How to extract or remove Custom BMP icons from a CUIX

Issue:

You have a Custom or Enterprise CUIX file, and you have custom button icons in it that the source BMP files have gone missing or you have Custom Button icons that you don't want to use, and want to remove them from the CUIX file.

Causes:
This is because when you save a Custom CUIX (or even save over a generic one with custom icons), they are added into the CUIX file.  If the icons go missing from a support directory, you can generally restore the buttons by changing the Theme from light to dark and vice versa to get the icons back until you close and re-open the software.

Solution:
First thing to do is find the CUIX file that has the Icons in it.
Now here's the steps to follow:
1. Make a copy of that CUIX file somewhere else on your system (I like C:\Temp or C:\Autodesk)

2. Change the Extension of the file from CUIX to ZIP
a. The CUIX file is nothing more than a specialized zip container that has the files needed to show toolbars, menus, etc.
b. NEVER work off the live file, always make a copy and work from the copy, in case you make a mistake

 
3a. Now if you are removing BMP files from the CUIX:
a. Open the new .ZIP in a ZIP editor (like 7zip, WinZip, or even Windows Explorer zip file viewer)
b. Remove the .BMP file located in the root of the file
c. Exit the Editor
d. Rename the ZIP to CUIX
e. Rename the original file to .old, copy the corrected one to that location.
f. Open Autodesk software and confirm the Custom icons no longer show up in the Editor

 
3b. If you are Extracting the BMP to place in the Icons folder (or any other support folder)
a. Extract the files from the zip to a new folder
b. Search for all .BMP
c. Copy them to the Icons folder (or other support folder)
d. Relaunch the Autodesk product and confirm all Icons on the toolbars/ribbon are now showing (no clouds)

About the Author

Ryan Wunderlich

Sr. Technical Support Specialist<br><br>An AutoCAD Certified Professional, Ryan is responsible for taking client cases and assisting with issues with the software - everything from regular glitches to software deployments and whatever else goes wrong. He's proficient in AutoCAD (including customization), VBA, LISP, and Civil 3D.

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