Complete guide for Single-user licensing

1. Overview of licensing options

1.1. License levels

There are 5 license levels for BricsCAD:

  • BricsCAD Lite
  • BricsCAD Pro
  • BricsCAD BIM
  • BricsCAD Mechanical
  • BricsCAD Ultimate

To see a detailed comparison for each license level go to Compare BricsCAD product levels.

1.2. License types

There are 2 license types for BricsCAD:

  • Perpetual license.
  • Subscription license.

Perpetual license

When you purchase a perpetual license, you own the software. BricsCAD editions run on Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux.

If you want to keep your software up to date, there are two options:

  • The BricsCAD Maintenance that includes automatic upgrades and support.
  • Purchasing upgrades at your own discretion.

Subscription license

When you choose the subscription option, you have access to the latest version of BricsCAD for 1 year. It includes Priority Support and access to all new versions that are released during the time your subscription is active.

2. Installing BricsCAD

Navigate to Download BricsCAD and download the installer.

2.1. Interactive installation

Steps for Interactive installation

  1. Double click the installer file.
  2. Click Next.
  3. Select the checkbox to accept the License Agreement.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • Accept the default installation folder.
    • Click the Change... button and select an installation folder.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Click Install to start the installation.
  8. Choose whether to add a shortcut on the desktop and/or to display the release notes when the installation process has finished.
  9. Click Next.
  10. Click Finish to finish the installation process.

2.2. Silent installation

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrator rights, change the directory (cd) to the folder containing the BricsCAD MSI installer and run msiexec /i BricsCAD-V26.1.05-1-en_US(x64).msi /qn /norestart to perform a silent installation without user interaction or automatic restart.

More options

  • ADDDESKTOPSHORTCUT="" suppresses the addition of a desktop shortcut.
  • SHOWRELEASENOTES="" suppresses the display of the Release Notes when the installation completes.
  • APPLICATIONFOLDER="your_app_folder" installs BricsCAD in a custom folder.
  • BRXLICENSEDESTFILE="path_to_lic_file" specifies a folder for the license file if any of the properties BRXLICENSEKEY, BRXLICENSEFILE or BRXLICENSESERVER are defined.

    The default folder is: C:\ProgramData\Bricsys.

  • BRXLICENSEKEY="your_license_key" activates the license and store it in the folder specified by BRXLICENSEDESTFILE.
  • BRXLICENSEFILE="your_license_file" copies the license file to the folder specified by BRXLICENSEDESTFILE.
  • BRXLICENSESERVER="host", or BRXLICENSESERVER="port@host" (*) creates a license file in the folder specified by BRXLICENSEDESTFILE, containing the server host specification.

    (*) If your license server is using a different port than default port 5053.

  • REBOOT=ReallySuppress suppresses a restart after the installation is complete.
  • (On 32-BIT only)INSTALLVBA="0" or INSTALLVBA="" does not install VBA.
    Note: The 32-BIT version is only available for BricsCAD V20 and older.

Examples of command prompts

  • To perform a silent installation while suppressing the creation of a desktop shortcut and the display of Release Notes:
    msiexec /i "BricsCAD-Vxx.x.xx-x-en_US(x64).msi" /qn ADDDESKTOPSHORTCUT="" SHOWRELEASENOTES=""
  • To execute a silent installation and activate the license using the provided license key:
    msiexec /i "BricsCAD-Vxx.x.xx-x-en_US(x64).msi" /qn BRXLICENSEDESTFILE=
"C:\ProgramData\Bricsys\BricsCAD.lic" BRXLICENSEKEY="****-****-****-****-****"

    The license file, BricsCAD.lic, is generated at the specified location, C:\ProgramData\Bricsys, ensuring that all BricsCAD versions automatically find it.

  • To create the license file containing the server host specification in the assigned folder, C:\ProgramData\Bricsys, ensuring that all BricsCAD versions automatically find it:
    msiexec /i "BricsCAD-Vxx.x.xx-x-en_US(x64).msi" /qn BRXLICENSESERVER="port@host" 
BRXLICENSEDESTFILE="C:\ProgramData\bricsys\BricsCAD.lic"

3. Trial mode

BricsCAD can run in trial mode, fully functional, for 30 days as a BricsCAD Ultimate license. After this period, you need to activate a valid commercial license.

The SETLICENSELEVEL command allows you to select a lower license level.

Note: The BricsCAD trial license activation requires an internet connection.

If no license is found when you open a new major version of BricsCAD, the BricsCAD dialog box opens. Click the Activate trial button to activate the trial license over the internet.

