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Frequently asked Questions
The system requirements for FTICATIAV5 software are very similar to the requirements for CATIAV5. If you are running CATIAV5 successfully, many of the requirements listed below have probably already been met.
The following operating systems are recommended by Forming Technologies:
- Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Multi-core, 64-bit processor (ex. Intel i5, i7 or Xeon)
- Dedicated graphics card recommended (not integrated on motherboard such as Intel Integrated graphics)
- 4GB of RAM - 8GB or more is highly recommended
- 10GB Free Hard Disk space
- Microsoft Office 2013 or newer for report generation
To display the cost parameters (values) in the specification tree, you must check the With value option under Tools > Options > General > Parameters and Measure as well as the Show Parameters option under Tools > Options > Analysis & Simulation > General.
There are several reasons why this problem may occur:
- If you don't have the Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package installed on the server, the server daemon (FTI.exe) won't start. You can download the package here.
- If you are using an old version of the FTI.exe server daemon or out of date FlexLM utilites, the server may not work. Please contact support for instructions for downloading the latest server license install package.
- If the server name or formingid/hostid/dvsn is incorrect or if the license is expired, the server won't start. You can open the license file with a text editor to check these values. If the server name is incorrect, you can change it with the text editor. If the license codes are incorrect, you will require a new license.
- There is a security feature in Windows called Data Execution Prevention. In some cases, this feature may prevent the license server from starting. If this is the case, the log file may show an error like "Failed to open socket to lmgrd, Exiting" and/or "EXITING DUE TO SIGNAL 28 Exit reason 5". To avoid this error, do the following:
- Stop the license service using LMTOOLS or in Windows Services
- Stop any process in Task Manager named lmgrd.exe or FTI.exe
- Start the DEP program from Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Data Execution Prevention.
- Add an exception for lmgrd.exe and FTI.exe where the license manager is installed
- Restart the service
- Make sure that all the licensing files are in the same folder and that you have full control over the folder and the files. Ideally, the folder should be on the same drive as the operating system (typically the C: drive). Some problems have been reported when the folder has the same name as the daemon (FTI) so a different name should be used.
Server licenses allow licenses to be floated over a network. Server licenses control the number of concurrent users of the software. For example, if you have 5 server (also called floating) licenses, 5 people can access the software at a time. As soon as a user exits the software, the license becomes available for other users to access.
Nodelocked licenses are locked to a single computer using the hardware ids.
Nodelocked licenses are locked to a single computer using the hardware ids.
The system environment variable (called FTICATFORM3D) tells the application where to find the licensing and configuration information. If this variable is set incorrectly, you will get a license failure when trying to use the applications. In Windows, you can check this variable by selecting the Environment Variables button on the Advanced tab of the System dialog in the Control Panel.
Instead of setting this variable as a system environment variable, you can also add it to the end of the CATIA environment and it will work the same way.
Instead of setting this variable as a system environment variable, you can also add it to the end of the CATIA environment and it will work the same way.
This problem will occur if the system does not have the MS Visual C++ 2012 runtime environment installed correctly. This add-on is automatically installed if the installation program is used but if the software is manually installed, it should be installed separately. You can download the installation package here.
Note that on 64-bit systems, you will require the 64-bit redistributable to run the CATIA software. The 32-bit redistributable is also required to use the materials database editor (it is a 32-bit application).
Note that on 64-bit systems, you will require the 64-bit redistributable to run the CATIA software. The 32-bit redistributable is also required to use the materials database editor (it is a 32-bit application).
The external view determines what subset of geometry from your model will be analyzed. For example, if you create a solid model and extracted a mid-surface, you would assign the mid-surface to the external view . To create an external view, select Tools > External View in the Generative Shape Design workbench. Then in the Selected element: field choose the geometry to be analyzed and click OK
NOTE: The external view option is only available from the Tools menu when the Generative Shape Design (GSD) workbench is active.
NOTE: The external view option is only available from the Tools menu when the Generative Shape Design (GSD) workbench is active.
If you want to permanently move a nodelocked license from one computer to another and you are currently up to date with maintenance, fill out a License Transfer Request and send it to support@forming.com. To download the request form, click here.
The FlexLM utilities can be downloaded from the FTI CATIA based downloads page. You will require a username and password to access the downloads page (please contact FTI for this information). These files are suitable for Windows based license servers. If you require the FlexLM utilities for a different server, you can download them here. You will also need the FTI server daemon. Please contact Technical Support to request the appropriate server daemon for your OS.
The first time you access the FTI CATIA software on a client machine, you will be asked to accept the license agreement. Once accepted, an empty file is created in the installation folder to indicate that the agreement has been accepted.
If the license agreement comes up every time, it may be because you don't have write permissions to the installation folder. An administrator should be able to accept the agreement such that the file is created. Once this is done, the software should function correctly.
If the license agreement dialog appears but does not show the text of the agreement, it probably means that there is a problem with the system environment variable.
If the license agreement comes up every time, it may be because you don't have write permissions to the installation folder. An administrator should be able to accept the agreement such that the file is created. Once this is done, the software should function correctly.
If the license agreement dialog appears but does not show the text of the agreement, it probably means that there is a problem with the system environment variable.
FTI's CATIA Solutions are currently available and up to date for R25-R28.
FTI's analysis based solutions require the CATIA GPS module to function. This module provides the required meshing and other related analysis functionalities.
The CATIA based nesting solutions do not require GPS.
FTI's analysis based solutions require the CATIA GPS module to function. This module provides the required meshing and other related analysis functionalities.
The CATIA based nesting solutions do not require GPS.
To invert the colour scale on your thickness strain and the thickness plot double click on the colour bar, select the ... button and check the Inverse box.
If the images in your nesting report are blank, you should turn on Activate Local Visualization in Tools/Options/Infrastructure/Part Infrastructure.
The "Date Licensing Error" is caused by rolling your system clock back. If this error message occurs, reset your system date to the current date. If this does not resolve the issue, please contact Technical Support for further instructions.
You should be using FlexLM version 11.15 or newer. The appropriate files can be downloaded from the FTI CATIA based downloads page. You will require a username and password to access the downloads page (please contact FTI for this information).
The lmformingid.exe utility will return the code you need to send to us when requesting a license for the FTI CATIA software. You can download the lmformingid tool from here.
A FormingID is a composite ID generated from various components of your PC. It is used for license generation to ensure that the license can only be used for the specified machine.
A FormingID is generated automatically during installation and can also be generated manually using lmformingid.exe. See below for where to download this executable.
A FormingID is generated automatically during installation and can also be generated manually using lmformingid.exe. See below for where to download this executable.
When you install the software, an email will be generated that will include your name, company and formingid. Send this email to support@forming.com and we will send you a seven day trial license. Note that trial licenses will only be provided to users who provide legitimate information when requesting and installing the software.
If you can't see the colours when displaying the result plots you should change your rendering style to Shading with Material or you can use a custom rendering style, but ensure that you check the material option.
To request a manual installation package for any of the FTICATIAV5 products please send a request to Technical Support.
Firewalls on the server are the most common cause of this problem. If there is a firewall running, you should create exceptions for FTI.exe, lmgrd.exe and open ports 27000 to 27009 (or the port specified in the license file).
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