# Setting Up Your Environment

Before you can start using Co-designer inside RhinoArtisan, you must connect your RhinoArtisan installation with the **Connect** platform.\
Connect is the service that enables Co-designer and the AI-powered features included in your RhinoArtisan subscription.

The setup process involves three steps:

1. Creating your Connect account
2. Generating your Connect Key
3. Integrating the Connect Key inside RhinoArtisan

Below you will find the full process in detail.

### 1. Creating your Connect account

1. Visit the Connect platform:\
   <https://connect.rhinoartisan.com/>
2. Create a new account, or log in if you already have one.
3. Your Connect account is required to activate:
   * Co-designer
   * AI agents included in your subscription
   * Future cloud-based services
4. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to generate your **Connect Key**.

### 2. Generating the Connect Key

1. Inside **Connect**, click the **user profile icon** in the upper-right corner.

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2. Select **Profile** from the dropdown menu.

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3. In your profile page, locate the **Connect Key** section.
4. Click to generate a new key.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2FyTyKl1KPStzsdghTqtT8%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=de597ea7-2f06-4027-8cea-1fbdd5cdae52" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. The system will ask you for a **name**. You can choose any name you like - it's only for your own reference. For example: *RhinoArtisan*.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2FfqDWMGdGg40bAwy2ye2b%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e098656e-1e2a-4790-95f6-23c6ed612d4d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

6. Copy the generated code and keep it ready—you will paste it into RhinoArtisan in the next step.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2FbRFBNGxop6jxjwJLjqwB%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=6aa16d7a-442c-4690-ad7b-6bb1e17eb0f0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
This key identifies you and allows Connect to recognise your RhinoArtisan installation.\
Without this key, Co-designer and the AI services cannot function.
{% endhint %}

### 3. Integrating Connect with RhinoArtisan

1. Open **RhinoArtisan**.
2. Go to the **File** menu.
3. Click **Settings** to access plugin options.

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{% hint style="success" %}
**Are you using RhinoArtisan in Rhino?** If you're a Rhino user, simply go to the File menu > Properties, or open it directly from Rhino’s main toolbar.
{% endhint %}

4. In the sidebar, select **Artisan.**

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5. Open the **Integrations** section.  Keep in mind that this is a sub-item inside the RhinoArtisan options.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2F5nxBeZpZ7JdTSUHJ7b0n%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e7c472fe-4b14-4242-a7bc-ff9f30f4e695" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

6. Paste the **Connect API Key** you generated in Connect.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2FqkSE8fy7iM0RixFiOlZt%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c097489d-c9cd-49eb-ae05-f18b2a453431" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

6. Click on **OK** button.

<figure><img src="https://3375153115-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5uhW8FwQpXQj8tHUULMo%2Fuploads%2FunXe2exCuOZ8511zkUiA%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5fd5e4be-89e2-4852-b34f-38dfca6d48f2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once the key is added, RhinoArtisan will automatically connect to the cloud services that power Co-designer and the AI engine. Your environment is now ready. Simply close and reopen RhinoArtisan (or Rhino) to ensure the changes are fully applied.