Solidworks Option File

Do you need the ability to control your Solidworks Network licenses? Then the Options file is the solution.

The options file can control many variables.  Some of the most requested include

• Reserving specific licenses for specific users
• Returning a license when the client is not using Solidworks
• Preventing certain users from using certain licenses
• Stop licenses from being borrowed

For a full list of the available options refer to the online FlexLM Guide

 

To setup the options file first we need to program the server to use one by

1. Open the “SolidNetWork License Manager Server” from the programs list or by searching for it in Windows

2. On the server administration tab under license information click “Modify”

3. Select “Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)” and click “Next”

4. Click the check box to use the “Options file” and select “Edit”

5. You will be prompted to create a new file.  Click “Yes”

6. Enter your requirements.  Our most requested options are

TIMEOUT
Syntax: TIMEOUT feature[:keyword=value] seconds
Example: TIMEOUTALL 3600
This will timeout all licenses after 3600 seconds of inactivity which is 1 hour.

RESERVE
Syntax: RESERVE num_lic feature[:keyword=value] type {name | group_name}
Example: RESERVE 1 cae_cwadvpro USER Bianca Roberts
This will reserve 1 Simulation Premium license for Windows user Bianca Roberts.  A list of Solidworks license names are provided at the end of this blog.

You can even set up groups of people so you don’t need to do this for each user. For example, if you wanted to exclude the drafting team from checking out a Simulation license.  First set up the group

Syntax: GROUP group_name user_list
Example: GROUP Drafting John Paul Ringo

Then exclude them from being able to check out a Simulation license

Syntax: EXCLUDE feature[:keyword=value] type {name | group_name}
Example: EXLUDE cae_cwdesigner GROUP Drafting

Now say you have a group of contractors and we don’t want them to be able to borrow Solidworks licenses.  First set up the group and then use the EXCLUDE_BORROW command.

Syntax: EXCLUDE_BORROW feature[:keyword=value] type \ {name | group_name}
Example: EXCLUDE_BORROW Solidworks GROUP Contractors

You options file would then look like the following

7. After you have added all your required options to the file save and close it.

8. Go back to the activation wizard window and click next until it has reactivated the license.  Now the options file is in use.

Your Solidworks license names can be found in the SolidNetWork log file as seen below

List of common license names

SOLIDWORKS Standard	solidworks
SOLIDWORKS Professional	swofficepro
SOLIDWORKS Premium	swofficepremium
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard	cae_cwstd
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional	cae_cwpro
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium	cae_cwadvpro
SOLIDWORKS Premium with Simulation Professional	swofficepremium_cwpro
SOLIDWORKS Premium with Simulation Premium	swofficepremium_cwadvpro
SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation	cae_cosmosfloworkspe
SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation HVAC Module	cae_cosmosfloworks_hvac
SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Electronic Cooling Module	cae_cosmosfloworks_elec
SOLIDWORKS Sustainability	swsustainability
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Standard	plastics_professional
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Professional	plastics_premium
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium	plastics_advanced
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional CAD Editor	swepdm_cadeditor
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Contributor	swepdm_contributor
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Viewer	swepdm_viewer
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard CAD Editor	swpdmstd_cadeditor
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard Contributor	swpdmstd_contributor
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard Viewer	swpdmstd_viewer
DraftSight Enterprise	draftsightpremium
eDrawings Professional	edrw
SOLIDWORKS Electircal 2D	elec2d
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D	elec3d
SOLIDWORKS Electrical Professional	elecpro
SOLIDWORKS Composer	swcomposer
SOLIDWORKS Inspection Professional	swinspection_pro
SOLIDWORKS Inspection Standard	swinspection_std
SOLIDWORKS MBD	swmbd_std

Bianca Roberts
Applications Engineer
Central Innovation, Melbourne

At Central Innovation, we can provide all – or part – of the solution. Including SOLIDWORKS, ARCHICAD, and many more industry-leading tools.

It’s something we’ve been doing for almost 30 years. Our commitment to customer service is second to none: we help you get the best out of your technology.

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