4.6 Network licence

Introduction

The cadwork network licence allows multiple users to access the cadwork licence from a central server. This simplifies licence management and allows for more flexible use of resources. Just like with a USB dongle, the cadwork software must be installed on each workstation. However, instead of activating the software with a physical USB dongle, licences are managed via a central licence server. A network licence is especially advantageous for companies and educational institutions that need to manage multiple users and want to optimise the use of available licences.

Types of network licences

There are two types of network licences:

• Floating licence for clients:
  Allows a fixed number of users to access cadwork. The number of simultaneous users is limited to the number of purchased licences. This licence has two operating modes:
  • Manual mode:
    This option is necessary when not all company licences are identical. This means users will have to choose which licence to activate when opening a cadwork file for the first time each day. The maximum number of client workstations is 99.
  • Automatic mode:
    The licence is automatically assigned to the user when opening cadwork. This simplifies licence management for the user, but requires that the activated modules of all licences are identical. The maximum number of client workstations is 99.
• Unlimited network licence:
  Allows an unlimited number of users to access cadwork. This is especially advantageous for educational institutions where many students may need to access the software. The number of client workstations is not limited.
  • Warning:
    This licence is reserved exclusively for educational institutions and training purposes. It is prohibited for production use.

Server requirements

Below is a list of prerequisites for the licence server:

• The floating licence service works on Microsoft Windows^® Server versions from 2016 onwards.
• It is mandatory that the licence server and the client are in the same domain.
  Otherwise, it will not be possible to activate a network licence service for cadwork.
• To query the service, communication is done via NetBios. Therefore, the login must be compatible between the client PC and the server running the services.
• If the service is installed on a company network, users are usually roaming and managed by Active Directory. This works well because there is no need to create user accounts or manage access rights on the machine running the service.
• If you work without Active Directory, ideally the username and password to the server should be the same for all computers so that NetBios grants access. It is possible to create a specific user on all machines.

Installation preparation

First, you will need the files for both the licence service installation and the cadwork installation on the client PCs. We recommend using an offline installer with catalogues. You must choose the correct file according to the branch providing your support and the version you wish to install.

Operations on the licence server

Required files installation

After creating the update folder using an offline installer (Creating the Update folder), you must install the following two modules (the version number, in this example 2025, varies depending on the cadwork version):

• Cadwork_CI_Start_2025_x64.exe
• Cadwork_CI_COM_2025_x64.exe

Licence service configuration

However, you can pre-configure cadwork Start in advance to save time during the intervention. Here is the list of steps to follow:

1. Open ci-start in the Support tab
2. You must fill in at least the following client data (button Edit...):
   • Client number
   • Company name / Educational institution name
   • Country
   • Email address (IT support)
   • Phone number (IT support)
3. Schedule an appointment for the licence service activation.

Operations on the client workstations

Three steps must be performed on the client workstations:

1. Cadwork must be installed on at least one workstation to test the connection to the licence service. You can use the standard procedure described in the Cadwork installation chapter, or one of the methods described in the Cadwork installation for IT specialists chapter.
2. Copy the LICENCE_SRV.TXT or CODE_SRV.TXT file from the server to the cadwork.dir folder on the client workstations.
3. In cadwork start, tab Setup → Menu Licence, you must switch to the Floating Licence type (manual or automatic) and then click Apply.
   For unlimited network licences, the licence type will automatically switch to Network ID to avoid user errors.
4. Now open a 2D and 3D file to check that the connection to the licence service works correctly.

Explanation of the LICENCE_SRV.TXT / CODE_SRV.TXT file

The LICENCE_SRV.TXT or CODE_SRV.TXT file is used to activate the cadwork network licence. Without this file, it will not be possible to select the Floating Licence or Network ID type.
The file content must contain at least the first two lines. The first is the server name and the second is the licence selection type (manual or automatic).

\\SERVER_NAME (or \\Server_IP_Address for VPN)
AUTOMATIC

It is possible to add some variables to force settings. If a variable is not present, the default cadwork value will be used without needing to add it to the file.

