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Changing your PowerCADD Serial Number

Submitted by EditorHuc on Wed, 2006-03-08 18:03

Question

Is there a way I can reset the serial number I'm using for PowerCADD (and/or WildTOOLs) without having to reinstall it? I have a site license of several copies and it get's confusing to administer if I have to reinstall PowerCADD when I swap computers or perform other administration tasks in the office.

Requirements

PowerCADD version 7 or newer



Background

Administrators who have to maintain multiple installations of PowerCADD know it's important to keep a record of which serial number is installed on a given computer. However, when computers get moved around in an office, it's easy to forget which serial number is installed where, leading to conflicts when multiple users inadvertently launch the same serial number copy of PowerCADD or WildTOOLs.

Every copy of PowerCADD and WildTOOLs have a distinct serial number, which corresponds to a designated installation key code. In earlier versions, changing serial numbers meant deleting the old installation and doing a clean, fresh, install. However, in PowerCADD there's a new, hidden, feature that lets system administrators change the serial number by simply entering a new install code.

What To Do

We'll explore two conditions, one if you have only PowerCADD installed and one where both PowerCADD and WildTOOLs are installed. For sake of context for these examples, we'll presume you have a site license for multiple installations of PowerCADD in your office and have moved computers around and installed new software. Now, there's a conflict and you'd like to change the installed serial number for one user to eliminate that conflict.

Changing the PowerCADD installation code and serial number
If you have multiple installation codes and want to change the serial number of a particular installation of PowerCADD, do this:

  1. Quit PowerCADD if it's running
  2. Open the PowerCADD Application folder (likely on your Startup Disk > Applications > PowerCADD)
  3. Press the Shift + Control + Command keys at the same time and double click the PowerCADD Application icon
  4. PowerCADD will launch and you'll see the dialog box prompting you for the PowerCADD Installation Code
  5. Enter the NEW Installation code that matches the serial number you'd like this copy to have and press OK
  6. Result: PowerCADD will continue to launch and will now use the new serial number thereby correcting your serial number conflict on the network

Changing the WildTOOLs installation code and serial number
If you have multiple installation codes and want to change the serial number of a particular installation of WildTOOLs, do this:

  1. Quit PowerCADD if it's running
  2. Open the PowerCADD Application folder (likely on your Startup Disk > Applications > PowerCADD)
  3. Double click the PowerCADD Application Icon
  4. When you see the PowerCADD Splash Screen immediately press the Shift + Control + Command keys at the same time
  5. You'll see the dialog box prompting you for the WildTOOLs Installation Code
  6. Enter the NEW Installation code that matches the serial number you'd like this copy to have and press OK
  7. Result: PowerCADD will continue to launch and WildTOOLs will now use the new serial number thereby correcting your serial number conflict on the network

Hints
If you using both PowerCADD and WildTOOLs and are having a difficult time getting the dialog to appear to change the PowerCADD installation code, here's an easy fix:

  1. Open the PowerCADD folder > PlugIns folder and move the WildTOOLS folder to the desktop
  2. Complete the steps noted above for resetting the PowerCADD installation code and serial number
  3. QuitPowerCADD and put the WildTOOLs folder from step (1) back into the PowerCADD folder > PlugIns folder
  4. Complete the steps noted above for resetting the WildTOOLs installation code and serial number

Overall, the process is fast, easy, and real time saver for those who have to manage multiple installations of PowerCADD.

We hope that helps
caddpower.com

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If you found this article or the website in general to be helpful, educational or a time and money saver you can show your support. Thank you ~ Brian (huc) Huculak

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Just in Case This Doesn't Work

Submitted by Natron on Thu, 2009-06-11 07:19.

I used these steps to reset my PowerCADD serial number, but found that whenever I restarted the program, it would revert back to my old one, meaning that two of the same number would be on the network still. If you can't get these steps to work, try this:

Navigate in finder to Macintosh HD -> Library -> Preferences -> Network

In here, you'll find "com.engsw.PowerCADD7.plist", which is the file that will be causing your resetting problem. Move the file to your desktop, and then go back and open up PowerCADD from finder while holding "command + control + shift". This time, PowerCADD should ask you for both your PowerCADD serial number, as well as your WildTools one.

Hope this helps!

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