On Center Home | MyOnCenter Portal | Start an On-Screen Takeoff Trial | Request a Quick Bid Demo | Contact Us | SALES: 1-866-627-6246
   
 
Learn more about Searching
Looking for help for one of ConstructConnect's Other products? Login


Tools
Table of Contents

Licensing Classic Products Released Before 12/31/2017 using a Network License - OST QB DPC

Views: 2357 Last Updated: 02/07/2023 10:34 am 0 Rating/ Voters
Be sure to rate this article 5 Stars if you find it helpful!

Using Enterprise License Manager (a Networked license...), also called using a Floating License or a Borrowed License, means your company is using a server utility, accessible from any computer within their network, to provide authorization rather than storing licenses on On Center Software's servers.  These Network licenses can be shared by a pool of users.  If you need help activating a stand-alone, 25 character license code, see the Related article "Licensing Classic Products using an Activation Code".  

Note
If you are looking for instructions on activate Enterprise License Manager itself, see the ELM User Guide.

Floating or Borrowing

There are two methods of licensing when using Enterprise License Manager: Floating and Borrowing...

Floating - analogous to going to the library and reading the periodicals - the newspaper is the reader's while they are reading it, when he or she is done, they put it back and another person can read (use) it.  The newspaper (license) remains on the premises at all times.  The program only uses a license when it is running.  When not being used (when the program is closed), the program returns the license to the pool where it can be used by another user.  Using a floating license is explained below.

Borrowing - continuing with the library analogy, borrowing a license is like checking out a book.  For a period of time, the book (license) may leave the library and no one else has access to it.  On the expiration date, whether the user is done with the book (license) or not, it is returned to the pool.  Licenses can always be returned before the expiration date and check it out again, if needed.  Borrowing is discussed in the next article.

Important Notes

The license manager administrator can limit which users are able to pull a license from Enterprise License Manager by using the Reserve function which is documented in the User Guide for Enterprise License Manager.  

The license manager adminstrator can disable the ability to 'borrow' a license.  Also, if you are accessing a Classic product in any virtual environment (such as VMWare, Citrix, Terminal Services, Parallel's, etc.), the option to 'borrow' a license is disabled.

All license manager licenses are validated with On-Center Software upon use - workstations must have Internet access or they will be unable to use a floating license or borrow a license.  Validation is performed over Port 80.  When the license is pulled from the Licensing Server, the fulfillment information is transmitted to On Center's servers for validation.  If the license cannot be validated, it is immediately returned to the license manager.

The screenshots below show On-Screen Takeoff, however activating Digital Production Control and Quick Bid follow the same steps.

Using a Floating License

Open the product and click File > Check Authorization - the Check Authorization dialog opens

Click on the License Manager tab if it is not already selected (when using the product in virtual environment, the "Local" tab is inaccessible)

Type in the name of the server in the Server field, as supplied by your system or network administrator (On Center Software is not able to provide this information to you)

Select the Float a License while Connected to your Network radio button (selected by default)

Click Activate to request a license from the server - if a license is available, the authorization dialog updates indicating all licenses/features available

The Check Authorization dialog box shows the features for which you are licensed in the All Licenses in Use section although the bottom right corner of the application will not update until the Check Authorization dialog box is closed  

  • tko - Takeoff mode license, activates Professional mode
  • dpc - Digital Production Control Foreman license
  • dpm - Digital Production Control Project Manager license
  • est - Quick Bid estimating
  • sro - Services mode, provides access to Project Express and other advanced features
  • srq - Services mode, provides access to eQuotes and Manufacturer database downloads

A confirmation prompt displays

Note
The authorization status in the bottom right corner of the application does not update until the Authorization dialog box is closed.

When the application is closed, the license is automatically returned to the available pool so other users have access to the license.  The application attempts to pull a license automatically the next time it is launched, you do not have to open the Check Authorization dialog box unless your connection to the licensing server fails while you are floating a license.

Please contact your Enterprise License Manager Administrator if the application reports an error when trying to retrieve a license from the Enterprise License Manager.

