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Standalone Licenses

Install and administer your standalone (workstation) software.

1. Download and Install

1.1. Installing Palisade 6.x/7.x/8.x Standalone Software

Applies to:
All products, releases 6.x/7.x/8.x, individual commercial license
All products, releases 6.x/7.x/8.x, individual academic (faculty/staff) license
All products, releases 6.x/7.x/8.x, individual student version bought directly from Palisade
All products, trial version

Does not apply to:
Concurrent Network Client
Enterprise Network Client
Course license
Software that comes with textbook

If you already have a the software installed and just want to activate it, there's no need to reinstall. Launch the software. If License Manager doesn't come up spontaneously, click Help » License Manager. Click Activate and follow the prompts on your screen.

If the software isn't on your computer, or if you're reinstalling to solve a problem, follow this procedure:

  1. If you received a live link in email, click or double-click it. If you received a link as plain text, highlight it with your mouse, press Ctrl+C, click into the location window of your browser, and press Ctrl+V followed by the Enter key.

  2. The download might start automatically, or you might get a prompt first. If you get a prompt, select Save, not Run or Open.
  3. When the download finishes, press Ctrl+J to open your downloads list. In Chrome, click Show in Folder; in Firefox, right-click the first entry and select Open Containing Folder.

  4. Right-click the name of the installer program, which matches the last part of the link you received, and select Run as Administrator. If you don't have that option, an IT person will need to do the installation for you.

  5. When prompted, choose your installation language and accept the license terms.
  6. On the Customer Information screen, in the bottom half, please take a moment to make the right choice for your situation:

    • Installing a trial version? Leave the selection at "I want to activate a 15-day, fully-featured trial."
    • Already have a license on this computer? Select "I am upgrading or reinstalling." This prevents the installer from installing a trial license that would mask the activated license you already have. Yes, you can get back the activated license if that happens, but it would be an extra step.
    • Installing purchased software? You can activate it during installation by selecting "I want to activate a license" and pasting the Activation ID in the box. Or, you can leave the selection at "I want to activate a 15-day, fully-featured trial" and activate the software later. If you have any doubt about the stability of the computer, or if you're not connected to the Internet, we recommend you install a trial now and activate later.

  • When you click Next, the installation should proceed without further action by you.

If you chose "I want to activate", the installer will try to activate the Activation ID you enter. If you get a popup later in the installation, "Setup was unable to activate the Activation ID", just click OK and the installation will proceed. After you get the Setup Completed screen, see "Setup was unable to activate the Activation ID ..." for your next steps.

 

  • When you see the Setup Completed screen, click Finish.

See also:

Additional keywords: Install standalone, Standalone install, Download and install

Last edited: 2020-03-23

1.2. Scripting the 7.x/8.x Standalone Install

Applies to:
All standalone products, releases 7.x/8.x

If you have a Concurrent Network, Enterprise Network, or networked Course License, see Scripting the Client Install. If you're scripting the independent workstation configuration of a Course License, see Scripting the 8.x Course License Workstation Install.

How can I script release 7.x/8.x of @RISK, The DecisionTools Suite, or other Palisade software for a silent or unattended install?

To get an MSI installer for standalone (non-networked) versions, please email Technical Support, and in your request include the product name, one of your serial numbers, and the three-digit version that you want to install. You will receive a standalone installer whose name does not include "-cust-", with the one exception noted below.

Before running the Palisade MSI on an end-user computer, you must install the prerequisites listed in Microsoft Components Required for Palisade 7.x Software Install or Microsoft Components Required for Palisade 8.x Software Install.

The command lines for typical MSI installs are shown below:

With user interface:

msiexec /i (installername).msi

Without user interface — activated license:

msiexec /i (installername).msi
/qn [USERNAME="First Last"]
[COMPANYNAME="ABC Corporation"]
PALACTIVATIONID=ActivationID

[ ] indicate optional parameters; don't place [ ] on the command line. The installer will attempt to activate the software during install, but will not display a success or failure message. If anything prevents the activation — lack of Internet access, a restrictive firewall, Activation ID already activated, etc. — the software will be installed as a fully functional trial with 15 days of use. A trial version will prompt you for activation via our License Manager each time you run it. To continue using it beyond the 15 days, activate it with an Activation ID from Palisade.

Without user interface — trial version:

In most installations, every desktop will have a different Activation ID. Therefore, you probably don't want to include the Activation ID in the install script.

msiexec /i (installername).msi
/qn [USERNAME="First Last"]
[COMPANYNAME="ABC Corporation"]

[ ] indicate optional parameters; don't place [ ] on the command line. The software will be installed as a fully functional trial with 15 days of use. To continue using it beyond the 15 days, activate it with an Activation ID from Palisade. The software will prompt you for activation via our License Manager each time you run it.

Without user interface — certificate license:

The installer will have "-cust-" in its name. Have the certificate in the same folder as the installer, and execute this command:

msiexec /i (installername).msi /qn

(The silent install is not available with textbook versions.)

Variation — no desktop icons:

The attended install has a checkbox for putting shortcuts on the desktop. In the silent install, to suppress those desktop shortcuts (equivalent to removing the check mark from the box), add the DTOPSHORTCUTS=0 parameter on the command line.

Variation — non-English install:

See Silent Install of Non-English 7.x Software.

Last edited: 2020-03-25

1.3. Scripting the 8.x Course License Workstation Install

Applies to MSI installer for:
Course License end-user software (independent workstation only) 6.x/7.x/8.x

To script a client/server network install of a course license, see Scripting the Client Install.

