IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

How to Switch Currently Installed Autodesk Multi-User Seats to Single-User Seats

By: Jeff Lotan | Sr. Tech Support Specialist

Purpose: Switch your currently installed Autodesk Software over from a Multi-User (a.k.a. Network) installation to a Single-User (a.k.a. Named User) license installation.

There are a few steps to this process, and each one must be done to ensure a smooth transition on the user’s machines:

1. You need to add Users and assign software licenses to each user in the Autodesk account/manage website so they can obtain a license and use the software.

Single-User licensing is much different than even the old Standalone licensing. The Contract Manager, Software Coordinator, Primary Admin or Secondary Admin must add the users into the Autodesk Management portal and then assign the product(s) to the user.

Contract Managers (and Primary/Secondary Admins)
Add users into the User Management section and assign users a license. See the Additional Links section at the end on how to change admin roles. This link will provide detailed instructions on how to invite users and assign users under User Management. https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/06/assign-single-user-products-in-autodesk-account.html

Important Note: All Named-user licenses are activated and tied to the user’s Autodesk Account, which is tied to the user's email address and the password they have selected. You cannot use the same email address for multiple users, so each user must have a unique email address.

2. Users must then verify the product(s) assigned to them are visible in “All Products and Services."

Once the User is assigned, have the user go to https://manage.autodesk.com and log in with their email address and use their existing password. Normally, the user will get an email from Autodesk (if it's a new account), and they will need to complete the account creation steps in the link that Autodesk sends. Once in their account, have them verify they can see the assigned software before trying to run and “sign in”.

3. Change the client machines existing software over from Multi-User/Network to Single-User licenses.

There are two possible Multi-User license workflows on the client machines that need their
licensing changed:

a. You downloaded the individual software components and installed each software package separately. This will be the easiest to change over.

i. Launch each Autodesk program installed that needs to be changed to a Single-User license.

ii. In the upper right corner click the dropdown and select “Manage License”.

iii. Then Click on “Change License Type” (in blue)

 

iiii. Once clicked you should be presented with one of the following screens. Select “Sign In” or Single User to launch the licensing sign in and have them enter their email address and Autodesk Password to re-activate the software as a Named User. Depending on the version you are changing the dialogs may be different, just follow the prompts.

or

b. You installed your software from a Suite download (i.e. Building Design Suite Premium).
You have two options:

i. Uninstall, reboot, and install from a non-suite download. On each machine with the older Suites, you will need to uninstall each base product that is being replaced. Review this blog and look at the bonus section at the end.
ii. Get one machine up and running using uninstall/reinstall and then use our blog to reinstall the products taken off, and reactivate using the sign in process outlined above. This step is REQUIRED since the product keys for the software are fixed in the ProductInformation.pit file and cannot be changed after activation. You must uninstall the products, so you can go back through the activation and put in the correct product key when re-activating, or see next step.

If you do not want to uninstall and reinstall everything on each machine, there is another option.

If you feel the need to update your current installs to the new Subscription, here is the process to follow:

1. Install the Collection Software on a machine that does not have the Suite already installed. Generally, Install the same products you have installed already as part of the Suite.
   a. You MUST install and activate each product and product year you are replacing in the Suite
   b. If you do not install and activate all products and all years, then you will have to uninstall and
   re-install the products you missed
       i. For example, if you miss AutoCAD 2017, and try to run it after you replace the ProductInformation.pit file, it will fail to run and give you an error.
2. Activate the Software with the License from the Collection on that machine
3. Look for ProductInformation.pit file that is created in this folder: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AdLM.
4. Make a copy the ProductInformation.pit file and save it to a location you can access later
   (USB stick or Network Drive)
5. Go to a machine that currently has the old Suite installed and navigate to the folder:
   C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AdLM
6. Rename Old License Machine ProductInformation.pit file (so you have it available to restore easily
   in case new .pit file does not work).
7. Copy the saved ProductInformation.pit file from Step 4 into this directory
8. Open Autodesk Product and follow the activation screen and input the new Serial number
   and Product Key

Please note: the process below will only work for 2018 and newer Suites, any 2016 and older suites will have to be uninstalled and reinstalled, due to the fact that Licensing information was encrypted and stored on the machine at the time of installation. If the suite product key was used to install the applications, the stored key would not allow for a Collections activation. The only solution is to uninstall and reinstall the products.

IMAGINiT Utilities Licensing Error “WRONG HOSTID” and “License Error Code: -4”

IMAGINiT Utilities Licensing Error “WRONG HOSTID” and “License Error Code: -4”

Issue:

You have activated the IMAGINiT Utilities, but receive an error “WRONG HOSTID” and “License Error Code: -4” in the licensing finder dialog:

 

A Licensing issue was detected.

License Error Code: -4

'WRONG HOSTID' error: This means that your license for IMAGINiTRvtUtilities does not match the information for the current machine (standalone licenses are locked to a specific machine). If you feel that you have received this error improperly, please contact technical support at the locations below.

