Network license finder dialog with 2010/2011 programs or license errors.

If you cannot communicate with the license manager (i.e. you receive an error or the license finder dialog when launching the program), but the license manager shows licenses are available there are a few common things that will cause this to happen.

1) In the programs folder (where the .exe is you run to open the program) there is a licpath.lic file. It could have an incorrect server name. Open it in notepad to verify it has the right server name in it.

2) Incorrect information in the registry. This one is not for the faint of heart. In the Registry editor expand out hklm->software->flexlm license manager and double click the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE key. If the value is incorrect then this can also cause this issue. It should be "@servername" where "servername"= the name of the server that is running the license manager.

Warning! Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer/operating system unusable. Microsoft provides a wealth of critical information that you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Use the Microsoft® Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as well as the system.dat and user.dat files as outlined for your operating system in the Microsoft Knowledge Base and in the related Autodesk solution, http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS66513. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

3) Incorrect information in the Windows Environment variable for ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE in the System variables. It should also be formatted like the registry. @servername

4) This is the new one with 2010 and 2011. There is a file (hidden deep down in the system) that is called CascadeInfo.cas. This file can become corrupted. To replace it, rename the file and launch the program again, it will ask the license manager for a new one and will be created on the fly. On an XP machine look under C:\Documents & Settings\All Users\Autodesk\ADLM.

Warning: Do not delete or rename or open the ProductInformation.pit file.

Those are the four main causes for this issue, however, I've seen others but they're rare.

It's Magic! No, it's the Block Editor.

Have you ever had to change a block and every instance of it in your drawing? The old tried and true way to do this was to explode the block, modify what you needed, purge the block and recreate it. Then the block definition changed, but the blocks in the drawing still looked the same as they did before you updated the block.

There is a better way now. Well, with 2008 and newer anyway. Enter the Block Editor.

1. Select the block and type BEDIT (or double click the block).
2. Click OK on the dialog that comes up after you verify your block is selected.
3. Modify your block, say you want all the objects to be on a different layer. Select all and select another layer from the Layer dropdown list. Or you need to add a line, draw a line.
4. Click the "Close block editor" button.
5. Click Yes to save.

Now the objects are now on a different layer or you've added lines. Note: You have to explode the block to see that it actually changed the objects layer.

Ok, so it is Magic! :)

Note: this does not work when you try to add attributes. I believe BATTMAN can help though.

How to increase your priority at Autodesk

Should I send the error report or not? You can increase your priority at Autodesk by sending the error report.

I talk to people all the time that say they never send the error report anymore because they never receive a response.

While this is correct, you will not receive a response from Autodesk, I encourage everyone to always send those error reports. "Why?" you ask, because Autodesk uses those error reports to fix things in the programs. Send the report every time. The more times it's submitted the higher the priority to getting the issue resolved. If I'm working with corrupt drawings and get kicked out 20 times I send it 20 times. What? You want "proof" that they fix things using the error reporting (a.k.a. CER or Customer Error Reporting). Okay, then go to one of the service packs for the program you run and view the readme. There will be a long list of things fixed due to the CER. Here's the AutoCAD 2010 readme

(http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/autocad_2010_and_autocad_lt_2010_update_2_enu.htm#CERUtility).

Now, that said, sometimes it does pop up with a message that says it's been fixed in a service pack or hotfix that has a link to the update or hotfix. This can be very helpful. Also, I have heard of very rare instances where Autodesk developers/QA contacting the client to help them reproduce the issue so they can fix it.

So, SEND SEND SEND! Always send that CER!

Are you unable to plot immediately after sending a plot job?

When you print/plot and you gain control of AutoCAD again but can't plot again because it says there is a plot job in process, there is a setting that can help.

About the Background processing options for plotting:

If you turn on Background processing for plotting, then you gain control of your AutoCAD based program much quicker and the print/plot job continues to work in the background. However, the trade-off is that it takes longer to plot and you cannot send another print/plot job until it is done.

If you leave Background processing for plotting turned off, it plots quicker. However, you must wait for the entire job to be sent before you can do anything else in the AutoCAD based program again.

