Help menu > Licence
DesignBuilder consists of a modelling Graphical User Interface (GUI) connected to a number of calculation/rendering modules. The DesignBuilder GUI can be used without a licence but you need a license for each of the modules you intend to use.
When you install DesignBuilder an evaluation license key is generated for each module. These evaluation licences are valid for 30 days from the date of installation and allow you to try out a fully functional version of the software to check that it meets your needs and is compatible with your computer. The only restriction with evaluation licences is that a ‘nag screen’ is displayed prior to each simulation or visualisation session.
When you buy licences to use DesignBuilder, you are sent an e-mail containing a serial number, license keys and information on when the licences expire (if ever).
You should copy (Ctrl-C) the Serial number and License keys from the e-mail you received when you bought the software and paste (Ctrl-V) directly into the License dialog (accessed from the Help menu). When you paste the license keys (one for each module) the software attempts to activate the license over the Internet, and if successful, validates the license keys and unlocks the modules.
Note: You must be connected to the Internet to activate DesignBuilder license keys.
You may have been supplied with a licence file with extension .lif containing your licence data or extended evaluations. Typical reasons for using a .lif file for activation are when on a training course where you may not have access to the Internet for activation or for customers who have purchased licences but either do not have Internet access or have strict firewall policies preventing the standard web-based activation from working.
To activate DesignBuilder modules using a .lif file, click on the Activate from file button at the bottom of the dialog and select the file. The module list will be updated with the new licence information.
Note that by loading a .lif file containing evaluation keys (for example when at a DesignBuilder training course) you will not overwrite the status of any purchased full licences.
You need an EnergyPlus
license to generate IDF files even if you want to simulate using an external
version of EnergyPlus.