This document is provided to ensure a quick solution to your installation
problems. This document contains the following information:
To determine why SOFTIMAGE 3D fails to start, cycle through the open
applications by pressing <Alt-Tab>. One of the following three situations
will occur:
NOTE: %SI_LOCATION% is the environment variable pointing to the directory
in which SOFTIMAGE 3D is installed. You must be working in the SOFTIMAGE 3D
Command Prompt for this variable to be recognized. To find the value of
%SI_LOCATION%, in the SI3D prompt, type: echo %SI_LOCATION%.
- "Cannot connect to license server; WinSock error code [-15,10:.......]"
Do the following to narrow down the cause of this error message:
- Verify that the FLEXlm license server is stopped in Control
Panel>Services.
- In the SI3D Command prompt, change the directory to the FLEXlm
directory: Example: cd %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin.
- Enter the command:
lmgrd -app
The output from running this command will indicate one of the following
issues:
- There is a typo or syntax error in your license.dat file. Refer to
Rules For Entering License Information at the end of this document.
- Your computer name, the name in the license file, and the name in
your Network > TCP/IP > DNS entry are not the same.
- In Control Panel > Network, verify that the Computer Name is the same
as the DNS Host Name located in the Network Settings dialog box.
Double-click the TCP/IP protocol from the Installed
Network Software list, then click DNS in the Configuration dialog
box. In the DNS Configuration dialog box that appears, compare the
Host Name with the Computer Name and with the Server Name shown in
your license file. Reboot your machine if any changes have been made.
- You don't have TCP/IP installed. You must install TCP/IP from the
Windows NT software disk. To do this, refer to Installing TCP/IP in
the Microsoft Windows for NT manual.
- There is an error in the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable in
Control Panel > System. If your machine is a FLEXlm server, the value
for this variable must state the explicit path to license.dat
(ie: %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\licenses). If you are working on a FLEXlm
client machine, the value must give the port number at the server
machine (ie: 744@myserver).
- The dongle port is not being read. The procedure for setting the
parallel port so that it can read the SI3D dongle is different for
each Windows NT platform. However, you can verify if the port is
being read. To assess the parallel port status from a DOS shell,
(cd) to the %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin directory and then enter the
command:
lmhostid -flexid
An example of the response is:
lmhostid - Copyright © 1989-1994 Globetrotter Software, Inc.
The FLEXlm host ID of this machine is "FLEXID=7-B2851nnn"
The FLEXlm ID # that should be returned can be confirmed by looking at
the label on the hardware license key (dongle) itself.
If you receive anything other than the above example, verify that your
dongle is connected tightly to your port and re-enter the command:
lmhostid -flexid
If the FLEXID # is still not being returned, then the problem may be
linked to:
- Typo in the command line (in this case, the ID is replaced by 12
digits).
- The parallel port is disabled. Consult your hardware documentation
or dealer.
- The dongle and/or sentinel driver are absent (in this case, the ID is
replace by " "). To check if your sentinel driver is installed, refer
to the "Using the Correct Sentinel Version" section on page 12.
- There is a network card problem. Ensure that you have a network card
installed, or you can install MS LoopBack Adapter (see Installing
TCP/IP in the Microsoft Windows for NT manual).
- Your FLEXlm License server is not started in Control Panel > Services.
If this is the case, start it. If SI3D still does not start, stop
FLEXlm then open a SI3D command prompt, and change directories (cd) to
the FLEXlm bin directory (ie: cd %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin), and enter
the following commands:
%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\install remove
%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\install %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\lmgrd
Re-start the FLEXlm license server by going to the Services dialog
box. You can confirm a proper installation of FLEXlm by rebooting your
machine before rechecking the status of your FLEXlm License Server.
If, when you reboot your computer and the license server appears to
start but you still get the above error message, you must then stop
the FLEXlm License server in Control Panel > Services and try to
complete the steps once again. Reboot between each step.
- "Cannot find license file [-1,73:...]"