How can I script the install for my course license, if I've chosen the independent workstation configuration?

For SCCM installs or other forms of scripting, you probably want an MSI installer. Please contact Palisade Technical Support to request one, and please include your serial number with your request. When you get the link, make certain that the file includes "-cust-" in its name.

Your script must install the prerequisite software before installing our software from an MSI installer. See the appropriate one of these articles:

For the client install, you will need the Palisade_Course.lic file that was emailed to you when you bought the course license. That file should be in a local folder, not necessarily the same folder with the installer. The following commands use C:\TEMP; please substitute the actual folder that contains the Palisade_Course.lic file. It must be the actual path—constructs like .\ won't work.

  • With user interface:

    msiexec /i installername.msi SETUPEXEDIR=C:\TEMP

  • Without user interface (silent install):

    msiexec /i installername.msi SETUPEXEDIR=C:\TEMP /qn USERNAME="firstname lastname" COMPANYNAME="company"

    Specify user name and company name as you wish them to appear on the software's About screen.

Either way, replace C:\TEMP following SETUPEXEDIR with the actual folder that contains Palisade_Course.lic. It must be the actual path; ".\" and similar won't work. Guidelines for the SETUPEXEDIR folder:

  • The folder can be different from the folder where the installer MSI file is located, but it should still be on the local computer.
  • UNC path names are not recommended. The local SYSTEM account used by SCCM is typically unable to resolve UNC paths.
  • Avoid special characters like @ in path names.
  • Even spaces in the path might be a problem. We have had one report that the path cannot contain spaces, even if quoted, but possibly that failure was actually due to another issue.

Variation — no desktop shortcuts:

The attended install has a checkbox for putting shortcuts on the desktop. To suppress those desktop shortcuts (equivalent to removing the check mark from the box), add the DTOPSHORTCUTS=0 parameter:

msiexec /i installername.msi SETUPEXEDIR=C:\TEMP /qn USERNAME="firstname lastname" COMPANYNAME="company" DTOPSHORTCUTS=0

Additional keywords: Scripted install, Silent install, MSI install, MSI installer, SETUPEXEDIR

Last edited: 2020-03-19

1.4. Silent Install of 6.x Standalone Software

Disponible en español: Instalación silenciosa de software individual 6.x
Disponível em português: Instalação silenciosa do software Standalone 6.x

Applies to:  All standalone products, releases 6.x

If you have release 7.x, see Scripting the 7.x Standalone Install.

How can I script release 6.x @RISK, The DecisionTools Suite, or other 6.x versions of Palisade software for a silent or unattended install?

Standalone version silent install with activation:

If you have an Activation ID and want to activate the software during install, use this format, all on one line:

(installername).exe /s /v/qn
/v"USERNAME=\"George Washington\""
/v"COMPANYNAME=\"Palisade Corporation\""
/v"PALACTIVATIONID=DNA-6000000-12345-ABC"

(Every tag=data item after a /v must be enclosed in quotes. Within those quotes, any data item that contains spaces must be enclosed in \"...\".)

The installer will attempt to activate the software during install, but will not display a success or failure message. If anything prevents the activation — lack of Internet access, a restrictive firewall, Activation ID already activated, etc. — the software will be installed as a fully functional trial with 15 days of use. To continue using it beyond the 15 days, activate it with an Activation ID from Palisade. The software will prompt you for activation via our License Manager each time you run it.

Standalone version silent install without activation:

(installername).exe /s /v/qn

The product will be installed as a fully functional trial with 15 days of use. To continue using it beyond the 15 days, activate it with an Activation ID from Palisade. The software will prompt you for activation via our License Manager when you run it.

Standalone version silent install with certificate license:

The installer will have "cust" in its name. Have the certificate in the same folder as the installer, and execute this command:

(installername).exe /s /v/qn

(The silent install is not available with textbook versions.)

Variation (no desktop icons):

The attended install has a checkbox for putting shortcuts on the desktop. To suppress those desktop shortcuts (equivalent to removing the check mark from the box), add the /v"DTOPSHORTCUTS=0" parameter. Here's a sample standalone install with desktop icons suppressed:

(installername).exe /s /v/qn
/v"USERNAME=\"George Washington\""
/v"COMPANYNAME=\"Palisade Corporation\""
/v"DTOPSHORTCUTS=0"
/v"PALACTIVATIONID=DNA-6000000-12345-ABC"

See also:

Our configuration management system wants to use MSI-type installers for pushing software to clients, but your installer is an EXE. Can I extract the MSI file and use it?

For 6.2 and later:

This section applies to standalone workstation licenses other than course licenses. For course licenses being installed on standalone workstations, please see the the follow-up section of Silent Install of 6.x Network Client, even if you have chosen the workstation configuration.

Beginning with 6.2, Technical Support can supply an MSI installer on request. You will receive an installer whose name does not include "cust".

Before running the Palisade MSI on an end-user computer, install the prerequisites listed in Microsoft Components Required for Palisade 6.x Software Install.

The command lines for the MSI installer are:

  • With user interface:
    msiexec /i (installername).msi

  • Without user interface:

    msiexec /i (installername).msi
    /qn [USERNAME="First Last"]
    [COMPANYNAME="ABC Corporation"]
    [PALACTIVATIONID=ActivationID]

    [ ] enclose optional parameters; don't place [ ] on the command line.