4. Working with Single-user licenses

4.1. Activate

Important:
  • We strongly recommend activating BricsCAD online. For online activated licenses, deactivation and reactivation are unlimited.
  • When activating offline:
    • The license locks on the computer and Operating System, and the deactivation is not possible.
    • BricsCAD cannot automatically update the license.

Steps for Online activation

  1. Launch BricsCAD.
    Note: When your trial period has expired, click the Activate license button in the BricsCAD Launcher dialog box and proceed to step 5.
  2. Launch the LICENSEMANAGER command to open the Bricsys License Manager dialog box.
  3. Click the Manage License button to open the License Manager > Licensing Information dialog box.
  4. Click the Modify button to open the License Manager > Activate BricsCAD dialog box.
  5. Retrieve your key from the My Licenses section in your account (see also the Where can I find my licenses? article).
  6. Paste your license key in the License Key field.
  7. Click the OK button to activate the license.

Steps for Offline/manual activation

  1. Launch BricsCAD.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If you start BricsCAD for the first time, click Activate license in the BricsCAD dialog box.
    • If you replace or upgrade an existing license, launch the LICENSEMANAGER command, click Manage License and click Modify....
  3. Click Activate manually... in the License Manager > Activate BricsCAD dialog box.

    The License Manager > Manual Activation dialog box opens.

  4. Copy the full content of the Computer Hostid(1) field and use it to generate the license file.
    Note: To generate the license file:
    • Log in to the Bricsys website with a computer connected to internet.
    • Click your name in the upper right corner and select Manage licenses from the menu.

      Make sure you log in with the Bricsys account of your company which contains the license. Contact your Bricsys account manager if needed.

    • Click the pencil icon (). The License details page displays.
    • Click Manual activation.
    • In the Host ID field, paste the host ID of the computer you installed BricsCAD on.
    • Click the Activate button.

      A license file is generated and available for download.

    • Click the Download License File button.

      The license file BricsCADVxx.lic is downloaded to your default download folder.

  5. In the License Manager > Manual Activation dialog box specify the downloaded license file path. Click the browse button to open the Select BricsCAD license dialog box, select the LIC file and click Open.
  6. Click the Activate button to activate the license offline.

4.2. Upgrading your license or extending your subscription

Upgrading your license or extending your subscription requires an internet connection.

Note: BricsCAD license upgrades no longer generate new license keys. Your current license key remains valid for future upgrades.

Upgrading BricsCAD version

If your license has an active maintenance plan or you have purchased a version upgrade, BricsCAD automatically updates your license to the latest version. Install and open the new version of BricsCAD.

Upgrading BricsCAD level

If you have purchased a level upgrade, reactivate your license key following the next steps:

  1. Launch BricsCAD.
  2. Launch the LICENSEMANAGER command to open the Bricsys License Manager dialog box.
  3. Click the Manage License button to open the License Manager > Licensing Information dialog box.
  4. Click the Modify button to open the License Manager > Activate BricsCAD dialog box.
    Note: Your key is already pre-filled in the License Key field.
  5. Click the OK button to reactivate the license.

Extending your subscription

If you have purchased an extension for your subscription, BricsCAD automatically updates the expiration date after your initial subscription expires.

4.3. Deactivate a BricsCAD license

When to deactivate

Make sure you deactivate a license before:

  • Migrating a license to another computer.
  • Permanently removing BricsCAD from a computer.
  • Installing a new hard disk.
  • Restructuring the disk partitions.
  • Upgrading the operating system.

Steps to deactivate a license

  1. Launch BricsCAD.
  2. Launch the LICENSEMANAGER command to open the Bricsys License Manager dialog box.
  3. Click the Manage License button to open the License Manager > Licensing Information dialog box.
  4. Click the Deactivate... button.
  5. Click the Yes button to confirmation the license deactivation.
Note:
  • To deactivate a BricsCAD license, an internet connection is required.
  • You cannot deactivate network licenses and manually activated single-user licenses.
  • To automate license deactivation, see the How to automate activation and deactivation of local BricsCAD licenses using the LicTool application article.

4.4. Revoke a BricsCAD license

Warning:
  • Only revoke a license if deactivation is not possible.
  • The revoke possibility is limited to two per key.
  • If you revoke a license, you are no longer eligible for a refund.

Steps to revoke a license

  1. Log in to the https://bricscad.octave.com website.
  2. Click your name in the upper right corner and select Manage licenses from the menu.

    Make sure you log in with the BricsCAD account of your company which contains the license. Contact your BricsCAD account manager if needed.

  3. Click the pencil icon (). The License details page displays.
  4. Scroll down and click the X icon to revoke the license.
Note: If you are a Maintenance user, contact support to review your additional revoke request.

5. Troubleshooting

For troubleshooting errors, please see the Error codes section from our Help Center.

Common errors: