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How to: Enlarge and fix unreadable palettes when using a 4K monitor

Modified: 16 Jul 2026 Stabicad
Not version-specific
Stabicad
Context: 4K monitor resolution issues When working with a 4K monitor, Windows scaling settings might not be correctly adopted by your CAD software. As a result, the Stabicad palettes (menus) are displayed extremely small and almost unreadable. The solution depends on your Stabicad version.
Automatically resolved in Stabicad 26.06 and newer Are you working with Stabicad 26.06 or a newer version? Then a manual solution is no longer necessary. In these versions, Stabicad automatically detects if you are using a 4K monitor and scales the Palette Center (including text and symbols) directly to the correct size as soon as you start AutoCAD or Revit. You no longer need to download manifest files or make registry changes for this.
Are you using a version OLDER than 26.06? Then follow the steps below:
 
Phase A: Adding Manifest files to the registry
  1. Download and extract the "4k Stabicad & Icad" ZIP file (this can be found as an attachment to this article on the support portal).
  2. Double-click the Prefer External Manifest.reg file to add it to the Windows registry.
  3. Choose Yes when the Windows warning dialog appears.
  4. Log out of your Windows account completely and log back in.
  5. Copy the _Stabibase.exe.manifest file and paste it into the \Bin folder of your Stabicad installation (e.g., C:\Program Files\Trimble\Stabicad\Bin).
Phase B: Adding platform-specific files Depending on the drawing platform you use, you must place and/or rename one additional file:
  • For CAD-platform users: Add the Icad.exe.manifest file to the CAD-platform folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Trimble\Stabicad\CAD-platform).
  • For AutoCAD users: Rename the Icad.exe.manifest file to Acad.exe.manifest. Add this renamed file to your AutoCAD folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx).
  • For Revit users: Rename the Icad.exe.manifest file to Revit.exe.manifest. Add this renamed file to your Revit folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 20xx).
Phase C: Disabling Compatibility (High DPI) settings If the steps above still do not provide the desired readability, Windows might be forcing incorrect compatibility settings. Make sure these are disabled:
  1. Right-click the Stabicad shortcut on your desktop and select Properties. 

 

  1. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  2. At the bottom, click the Change high DPI settings button.
  3. A new window will open ("High DPI settings for _Stabibase.exe").
  4. Look at the bottom under the High DPI scaling override section. Ensure that the checkbox for Override high DPI scaling behavior is UNCHECKED (disabled)! 

 

  1. Click OK and then Apply. Restart Stabicad.
(Disclaimer: Trimble is not liable for any consequences arising from the use of the solutions and attached registry files described above).
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