PDA

View Full Version : Can SW run offline?



AI_Man
03-01-2018, 11:18 AM
Greetings,

I do not have internet at home and because of that if I have to be online to use the student version of SW it would be pointless for me to obtain.

I searched the forums and could not find the answer.

Do I have to be online for this version of SW to run?

Matt Gonitzke
03-01-2018, 06:50 PM
Yes, it phones home to verify the license every time you open the software, unfortunately.

AI_Man
03-02-2018, 09:23 AM
Thanks for the reply.

That means Solidworks is useless for me.

For some reason I don't think the library would be happy with my keeping a computer there or leaving software on their computers.

lathropdad
03-02-2018, 01:01 PM
Given that a subscription to Solid Works is close to $5000 and something like $2500 per year, the EAA offering is a bargain, even with the inconvenience of having to be connected the web to use it.

Cory Puuri
03-13-2018, 12:17 PM
Matt is incorrect. There are provisions for downloading the software and activating it via email. You just need to follow the instructions. I recommend selecting the last option in the installer program, which allows you to save the software to a device and then use that to install it on the computer you intend to use SW on.

Matt Gonitzke
03-13-2018, 02:56 PM
Matt is incorrect. There are provisions for downloading the software and activating it via email. You just need to follow the instructions. I recommend selecting the last option in the installer program, which allows you to save the software to a device and then use that to install it on the computer you intend to use SW on.

So how would one go about converting their license to a standard one that doesn't need an internet connection? I don't recall this being an option when I installed SW.

Jeffrey Meyer
03-13-2018, 03:10 PM
As far as I know there are 3 issues here:

1. Downloading: Makes sense that you need to be on line, but if you have installation CD's (commercial version) you do not need to be on line.
2. Activating the License: The activation code can be obtained by e-mail and you don't need to be on line to install it.
3. Running the software: No need to be on line after activation, although if you are on line when you run it, the software probably checks if your license is valid and registered with DS.

To answer the question: No, you do not need to be on line.

Matt Gonitzke
03-14-2018, 04:17 AM
3. Running the software: No need to be on line after activation, although if you are on line when you run it, the software probably checks if your license is valid and registered with DS.

To answer the question: No, you do not need to be on line.

This contradicts my experience. I had temporarily moved my desktop to another room in my house to connect it up to a TV to do a 'design review' of sorts with some people, and it wasn't connected to the internet. When I opened SW, the splashscreen never went away, and it said "verifying license...." and was stuck there until I got creative and figured out how to get a LAN cable to that room. As soon as the internet was connected, it loaded.

Have either of you that claim I'm wrong actually tried this?

Cory Puuri
03-14-2018, 09:31 AM
This contradicts my experience. I had temporarily moved my desktop to another room in my house to connect it up to a TV to do a 'design review' of sorts with some people, and it wasn't connected to the internet. When I opened SW, the splashscreen never went away, and it said "verifying license...." and was stuck there until I got creative and figured out how to get a LAN cable to that room. As soon as the internet was connected, it loaded.

Have either of you that claim I'm wrong actually tried this?

I have activated one computer via email, but most of my installations have had an active internet connection. Here is everything you need to know about SW Activation:
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/1090_ENU_HTML.htm#Do_I_need_to_be_online_to_use_So lidWorks_software_that_includes_activation

Question #11 addresses the issue of having an active internet connection when using the software. The answer is no, it is not required.

Mike Switzer
03-14-2018, 12:47 PM
I know for a fact that (the professional version, at least) does not require an internet connection as I know of a business that has a couple dozen seats installed in an office with no outside internet connection.

Matt Gonitzke
03-14-2018, 01:43 PM
I have activated one computer via email, but most of my installations have had an active internet connection. Here is everything you need to know about SW Activation:
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/1090_ENU_HTML.htm#Do_I_need_to_be_online_to_use_So lidWorks_software_that_includes_activation

Question #11 addresses the issue of having an active internet connection when using the software. The answer is no, it is not required.

So in other words, you have no experience with this particular situation, yet I'm "wrong". :confused: That link is "STANDALONE product activation FAQ's" (emphasis mine). Obviously a standalone license should be able to function without an internet connection. The student version does not appear to be standalone, or at least I can't find any information anywhere to suggest that it is.

Jeffrey Meyer
03-15-2018, 02:37 AM
I know for a fact that (the professional version, at least) does not require an internet connection as I know of a business that has a couple dozen seats installed in an office with no outside internet connection.

Like, for example, the office where I work ... ;)

I suspect that the student edition also does not require an internet connection. Students, when travelling, don't always have an internet connection, but they can work on SW (on a bus for example).

cwilliamrose
03-15-2018, 06:08 PM
My EAA student version works with the internet connection disabled.

Jeffrey Meyer
03-16-2018, 01:15 AM
:thumbsup: Now there's a short and to-the-point answer :thumbsup:

Matt Gonitzke
03-16-2018, 04:18 AM
So this morning I turned off the internet and tried this again, and...it worked. :eek: Not sure what happened the other time I tried this.

Usually repeating the same thing more than once and expecting a different answer is the definition of insanity, but time and time again I have learned this does not apply to computers...:rollseyes:

Cory Puuri
03-20-2018, 12:31 PM
So in other words, you have no experience with this particular situation, yet I'm "wrong". :confused: That link is "STANDALONE product activation FAQ's" (emphasis mine). Obviously a standalone license should be able to function without an internet connection. The student version does not appear to be standalone, or at least I can't find any information anywhere to suggest that it is.

Matt, as I said in that post "I have activated one computer via email..." The email activation method does not require the computer that is running SOLIDWORKS to be connected to the internet. You do have to have a device connected to the internet to complete activation via email, but that computer running SOLIDWORKS is not connected to the internet. Also, "STANDALONE" means an individual license, as opposed to a network license. You have to have internet access to authenticate a network license, but individual licenses can be activated on a separate computer using email.

AMDguy
12-20-2018, 10:51 PM
This contradicts my experience. I had temporarily moved my desktop to another room in my house to connect it up to a TV to do a 'design review' of sorts with some people, and it wasn't connected to the internet. When I opened SW, the splashscreen never went away, and it said "verifying license...." and was stuck there until I got creative and figured out how to get a LAN cable to that room. As soon as the internet was connected, it loaded.

Have either of you that claim I'm wrong actually tried this?

Jeffrey,
I agree with you. Some friends have Solidworks Premium, and every time you launch it, if you are offline, a popup comes up telling you it cannot connect to servers to verify license. This is the premium version, I do not know if the student version acts differently in this regard...

Christian L.