Rhino 8 doesn't load RhinoArtisan. What can I do?

There are three reasons why Rhino 8 does not load RhinoArtisan:

1. Rhino 8 is not updated:

RhinoArtisan for Rhino 8 requires Rhino 8 SR12 or higher.

Let's check what Rhino version we are using. To do this, we will open Rhino, in the menu Help > Check for Updates...

As shown below, a version is available. You can wait for the update to download, and when it closes, it will ask you to install the new version. Alternatively, you can click Check now... and download it manually.

2. .Net Runtime

In Rhino 8, they have updated the .NET 7 libraries. RhinoArtisan has been updated to run natively. Still, there is the possibility, although we do not recommend it, to switch to the old version to run older plugins.

Using .NET Core allows Rhino and plugins to take advantage of many performance improvements. Read more.

If you have switched in the past, we recommend that you switch back to the new version. Run the SetDotNetRuntime command, and select NetCore.

Even if we have selected .NET Core, the presence of legacy plugins will cause the system to switch automatically to .NET (Old Framework).

As we mentioned earlier, we’ve noticed that legacy plugins cause the system to switch to .NET (Old Framework). This primarily affects users with older versions of Rhino, especially Rhino 7. If you want to use plugins that haven’t been updated, you can continue to do so in Rhino 7. However, we don’t recommend compromising the performance of Rhino and RhinoArtisan by using outdated products.

How to Switch to .NET Core in Rhino 8

How do you disable legacy plugins in Rhino 8?

In the command line, type "Options" or click the corresponding button.

Rhino 8 in Dark Mode

Select "Plugins" from the left menu, and the list of installed plugins will appear. To disable a plugin, simply uncheck the box in the "Enabled" column.

In Rhino, some plugins are installed but not loaded. Those that are not loaded do not affect Rhino's performance. A column will display a "Yes" if the plugin is loaded.

You can check how to change the .NET Runtime here.

3. Clean the Rhino register

Cleaning Rhino's Registry

Some updates or plugins may leave residual entries in Rhino's registry, which can lead to conflicts and unexpected behavior. Over time, these leftover settings might interfere with new versions of the software or cause instability when loading third-party extensions.

By cleaning the registry, you ensure that outdated or conflicting configurations are removed, reducing the risk of compatibility issues. This is particularly useful after uninstalling plugins, updating Rhino, or experiencing unusual performance problems.

How to Clean the Registry

To clean Rhino's registry, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Program Files\RhinoArtisan6

2. Locate the file named "RhinoArtisan Clean Rhino".

3. Double-click on this file to execute it.

4. A command window will open, prompting you to confirm the deletion of the McNeel registry entries.

5. Press the Y key to confirm.

6. A confirmation message will appear, indicating that the registry has been successfully deleted.

Once this process is complete, restart Rhino. It will launch as if it were a fresh installation, clearing any registry issues that might have prevented the RhinoArtisan plugin from loading properly.

4. Send Us Your System Information

If the problem persists after following the steps above, we recommend sending us your Rhino system information so we can analyze your configuration and identify the possible cause of the issue.

To extract this information, follow these steps:

1. Open Rhino and type SystemInfo in the command line.

2. Press Enter, and Rhino will generate a detailed report about your system configuration, including information about your graphics card, OpenGL settings, and other system parameters.

3. Copy or save this information and send it to us via email at [e-mail].

Our team will review your system details and help you find a solution to the issue.

5. Rhino Installation Problem

In some cases, there may be problems installing Rhino, so at this point, we recommend uninstalling and reinstalling it. We will have a clean installation, which will make Rhino run much faster and be able to load plugins.

To uninstall Rhino, please check Rhinoceros documentation. https://wiki.mcneel.com/rhino/uninstalling