For 6.0 and 6.1:

We don't supply MSIs, but you can extract the MSI installer as follows:

  1. Run the EXE installer past the point where it extracts the MSI, but don't click the final Install button.
  2. The MSI is extracted to your %TEMP% folder. You can copy (not move) it from there while the installer is waiting for you to respond.
  3. After copying the MSI file, cancel the install.

Once you have the MSI installer, before running it on an end-user computer you need to install the prerequisites listed in Microsoft Components Required for Palisade 6.x Software Install.

Last edited: 2015-07-09

1.5. Silent Install of 5.x Standalone Software

Applies to:
Palisade standalone software releases 5.x
If you have release 6.x, please see Silent Install of 6.x Standalone Software.

Question:
How can I script release 5.x @RISK, The DecisionTools Suite, or other 5.x versions of Palisade software for a silent or unattended install?

Solution:
Beginning with release 5.0, we use Microsoft's Windows Installer (.MSI format) via InstallShield wrapper (for the .EXE), and you should not have to script at all. Pertinent properties have been made public so you can pass them through the installer command line.   Caution: Since environments tend to be different and testing cannot encompass all environments, we strongly encourage testing before any major roll out.  Please see later in this article for two potential problems.

For The DecisionTools Suite 5.x, a silent install will install all components. We do not offer a command-line property to install only selected components.

To install any 5.x standalone (non-network) version and prompt the user to enter the Activation ID, use this command:

(installer program name).exe /s /v"/qn"

If you prefer to embed the Activation ID in the command rather than have users enter it, specify it this way:

(installer program name).exe /s /v"ACTIVATIONID=this-user's-Activation-ID /qn"

Variation (passive install):

For any of the above commands, if you want a progress bar rather than a completely silent install, /qb instead of /qn will do that.  If you make it /qb+ rather than /qn, you get a progress bar during install and a modal dialog at the end to announce that installation was successful.

Variation (no desktop icons):

The attended install has a checkbox for putting shortcuts on the desktop.  To suppress those desktop shortcuts (equivalent to removing the check mark from the box), add the DTOPSHORTCUTS=0 parameter inside the quotes.  For example, here's a specimen standalone install:

setup.exe /s /v"DTOPSHORTCUTS=0 SERIAL=5999999 COMPANYNAME=\"Palisade Corp.\" ACTIVATIONID=40-5999999-AB12XY-P17 /qr"

Problems?
See Problems in Silent Install.

last edited: 2013-01-03

1.6. Transferring Standalone Software 6.x/7.x/8.x to a New Computer

Disponible en español: Cómo transferir software de Palisade 6.x/7.x (Standalone) a un nuevo equipo
Disponível em português: Transferindo o Software "Standalone" versão 6.x/7.x para um novo computador

Applies to:  All standalone (non-networked) Palisade software, releases 6.x/7.x/8.x
(If you have a 5.x release, please see Transferring Standalone Software 5.x to a New Computer.)

How can I transfer my Palisade software, standalone release 6.x/7.x/8.x, to a new computer?
or
How can I preserve the license while I reformat my computer or install a new version of Windows?

Important: If you're simply uninstalling and reinstalling Palisade software on the same computer, without reimaging the computer, don't use this procedure but use Shorter Uninstall and Reinstall of Palisade 6.x/7.x Software instead.

The procedure for transferring between computers is the same as the procedure for reformatting a computer. If you are reformatting, just think "before reformatting' and "after reformatting" when you read "old computer" and "new computer" below.

You can find a video with a short version of these instructions below. 

(Please note that this can be done only once in any 90-day period. If you have a short-term need, you can install the software and use it for 15 days as a trial, no more than once on any computer. Just click "Close" when the activation dialog appears, and you have full functionality.)

First, deactivate the software from your old computer, as follows:

  1. Run the software on the old computer and in the @RISK ribbon menu click Help » License Manager (For @RISK version 7 or older). In @RISK version 8, click @RISK (first button from left to right) » License Manager. (If you have already uninstalled the software and it is still activated, unfortunately, you will have to reinstall it so that you can deactivate it. If you're not sure whether it's still activated, Technical Support at support@palisade.com can find out for you. If the old computer is broken, so that you cannot deactivate the software, please contact Technical Support.)

    Note: The software can't be run via remote login. However, you can deactivate it via remote login.

  2. Write down the Activation ID that is displayed, unless you already have a record of it. You will need it when you activate the software on the new computer.

  3. Click Deactivate.  If you have an Internet connection, click Automatic.  If you have no Internet, or if Automatic Deactivation fails, click Manual and follow the instructions on screen. Deactivation is not complete until you receive a success message.

  4. After deactivating the software on your old computer, you can uninstall it in Control Panel » Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs (requires full administrative rights), or leave it installed but inactive.

Next, install and activate the software, using the same Activation ID that you just deactivated.. If you need an installer, please contact Technical Support. Include your serial number in your email so that we can send you the correct installer.

  • If the software is already installed on the new computer, run it.  You'll be presented with a trial dialog; click License Manager and then Activate, and follow the instructions on your screen.

    (If your trial version has already expired, License Manager will come up automatically when you run the software; click Activate and follow the instructions on screen.)

  • If the software is not yet installed on your new computer, install it. (This requires full administrative rights.)  Supply the Activation ID when the installer prompts you, and if possible the software will be activated during install.

    If the installer is not able to activate the software, it will tell you.  In that case, after the installation, run the software and click License Manager » Activate.  Enter your Activation ID, click Manual Activation, and follow the instructions on screen.  

Please keep track of which Activation ID is activated on which computer. Palisade Technical Support has no way to find this information, so your records are a critical part of managing your licenses.

