. Below is an overview of the tools and capabilities that make it the go-to productivity solution for CAD professionals.
New in version 8.2
- Auto-detect AutoCAD: the new Auto button finds your installed AutoCAD (
acad.exe) in one click during setup, so you never have to hunt for the program file. More than one version installed? Pick the one you want. See Hurricane Setup. - Modernized interface: refreshed Windows-themed controls and fonts, helpful tooltips throughout, and press Esc to close dialogs.
Installation & Support
- Full install/uninstall
- All updates are FREE
- Free technical support via E-mail, Forum, phone (416-712-2765), and FAQ (continuously updated)
- Network or local installation with no special setup; use the same Hurricane.zip for both
User Interface & Efficiency
- Intuitive interface for compiling batch scripts; explore to save time
- Runs all drawings in one AutoCAD session, with no open-run-close cycles
- Data saved in plain text (ASCII) format, editable with any software, preventing system congestion
- Drag and drop files and folders from Windows Explorer
- "UserSets" for switching between project-specific working screens instantly
- One-click Auto button auto-detects your installed AutoCAD (acad.exe) during setup
- Modern Windows-themed interface with tooltips throughout; press Esc to close dialogs
Scripting & Automation Tools
- Command Capture Tool records AutoCAD commands to create scripts from your command buffer
- TAGS for including Dynamic Data without daily script edits
- Project TAGS for managing data across multiple projects
- META Commands control the Hurricane interface from within scripts
- Script Editor floating window for easy editing over AutoCAD
- Script Syntax Checker to catch common errors before running
- AutoCAD Commands List: full guide to which commands work at the command line vs. which open dialog boxes, with hyphen variants for scriptable use
- AutoCAD System Variables List: 359 system variables rated for scripting, including the 6 KEY variables every batch script must set (FILEDIA, CMDECHO, EXPERT…)
Wizards for Quick Script Creation
- Title-Block Update Wizard for updating attributes
- Search and Replace Text Wizard for text in drawings
- Search and Replace MTEXT Wizard for MTEXT in drawings
- PageSetup Wizard for inserting PageSetups
- Report Limits to File Wizard for generating drawing limits reports
- Search for TEXT and Log Wizard to flag specific text
- Purge Wizard for batch purge scripts
File Management & Productivity
- Drawing file Preview with floating window for quick file selection
- Search for AutoCAD DWG's by AutoCAD Version to isolate files for conversion
- Report Drawing Version to file for version tracking
- Quick Launcher to open DWG files or other registered filetypes
- Select files and sub-directories across networks or local drives with one click
- Process files and SAVEAS to different AutoCAD versions or directories
- Night Run for scheduling batches
- Automatic file verification to ensure files are editable before processing
Power User & Customization
- Load and run Lisp routines in batch scripts for custom commands
- Set AutoCAD Startup Switches for templates, profiles, and config files
- Disable QSAVE during batch plotting for faster test runs
- Save/Recall File-Lists, appendable and editable
- Drag and drop file-lists from other applications
- Remove duplicate entries in file queue
- Copy filenames to clipboard in various formats for transmittal documents
- Favorites Folders List for quick access to working directories
Settings & Reliability
- Save all settings (directory, screen position, etc.) on exit
- Live filter for dynamic file list updates
- Copy filenames from Queue for transmittal documents
- File processing counter and Hurricane Watch for tracking
- Uses your AutoCAD installation without interference
- Easy upgrades by overwriting the existing EXE file with a new one
★ Free AutoCAD Reference Library
403 commands and 359 system variables rated for batch-script compatibility, from AutoCAD 2000 through 2026, built and maintained by the Hurricane team.
Built to stay out of your way
- Non-intrusive: runs without changing AutoCAD's settings or getting in its way.
- Plain text files: scripts and file lists are ordinary text files, with no database to manage.
- Easy installation: install it locally, or share one copy across the office network.
- Flexible licensing: license to a user name, a PC, a USB drive, or your whole Windows domain (Enterprise).
- Private: no spyware, adware or monitoring.
Find the drawings that need fixing: Tornado
Hurricane fixes drawings in batch. Tornado DWG Scanner, its sister app, tells you which ones need fixing. It audits a folder of DWGs against your CAD standards (layers, blocks, xrefs, title blocks, purge candidates) and exports the offenders as a file list that loads straight into Hurricane's Queue.
Ready to try Hurricane?
One-time license, no subscription, free updates
No time limit. No credit card required. Compatible with AutoCAD 2026 and all prior versions.
System Requirements
Please click here for System/AutoCAD requirements.