Getting started with Graphisoft cloud licensing

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cloud licensing - introduction and benefits
• License management
• Assigning a license to Graphisoft ID
• License activation in Archicad
• License transfer between computers
• Device deactivation
• Floating licenses

In January 2023, Graphisoft began offering a cloud licensing option for Graphisoft products in selected markets, in addition to the original hardware and software keys accessibility. This article will guide you through the steps needed to be able to manage and use your cloud license from Archicad 27 onward.

Cloud licensing - introduction and benefits

While hardware keys allow you to access licenses as soon as you plug in the USB key, they also have to be physically carried all the time. These physical keys also limit access to a computer’s limited input/output resources. By contrast, software keys free up your outlets and can be accessed any time once they are downloaded. In exchange, their usage requires more knowledge around licensing. In both cases there is the possibility of damage, which heavily disrupts your work as you cannot access your software without a working license key.

Cloud licensing is a convenient option for IT and project managers who need to distribute licenses among many team members while they keep track of usage. They also provide benefits for individuals who work regularly from various locations. This alternative licensing formats has the benefits of both hardware and software keys: they are available from your computer without generating an additional object you need to carry with you, and they are also easy to configure. What’s more, as another added benefit, cloud licensing reduces the possibility of key damage to a minimum, giving you the comfort of knowing your work won’t be disrupted.

Do you want to learn more about the benefits of cloud licensing? Read our detailed article here: Cloud licenses vs key-based licenses – Frequently Asked Questions

License management

Once you have purchased your cloud license you can review and manage it on https://graphisoftid.graphisoft.com. Sign in with your Graphisoft ID where you can manage your personal profile, check your company information, and get information about the licenses that are available to you.

Please note that, regardless of the product in question, you need to assign a license to your Graphisoft ID even if you purchased one on behalf of your account.

Select the Licenses menu to review your cloud licenses.

On the Licenses page, you can select one of the following categories: Cloud licenses, Software keys, Hardware keys, or EDU licenses.

Select the Cloud licenses tab. On this page, you will see your currently available cloud licenses and some basic information, such as usage purpose (e.g. commercial, trial, technology preview...), and whether the licence is floating, portable, or neither of these.

You can access even more information about your cloud license on the Details page that you can access via the "..." icon and Details info tag near the license.

Depending on your subscription, you will get access to the following products and services:

• The Archicad local version,
• BIMcloud Software as a Service,
• BIMx Pro,
• Subscription benefits, such as access to Maxon Redshift, Library Part Maker or PARAM-O. For detailed information please check this documentation.

For more details about the available subscription options in your region, please visit our Graphisoft Store.

To go back to the Licenses page, choose Back to licenses on the top of the page.

Need more licenses? Choose the Home tab from the menu on the left, click on Store and purchase as many additional subscriptions as you need. Your newly purchased licenses will be available within a few minutes on the License Management portal.

Assigning a license to Graphisoft ID

Before you can use your cloud license, you must assign it to a Graphisoft ID account. This can be your own account or any other account which belongs to the company where you are an Administrator or Contract Manager. The license will then be directly assigned to the selected Graphisoft ID account to download and activate the associated products. It can be transferred to anyone in the same company as you at any point. You have probably used similar licenses before with other products, such as Adobe Photoshop or Solibri.  Follow the steps describedin this article to assign a license to an account.

License activation in Archicad

You can activate your cloud license for Archicad by signing in with your Graphisoft ID. Make sure you enter your credentials correctly and have a stable internet connection.

Enter your username and password and sign in. That’s it!

Once you have activated your cloud license, it can be used for an unlimited amount of time as long as you have internet connection. If you need to use Archicad offline, no worries, the license includes 7 days of offline usage. After 7 days you might need to verify your license validity, which requires an internet connection again. 

License transfer between computers

You might want to use Archicad on multiple devices. When you sign in with your Graphisoft ID on the second device, Archicad will prompt you with a notification regarding the license in use.

Release your license and select the Refresh button to transfer your license.

Please note that at this moment, Archicad is still running on the first computer, so a message will appear there to save the project, because the license for that computer is no longer available. So no data loss will occur if you transfer the license in this way, from distance, you can still save unsaved changes, or reactivate the license on the first computer and continue working later.

Device deactivation

You can use your cloud license on only one computer at a time, but thanks to a feature of the cloud license, your license can be released from one computer and activated on another one over the internet.

Visit https://graphisoftid.graphisoft.comand sign in with your Graphisoft ID account. Under the Licenses menu’s Cloud licenses page, you can see the device on which your license is currently being used. Click on the "..." (License details) icon, and chose Release from device to release your license from its current device.

You will be asked to confirm the release.

Select Release license to complete the process. Please note that if Archicad is still running on the first computer when you release the license, a message will prompt you to save your project, because the license for this computer is no longer available. Make sure you save your changes before you switch devices to prevent data loss.

Floating licenses

Do you need more flexibility when distributing licenses in your team? Cloud licenses can be floating which means they can be used on demand without assigning them to specific users.
Learn more abot floating licenses in this article.