User Option which AutoCAD type will be used

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'm making a small program that will run when user opens  a DWG file, but it will run before the AutoCAD start up window.

My purpose, is to show all AutoDesk program that can open the DWG (Mechanical, Standard, TrueView, Etc) installed in his machine.

where TrueView will be the default. This is to keep our users to get license from the network when his purpose actually is just to view the drawing (ReadOnly). Now, my question is, is it legal? Sorry no question on programming, just some legal technicalaties. Thank you in advance. 🙂

[dgorsman · Accepted solution]

I don't see any legal issues but some technical ones.  I'm assuming you're creating a stand-alone EXE to hook the default DWG file open procedure in the registry, right?  Otherwise you've got a host of problems ie. passing command-line parameters such as loading support code for verticals.  If you have Suite licenses the entire point may be moot - it doesn't matter what product they run, it still pulls the same license.

My recommendation - invest your time in training users to open the correct program first, then open the file.  If you really need to restrict license control, look into using the options file for the license manager to restrict by user and/or user groups.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the advice, I will take your "I don't see any legal issues ..." as solution.

Not using a suite license, just existing perpetual licenses.