Returning a Floating license Manually

To return licenses to the pool of available licenses while keeping On-Screen Takeoff open, for example to use the product in PlanViewer mode to review project plans without performing takeoff,

Open the product and click File > Check Authorization - the Check Authorization dialog appears

Click on the License Manager tab if it is not already selected

Click the Return button - this returns all features to the license manager and the program is set to "No License" (PlanViewer) mode

The license is now available for another user to float or borrow

The program will not automatically pull a license from the license pool next time it is started; the user must return to the Check Authorization dialog box and authorize again to use a license

You must be connected to the original network where the license manager is running to return a license.

See the Related article, Troubleshooting Licensing Issues for additional information.

Caution
If you access an "interactive" Bid while unlicensed, you will break the interactive connection.  Please see your estimating software's documentation for instructions on reconnecting.

Using a Borrowed license (borrowing a license)

Borrowing a license allows a user to pull a license from the pool of Networked licenses and then disconnect from the network and remain licensed.  The ability to borrow a license is managed by your network or system administrator - please contact them if you are unable to borrow a license.

Note
If the product is installed in a virtual environment such as Parallels, VMWare, Citrix, or Remote Desktop, the option to Borrow a license is not available.

Open the product and click File > Check Authorization - the Check Authorization dialog opens

Click on the License Manager tab if it is not already selected

Type in the name of the server (or the server's IP address) in the Server field, as supplied by your system or network administrator (On Center Software does not know this information)

Select the Borrow a License for Offsite Use Only radio button - this activates the "Borrow License for" (duration) drop down list

From the "Borrow License for" drop down, select the duration ("Today" expires at midnight of the same day (GMT), "1 day" expires at midnight of the next day)

If the "Borrow a license..." option is not accessible, you may be accessing the product from within a virtualized operating system or your ELM Administrator may not have enabled borrowing.  Only Floating licenses are permitted in a virtualized environment.  Also, if you have already 'floated' a license, you will need to return that license before you can 'borrow' a license.

Click Activate to request a license from the pool - notice that each feature for which On-Screen Takeoff is able to successfully retrieve a license is listed along with the date it expires:

The Check Authorization dialog box shows the features for which you are licensed in the All Licenses in Use section although the bottom right corner of the application will not update until the Check Authorization dialog box is closed

  • tko - Takeoff mode license, activates Professional mode
  • dpc - Digital Production Control Foreman license
  • dpm - Digital Production Control Project Manager license
  • est - Quick Bid estimating
  • sro - Services mode, provides access to Project Express and other advanced features
  • srq - Services mode, provides access to eQuotes and Manufacturer database downloads

A confirmation prompt displays

Note
The authorization status in the bottom right corner of the application does not update until the Authorization dialog box is closed.

When the application is closed, the license is retained for the duration specified and is not available to other users.  On the expiration date, whether or not the user is connected to the network, the license is revoked from the machine and added back into the pool of available licenses.

Please contact your Enterprise License Manager Administrator if the application reports an error when trying to borrow a license from the Enterprise License Manager.

Returning a Borrowed License Before It Expires

A borrowed license can be returned to the license manager any time the computer is connected to the network where Enterprise License Manager is running.   If not manually returned, the license simply expires after the interval selected and is then available for use by other users.

Open the product and click File > Check Authorization - the Check Authorization dialog appears

Click on the License Manager tab if it is not already selected

Click the Return button - this returns all features to the license manager and On-Screen Takeoff is set to "No License" (PlanViewer) mode

The license is now available for another user to float or borrow

The program will not automatically pull a license from the license pool next time it is started; the user must return to the Check Authorization dialog box and authorize again in order to use a license

Warning
If a user borrows a license for an extended period (maximum 30 days) and then loses or damages the computer on which the license was borrowed or the computer's hard drive fails, or the user's Windows profile is deleted or unavailable, the borrowed license is not available until it expires (based on the duration selected when borrowed).  There is no way to revoke a borrowed license - On Center Software cannot retrieve or restore that license and encourages companies to instruct their users to borrow licenses for the shortest duration needed.

See the Related article, License Authorization Issues for additional information.



Product documentation (user guides) describes functionality in the latest version of each major release and may not match the functionality in the version you are using. Please check the Product Information and Downloads pages by clicking one of the product buttons above.

Something Wrong with this Article? Let us Know! Copyright 2023 - On Center Software, Inc. by ConstructConnect - All Rights Reserved.