List of possible variables in the LICENCE_SRV.TXT / CODE_SRV.TXT file

• CADWORK_EXE:
  • This variable allows you to define the default version of cadwork (software part).
  • It should always be set to C:\Program Files\cadwork.dir on the client workstations.
  • The default value is C:\Program Files\cadwork.dir\EXE_2025.
• CADWORK_CAT:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the user catalogues folder.
  • This folder can be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users.
    If this path is on a server, it must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is C:\Users\Public\Documents\cadwork\cadwork.cat.
• CADWORK_USP:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the user parameters folder (template files, plan export settings, lists, machines, etc.).
  • This folder can be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users.
    If this path is on a server, it must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is C:\Users\Public\Documents\cadwork\userprofil_2025 (for version 2025).
• CADWORK_UPDATE:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the updates folder (download of executables before installation).
  • This folder can be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users.
    If this path is on a server, it must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is C:\Users\Public\Documents\cadwork\update.
• CADWORK_PROJECTS:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the folder where files are created if ci-start is opened by double-clicking.
    This method of file creation is not recommended. It is better to create files from the Windows Explorer using the context menu.
    More details on creating new cadwork files can be found in the Start a new file chapter.
  • This folder can be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users.
    If this path is on a server, it must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is C:\Users\Public\Documents\cadwork\projects.
• CADWORK_NODEDIR:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the licence files folder.
    ONLY VALID FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (Network licence for schools).
  • This folder must be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users. If clients cannot access it, this variable will be useless.
    This path must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is %appdata%\cadwork\node.
• CADWORK_LOGFILE:
  • This variable allows you to define the path to the log files folder. ci_start logs all changes it makes to the Windows registry and hidden files it creates on the system.
  • This folder can be shared on the network and must be accessible in read and write by all users.
    If this path is on a server, it must be in UNC format.
  • The default value is "" (empty value).
• CADWORK_SRV_LOGIN and CADWORK_SRV_PASSWORD:
  These variables are for the case where the server and PCs are not in Active Directory. This allows you to create a "user_cadwork" login on the server and the client PCs will log in to the server with this "user_cadwork" login. The password is encrypted.
• CADWORK_BACKUPAMOUNT:
  • Number of backup files kept before replacing the oldest.
    See the Cadwork Start → Backups chapter for more details.
  • The default value is 3.
• CADWORK_BACKUPDELTATIME:
  • Time interval between save reminders.
    See the Cadwork Start → Backups chapter for more details.
  • The default value is 15 minutes.
• CADWORK_BEEP:
  Sound signal in case of a wrong click in cadwork.
  • NoBeep
    Disables beeps.
  • Windows Default
    Enables beeps with the Windows standard sound in case of a misuse.
  • The default value is NoBeep.
• CADWORK_KUNDEN
  • This variable allows you to define the cadwork client number.
  • It is essential that this variable is filled in with the correct client number so that the cadwork licence can be activated correctly.
    This avoids typing errors during client installation or possible omissions.
• CADWORK_ICACLS
  ICACLS is a Windows function to grant read-write rights to files. Cadwork needs this right especially to modify the cadwork.dir\EXE_2025\2d.x64\qt.conf file if all screens do not have the same resolution.
  Note:
  According to the cadwork PC recommendations, it is not recommended to work with screens of different resolutions and zoom factors.
  • ON
    Enables the ICACLS function. cadwork can change file access rights
  • OFF
    Disables the ICACLS function. cadwork cannot change file access rights
  • The default value is ON.
• AutoQuitCILicence
  • Defines the time in minutes before cadwork automatically closes the network licence manager on the client to free the licence for another user. This is especially useful if a user leaves their workstation without closing the licence manager, for example to go to a meeting.
    As long as a cadwork file is open, the countdown will not start.
  • The default value is 15 minutes.

