How to Install a FiveM CAD System: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Installing a CAD system on your FiveM server does not have to be complicated. CDE CAD is cloud-hosted, which means you do not need to set up databases, web servers, or manage any backend infrastructure. The installation process focuses on two things: getting your community provisioned through the CDE team and installing the in-game FiveM resources that connect your server to the CAD platform. This guide walks you through every step from start to finish.

Before You Begin

CDE CAD setup is not a self-service process. Because the platform is cloud-hosted and each community is individually provisioned, you need to work with the CDE team to get your community created. This ensures proper configuration, security, and support from day one. The process is straightforward and typically completed quickly once you open a ticket.

You will need access to your FiveM server's resource folder and server.cfg file. If you are using a hosting provider, make sure you have FTP or file manager access. You should also have admin permissions in your Discord server so you can invite the CDE CAD bot and configure role syncing.

Installation Steps Overview

Step 1: Join Discord and Get Provisioned

The first step is joining the official CDE CAD Discord server at discord.gg/cdecad. Once you are in the server, open a support ticket to request that your community be set up. The CDE team will create your community on the platform and provide you with a unique Community ID that you will need for the resource configuration. This is a manual provisioning process — it is not automated or self-service — so allow time for the team to respond to your ticket.

While waiting for provisioning, you can invite the CDE CAD Discord bot to your server. The bot invite link is: https://discord.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=1387430302678515793. The bot handles Discord OAuth authentication for the CAD, syncs Discord roles with CAD permissions, and can send notifications to your channels. Make sure you grant the bot the necessary permissions during the invite process.

Step 2: Install the cad-911 Resource

The cad-911 resource enables in-game 911 calls that are sent directly to the CDE CAD dispatch console. When a player types /911 followed by a message, the call is created with automatic location detection based on the nearest postal code. Before installing cad-911, you must first install the nearest-postal dependency. This is a separate resource that provides the postal code data the 911 system uses for location detection.

Download both resources and place them in your FiveM server's resources folder. The folder structure should have nearest-postal and cad-911 as separate resource directories. Make sure nearest-postal is started before cad-911 in your server.cfg, as the 911 resource depends on it for location services.

Step 3: Configure config.lua

Inside the cad-911 resource folder, you will find a config.lua file that needs to be configured with your community's details. There are three key settings you need to update:

Step 4: Install the cde-tablet Resource

The cde-tablet is a separate resource from cad-911 and provides the full in-game tablet interface. Download the cde-tablet resource and place it in your server's resources folder alongside cad-911. This resource renders the entire CDE CAD web interface as an in-game NUI overlay, allowing players to access every CAD module without alt-tabbing out of GTA V.

Once installed, players can open the tablet using either the /tablet or /cad command. The tablet shows the same interface as the web browser version, with access controlled by the player's CAD permissions. No additional configuration beyond adding it to server.cfg is typically required for the tablet resource.

Step 5: Update server.cfg

With all resources in place, you need to add them to your server.cfg file so FiveM loads them on startup. Add the following ensure lines to your server.cfg, making sure nearest-postal is listed before cad-911 since the 911 resource depends on it:

Step 6: Testing Your Installation

Once your server is running with all resources started, connect to your FiveM server and test each component. First, try the /911 command followed by a test message. Check the CDE CAD dispatch console in your browser — the 911 call should appear in the queue with your location automatically detected based on the nearest postal code.

Next, test the tablet by typing /tablet or /cad in the chat. The in-game tablet overlay should appear showing the CDE CAD login screen. Log in with your Discord account and verify that you can access the modules appropriate to your permissions. Try running a name search in the Police MDT, checking the dispatch queue, or registering a test character in the Civilian Portal.

If anything is not working, check the following: verify your Community ID is correct in config.lua, confirm all three resources show as started in the server console, ensure the CDE CAD Discord bot is in your server, and check that your Discord account has the appropriate CAD permissions. If issues persist, open a support ticket in the CDE CAD Discord at discord.gg/cdecad for assistance.