topic New Software Key System Notice in Installation & update

New Software Key System Notice

Brad Elliott — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:10:41 GMT

Just received an email from Graphisoft saying they are switching my WIBU Key to a Software Key and if I want a hardware key I have to let them know by March 31. Is anyone familiar with this?
There is a lot of information but I am still not clear on something. They discuss transferring a key and releasing keys from a 'Company License Pool'. I have one key. With this process if I want to work at home do I need to have "released" the key from my office computer first? This seems ridiculous. If my key is in a Pool (with plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella drink I'm sure) I would think that all I would have to do would be to grab it from any computer with an internet connection.
If I have to release and claim every time I want to move wouldn't it just be easier to have the key? That seems faster than logging in to a website every time. And if I have forgotten to release the key I'm stuck anyway. Just like with a hardware key.
Also, What happens when I don't have an internet connection? I still have that situation on occasion.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

RandyC — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 22:50:14 GMT

Also, if you loose the key when your computer packs it in you have to apply to Graphisoft for a replacement key. I have had several computers pack it in over the years - sounds like a lot of extra work to me.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:46:33 GMT

I do remember reading that AC18 is the last version to work with Wibukey, which is what I have, but I thought I could just swap it for a Codemeter key, I hope this is the case.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Stress Co_ — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 01:49:12 GMT

More info here:
Software Key FAQ

Re: New Software Key System Notice

aahatimo — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 21:50:54 GMT

Sounds great to me! Pretty tired of seeing the dongle hanging out for potential damage of my Macbook pro and making certain it is with me for out of the office meetings. If I change my workflow to a desktop for office and use macbook for traveling or meetings I need to review documentation and see what I think.
Back when I used Chief Architect they had options to use either software or hardware keys, not sure how this will differ but should be improved since that was 10+ years ago.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Brad Elliott — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:27:09 GMT

The FAQ's are nice but they don't answer my main question. If I'm on a different computer can I log in to the Company License Pool and kick a user out of the pool so I can grab a key. Similar to when ArchiCAD comes up with a warning file that 'SuchandSuch' is in use by user X do you want to take control of the file? So if I forgot to log out a computer and am now many miles away I can still use the key. If I can do that this is an easy change to make.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

arg617 — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:24:00 GMT

will an internet connection always be needed when using the program?

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Eduardo Rolon — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:32:04 GMT

Brad wrote:
The FAQ's are nice but they don't answer my main question. If I'm on a different computer can I log in to the Company License Pool and kick a user out of the pool so I can grab a key. Similar to when ArchiCAD comes up with a warning file that 'SuchandSuch' is in use by user X do you want to take control of the file? So if I forgot to log out a computer and am now many miles away I can still use the key. If I can do that this is an easy change to make.

I have the same concern and for now I am leaning to keep the Hardware Key.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Eduardo Rolon — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 20:23:02 GMT

The deal breaker for not using the software key:

How can I transfer a software key from one computer to another?

The basic idea is that you can return a software key to your ‘Company License Pool’ and then download it again on a different computer. If you have a valid Software Service Agreement (SSA), then you can do this as many times you want. Without SSA, you can do this 5 times a year

I don't know why there is a limit if not in SSA there should not be.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:41:07 GMT

ejrolon wrote:
The deal breaker for not using the software key:

How can I transfer a software key from one computer to another?

The basic idea is that you can return a software key to your ‘Company License Pool’ and then download it again on a different computer. If you have a valid Software Service Agreement (SSA), then you can do this as many times you want. Without SSA, you can do this 5 times a year
I don't know why there is a limit if not in SSA there should not be.

Agree. For example, Abvent's key for Artlantis is via internet activation/return... but has always had no limits, so no problem going back and forth between machines. The only extremely rare issue has been if their servers were down and the return/check-out process could not be done until the servers were back up.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:59:06 GMT

hhhmmm....i've been reading the guides and I have to admit that I'm officialy confused.
We are leaning towards software keys, but what I do not understand is if we will be able to install our licences to our main server and than just open AC in every pc, obtaining licence via LAN or licence server manager (through Internet) OR if we HAVE to download individual licences to our pcs and then uploading them back to the cloud,every time....

Re: New Software Key System Notice

AndorSzoke — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 09:01:41 GMT

Brad wrote:
If my key is in a Pool (with plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella drink I'm sure) I would think that all I would have to do would be to grab it from any computer with an internet connection.
If I have to release and claim every time I want to move wouldn't it just be easier to have the key? That seems faster than logging in to a website every time…If I'm on a different computer can I log in to the Company License Pool and kick a user out of the pool so I can grab a key

Dear Brad,

Please note that you don’t need to do this operation on a website but it is a very simple process that you have to do with License Management Tool an application dedicated for these kind of actions. Answering your other question, unfortunately if a Soft License is already downloaded to a computer but you cannot momentarily access that computer then you cannot get that License to another computer. You can read about the process here:

http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/license-manager-tool/download-a-software-key-from-the-company-license-pool/
http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/license-manager-tool/upload-a-software-key-to-the-company-license-pool/

Please let me know if you have further questions about the process or any other questions.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

AndorSzoke — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 09:18:35 GMT

arg617 wrote:
will an internet connection always be needed when using the program?

Dear arg617,

Internet connection is only needed when uploading or downloading a license from the Pool. Once the Licence is downloaded, you can keep it there and from that moment you don't need internet connection. So ArchiCAD will not require internet connection, it just requires a License.

Re: New Software Key System Notice

AndorSzoke — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:35:20 GMT

Anestis wrote:
what I do not understand is if we will be able to install our licences to our main server and than just open AC in every pc, obtaining licence via LAN or licence server manager (through Internet) OR if we HAVE to download individual licences to our pcs and then uploading them back to the cloud,every time....

Hi Anestis,

Just like in the case of Hardware keys there are two types of Software Keys from this perspective:

1. Software Key with Network Licenses: Once you download the Software key (that contains the Network licenses) from the Pool to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on any computer that is connected to the same network.

2. Single Software Licenses: Once you download this License to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on that particular computer.

You can read more about Software Licenses here:

http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/technotes/licensing/software-key-faq/#What_are_the_similarities_and_differences_between_Hardware_and_Software_Keys

Re: New Software Key System Notice

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 12:05:14 GMT

AndorSzoke wrote:
1. Software Key with Network Licenses: Once you download the Software key (that contains the Network licenses) from the Pool to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on any computer that is connected to the same network.

2. Single Software Licenses: Once you download this License to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on that particular computer.

Thank you for the reply,
so if I understand correctly, in my case we need to have our licences available all the time via server and in some cases we might need to grab an offline licence, so the ideal scenario would be a software key, loaded up with all the licences and then downloaded to our server and then use the borrowing feature to get offline licenses when needed....right?

EDIT : http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/troubleshooting/licensing/codemeter-troubleshooting-guide/software-key-known-issues/
Just read this and in my oppinion this should have been on the top of both the pages that talk about borrowing keys and about software keys. This is not a "known issue" , this is a MAIN difference and should have been mentioned in the
"What are the similarities and differences between Hardware and Software Keys?" part of the FAQ.
So we cannot use the borrow feature until AC19....
Also we cannot share a hardware single key as a server key. So the only option, as I see things, is hardware network key with all the licenses loaded to it.