6.1.1 Installation
Installation starts automatically after inserting the CD. If the CD does not start automatically, please select the CD drive in Windows Explorer and start the „install“ program.
You can transfer your settings from another PC under
Extras - Export Settings or
Import Settings.
Activating the softwareThe license code is required
to release the full version. The first two letters of the code stand for
the version (e.g. V18 for VCmaster 2018). The matching code is required
for the respective program version. This is supplied with the shipment
of your order or
with the update. The code and licensee must be entered correctly. The
code is independent of the hardware.
Silent or Batch-Installation
This option is intended for network administrators and requires the appropriate know-how. Silent or batch installation allows the program to be automatically installed on the network without any alerts. The CD contains an example "ExampleSilent.bat".
|
Option |
|
Description |
|
|
/PRGFILES |
|
Target directory for program files |
|
|
/LIBFILES |
|
Target directory for templates |
|
|
/NAME |
|
Name of activation documents |
|
|
/CODE |
|
Activation code
of activation documents |
|
|
/WITHLIB |
|
Install templates?
Used when installation is on a network, yes/no is generally only required once;
yes/no default: no |
|
|
/verysilent |
|
Do not show installation dialogue box |
|
|
/LANG |
|
Language (German / English)
de/en default: de |
|
|
/CHCP |
|
Codepage for the PC system (e.g. Western Europe)
default: 1252 Western Europe (see www.Wikipedia.org "Codepage") |
Example
install /PRGFILES="C:\Programme\VCmaster" /LIBFILES="c:\VCmaster\Lib" /NAME="XXXXXXX / XXXXXXX" /CODE="V14-11111-22222-33333-44444" /WITHLIB=yes /verysilent /LANG=de
6.1.2 Organization on the PC and in the Network
We recommend specifying different directories for the program, the templates and the data. For work groups, templates and data can be stored on network hard drives.
We favor a central path for the projects (e.g. d:\projects). We create
all project folders under this directory. The description can be a project number and the name. In our engineering office all data (including
all other programs) are saved using this structure. In addition, we have a central directory for templates and libraries (e.g. d:\lib).
We also store data of all programs here. The VCmaster templates are then located under d:\lib\VCmaster, for example. Please keep this in mind during the installation process as the templates can only be moved by reinstalling them.
You can, of course, configure your PC as you wish, but the structure mentioned above has advantages for searching and reusing calculations as well as for backing up projects and libraries (the latter are often forgotten).
VCmaster does not include special project administration. The path under which a project was saved last is defined as the default for opening and saving.
Installation
directories
The most important information relating to the program, your PC and the operating system is summarized in the dialog box.
The installation directories are also listed.
The printer directory can be configured. Note: In individual cases due to the Windows security system or individual configurations, it may be necessary for the paths
of the PDF and the t2W printers to be configured individually so that the drivers work properly.
MENU: |
Info-Support information |
Country settings
Country-specific texts can be created for the fields, the measurement system and the separators to be used. Please note that the separators must be consistent with the operating system settings. Otherwise the formatting of the calculation lines will not
perform properly.
MENU: |
Extras-Settings-Country settings |
6.1.3 System Recommendations
Note on the monitor:
It is generally true that a
large monitor greatly improves the speed of working parallelly with several
applications. A smaller monitor is sufficient for using templates.
If you want to create structural analyses regularly, it makes sense to
display two A4 pages or VCmaster and a structural analysis program in
parallel. This is possible starting with a monitor size of 24" upwards.
Alternatively, two monitors from 20" upwards can be used. At
today's hardware prices, the purchase pays off quickly as it makes the
work considerably more efficient.
Notes on the
memory and processor:
Generally speaking the processable
size of a document increases with the performance of the hardware used.
We would like to point out that VCmaster documents, and thus memory
requirements, can be quite large. In particular, memory-intensive graphics, increase the resource requirement in areas that correspond
to those of FEM or CAD software. By splitting them up into
sub-documents, however, large structural analyses can also be produced
on less powerful PCs. Documentation comprising of PDF files of up to 1,000
pages can be produced.
6.1.4 License Server
Administrator Tool
In combination with an Enterprise License users have the option of managing the purchased licenses via an internal license server. In order to do this a VCmaster license server is installed on a Windows server.
Note: In the cases where this server is not installed, licenses are automatically managed via our server (Port 80).
The installation file can be found on the CD (InstallServer.exe). The IP-address is shown by the license server right after starting
the application. The license server is activated by the feature
License entry.
This requires a one-time internet connection. Activation happens via the provided license key. After entering the license key all purchased modules are shown (if applicable). Confirming the dialogue activates the management
of licenses via the internal server. The internal server has to be permanently available in order for the licenses (clients) to register properly. The port may be set to a desired value and has to be enabled.
Log files are available for recording log-ins and log-offs. The administrator can thus check when and to what extent licenses are used.
Client Log-in
Licenses (clients) can be either logged-in at the license server temporarily (floating) or permanently (locked).
The dialogue lists all registered licenses including IP-addresses and names. A license
that is locked permanently for a certain client may use VCmaster for a
specified period of time without access to the license server.
To do this the client selects the option
Locked-License (see image). A
specific period of time for reservation is set in the menu. This license is then no longer available as a floating-license for use by other clients.
The locking may be reversed at any time internet access is available by selecting
Floating license in the dialogue (see image on the right). Once the
specified period of time for locking has expired, the license
is then automatically managed by the license server as a floating license.