Check the following:
- Have you requested, received, and installed a valid license from the
Softimage Licensing department? Forward your license request by e-mail
to license@softimage.com or by fax to 514/845-3944 or 514/845-1280.
- There is a typo or syntax error on the SERVER or DAEMON line of your
license.dat file. Refer to Rules For Entering License Information at
the end of this document.
- Is the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE=744@<machine name> set?
(FLEXlm client only. Refer to the Installation Guide page 35.) Is the
system environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE=<location of license.dat
file> set (FLEXlm server only? Refer to the SOFTIMAGE 3D Installation
Guide page 29)?
- The license.dat file may be named incorrectly. When using Windows NT
4.0 the .txt extension may automatically be added to the end of the
file name. To check this, open a Softimage command prompt by
double-clicking the SI3D Command Prompt icon. At the command prompt,
type: dir %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\licenses\
This command should list license.dat among the files located in that
directory. If you get license.dat.txt, you must rename it by entering
the following commands:
cd %SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\licenses
copy license.dat.txt license.dat
- Verify that the TCP/IP is running. In Control Panel>Devices ensure
that the status of TCP/IP is on Automatic and Started. If TCP/IP does
not appear in Devices, you must install it. If TCP/IP does appear, but
is not running, refer to the Microsoft Windows for NT documentation or
contact Microsoft Support for Windows NT at 1-800-936-3500 (US and
Canada).
- If you have recently upgraded from Windows NT3.51 to Windows NT4.0,
you must remove and reinstall the FLEXlm License service. To do this,
complete the following steps as administrator:
1. To remove FLEXlm software, at the SI3D Command Prompt, enter the
following command:
%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\install remove
2. Enter the following command on one line:
%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\install
%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\bin\lmgrd.exe
3. Go into Control Panel > Services and Start the FLEXlm License
services.
4. SOFTIMAGE 3D should now start.
- "Encryption code in license file is inconsistent; WinSock error code
[-8, ... : ...]"
This indicates one of the following problems:
- There is a typo or syntax error in your license.dat file. Refer to
Rules For Entering License Information at the end of this document.
- The dongle number in the license file is wrong. Check if the number in
the license.dat file matches the 8-digit hex-number on the dongle
(i.e. B2851nnn). If they do not match, you must request a new license
or if you have more than one dongle, install the one that matches your
SOFTIMAGE 3D license file.
- The computer name contains illegal characters (underscores, dashes,
spaces, and periods). Rename the computer to eliminate any illegal
characters, and make sure to change the TCP/IP -> DNS entry and the
machine name in the license.dat file to match these changes. Then
restart the FLEXlm license server from Control Panel -> Services.
- "Feature has expired [-10, ... : ...]"
This indicates one of the following problems:
- Feature has expired. Check your license file for the expiration date
stated on the INCREMENT line.
- The date and time on your computer may be incorrect. Verify the time
and date on your computer. Use Accessories >Time to verify time and
date. If necessary, use Control Panel > Date/Time to reset it.
- Contact Softimage Product Support and Services if the problem
continues with the same error message.
- "Soft3D: no such feature exists [-5, ... : ...]"
This indicates one of the following problems:
- There is a typo or syntax error in your license.dat file. Refer to
Rules For Entering License Information at the end of this document.
- Your license.dat file has been saved in UNICODE format. It must be
saved in plain text format. Open the file in Notepad and choose Save
As. If you are running Windows NT 3.51, the File Type drop-down list
should have Plain Text selected, not UNICODE. For Windows NT 4.0, make
sure the UNICODE option is deactivated.
- When you upgrade your current license, you must append all PACKAGE and
INCREMENT lines from your new license to your old license file.
- You may not be licensed for the feature you are trying to open.
Confirm the features you are licensed for on the PACKAGE line of your
license file.
