In the current situation, more and more people are working remotely to keep business running as normal. At this unusual time, you might be unsure of how to keep using your CAD programs. Read on to find out how to move licences in popular programs, or how you can connect to the office without moving anything over.
Depending on your software, you may simply be able to download it at home and log in using your email address to gain access. Other programs require you deactivate one computer before moving it to another. Read on for information about the differences between some of these programs.
If you don’t want to deal with moving licences, buying extra licences, or if you know that your temporary computer isn’t powerful enough to work on, jump to this section.
SketchUp
If you sign in to SketchUp using your email address:
You can download and install SketchUp to your temporary computer and sign in as normal. If you have already used all your available activations, you may need to deauthorise unused ones in your Trimble Account.
If you have a serial and authorisation code:
Follow the instructions on the link below, and then add your licence as normal to the new installation: https://support.cadsoftwaredirect.com/portal/kb/articles/removing-my-sketchup-license
Vectorworks
You can remove your serial number from Vectorworks to release it for use on another computer. To do this, follow the instructions found here: https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2020/eng/VW2020_Guide/Start/Adding_and_removing_serial_numbers.htm
V-Ray
You can install V-Ray onto as many computers that you own as you like. Install as normal and sign in with your username and password when prompted. Note that you may need to ensure V-Ray back at the office is closed so your licence is available for use elsewhere.
KeyShot
You can deactivate your KeyShot licence and transfer it to your home computer. To do this, please follow the instructions found here: https://support.cadsoftwaredirect.com/portal/kb/articles/how-do-i-move-my-keyshot-license-to-another-computer
We can also provide a fully featured 30-day trial to help while you work from home. Request a trial.
Rhino
You can use the CloudZoo the access your licence from any computer with an internet connection. To find out how to migrate your licence to the Cloud Zoo, read this article – https://wiki.mcneel.com/zoo/to-cloud-zoo
Also, here are the instructions to convert a standalone Rhino to use the CloudZoo – https://wiki.mcneel.com/rhino/6/change-license
formZ
AutoDesSys have released the following statement:
“We are happy to provide free extra form•Z installations for individuals and companies who need additional capacity to accommodate work from home during these unprecedented times. Please email support@formZ.com with your form•Z serial number and we will add extra installation slots to your form•Z v8.6 or v9.0 license. These extra installations will remain in place until the crisis abates.”
Orca3D
There are a number of options for using Orca3D remotely:
- If you have a network license and can access the computer that hosts your Orca3D license server through a VPN, Orca3D should work normally.
- If you have a network license but cannot access the server via VPN, you can “check out” a roaming license, which is essentially a time-limited standalone license. Instructions for setting this up are on page 21 of the Orca3D Installation Instructions. Note that this is limited to the number of network licenses that you have; if you need more licenses for you and your colleagues, see #5.
- If you are a student or instructor at an institution which has a Lab (network) License and you’re not able to access the license through one of these methods, please contact Orca and they will provide a temporary license to you at no charge.
- If you have a standalone license on your office computer, you can use the same License Key to activate Orca3D on your home computer. The Copyminder system allows installation on multiple computers like this, as long as it does not happen frequently and the license isn’t used on both computers within a certain period of time of one another. Therefore, when you are able to return to your office, you should uninstall Orca3D from your home computer. If the license becomes “locked” because it has been installed too many times, simply contact Orca and they will reset it. If you don’t know your License Key, contact us and we will look it up for you.
- If any of these options aren’t suitable or convenient, or you need more licenses for your staff during this time of working remotely, please contact Orca and they will provide temporary standalone licenses to you at no charge.
If you have had Orca3D installed on your home computer in the past (for example, an evaluation license), you will need to follow these steps for a new installation. Step #2 is important; otherwise you will not be given the opportunity to enter a License Key.
a. Using Control Panel, uninstall Orca3D
b. Delete the folder:c:\ProgramData\BCO\Orca3DV1 for Version 1, or c:\ProgramData\BCO\Orca3DV2 for Version 2
c. Install Orca3D. The installation files are here:
Orca3D Version 2 for Rhino 6
Orca3D Version 1 for Rhino 5
d. Start Rhino; you will be given the opportunity to enter a new License Key. Remember that sometimes the Orca3D license dialog is “hidden” behind the Rhino splash screen; if Rhino seems to be “stuck,” please look for the Orca3D license window behind it (you can use Alt-Tab to cycle through the open windows on your computer).
What if my computer at home isn’t good enough?
If you’re not able to access your software at home due to licensing restrictions, or your home computer doesn’t have the processing power required for your work, it would be time to look into something like TeamViewer.
TeamViewer will allow you to connect to another computer (for example, yours back at the office) over the internet so you have access to all of your software and files. All licensing, processing, rendering, etc. are handled on your main computer, so there’s no need to licence software on your home computer that you’re remotely connecting from.
If you’ve got any questions about working remotely with your CAD Software, you can email us on support@cadsoftwaredirect.com