FAQ

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ page). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions existing and new users may have about Kubotek KeyCreator products. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email us sales@radix-solutions.com or ring us during normal business hours on +44 (0)2476 236323.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions for KeyCreator, CADKEY Workshop and GraphX. The questions and answers contained in this FAQ have been divided into their appropriate categories. Please note that questions linked to solid modeling apply to KeyCreator or Workshop only.

Licensing/Getting Started

Compatibility with Older Versions

Customising your Copy

Detailing and Dimensioning

Printing and Plotting

Applications

Miscellaneous

Updated 31/10/2005

Licensing/Getting Started

Why do I need a license to run my copy of software?

All Kubotek USA software products must be permanently linked to a single hardware device (a SIM)and the SIM must be physically moved to move the license. You may purchase SIMs through your dealer or Kubotek USA, Inc.

How can I obtain a License file?

You can register the product yourself from the Kubotek website (www.kubotekusa.com) by clicking on ‘Register KeyCreator' in the Start Menu,’ or by contacting your KeyCreator VAR, or by sending an Email request to sales@radix-solutions.com. Always include your Company Name and Account Number (you’ll find this on your AUC contract or on the shipping documents).

Where is the License file placed?

Install the software and copy the file (license.lic) into the KeyCreator, CADKEY Workshop, or GraphX folder.

How is the License file Locked to a PC?

The License is Node Locked to your SIM during installation. ALWAYS INSTALL THE SIM AFTER SOFTWARE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE!

Is a Home Use License available?

No, but you can install your software both at work and at home using your SIM and then move the SIM from your Work PC to your Home PC and back again as needed.

Can the License be Networked?

Yes, Floating Licenses are a purchase option. Network (or Floating) licenses incur an additional charge. Contact your VAR or Kubotek USA sales BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THIS OPTION.

Can one seat of KeyCreator, CADKEY or GraphX be used on multiple PCs?

Yes, by installing the software on several PCs and then moving the SIM from PC to PC as needed.

Can one seat of Kubotek software be used on more than one PC simultaneously?

No. Since all products are Node Locked, only one user can access the program at any given time. The number of simultaneous users is determined by the number of SIMs in use, or the number of licenses specified on a Floating License file.

Suppose a License file is Node Locked to a PC’s Hard Disk for an older version of software, and the disk goes bad or has to be replaced. How is a new License File obtained?

Send an Email request to tech@radix-solutions.com, along with an explanation of what happened. For CADKEY 19 products you will need to purchase a parallel SIM kit. For Workshop products, you will need to purchase a USB SIM, and a new license will be generated for that SIM. Please note that support for versions of CADKEY prior to V19 is no longer provided.

Suppose a PC is upgraded or the software is installed on a new PC. Will a new License File be required?

That depends on the device to which the original License File was Node Locked. If locked to a SIM, a new License File would not be required. Simply move the SIM and license file to the new PC.

How can a License be obtained if a User’s Password has been forgotten?

When licensing the Product after entering the Account Number, click on the “Email Password” button to have the Password sent to the Email address on file. If your Email address has changed, send a Password Request Email to register@kubotekusa.com.

How is a SIM obtained?

SIMs are available from Radix Solutions Ltd at a cost of £50 inclusive of VAT and carriage per plug.

What are the recommended versions of Windows for running Kubotek products?

Windows 2000 Pro, and Windows XP Pro are required.

What is the minimum System Configuration for running KeyCreator?

See the System Requirements page.

Top of Page

Compatibility with Older Versions

Are my old CADL programs compatible with KeyCreator?

No. CADL programs created in CADKEY 19 and previous versions will not run in KeyCreator, Workshop, or GraphX products. Use the CADL Converter to help assist you in converting your old programs to KXL in KeyCreator.

Can files created in KeyCreator, Workshop or GraphX (CKD files) be opened in earlier versions of CADKEY?

Not directly. CKD files may be exported in a variety of file formats, depending on the data type you wish to export. Note that solid and surface information must generally be exported separately from 2D drawing information.

Can PRT files from earlier CADKEY versions be opened in the KeyCreator, Workshop, or GraphX?

Yes. When a PRT file is opened in Kubotek products, the file is automatically converted and saved in the CKD format. Use the File>Open function to open part files from earlier versions. Please note that CADKEY PRT versions earlier than CADKEY 5 must be externally converted to version 5 format first. The necessary utilities are distributed with the software.

Top of Page

Customising Your Copy

How do I customize my accelerator keys?

Accelerator keys are now managed through the Tools>Customize>Commands dialog page.

How do I change the background color?

The background color can be changed using the Background setting in the File>Properties>Colors/Attributes dialog page. Note that this setting is stored individually in each part. See the section on Templates in the online Help system for more information on how to set it for all new parts.

Is there a way to toggle the display of toolbars “on-the-fly?”

Yes. Right-click on any toolbar in the program workspace to display the toolbar menu. From this menu, you are able to toggle the display of available toolbars on/off.

How do I manage my fonts in this version?

The Format>Fonts function is no longer required. Instead, in Workshop and KeyCreator products all True Type fonts installed on the system are always available for use.

Top of Page

Detailing and Dimensioning

Why do all my dimensions have this strange red color instead of the color I specified for them?