There is an instructional video available here: How to move a license from one computer to another one. 
 
Note: If you have any difficulties, please contact Palisade Technical Support with your Activation ID and a screenshot of any error messages.  A valid and active maintenance contract is needed when contacting support, if maintenance is expired, support will be denied and referred to your Sales Manager for license renewal.

Last edited: 2023-02-23

1.7. Transferring Standalone Software 5.x to a New Computer

Disponible en español: Cómo transferir software de Palisade 5.x (Standalone) a un nuevo equipo
Disponível em português: Como Transferir um Software Independente 5.x da Palisade para um Novo Computador

Applies to: All standalone (non-networked) Palisade software, releases 5.x
(Please see Transferring Standalone Software 6.x/7.x to a New Computer for 6.x/7.x standalone, Transferring Palisade 5.x Concurrent Network Software to a New Server for 5.x networks, and Transferring Standalone Software 1.x/4.x to a New Computer for standalone 1.x and 4.x releases.)

How can I transfer my Palisade software, standalone release 5.x, to a new computer?
or
How can I preserve the license while I reformat my computer or install a new version of Windows?

The procedure for transferring between computers is the same as the procedure for reformatting a computer. If you are reformatting, just think "before reformatting" and "after reformatting" when you read "old computer" and "new computer" below.

The transfer is a three-stage process: deactivate the software on the old computer (or before reimaging the computer), install the software on the new computer (or after reimaging), and activate the software.

Transfers can be done just once in 90 days. If you need to use the software only briefly on a particular computer, just install it and use it for up to 15 days as a trial, no more than once on any computer. Just click "Close" when the activation dialog appears, and you have full functionality.

Caution: Before you transfer, check the versions of Excel and Windows that are compatible with your Palisade software. If your new computer does not have compatible Windows and Excel, please contact your Palisade sales office to obtain a software upgrade.

Deactivating the software:

Caution: A given Activation ID can be deactivated only once in any 90-day period. If you try to deactivate a license less than 90 days after the previous deactivation, it will become unusable.

Currently, a bug in the Flexera database code prevents automatic and Web deactivations of version 5.x licenses. Therefore, we are currently processing all 5.x deactivations in Tech Support at no charge, whether you have maintenance or not. Deactivation can be automatic or manual, depending on your computer's connection to the Internet. This procedure covers both possibilities:

1. Run the software on the old computer, and in the menu click Help » License Activation. (If you have already uninstalled the software and it is still activated, unfortunately you will have to reinstall it so that you can deactivate it. If the old computer is broken, so that you cannot deactivate the software, please contact Technical Support. You may need to upgrade to our latest version to put the software on your new computer.

Note: The software can't be run via remote login. However, if you have version 5.7, you can deactivate it via remote login. Click Start » All Programs (or Programs) » Palisade DecisionTools » Palisade License Manager.

2. Write down the Activation ID that is displayed, unless you already have a record of it.

Caution: As soon as you confirm that you want to deactivate, by clicking OK to the prompt, the software becomes unusable on this computer and cannot be activated on any other computer. The only way to make the license available for activation again is to finish the deactivation procedure.

3. If you're connected to the Internet, click Automatic Deactivation and then OK. In a few seconds you should see a message that the deactivation was successful. Skip step 4 and continue at step 5.

4. If you're not connected to the Internet, or if the Automatic Deactivation fails for any reason, you'll need to do a Manual Deactivation:

  1. Click Manual Deactivation » OK » Save Request File. Save the DeactivationRequest file to your desktop or another location where you can find it. A message will tell you to email the deactivation request file; click OK and attach the request file to an email to Palisade Technical Support. We will process the deactivation and send you a new Activation ID for use on the new computer. (Ordinarily, a new Activation ID would not be needed, but because of the database bug we have to create one when you send us the deactivation request file.) but don't email anything. Don't close the Manual Activation [Deactivation] window.
  2. Visit our Manual Activation/Deactivation Web page. Click the Browse button and browse to your request file, then click Submit Request File.
  3. You should get a status of OK. Click Save Response File, and save the response file to your desktop or any convenient location. Come back to the Palisade software on your computer, and click Load Response File and Deactivate Now. Browse to the response file and click Open. You should then see a pop-up, "Manual Deactivation successful". Close the License Activation window.

5. After you follow this deactivation procedure on your old computer, you can uninstall the software in Control Panel » Add or Remove Programs or Programs and Features (requires full administrative rights), or leave it installed but inactive.

Installing the software:

6. If the software isn't already on your new computer, install it. This requires full administrative rights: right-click the installer and select Run As Administrator. During install, leave the box for Activation ID blank. We recommend that you make sure that the software works in its new installation, and then activate it as a separate step.

If you need an installer, please contact Technical Support. Include your serial number in your email so that we can send you the correct installer.

Activating the software:

7. When you launch the software, as a trial version, it will display a trial prompt, giving you the choice of Purchase Now and Continue with Trial. To activate the software, click Purchase Now; you won't be charged any money. (If you're already running the software, click Help » License Activation.)

8. The Palisade License Activation dialog will pop up. Check the Product and make sure it's the right one for your Activation ID. Enter your Activation ID.

9. If you're connected to the Internet, click Automatic Activation and enter your original activation ID. In a few seconds you should see a message that the activation was successful. With that, your transfer is complete.