Example content of LICENCE_SRV.TXT / CODE_SRV.TXT file

\\SERVER_NAME
AUTOMATIC

CADWORK_EXE=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\cadwork.dir\EXE_2025
CADWORK_CAT=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\cadwork.cat
CADWORK_USP=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\userprofil_2025
CADWORK_UPDATE=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\update
CADWORK_PROJECTS=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\Projects
CADWORK_NODEDIR=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\Licence
CADWORK_LOGFILE=\\SERVER_NAME\install\cadwork\Log files
CADWORK_SRV_LOGIN=toto
CADWORK_SRV_PASSWORD=toto
CADWORK_BACKUPAMOUNT=3
CADWORK_BACKUPDELTATIME=15
CADWORK_BEEP=NoBeep
CADWORK_KUNDEN=04.S001.0
CADWORK_ICACLS=ON
AutoQuitCILicence=15

Background settings performed by cadwork

ci_start will look in the cadwork.dir folder for text files and will modify the parameters according to their presence and content.
The Get_ServerName() routine will read these files and then define some global variables to store the server name in Server_Name and the boolean values in NetLicense.Floating and NetLicense.Web.

Licence naming in the licence manager

In the case of a manual type network licence, it is useful to be able to name the licences to know the content without having to analyse each activated option.
To do this, you must create a node_floating.txt text file which must then be placed on all client workstations in the cadwork.dir folder.
To make the task easier, you can create this file on the server and on the clients create a shortcut named node_floating.txt pointing to the file on the server.

The content is simple. It consists of the licence number, followed by a tab and the comment.

The content of the node_floating.txt file is compatible with ANSI, UNICODE, UTF-8.

Example content of node_floating.txt file

01	All modules + OptiPanel STD and PRO + Fusion + V30SP2024 + cwk int
02	Constr Pack + Elem + OptiPanel PRO + Fusion + V30SP2024 + cwk int
03	Constr Pack + Elem + IFC + OptiPanel PRO + Fusion + V30SP2024
04	Constr Pack + Elem + IFC + BMT + OptiPanel STD + V30SP2024
05	Constr Pack + BMT + Fusion
06	Constr Pack + Elem + Beam CNC + Fusion + cwk int
07	Constr Pack + Elem + Panel CNC + cwk int
08	Constr Pack + Elem + Wall prefab
09	Constr Pack + Elem + Beam CNC + Panel CNC
10	Constr Pack + Elem + Beam CNC + Wall prefab
11	Constr Pack + Elem + Stair + Panel CNC + Wall prefab
12	Constr Pack + Elem + Stair + Beam CNC + Panel CNC + Wall prefab
13	Furniture Pack + IFC + OptiPanel PRO
14	Furniture Pack + IFC + BMT
15	Furniture Pack + BMT
16	Furniture Pack + Beam CNC
17	Furniture Pack + Panel CNC
18	Furniture Pack + Wall prefab
19	Furniture Pack + Stair + Beam CNC + Panel CNC
20	Furniture Pack + Stair + Beam CNC + Wall prefab
21	Furniture Pack + Stair + Panel CNC + Wall prefab
22	Furniture Pack + Stair + Beam CNC + Panel CNC + Wall prefab
23	Constr Pack + RoofPro + IFC + BMT
24	Constr Pack + 3d DStand + IFC + BMT
25	Constr Pack + Auto Roof + IFC + BMT
26	Constr Pack + RoofPro + 3d DStand + IFC + BMT
27	Constr Pack + Auto Roof + IFC + BMT - Same as 25
28	Constr Pack + 3d DStand + Auto Roof + IFC + BMT
29	Constr Pack + RoofPro + 3d DStand + Auto Roof + IFC + BMT
30	2d Pack only
31	2d Pack + Stair
32	2d + 3d + IFC

According to the example above, the result at the first cadwork start to choose the licence would look like this:

Network licence manager - Licence selection with the node_floating.txt file

Licence manager settings

By right-clicking (R) on the key icon (licence manager) in the taskbar next to the clock, you can display some settings.

