IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

NEW Home for the IMAGINiT Support Blog

Our team enjoys providing tips and tricks, beyond what you read here on the blog. Check out our new home on the IMAGINiT Technologies Resource Center.

There you'll find many of our older posts, as well as on-demand webcasts, video tips, ideas for future improvement, and more. 

Content from our amazing technical team will continue! We hope you’ll join us: https://resources.imaginit.com/support-blog.

IMAGINiT Utilities – How to point a network install to the license server

By: Ken Williams | Tech Support Specialist

Issue:
You install IMAGINiT Utilities on users’ machines and you want to make it a Network and point to the license server easily without opening the program.

Solution:
1. Create a file called IMAGINiTLicense.txt
2. Open IMAGINiTLicense.txt file in Notepad and edit to contain one line.
3. Inside the IMAGINiTLicense.txt file it should say 27051@MyServer
4. MyServer in line 3 is the name of your IMAGINiT Utilities reprise license server.
5. Copy the IMAGINiTLicense.txt file to C:\ProgramData\IMAGINiTTechnologies on as many machines as needed.
6. Now when the IMAGINiT Utilities are open for the first time, it should be set to network and be pointing to the license server.

When connecting to Vault, "could not find the Data Management Services on" error appears and standard troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue.

By: Heath White | SR. MFG Support Specialist

Issue:

The "could not find the Data Management Services on" is a relatively common error that can affect all levels/versions of Vault.  There are multiple articles regarding this error and the steps you can take to resolve it, however, there may be times when the standard troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue.

Reference: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/vault-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/could-not-find-the-Data-Management-Services-on.html

The case that brought this issue up was in a replicated environment with the subscriber returning the error shown above when users attempted to access the subscriber. 

After confirming that ADMS was accessible, IIS was running, SQL Agent was running, etc., no other obvious issues presented.  The only indication on the server that there was anything wrong, was provided by the Server Diagnostic Tool.  This tool indicated the following error:

"ASPX file failed to run at URL: http://localhost:80/TestASP/TestASPNet.aspx"

The standard troubleshooting steps to resolve that error did not correct the problem, nor did the additional steps indicated in the following article:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/vault-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-ASPX-file-failed-to-run-at-URL-http-localhost-80-TestASP-TestASPNet-aspx-during-Vault-Server-installation-pre-checks.html

Solution:

The steps required to resolve this issue are as follows:

1. Bring up the IIS Manager

2. Right Click on each of the App Pools indicated above and choose “Advanced Settings”, as shown below

3. For each Application Pool change the “Load User Profile” setting to “True” if it is not already set

These steps corrected the issue in this situation when no other steps provided a resolution.  I hope this gives you one more troubleshooting tool when working with Vault and network communications.

Special thanks to Josh Ferrell for bringing this to our attention along with the resolution.

How to Extract the MSI file from the IMAGINiT Utilities for Deployment

By: Jeff Arbogast , CSV | Solution Center Team Lead

Issue:
You need to use an MSI file for a Deployment of IMAGINiT Utilities.

Causes:
When you receive you IMAGINiT Utilities, you only have an exe file.

Solution:

1. In windows 10 right click on the start button and select “run”
2. Type “cmd” and select “OK” (This will open the Windows command line).
3. Navigate to the folder you have the Utilities exe located in (You will need to extract the zip file first)
4. Once in the folder with the exe type this in the command line. (This is using the Civil 3D Utilities as an example)
   imaginitutilscivil3d2021.exe /s /x /b"c:\IMAGINiT" /v"/qn"
5. Select the <enter> key on the keyboard and your msi should be placed in the folder you specify.

Notes:
• c:\IMAGINiT this is the folder where the msi will be placed.

• Do not perform this on a system with the Utility installed because this could cause the utility to uninstall and this may not be desired.

IMAGINiT Utilities Reprise License Manager Network error -17

Issue:
You receive an error trying to access a network version of the IMAGINiT Technologies Utilities.

The licensing finder error window will show something like this:
--------------------------------------------
Licensing issue was detected.
License Error Code: -17
Additional information may be available in the RepriseLM End-User Guide.

License Error Details:
License File Setting: 27051@myservername

Target License File: C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\IMAGINiTUtilsCivil3D2020.bundle\Contents\IMAGINiT.lic

IMAGINiT Technologies Support Center:
Phone: (800)-808-7645
International: +1 (402) 451-1212
E-mail: [email protected]

Your Machine Information:
HostName: 55555
HostID: e45455555555
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.18362.0
UserID: username
.NET CLR: 4.0.30319.42000
CMDLINE: "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\acad.exe" /ld "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\AecBase.dbx" /p "QK_2020" /product "C3D" /language "en-US"
Current Dir: C:\Users\username\Documents

--------------------------------------------

Note: some personal information was stripped out of the above, your error information will look different, but similar.