10. If you're not connected to the Internet, or the automatic activation fails for any reason, you'll need to do a Manual Activation:

  1. Click Manual Activation, and on the next screen click Save Request File. Save the request file to your desktop or any convenient location.
  2. Visit our Manual Activation/Deactivation Web page. Click the Browse button and browse to your ActivationRequest file, then click Submit Request File.
  3. On the next screen you should have an OK status. (If not, please read the error message and take corrective action, then start the activation again.) Click Save Response File, and save the file to your desktop or any convenient location. Notice the file name. If it's ResponseConf, continue with step d; if it's ResponseAct, jump to step h below.
  4. Come back to the Palisade software on your computer, and click Load Response File and Activate Now. Browse to your ResponseConf file, and click Open.
  5. You will get a pop-up, "Manual Activation Successful", but the activation is not complete. (The first activation on a new computer needs two request-response cycles.) Click OK and then click Manual Activation again, then click and save the new file. Windows may ask whether you want to replace the previous file; click Yes.
  6. Go back to the Manual Activation/Deactivation Web page. Click the Browse button and browse to your ActivationRequest file, then click Submit Request File.
  7. On the next screen you should have an OK status. (If not, please read the error message and take corrective action, then start the activation again.) Click Save Response File and save the file, which will be called ResponseAct.
  8. Come back to the Palisade software on your computer, and click Load Response File and Activate Now. Browse to your ResponseAct file, and click Open.
  9. The pop-up says "Manual Activation successful." Click OK, then Close. This concludes your license transfer.

Please keep track of which Activation ID is activated on which computer. Your records are a critical part of managing your licenses.

Additional keywords: Move license, Move software, Transfer license

Last edited: 2017-05-03

1.8. Transferring Standalone Software 1.x/4.x to a New Computer

Applies to:
All standalone (non-networked) Palisade software, releases 1.x and 4.x
(If you have a network license, please do not use these instructions, but contact Palisade with full details of your installation and planned move. For later releases, please see our Knowledge Books.)

Question:
How can I transfer my Palisade software, standalone release 1.x or 4.x, to a new computer?

Response:
You must have full administrative rights to uninstall or install our software. To run the software, regular user rights are enough.

To transfer a standalone copy of our software releases 1.x and 4.x to another computer:

  1. Uninstall from the old computer by using the Windows Add/Remove Programs feature. (You can skip this step if the old computer is being taken out of service.)

    1. Make sure no Microsoft Office applications are running.
    2. Make sure Palisade software is not running.
    3. Click the Windows Start button, then Settings, then Control Panel, then Add or Remove Programs or Programs and Features.
    4. Click on the product, then click Change/Remove.
    5. If you get a prompt about unused files, click "Yes to All".

  2. Install on the new computer:

    1. Use the same CD or download file you used the first time. If you can't find them, or if they are an old version, we can supply instructions for a fresh download from the Web. Please include your serial number with your request.
    2. Use your original serial number and key code when prompted during installation. Do not enter "Trial" for the serial number.

  3. Run the software on the new computer. Once you see that it is performing as expected, you will need to authorize it within 30 days after installing.(*) If you're connected to the Internet, click "Authorize Now", then "Automatic". The automatic authorization may or may not work, depending on several factors such as previous authorization history.

    (*)The authorization code from the old computer will not work on the new computer, and the ID code from the old computer won't help with authorizing the new computer.

  4. If the automatic authorization doesn't work, back up and click "Via Phone". You'll see a long ID code. (We can supply more detailed instructions if you wish.) Copy/paste the ID code into a text email to Palisade. Also include the end user's name and organization and a brief explanation of why you need a new authorization. We'll respond with an authorization code, which you can paste into the dialog box to complete the authorization process.

    If you prefer to read us the ID code over the phone, you can reach us at +1 607 277-8000 option 6.

If you anticipate the need to move a license frequently, or if you have several people who need to use the software now and then, we encourage the use of network licenses. This permits the software to be installed on as many individual machines as you like. The only limit is on how many people can be using the software at the same time.

last edited: 2012-11-24

1.9. Course License after Trial Version

Applies to: DecisionTools Suite, release 6.x and newer

I installed a trial of the DecisionTools Suite, and now I have a course license file from my college or university. Do I need to do a full install?

No, that's not necessary. You can just apply the course license to your existing install, like this:

  1. Close any open copies of Excel.
  2. Move the Palisade_Course.lic file to the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Palisade\System or C:\Program Files\Palisade\System, whichever exists. Windows might pop up a prompt requiring you to give permission—if that happens, answer Yes or OK.
  3. Launch any one of the tools in the DecisionTools Suite. If License Manager doesn't open on its own, you'll get a popup with a License Manager button; click that button.
  4. Click Select License, click on your course license in the list, and click OK. All tools in the Suite will automatically be configured to use that same license.

Last edited: 2018-09-13

1.10. DecisionTools Suite License after Trial of @RISK

Applies to: DecisionTools Suite, releases 6.x and later

I downloaded and installed a trial of @RISK. But I decided to buy the full DecisionTools Suite. I have my email from Palisade with a download link and Activation ID. What should I do?

There's no need to uninstall @RISK. Just install the Suite, using the link you received. During install, watch for the Customer Information Screen. On that screen, change "15-day trial" to "I want to activate." Copy your Activation ID from the email you received (Ctrl+C) and paste it into the blank at the bottom of the Customer Information screen.

Last edited: 2018-09-13

2. Activation (6.x/7.x/8.x)

2.1. Activating Palisade 6.x/7.x/8.x Standalone Software

Disponible en español: Activación del Software Palisade 6.x/7.x (Licencias Individuales)
Disponível em português: Ativando Software Palisade 6.x/7.x Standalone

Applies to:
All non-networked versions, releases 6.x/7.x/8.x
(This does not apply to @RISK for Project, the Developer Kits, and other 1.x or 4.x releases.)

