Troubleshooting

General

mapteksdk.capi.util.CApiDllLoadFailureError

When running scripts with Maptek applications released in 2025, previously functional installations of the mapteksdk package can start failing with the following error:

mapteksdk.capi.util.CApiDllLoadFailureError: Fatal: Cannot load mdf_license.dll

This issue occurs because certain third-party Python packages include incompatible DLLs, which prevents Python from connecting to the application. Updating to mapteksdk 1.9 typically resolves the issue.

Note:  Some versions of the pyarrow package may still cause problems even with mapteksdk 1.9, so if you use it, upgrade to the latest version. Other third-party packages on PyPi may also trigger this error. If the issue persists, update or uninstall any manually installed packages.

Workaround for older versions

If it is impractical to upgrade to maptekdsk 1.9 and you encounter this issue, problematic third-party packages need to be upgraded to a version that does not include the incompatible DLL. Identifying the exact package causing the issue can be difficult, but common ones include:

  • pyproj (versions lower than 3.5.0)

  • pandas (versions lower than 2.1.0)

These packages were installed with some versions of mapteksdk prior to 1.9, and are incompatible with PointStudio 2025 and GeologyCore 2025.

To update these packages in Maptek Workbench:

  1. Open the Workbench preferences.

  2. On the Python tab, click Open Python Shell....

  3. In the terminal window that opens, run the following command, substituting the desired package names:

    pip install --upgrade <package1> <package2>

    For example, to upgrade pyproj and pandas, type:

    pip install --upgrade pyproj pandas

    and press Enter.

  4. If the issue persists, you may need to upgrade other packages. To see a list of installed packages, type:

    pip list

    and press Enter.