Common Causes:

This is a basic error meaning the program is unable to communicate with the license manager.

The RepriseLM End-User Guide says:

• The service isn't running.
• No licenses are available, or the license for your version is not in the license file.
• Firewall/Anti-virus blocking the communication.
• Slow network or VPN connection.
• Expired license

Possible Solution:

There are several possible resolutions to this problem.

• Verify the service is running. This blog shows you how to setup the license manager.
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2014/09/imaginit-utilities-are-using-a-new-network-license-manager-reprise.html

• I've installed the Reprise License Manager but how do I access it?
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2014/12/ive-installed-the-reprise-license-manager-but-how-do-i-access-it.html

• Verify licenses are licenses available.
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2014/12/reprise-lm-how-to-find-if-you-have-licenses-available.html

• To verify if it is an Expired License.
Open the license file using notepad or notepad++ and look for the lines that start with LICENSE, does it show permanent OR does it have a date? If it has a date, then that is the day the license expires, and you will need a new one.

Examples of partial license files:
HOST ServerName 005556668800 27051
ISV rand
LICENSE rand imaginitc3dutilities 2020 permanent 50 max_roam=14

or
LICENSE rand imaginitrvtutilities 2020 25-jul-2020 uncounted

If you are on subscription with us, then you can generate a new Authcode by going to www.imaginit.com/utilities-request. Remove the expired license then activate the new license. You should receive an email within minutes of generating the Authcode. If you don’t have it in your inbox within 30 minutes, please check your Junk/Spam folder and if you still don’t have it then email us for assistance at [email protected].

If you are not on the Autodesk subscription through IMAGINiT Technologies then it may be a trial version and you’ll need to purchase the Utilities. Please email [email protected] for assistance.

If you have purchased and are having problems after your trial period, then you’ll need to edit the license file and remove the expired license.

You can add the new license in using this blog:
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2016/01/how-to-add-additional-licenses-to-the-reprise-license-manager.html

• Hardcode another port for RAND.exe and put it in the firewall inbound exceptions.
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/03/how-to-hardcode-the-imaginit-reprise-license-manager-dynamic-port.html

• Insert a firewall exception on the server.
Please consult your servers/computers/firewall software/hardware to help open up/Allow the following Inbound TCP ports: 5053, 5054, 27051 and the port you hardcoded using the above blog.

• Slow connection to the server or on VPN.

This should help lengthen the amount of time the Utilities wait until they give up waiting to obtain a network license.

Set the timeout variable(s) on the client machine in the Windows Environment variables under SYSTEM Variables.

RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT
RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT sets the application timeout for receipt of messages from the license
server. If RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT is set, the read timeout will be set to the value of this
environment variable. The default is 5 seconds, which should be sufficient in most, if not all,
situations. (The default was 3 seconds prior to RLM v9.3)

Note that RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT is specified in milliseconds, so for a 7 second timeout, set
RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT to 7000.

RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT

RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT sets the application timeout for a connection to an individual
license server. If RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT is set, the connection timeout will be set to the
value of this environment variable. The minimum connection timeout is 5 seconds, and the default
is 10 seconds. If RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT is set to a negative value, the connect timeout will
be the absolute value of RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT, and if any particular server connection
times out, no further attempts will be made to that server again. If RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT
is set to a positive value, a connection will be attempted to the server even if it timed out on the
last attempt. This is the default behavior in RLM.

RLM_CONNECT_TIMEOUT is specified in seconds.

Set one or both, I’d use the RLM_COMM_TIMEOUT and set it to 8000 first. If it works, then drop it down to 7000, keep lowering the value until you find it doesn’t work then use the last good value.

If those do not work, then we will need more information. Please email the following information to [email protected]:

From the license manager machine:
1) A copy of the license file being used.

2) Generate a diagnostic file, see this blog:
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2020/03/how-to-obtain-reprise-license-manager-diagnostic-information.html

1) A copy/image of the server status information per this blog:
Reprise LM how to find if you have licenses available.
https://blogs.rand.com/support/2014/12/reprise-lm-how-to-find-if-you-have-licenses-available.html

From the client machine trying to run our Utilities:
1) A copy of the C:\ProgramData\IMAGINiTTechnologies\IMAGINiTLicense.txt file.

2) The entire contents of the error window similar to what you see under the “ISSUE” heading at the top.

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]

 

 

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.

 

In the IMAGINiT Vault Change Summary Utility, can it detect deleted files?

New in the 2020 edition of the IMAGINiT Utilities for Vault Server, the new Vault Change Summary utility offers several novel features to notify you if there are changes to files in Vault.