Procedure:
(During the install, you're prompted for an activation ID. If you enter it, the software will try to activate itself. If this succeeds, you will not see an activation prompt when you launch the software, and you can ignore the rest of this article.)

1. Launch the software. A window will appear showing the number of days remaining in your trial. Click Continue with Trial to test the software but defer activating, or click License Manager to bring up the Palisade License Manager window and activate the software. (If your trial period has expired, the Palisade License Manager window will appear with no trial window.)

2. On the Palisade License Manager screen, click Activate, then when prompted fill in your Activation ID, including hyphens. (If possible, copy/paste the Activation ID from the email you received, rather than try to retype it.) If you get a message about a mismatched product, don't select Continue. You have installed the wrong product for your license, or you're using a wrong Activation ID for this product. Contact your IT department or Palisade for assistance.

3. Click Automatic Activation. It may take up to 60 seconds for a response from our server, if a connection can be made. If you get a success message, your activation is complete. Click OK, and you can begin using the software.

If Automatic Activation fails, there are several possible reasons: Maybe this license is already activated and has not been deactivated? Maybe your firewall won't let your computer complete the transaction with Palisade's server? Maybe the computer isn't connected to the Internet? Maybe you don't have full administrative rights? The software should tell you the nature of the problem.

If the license is already activated, you need to deactivate it on the other computer before you can activate it on this one. If that is impossible, please contact tech-support@lumivero.com for assistance and include your full Activation ID and a summary of the circumstances. If Automatic Activation fails for any other reason, please follow the Manual Activation procedure.

Manual Activation

Verify the Activation ID in the Palisade License Activation window and click Manual Activation » Save Request File. Save the file somewhere where you can find it easily. Then click the Web or Email button in the software to send the file to Palisade. The Web method is usually faster, because you don't have to wait for someone to reply to an email. When you get the response file, via web or Email, load it into the software.

Please note: If this is the first Palisade activation on this computer, Manual Activation requires a second request-response cycle. The License manager will guide you through this if it's required.

 

Manual Activation — No Internet

If this computer has no Internet, the easiest thing is to take the Request File on a USB stick to a computer that does have Internet, and then submit it on our Web site or email it to Technical Support.

Is your computer in a secured area? For security reasons, are you prohibited from taking files from it to an unsecured computer? In that case, please contact Technical Support to request a workstation certificate license. In the email, please include:

  • A brief description of the circumstances.
  • Your Activation ID.
  • To the best of your knowledge, how long the software will be used on this same computer.
  • The Host ID from the computer where the software is installed. To find this, run the software. If License Manager does not come up spontaneously, select it from the Help menu. In License Manager, click the magnifying glass at lower left, and then on the Advanced Options screen click the Host ID button. We need the 12-digit FLEXnet Host ID from the third line of the display window, and the HOSTNAME from the last line.

Please don't request a workstation certificate unless you need to. Certificate licenses are less flexible than regular activatable licenses. They are less easily transferred, and they must be renewed at least once a year.

Review or Change Licenses

At any time in the software, click Help and then License Manager to review your license. If you have other licenses on this same computer, you can view them by clicking Select License.

Additional keywords: Activate, How to activate, Activation procedure

last edited: 2020-03-20

2.2. Getting a Standalone Certificate License

Disponible también en Español: Obtener una licencia Individual certificada

Applies to: All products, release 6.x/7.x/8.x standalone certificate licenses
(If you have a network certificate license, see Step 3: Get License Certificate.)

Why would I want a certificate license for my standalone software, as opposed to the regular activatable license?

Some customers have security restrictions and are unable to send XML files from their computers to perform the Manual Activation. Others may have other software installed that is incompatible with the activatable license (called "trusted storage" by FLEXnet). For these customers, we offer a certificate license as an alternative. We always start with a 30-day certificate on a new PC. At any time during the 30 days, you confirm to us that the license is working, and we then issue a production certificate license for the same PC. Certificates are issued for a maximum of a year at a time and are renewed free of charge.

The choice of certificate or activatable license is strictly a matter of licensing; there is no difference in the operation of the software.

How do I get a certificate license?

You'll send an email to Lumivero Technical Support with two items of information: your serial number and your Host ID. The serial number is in the email you received from Palisade when you bought the software, and you find the Host ID as follows:

  1. If you haven't already installed the software, install it by right-clicking the installer and selecting Run As Administrator.
  2. Launch the software, and on the popup click License Manager.
  3. In License Manager in version 8, your host ID will be listed. In older versions, click the magnifying glass near the bottom left corner, then on the next screen click Host ID.
  4. A Notepad window will open. Look at the third line, which begins The FLEXnet host ID of this machine is. Include the twelve-digit number from that line in your email to Technical Support. If there are two or more numbers, include only the first one. (If you prefer, just copy/paste the whole line into your email.)

Are you getting certificates for more than one serial number? You can do some now and some later, but please include one Host ID per serial number in your email.

Technical Support will respond with your license certificate(s).

What do I do with the certificate?

