Registration & Licensing
Entering Your License
After purchasing LinkCAD, you receive a Registration Code by email. To activate:
- Open LinkCAD
- Go to Help → License
- Enter your Registration Code
- Click Activate
Your license is tied to the machine and stored locally. No internet connection is required after activation.
License Types
| License | Description |
|---|---|
| Single User | One installation on one computer |
| Network Lite | Up to 3 concurrent users on a local network |
| Network | Up to 30 concurrent users on a local network |
All licenses include one year of free upgrades.
Feature Bundles
LinkCAD uses a modular licensing system. The base license (LinkCAD Basic) includes GDSII, DXF, CIF, PostScript, and other core formats. Additional capabilities are available as add-on bundles:
| Bundle | Adds |
|---|---|
| Gerber RS-274X | Gerber import/export for PCB fabrication |
| View | Advanced visualization and display controls |
| GDS-TXT | Human-readable GDSII text format |
| Tools | Boolean operations, polygon merging, repair tools |
| Edit | Interactive geometry editing |
| System Interface | IE3D, Sonnet, MODLA export for EM simulation |
| 3D Modeler | ACIS SAT, Parasolid XT, ANSYS ANF import/export |
See Licensed Feature Bundles for the complete mapping of formats and features to bundles.
License Transfer
To move your license to a different computer:
- On the old machine, go to Help → License and click Deactivate
- On the new machine, enter the same Registration Code
Warning
Deactivate before uninstalling or reformatting. If you lose access to the old machine, contact [email protected] for a manual reset.
License Backup
Your license file is stored in %APPDATA%\LinkCAD. Back up this directory to preserve your activation across system reinstallation.
Educational Licenses
A 50% discount is available for educational institutions. Contact [email protected] with proof of affiliation.