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Managing Packages and Licenses

Licensing in CODESYS

In addition to the standard installation of CODESYS, add-ons are also available, which are subject to fees and licensing. You get licenses for these products from CODESYS GmbH in the form of ticket numbers, which you can install using the CODESYS License Manager.

The License Manager stores the licensing information on an external USB device (CODESYS dongle) or in a soft container which is registered in the local CodeMeter Control Center. The dongle has to be plugged in to your local PC.

In the license repository, you can get the current information for each ticket number from the central license server. Other information is also provided, such as whether a license can still be activated or must be returned.

There are plug-ins which require a license, but they can still be used with limited functionality even without a license. In such cases, messages about the missing license are displayed at locations which are specific to the plug-in. Examples of plug-ins like this (add-ons): CODESYS Git, CODESYS SVN, CODESYS UML from the Professional Developer Edition.

Network licenses: A license registered in the local CodeMeter Control Center can be provided as a network license. To do this, the local computer is configured as a network server which authorized users can access and use the license. In case you need to use this configuration, first open the CodeMeter Control Center and there click File – WebAdmin to open the CodeMeter WebAdmin browser. In the browser, you see the currently installed dongle or soft container under Container. In Settings – Base, you can set your local computer to be the base server. See also the current help for WIBU CodeMeter: for example, Setting up CodeMeter for Network Server access to licenses.

Tip

For detailed information about CodeMeter, see: Homepage of Wibu-Systems.

License check when starting CODESYS

When it starts, CODESYS checks the selected profile for plug-ins that are subject to licensing.

  • If the profile does not include plug-ins subject to licensing, then CODESYS starts as usual without a message.

  • If the profile includes plug-ins which are subject to licensing, then CODESYS also starts without any message when a dongle with the required licenses is plugged in to the USB port of the computer or a soft container with the licenses is registered.

  • If the profile includes plug-ins subject to licensing but no dongle or soft container is available or a required license are found, then, CODESYS displays the License Missing dialog at start-up. You can decide whether or not to start CODESYS without the affected plug-ins.

    Note: When starting from the command line, this dialog is skipped if you specify the --skipunlicensedplugins option in the command. In this case plug-ins without the required license are automatically not loaded.

License check in runtime mode

While CODESYS is running, the required licenses are checked every five minutes. If a license is missing, for example because the dongle was removed in the meantime, then the License Missing dialog opens. For add-ons which can also be used without a license, the functional scope is adapted depending on the existing or missing license.

In case a dongle is disconnected, you have the following options:

  • Insert the dongle again and press Retry: If the dongle contains the missing licenses, then you can continue working as usual.

  • Save Current Project and Exit: CODESYS saves the project and closes.

  • Close: CODESYS closes without saving the project.

Tip

If you remove the license dongle after the CODESYS plug-in has been loaded, then an error message is displayed.

To solve this problem, insert the dongle again and pres the Retry button. If the dongle contains a valid license, the dialog closes and you can continue working as usual. Click Cancel to exit CODESYS.

License Manager

Using the License Manager in CODESYS, you can manage licenses for add-on products on a CODESYS dongle or in a soft container. A soft container is the software counterpart of a security key (dongle). As a result, hardware licenses can be linked to an individual PC, even without using a security key.

Tip

In the License Manager, select Workstation for licensing your workstation and select Device if you want to activate the license on your device.

Package Manager

CODESYS provides the Package Manager whose functionality extends the standard installation of CODESYS with additional features and configuration settings. The concept behind the Package Manager is similar to that of a typical Windows installation mechanism.

A package is a ZIP file with the *.package file extension.

Possible package components

  • Plug-ins

  • Libraries

  • Device descriptions

  • Supplier descriptions

  • Profiles

  • Information profiles

  • Profile changes

  • Files

  • Extensions for configuration of the menu, toolbar, keyboard shortcuts, and views

  • Help modules

  • Complete menu configurations for special profiles

  • Complete toolbar configurations for special profiles

  • Complete keyboard configurations for special profiles

  • Options

  • Library profiles

Tip

You can compare the Checksum with the package checksum from the package vendor. CODESYS displays this checksum in the Details dialog of the Package Manager and in the Installation – License Agreement dialog of the installation wizard. You do this to make sure that you have installed an original package.

Tip

In V3.5 SP13 and higher, CODESYS checks whether or not an older version is already installed when installing the development system. If this is the case, then when you start the development system for the first time, you will see the Import Assistant dialog for importing the package installations available in the older version.

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