  1. If Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project is running, close all instances.
  2. Save the Palisade_Standalone.lic file to the System folder under your Palisade installation folder. By default, this is either C:\Program Files (x86)\Palisade\System or C:\Program Files\Palisade\System. If another file of the same name exists in that folder, overwrite it.
  3. Launch the Palisade software. If License Manager does not come up spontaneously, click the License Manager button (if you get a box describing a trial version) or click Help » License Manager (if the software launches).
  4. The box in License Manager should say that you are using a certificate with the expiration date mentioned in the email Technical Support sent you. If so, the certificate is installed and working.
  5. If License Manager still shows a trial license, or no available license, click Select License and select the certificate when it appears in the list. (The license selection is remembered for each user, so if you're an IT person, the end user will need to do it also.)
  6. If this is your first certificate on this PC, reply to Technical Support's email to verify that the license works, and they will send you a production certificate for this PC.

Last edited: 2020-03-19

2.3. After Reset, Can't Load Response File (Standalone License)

Applies to: Standalone licenses 6.x/7.x/8.x

Oops! I clicked Reset, and now I can't get back to the Manual Deactivation screen to load the response file.

In this case, you must use a back-door method to finish the deactivation.

  1. Save the deactivation response file to some folder on this server, such as C:\Windows\Temp. (Caution! You need the response file, ResponseDAct.xml, which you received from Palisade, not the request file that you generated locally.)

  2. Launch the Palisade software and click Help » License Manager. In @RISK verison 8, click @RISK » License Manager. Click the magnifying glass at the lower left. The Advanced Options screen will open. On that screen, click Execute.

  3. Enter the command
    -process "C:\WindowsTemp\ResponseDAct.xml"
    including the leading hyphen. (If you used a different folder in step 1, use it here also.)

  4. After a few seconds, a Notepad window will open. If the word SUCCESSFULLY appears near the end of the output, the deactivation is complete. Close Advanced Options and the Notepad window, and click Refresh on the main screen.

  5. If SUCCESSFULLY does not appear, please email Palisade Technical Support, and include these items:

    • Give your software serial number in the text of your email.
    • Save the Notepad file with the results of the process command, and attach it to your email.
    • Click the View button, save the new Notepad file that it displays, and attach that to your email also.

Last edited: 2020-03-20

3. Activation (5.x/4.x/1.x)

3.1. Activating Palisade 5.x Standalone Software

Applies to:
All non-networked versions, releases 5.x
(This does not apply to @RISK for Project, the Developer Kits, and other 1.x or 4.x releases. If you have release 6.0 or newer, please see Activating Palisade 6.x/7.x Standalone Software.)

Caution! Version 5 Activation IDs all begin with two characters, 0 through 6 and then 0–9 or A–F.

If your Activation ID begins with three letters, don't use it with version 5 software. Contact Palisade Technical Support with your Activation ID, and they will send you the right installer.

How can I activate my release 5.0, 5.5, or 5.7 Palisade software?

During the install, you're prompted for an activation ID.  If you enter it, the software will try to activate itself. If this succeeds, you will not see an activation prompt when you launch the software, and you can ignore the rest of this article.

1. Launch the software.  A window will appear showing the number of days remaining in your trial.  Click Continue with Trial to test the software but defer activating, or click Purchase to bring up the Palisade License Activation window and activate now.  (If your trial period has expired, the Palisade License Activation window will appear with no trial window.)

2. On the Palisade License Activation screen, fill in your Activation ID, including hyphens.  (If possible, copy/paste the Activation ID from the email you received, rather than try to retype it.)  If another Activation ID is already filled in and the software won't let you change it, please contact support@palisade.com for assistance and include a screen shot plus your new Activation ID.

3. Click Automatic Activation.  It may take up to 60 seconds for a response from our server, if a connection can be made.  If you get a message about a mismatched product, stop!.  You have installed the wrong product for your license, or you're using a wrong Activation ID for this product.  Contact your IT department or Palisade for assistance.

4. If you get the message "Automatic Activation Successful", your activation is complete.  Click OK.  (The Palisade License Activation screen may or may not repaint itself, and may still show a Trial status.  If so, close it and then in the software click Help » License Activation to verify that the status is now activated.)

If Automatic Activation fails, there are several possible reasons: Maybe this license is already activated and has not been deactivated?  Maybe your firewall won't let your computer complete the transaction with Palisade's server?  Maybe the computer isn't connected to the Internet? Maybe you don't have full administrative rights?

If the license is already activated, you need to deactivate it on the other computer before you can activate it on this one.  If that is impossible, please contact support@palisade.com for assistance, including your full Activation ID and a summary of the circumstances.  If Automatic Activation fails for any other reason, please follow the Manual Activation procedure.

Manual Activation

Verify the Activation ID in the Palisade License Activation window and click Manual Activation » Save Request File.  Save the file somewhere where you can find it easily.

  • Manual Activation via Web is available to all customers, using our activation Web site at https://activations.palisade.com/useractivation. Please pay particular attention to any instructions that may appear in red. If this is the first time you're activating Palisade software on this computer, the red text will direct you to perform a second request-response cycle, even though you get "Manual Activation Successful" after entering the first response file in the software on your computer.

  • Manual Activation via email is also available to you if you have a current maintenance contract. If you choose this route, email your request file to support@palisade.com. Tech Support will process it for you and send you further directions to complete the activation. If a second cycle is required, they will guide you.

When you have completed the full Manual Activation, including a second request-response cycle if required, you can click Help » License Activation in the software and you should see a status of Activated.

Last edited: 2017-09-22

3.2. I Bought Your Software, But When I Open It I'm Asked to Purchase (5.x)

Applies to:
All products, release 5.x

Problem:
I downloaded and installed the software after purchasing it.  Everything seemed to go okay, but when I try to run it I get a "License Activation" screen. There are Automatic Activation and Manual Activation buttons, but they are grayed out.  It looks like I have to click Purchase, but I don't want to buy the software twice.