Go into Options and select the "Plot and Publish" tab

Either check or un-check the Plotting option under "Background processing options" (see fig. 1)

fig. 1

I recommend leaving it unchecked unless you have a lot of plot jobs to do quickly and you are unable to use the PUBLISH command to batch print/plot your jobs.

Subscription Tutorials: a Great Resource for Customers

Subscription Tutorials: a Great Resource for Customers
The new Subscription Tutorials have been a great resource for helping customers with issues such as understanding how to access their Subscription Benefits, how to manage their contract, and how to set up access for end users.

Tutorials include:

• Signing In to Subscription Center
• Downloading Software
• Downloading Subscription Advantage Packs
• Extending Your License Rights
• Giving Users Access to Benefits
• Managing Subscription Contracts
• Renewing Your Subscription Contract

What is cascade licensing?

This can be a difficult topic and when you include all the different version's of Autodesk programs and each versions little differences it can be very confusing.


In a nutshell: Cascade licensing allows a program to check out/obtain a “feature code” (or license) that is assigned to another program/product.


Now, let’s change our way of thinking. No longer think “license” instead, think “feature” or “feature code”. This is important. When you view your license file you will see all kinds of feature codes.


Let’s start with the basic “How network licensing works”:

1. You install your program as a network version and in doing so it knows what “feature code” it has encoded. We have installed AutoCAD 2011 and the feature code is 85536ACD_2011_0F.



2. The license manager is configured for a license file that has a feature code in it.



3. When you run AutoCAD (feature code: 85536ACD_2011_0F) it will ask the license manager if it can have 1 of feature code 85536ACD_2011_0F. The license manager will check its database and if that feature has a seat available it grants it and the program runs. However, if it doesn’t have any available you receive a message.

How cascading works:
You install your program as a network version and in doing so it knows what "feature code" is has encoded. We now have AutoCAD 2011 (feature code: 85536ACD_2011_0F) and AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite 2011 (feature code: 85623REVITS_2011_0F) installed.

The license manager is configured for a license file that has a feature code in it (most likely many feature codes). We've combined out AutoCAD and AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite licenses/Features together so we have both feature codes available n our license file.

Wehn you run AutoCAD (feature code 85536ACD_2011_0f) it will ask the license manager if it can have 1 of feature 85536ACD_2011_0F. The license manager will check its datbase and finds that feature code is not available, now it ill look for (cascade to) another feature code in the license file. So, now it asks the license manaager for an AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite 2011 feature code (85623REVITS_2011_0F) and if it's available it is granted. Otherwise it continues down the cascade list of feature codes until it obtains a license or gives a message that no licenses are available.

Note: Cascading is available in the Autodesk 2007 programs and newer, 2006 and prior cannot cascade.

Autodesk Support has done a great job in posting Technical Solutions about the cascading and feature list.

• To see the Cascade list for 2011 programs, click here or copy/paste this address: http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS14885918



• To see the Feature list for 2011 programs, click here or copy/pate this address: http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS15224763

You can also search for “cascading” or “feature code” and come up with the other versions lists too.

Again, this is not an easy topic to conquer, especially if you’re new to network licensing. I hope this helps, if not, give us a call in the National Support Center. 800-808-7645. Remember, contract holders are answered first, then the 1 time free support incident callers.

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility is no longer available

Microsoft has pulled the ability to download and use the tool as it had some unintended consequences from time to time:

Per Microsoft: This article previously contained a link to the Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe). If you were directed to this article to solve a problem installing a product other than Microsoft Office, please contact your software manufacturer for installation support on the product.

While the Windows Installer Cleanup utility resolved some installation problems, it sometimes damaged other components installed on the computer. Because of this, the tool has been removed from the Microsoft Download Center. The Fix it Solutions in this article provide the ability to fully remove Office 2003, 2007 and 2010 suites without damaging other Windows components.

As an alternative you can check out the Revo Uninstaller at:

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html.

They have a 'free' version and full version that has a 30 day trial for full use of the product.

To get help on this or other issues call us at 800-808-7645.