License Error Details:

License File Setting:

Target License File: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\IMAGINiT.RevitUtils.bundle\Contents\Utilities\IMAGINiT.lic

IMAGINiT Technologies Support Center:

  Phone: (800)-808-7645

  International: +1 (402) 451-1212

  E-mail: [email protected]

Your Machine Information:

  HostName: DESKTOP-MyCADComputer

  HostID: 00e881088e99

  OS:       Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.18363.0

  UserID:   User

  .NET CLR: 4.0.30319.42000

  CMDLINE:  "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2020\Revit.exe" /language ENU

  Current Dir: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2020

This error can happen with any of our programs (Utilities).  It can happen with our Network versions too.  To see the problem with the network versions you will have to use the RL Diagnostics command to save the text file to see the error.  To generate that file, please see our blog: https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/03/how-to-obtain-reprise-license-manager-diagnostic-information.html

Causes:

There are three (3) possible reasons for this error.

• The license file was copied to a different computer.
• You have renamed the computer.
• The computer name is over 15 characters.

Solution:

To resolve this error, you will need to determine which of the three (3) is the cause.

• The license file was copied to a different computer. This will not work due to the encoding in the license file.  Use the same Authcode to activate the Utilities on the computer or contact us at [email protected] for assistance, please send us the license file and new computer name.
  
  
• You have renamed the computer. This will invalidate the license file.  You can try deleting the license file and activate again using the same authcode, or you can email the problem with the license file to [email protected] to start a case and we can fix it for you.  You will need to provide the correct computer name.
  
  
• The computer name is over 15 characters. You will have to email the license file and the full computer name to us at [email protected], then we can fix it for you.

If you have a Network License:
If you are using the Network version of our Utilities and receive the error, then the server name or MAC may have changed, and you will need to get a new license file.   Email the problem, new MAC & Server name and the license file to us at [email protected]

 

 

AutoCAD Based Products File Save Process Explained in Detail

During a save here are all the steps that occur.  If any of these are interrupted, the process will fail and will give unusual errors, or cause slow behaviors. 

In this example, the AutoCAD Temporary Drawing Location is set to C:\ACAD Save 

Drawing named Test DWG.dwg is located here: D:\Downloads\Test DWG 

Some of these steps may occur without you ever seeing them (they are nearly instantaneous).

1. Standard QSAVE (occurs regardless of ISAVEPERCENT setting) command is triggered (or SaveAs)
    
2. Drawing save is initiated
   
   
3. Test DWG.DWG in RAM is written out to a .tmp first to the Temporary Drawing Location (briefly – you may not see this step as it’s near instantaneous)
   
   
    
4. Or the last Autosave (sv$ extension), if it’s enabled and has triggered at least once, is removed and renamed as a .tmp and the rest of the save process continues
    
5. Then that .TMP file is moved to the destination location
   
    

4. Test DWG.BAK is renamed to a temp file with no extension 
    
5. Test DWG.DWL & Test DWG.DWL2 are deleted (to allow modification to the Test DWG.dwg)
    
6. Test DWG.DWG renamed to Test DWG.BAK

7. Temp file with no extension is deleted
    
8. The .TMP renamed to Test DWG.DWG
   
    

9. Test DWG.DWL & Test DWG.DWL2 are re-created (to lock the Test DWG.dwg again)
    
10. Test DWG.dwg remains in RAM on the local machine for current session.
     
11. Test DWG.DWL & Test DWG.DWL2 remain as-is (until user closes Test DWG.Ddwg, at which time they are deleted).

AutoCAD Based Products Autosave files appear to be missing

AutoCAD Based Products Autosave files appear to be missing

Issue:

Your Autosave is turned on (and you see it triggering), but when you browse to the location (generally your Windows Profile Temp Folder, unless you have changed it). You may see some .BAK files but may not see the sv$ or ac$ files you are expecting to find.

Causes:

This is normal behavior. When the Autosave triggers, it creates that sv$ file (or ac$ if you changed the default extension), and the next Autosave event will create a new sv$ and rename the old one as BAK. However, when you hit QSAVE (or SaveAs) between the Autosaves, the last sv$ is then removed, and all the editing data from the undo and redo.AC$ files are put together with that sv$ file and that is turned into the DWG saved file. Also, an important thing to be aware of as well, if you close a drawing that has an sv$ and do not save it, that sv$ file is also erased. That's why you have BAK files (so there are multiple Autosaves as BAK files, but the last Autosave (sv$ file) is erased when the drawing is closed)

Solution:

Just be aware that what you expect to see may not be there, and to plan appropriately. I generally like to have my Autosaves not in my temp folder (that way if I have to clear my temp folder, I still have my Autosaves), so I generally set a folder like ACAD Autosave or similar on the root of my C:\ or D:\ drive and point all my autosave files to that location.