- "Soft.exe entry point not found. Stop the procedure entry point…Describe
Layer Plane could not be located in Dynamic Library. OpenGl32.dll"
This indicates the following problem:
- When running Windows NT 3.51, SOFTIMAGE 3D requires Service Pack 2, 4,
or 5 (Service Pack 3 is not recommended). You must install or reapply
the correct one. Service Pack information is available at
www.microsoft.com or you can contact your hardware vendor.
- "Cannot find SERVER hostname in network database; WinSock error code
[-14,]"
This indicates on of the following problems:
- The host name in your license file is wrong. Verify that the host name
on the SERVER line of the license.dat file matches the computer name
and host name (DNS).
- LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable points to a non-existent server.
This variable is located in the setenv.bat file or a system
environment variable (Control Panel>System). Use the command 'ping' to
verify that the server is correct, and, if it is not, you need to
check the network configuration.
- "Invalid date format in license file [-11, ... : ...]"
- There is a typo or syntax error in your license.dat file. Refer to
Rules For Entering License Information.
- You do not have a space before the backslash ( \ ) on the PACKAGE or
INCREMENT lines. Add one.
- You have a space after the backslashes ( \ ) at the end of each
INCREMENT line in your license.dat file. If there is a space, remove
it.
- The date was not entered properly on the INCREMENT line. Verify that
the date is correct.
- Check each INCREMENT line of your original license and make sure that
the expiration date is correct (such as, permanent license should read
"1-jan-0"). Contact Softimage Product Support and Services if the
expiration date is not correct.
- "No server line in license file [-13,... : ...]"
This indicates one of the following problems:
- You installed as a FLEXlm Client instead of as a Server. Go back to
the installation program and reinstall as a FLEXlm Server.
- Your license.dat file has been saved in UNICODE format. It must be
saved in plain text format. Open the file in Notepad and choose Save
As. If you are running Windows NT 3.51, the File Type drop-down list
should have Plain Text selected, not UNICODE. For Windows NT 4.0, make
sure the UNICODE option is deactivated.
- There is a typo or syntax error on the SERVER line of your license.dat
file. Refer to Rules For Entering License Information at the end of
this document.
- "Dr. Watson error: <this is a sample:>"the application generated an
application error the error occurred on 10/01/96 as 16:9:45.870 the
exception generated was c0000037@address77f80430"
This indicates the following problem:
- You do not have the correct driver version for your graphics card. See
the Softimage web site at www.softimage.com for a list of the latest
supported graphics cards. Contact your hardware vendor or hardware
manufacturer for the correct driver.
- "Feature not yet available [-31, ... : ...]"
This indicates the following problem:
- You may be missing the number of licenses from the INCREMENT line of
your license.dat file.
- "Bad version number - must be floating point number, with no letters
[-77,... : ...]"
This indicates the following problem:
- Your license file has an invalid version number. Make sure that
version number on the PACKAGE and INCREMENT lines is 3.500.
- "Socket ( ) call failed [-57, ... : ...]"
Refer to error message "Cannot connect to license server; WinSock error
code [-15,10:.......]"
- "Invalid Working Directory"
This indicates the following problem:
- You are running as administrator. You must have at least one valid
user account other than "administrator" from where you are running
SI3D. This is because the environment variables in the SETENV.BAT file
look for %USERNAME% and errors will occur if no user exists. You must
create a SOFTIMAGE user account. To do this, refer to the procedure
for Creating a SOFTIMAGE 3D User Account in the SOFTIMAGE 3D
Installation Guide on page 39.
The primary cause of SOFTIMAGE 3D not running after installation is an
error in the license file. This can be either a typing error or a
mailer/text editor line wrap error. Check that your license file
(%SI_LOCATION%\flexlm\licenses\license.dat) conforms to the rules below.
If you are upgrading SOFTIMAGE 3D from a previous version (3.51), you must
upgrade the FLEXlm software. See the Upgrading License Server to FLEXlm
version 5.0 section in the SI3D Installation Guide on page 9.
For a list of error messages, in the search phrase field, enter "Error
Message".