Those dimensions are non-associative and/or unattached. This is KeyCreator’s or Workshop/GraphX’ way of helping you make sure that all your dimensions are correct. This appearance is controlled in the Tools>Options> Dimensions dialog page. See the Associativity and Attachment segment under Detail Menu in the online Help system or the reference manual for more information.

Why is the text of my dimensions underlined when they don't have the underline flag set?

Those dimensions are non-associative and/or unattached. This is Keycreator’s or Workshop/GraphX’ way of helping you make sure that all your dimensions are correct. This appearance is controlled in the Tools>Options> Dimensions dialog page. See Tools>Options>Dimensions in the online Help system or the reference manual for more information.

I heard that the new generation products would make sure that all my dimensions were correct, but I can still make incorrect dimensions. What is happening?

KeyCreator, Workshop and GraphX do have a mode where all dimensions will be correct, but to ease the transition from earlier versions of CADKEY, that setting is not enabled in a new install. Once you've converted all your files from earlier versions and reattached any non-associative dimensions, then you can enable this behavior by closing all open files, and in Tools-Options, on the dimensions page, select "Prevent Non-Associative and Un-Attached Dimensions". See the Associativity and Attachment segment under Detail Menu in the online help system or manual for more information.

Why won’t my detail entities appear through a part reference?

Detail entities, including notes, are not displayed through part references. Only geometry is displayed.

I created a reference to a part containing a block, and placed several dimensions on that block. After modifying the faces on the block attached to dimensions, I noticed that the dimensions did not update, and they are not flagged as being un-attached. What is happening?

When geometry in a referenced part is modified, the dimensions in the referencing part that refer to that geometry are marked as “suppressed,” a state that is identified by a dashed attribute and the “suppressed reference” color. To un-suppress such dimensions, and make them update to the modified geometry, use the Tools>Assemblies>Update Reference function. This will update all geometry contained in the part. If there is an Undo history, the update will not be done automatically in the referenced part, because it would require that the Undo history be purged in order to prevent returning to what is now an incorrect state. If there is no Undo history in the referencing part at the time of the modification, the update is then performed automatically.

Top of Page

Printing/Plotting

Where is the Uniplot feature in this version?

Uniplot is not supported in post-CADKEY 19 versions. To emulate the capabilities of this feature, you will need to find a driver language that supports your printer device, or upgrade to a new printer device. We suggest the Winline (http://www.winline.com/) series of universal drivers for older printing and plotting equipment.

How can I get CADKEY Workshop to recognize more than eight pens for plotting?

In this version, only eight pens are supported. We hope to expand the number of pens that can be used for plotting in future releases.

How do I set up the line widths for each of the colors when printing?

KeyCreator, Workshop and GraphX handle assignment of entity printing width via the 8 available pen numbers, and the now 64 available colors. In the print/plot setup you have the option of printing by colour or by pen number, and each colour or pen may be set to a user-assignable value.

Top of Page

Applications

Where is the Solids Menu in this version?

The Solids menu is now called Advanced Modelling. Solids functions are now located in the general pull-down menus, as well. The display of the Advanced Modelling pallette menus can be toggled using the View>Control Bars>Advanced Modeling function.

Where are the ADM and Dimension Wizard menus, and how do I load them?

Each of these former applications has been fully integrated into the program. Functions previously available from the ADM application are now available from the Edit and Detail Menus, generally. Functionality previously available from the Dimension Wizard application is now available from the Detail submenus.

Where are the Photo-Real rendering functions?

Presently texture mapping, environment mapping, lighting, materials definition and transparency are provided through the HOOPS real-time rendering. More advanced rendering capabilities will be included in a future version of the software.

How can I get DRAFT-PAK and FastSURF?

DRAFT-PAK and FastSURF capabilities have been added directly into KeyCreator and Workshop.

What is the future of Power-Pak and True-Text?

Select Power-Pak and TrueText capabilities are being added directly into all Kubotek products and will not be available separately.

Top of Page

Miscellaneous

How do I load CDE’s, now that the Applications Menu has been removed?

CDE’s are now managed through the Add-Ins Menu, which has replaced the Applications Menu from past versions.

What happened to the Smart Cursor feature?

Smart Cursor is now called Position Snap, and can be enabled from the Tools>Options> Selection dialog page.

What happened to the Worm’s Eye feature?

Worm’s Eye is now called Magnify Window, and is accessible from the View Menu.

What happened to the Modify Geometry feature?

The Modify Geometry (ModGeo) feature has been replaced by the global Edit function, accessible from the Edit>Entities submenu.

Where is the Levels List in this version?

The Levels List is now contained in the Part Splitter Window, which can be displayed/un-displayed using the View>Control Bars>Open/Close/Toggle Part Splitter functions.

How do I make my new parts come up with millimeters unit measurement?

There are two methods by which this can be done. First, you can change the New Part Template to International on the Tools>Options>Misc dialog page. Second, you can open the Default.ckt file (in CKT folder), change the Construction Units to millimeters under File>Properties>Units/Tolerances, and save the file.

How do I render solid bodies in a part reference?

In order to render solid bodies in a part reference, you first need to save facets through the Tools>Options>Solids dialog box.

What happened to the Export>Pattern feature?

This function has been replaced by the new File>Export>KeyCreator Part feature. The CKD file format replaces both PRT and PTN file functions.