One other item:

One other thing to be aware of as well, if AutoCAD encounters an error and prompts you to save the DWG file before closing, be aware that the last sv$ will disappear. I usually tell users to go to the Autosave directory, make a copy of the sv$ file, then allow AutoCAD to save the file (that way if the DWG created is corrupt and unusable you’ve only lost a few minutes of work).

What to Whitelist to Generate an IMAGINiT Utilities license

By:

Issue:
You have the IMAGINiT Utilities and try to activate the standalone or network license and it fails.
You want to know how to whitelist specific URLs or protocols for IMAGINiT Utilities licensing to pass through a firewall or proxy system to generate a license.

Causes:
The most common reason for this is that your firewall is blocking communication with the IMAGINiT servers.

Solution:

You will need to whitelist the following:

• Swservice.rand.com
And
• Ports 443 and 80

Once activated, you can close them back up.

 

Vault “Get” Command Slider Causes Crash After Update 2021.0.1

By: Heath White | SR. MFG Support Specialist

Issue:
After installing Autodesk Vault 2021.0.1 Client Update, using the slider bar with the “Get” command will cause the Vault Client to crash, usually with a CER.

(click to view video)

Causes:
This problem appears to be related to the 2021.0.1 Update for the Vault Client. The issue does not seem to appear in the 2021 RTM or in previous versions.

Solution:
This issue is currently under investigation. Please submit all CER crash reports to assist with the resolution of this issue.

Workaround:

At the time of publishing, the only known fix is to remove the 2021.0.1 Update for Vault Client which returns Vault to the previous behavior and alleviates the crashing issue.

How to create a Support Case on the IMAGINiT Website

By: Heather Volk | IMAGINiT Technologies Technical Support

 

Steps:
1. Sign into account
2. Click on Support Contracts, then Submit A Case

3. Fill in all information that is missing:

4. Once submitted it will give you the case number:

Support Levels:
IMAGINiT has different levels of support to cover all customers. Our response time to cases depends on the level of support. For more information on that please review here: https://www.imaginit.com/support/overview

Error: “Error 1325 “” is not a valid short file name” when installing or launching AutoCAD

By: Ken Williams | Tech Support Specialist

Issue:
You get a 1325 error when installing or opening an Autodesk product:

Causes:
Folder redirection is a common cause of this error. Autodesk products have issues with redirected profile folders and is not supported. Folder redirection will cause installation or startup issues of Autodesk products.

Solution:
We must go into the Windows registry.
1. Go to start – run and type regedit
2. Navigate to the following registry location - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk

3. Add a String Value with the name CurProd. Modify the value to AutoCAD.
4. Add a Dword (32-bit Value) with the name installed. Modify the value to 1.

5. Also navigate to KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.
6. Change any of the registry settings that are pointing to a shared folder to %userprofile%
Before Changes:

After Changes:

7. Try installing or launching AutoCAD again.

AutoCAD Based Products not plotting or fatal error when plotting

AutoCAD Based Products not plotting or fatal error when plotting

Issue:

You updated Windows 10 (or updates were run) and when going to plot to certain devices it either fails to plot or causes a fatal error to occur in your AutoCAD based Software

Causes:

This problem is caused by a specific Microsoft update, namely KB4560960, which causes issues with older PCL5 drivers.  You can confirm the behavior (if the software fatal errors) by checking the Event Viewer => Custom Views => Administrative Events and you will see acad.exe failing with gdi32full.dll

Right mouse click on This PC and select Manage:

Then expand out Event Viewer, then expand out Custom Views, then click on Administrative Events and wait for the list to populate:

I generally sort by Source (by clicking on the heading and look for Application Error that's recent and click on each one until you see an acad.exe failing on gdi32full.dll

Solution:

Currently the fix is to go into Control Panel => Programs and Features.  Then select View Installed Updates and look for KB4560960 and uninstall it, reboot and then retest.  If you have a newer driver for that plotter (that’s PCL6 based), you can try that, but generally this occurs on older models that no longer have any driver updates, so I generally recommend removing the Microsoft Update.

 

Vault Pro Client Add-in for MS Office 365 is continuously becoming disabled in Excel and Word

Issue:

The Vault Pro 2020 Add-in for Microsoft Office 365 apps for Excel and Word are being disabled as they load on a Windows 10 version 1909 workstation. Before version 1909 the add-ins launched normally. Also, the Outlook add-in works normally with version 1909.

Further, Excel cannot be closed after checking in a file into vault, after the add-in has been reloaded.

Causes:

This was tested on a domain that loaded Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint as well as Microsoft Azure Information Protection. The Excel 2016 was running from Office 365.

Solution:

What was found to interfere with the Vault add-in was a Microsoft application called "Microsoft Azure Information Protection" inside Excel's Options.

Microsoft Excel Options (shown on a workstation in the Netherlands)

The confirmed solution was to uninstall "Microsoft Azure Information Protection" that appears in the Program and Features like this:

Once uninstalled, then Excel and Word were able to retain the Autodesk Vault Addin for Office 2016 and also check out, check in and close Excel normally.