Right-click option on the licence manager.

1 Setup

The setup menu allows you to make some additional settings.

Network licence manager setup menu

Option 1 allows you to show or hide error messages. In case of licence issues, it is important that this option is disabled to better understand the problem.

Option 2 allows you to set the time in minutes before the licence manager closes automatically. This is useful if a user forgets to close the licence manager before leaving their workstation. As long as a cadwork file is open, the countdown will not start.
This option corresponds to the AutoQuitCILicence variable described above.

Option 3 allows you to force the licence manager to refresh the list of available licences, either at the first cadwork start or manually via the Refresh service button.

Option 4 allows you to switch between manual and automatic mode.
This option is only available for clients with the LICENCE_SRV.TXT file.

Option 5 allows you to check the listening port names. If the name is correct, you should see the PC name in the global name. This information is only useful for troubleshooting.

2 Return licence

This option allows you to release the licence in use. This is useful if a user needs to leave their workstation and wants someone else to use the licence.
If no licence is active on the computer in question, this option will be greyed out.

3 Borrow licence

This option allows you to activate a licence. If a licence is already active on the computer in question, this option will be greyed out.

4 View info

Network licence manager → view info with active licence

Point 1:
The Edit labels (customise) button allows you to open the node_floating.txt file in Windows Notepad to modify it. After saving the file, click the 6 Refresh service button to apply the changes.

Point 2:
This point displays the computer name and the licence server name. The licence folder (the CADWORK_NODEDIR variable mentioned above) is shown below.
If a licence is selected in the list at point 9, the modules activated in that licence will be displayed here with a checkbox (checked=active and unchecked=inactive).

Point 3:
The radio button Show licences used by this computer lists all cadwork files open on the computer in question that use the licence.
The window will look like this:

Show licences used by this computer

Point 4:
The radio button Show licences used on the network lists which licences are in use and by which computer.
The window will look like this:

Show licences used on the network

Point 5:
The radio button Show licences available on the server is the core of the licence manager. It lists all licences available on the server, green for available and red for used. If a cadwork USB dongle is connected to the PC, it will also be displayed in this window and can be used as a licence. The view at point 9 will be updated according to the number of available licences.

Point 6:
The Refresh service button forces the licence manager to refresh the list of available licences.

Point 7:
The Borrow licence button allows you to activate a licence. If a licence is already active on the computer in question, this option will be greyed out.

Point 8:
The Return licence button allows you to release the licence in use. This is useful if a user needs to leave their workstation and wants someone else to use the licence.
If no licence is active on the computer in question, this option will be greyed out.

Point 9:
List of licence numbers and the name defined in the node_floating.txt file if it is present in the client's cadwork.dir folder.
The view details which licences are in use (in red) and which are available (in green).

Point 10:
If a licence is in use, the user name and their computer name are displayed here.

Point 11:
The licence expiry date is displayed here. It is important to keep an eye on this date to avoid running out of licence.

Point 12:
This line shows the modules activated in the selected licence (1=active and 0=inactive). As the module name is not displayed, it is difficult to know which module is active or not.
Hence the importance of having an up-to-date node_floating.txt file.

5 Quit all cadwork files

This option will close the cadwork network licence manager. If files are open, a warning message will appear.
It will be possible to:

• Quit all and save
  Cadwork will save all open cadwork files and close them before quitting the licence manager.
• Quit all without saving
  Cadwork will close all open cadwork files without saving them before quitting the licence manager.
• Cancel
  This option allows you to cancel the operation and return to the licence manager.

Force licence closure for IT administrators

If a user has left their workstation without closing the licence manager or while teleworking, an IT administrator can force the licence to close from the licence server.
This is useful if a user urgently needs to use a licence and the user holding the licence is not available.

To do this, you need to restart the Cadwork Licence Server service from the Windows^® services console.
This will force the closure of all active licences. Therefore, all users must save and close their cadwork files before performing this operation.

Download the floating licence