From the Help file:

"The Vault Change Summary tool is intended to be setup to run as a scheduled task, sending out a summary email to designated users about the files that have been created/checked in within a given time period."

A recent Vault 2020 customer wanted to know if the new Vault Change Summaries can detect a deleted file.

Currently, detecting deleted files in Vault is not a supported feature.

Note: A new feature of Vault 2021 is a method to track files that have been deleted or downloaded by checking 'Enable to view log records for:

• Downloaded Files
• Deleted Files

These options are unchecked by default in the ADMS Console under Tools > Administration > Advanced Settings > Settings button, under Log File Configuration.

The results are listed under the new Audit Logs entry in the ADMS Console under Management.

 

Help file for IMAGINiT Utilities for Vault Client

Occasionally we get asked about locating the documentation and help files for our IMAGINiT Utilities for Vault Client.

The Help is delivered as a locally installed binary file with the Microsoft Compiled HTML Help .chm extension. It contains a set of HTML files, a hyperlinked table of contents, and an index file.

By default, the compiled Help file is located on the Vault client workstation here:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Vault 2020\Extensions\IMAGINiT.VaultClientUtils\IMAGINiT_Utilities_for_Vault_Client.chm

To access help, though, you don't need to locate that file to open it directly, although you can.

But, if you are in the Vault Client, on a workstation, open one of the utilities under Tools/IMAGINiT Utilities and pick one, such as 'Template Folder:Admin'.

In that utility, click the Help button and help for that utility is shown. On the left side, you can also access Help for the other client utilities.

Note: For reference, here is a listing of the utilities included for Vault Client.

NEW in Utilities for Vault Client 2020:

Automated STEP File Creation: Create STEP files on-demand or automatically tie them to a lifecycle transition.

Update Folder from Template: Easily update your project templates to match a new set of folders, access control lists, and more.

IMAGINiT Utility Admin: Allows administrators to choose which utilities are shown and made available to users.

Other Tools Include:

Link Generator: Retrieve URL links to the Vault Thin Client for selected files or items, making it easy to send information to others.

Auto-Update Folder Properties to File Properties: Quickly synchronize properties applied at the folder level to corresponding properties at the file level.

Create Local Folders: Create folders in the Vault working folder hierarchy to match the Vault folders.

Visual Lifecycle Tab: Provide a visual description of the current file’s lifecycle definition, including its current state as well as the available transitions to other states.

Standard Folders: Enables the administrator to configure folders of standards that are updated whenever someone logs into Vault. Provides support for Administrative-only templates (when creating folders from templates) and for forcing a get-latest on single folders.

Lifecycle Change Notifier*: Provides an email notification when your project has lifecycle state changes and allows support for reporting properties in the Lifecycle Notification setup.

Create Folder from Template: Quickly and easily set up complex project folder structures with the click of a button. No more manually creating directories, sub-folders or clunky work-a-rounds. Setup multiple templates per your project and/or office standards and make use of this time saver.

Extract Bill of Materials (BOM): Create a BOM within Vault, based on your CAD data and export to Excel or CSV.

Create PDF/DWG/DXF: Generate PDFs from Inventor IDW and DWG files at the press of a button using the Job Processor. The PDFs can be stored in the Vault or published to an external folder. If you require additional automation, Utilities for Vault Client can also auto-generate jobs based on key lifecycle events (for example, releasing a file). PDFs can be created either on-demand or automatically as product lifecycles change. Includes new job types for making DWG and DXF files from IDW files and provides support for publishing PDFs on lifecycle changes outside of the Vault.

Batch Checkout of Files**: Simple method of checking out multiple files at once.

IMAGINiT Utilities for Vault Client is free to clients who have an annual Autodesk product subscription through IMAGINiT. Ask your representative for additional details.

* This utility only available in Utilities for Vault Client 2015 - 2020.

** This utility only available in Utilities for Vault Client 2014 - 2020.

 

Note: Click the link to request access to the IMAGINiT Utilities for Vault Client.

 

Civil 3D IMAGINiT Utilities 2018 Legacy Commands Do Not Function

By: Jeff Arbogast, CSV,  Solution Center Team Lead

Issue:
Civil 3D IMAGINiT Utilities 2018 Legacy Commands do not function. When attempting to use the legacy commands an "error unknown" command comes up in the command line.

Causes:
This is a known issue and an update is required to get this functionality back

Solution:
- Launch Civil 3D 2018
- Go to the "IMAGINiT" tab in the Ribbon
- Select the "About" button
- Once the About Dialog Box opens select "Check for Updates"

Let the utility update the Utility after the update the legacy commands should work as intended.