Managing Packages and Licenses

Licensing in CODESYS

In addition to the standard installation of CODESYS, add-ons are available, which are subject to fees and licensing. You receive licenses for these products from 3S-Smart Software Solutions 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 dongle (CODESYS Dongle) that you must connect to your local PC.

In the license repository you can retrieve 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.

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 subject to licensing and a dongle with the required licenses is connected to the USB port of the computer, then CODESYS starts without any message.

  • If the profile includes plug-ins subject to licensing but no dongle is available or a required license cannot be found, then, CODESYS displays the License Missing dialog at start-up.

    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 while program is running

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 with 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.

Note

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 box closes and you can continue working as usual. Clicking Cancel will exit CODESYS.

See also

License manager

With the license manager in CODESYS you can manage the licenses for add-on products on a CODESYS dongle or in a soft container. A soft container is the software counterpart to a dongle. It allows hardware licenses to be bound to a single PC even without a dongle.

Note

During the licensing a distinction is made as a matter of principle between CODESYS licenses and licenses for individual devices.

  • The licensing of CODESYS products is done by the license manager.
  • The licensing of end devices is done via the PLC settings. The licensing process takes place in a similar way to the licensing of CODESYS licenses

See also

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

Note

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

Note

In V3.5 SP13 and later, CODESYS checks whether 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.

See also