Response:
You have not activated your software.  First, make sure you have the right product installed: check the product and edition in the upper left corner of the License Activation screen, and make sure it matches the license that you purchased.  If not, uninstall the incorrect product and install the correct one.  Technical Support at tech-support@palisade.com can assist you if you're uncertain.

You should have received an Activation ID via email or with your installer disk. Please copy/paste the Activation ID into the Activation ID box on the License Activation screen, or carefully type it in with the hyphens.  (There are no letters O or I in an Activation ID; those are digits zero or one.)

After you enter an Activation ID, the Automatic Activation and Manual Activation buttons will become active.  If you're connected to the Internet, click Automatic Activation and in about 60 seconds you should get an "Activation Successful".  If you're not connected to the Internet or if Automatic Activation fails for any reason, please click Manual Activation and point your Web browser at https://activations.palisade.com/useractivation.  That Web script will guide you through the Manual Activation process.

last edited: 2014-01-10

3.3. Activation Fails with "This license may already be activated on another computer." (5.x)

Applies to:
DecisionTools Suite 5.x
@RISK 5.x
Evolver 5.x
NeuralTools 5.x
PrecisionTree 5.x
StatTools 5.x
TopRank 5.x

Problem:
When I try an activation, I get the message "Activation failed - this license may already be activated on another computer". But this is my first install, so there's no way it's active on another computer.

Response:
This message may be triggered by any of several different reasons, and should be interpreted simply as "Activation failed for some reason."  Here are several possible causes and cures.

If you were trying an Automatic Activation:

  • Maybe you have entered an invalid Activation ID.  We recommend that you copy/paste the Activation ID from the email you received, and not try to retype it.  If you do have to retype it, please check every character carefully, including the hyphens.
  • Maybe your computer couldn't complete the transaction with Palisade's server, perhaps because of a corporate firewall or because the computer isn't connected to the Internet. If that's the case, you can adjust your firewall settings and try Automatic Activation again, or proceed immediately to Manual Activation. Before trying Automatic Activation again, please add http://*.palisade.com to the exceptions list or allowed list (terms vary) in your firewall program and also to the "Trusted Sites" list in Internet Explorer.  But rather than mess with your firewall settings, you may find it easier just to do Manual Activation.
  • Maybe you don't have full administrative rights on this computer.  Please ask your IT department to do the activation for you, by signing on as a full administrator.
  • Maybe the license truly has been activated on another computer, and you just weren't aware of it.  Palisade Sales or Technical Support can check that for you.

If you were trying a Manual Activation:

  • Maybe you have entered an invalid Activation ID.  We recommend that you copy/paste the Activation ID from the email you received, and not try to retype it.  If you do have to retype it, please check every character carefully, including the hyphens.
  • Maybe you are submitting the wrong file through Load Response File.  The correct file will have "Response" in its name, not "Request".
  • Maybe you don't have full administrative rights on this computer.  Please ask your IT department to do the activation for you, by signing on as a full administrator.

last edited: 2014-01-10

3.4. Activation Fails with "The activation request text box is empty." (5.x)

Applies to:
Palisade software release 5.x, standalone versions

Problem:
I'm unable to perform an Automatic Activation.  When I try Manual Activation and click Save Request File, I get the message "The activation request text box is empty."

Response:
Most likely this is a permissions problem. Ask your IT people to log on using a full administrative account (not local admin or domain admin, but full admin). They may be able to perform the Automatic Activation, but if not then the Manual Activation should work. After saving the request file, they can complete the activation at https://activations.palisade.com/useractivation. (Caution: The activation may take two passes. They should be on the lookout for red text that will appear on the Web site if a second pass is required for this computer.)

Activations are per machine, not per user. Even though IT was running with administrative privilege to perform the activation, when you log on as you the software will still be activated.

If IT gets the same error message, then there is something unusual about your disk preventing the license from being written.  The license, for an activated version or a trial version, is written to a non-file area of the local hard drive called Trusted Storage.  You may have a RAID, or it may be a networked drive or RAM drive, or you may have some software or policy settings that are interfering. In these cases, please contact Palisade Technical Support for assistance.

last edited: 2014-08-26

3.5. Activation Went Fine, But It Asks Me to Activate Again (5.x)

Applies to:
All Palisade software releases 5.x
For Palisade software releases 1.x and 4.x, please see Authorization Went Fine, But It Asks Me to Authorize Again (1.x/4.x).

Problem:
I activated my Palisade software, and it said "activation successful". Everything seemed fine and I did my work. But when I reopen the software, I again get a request to activate.

Solution:
First, please check that you have installed the correct product. Did you install @RISK when you actually bought the full DecisionTools Suite, or did you install a different edition (Standard, Professional, Industrial) from the one you bought? If so, please uninstall the incorrect product and install the correct one. Technical Support at support@palisade.com can check your product for you if you send your Activation ID and a screen shot of the License Activation screen.

If you activated manually, did you go through the sequence twice? For the first Manual Activation on a given computer, it is necessary to save request file, load response file, get the "Manual Activation Successful" popup message, then again save a new request file and load a new response file. The second "Successful" popup is the one that matters.

For more possible causes, see Activation Window Pops Up, But Software is Activated (5.x).

last edited: 2014-01-10

3.6. Activation Window Pops Up, But Software is Activated (5.x)

Applies to:
All products, releases 5.x

When I try to run my Palisade software, a Palisade License Activation screen pops up.  But I've already activated the software, and the window even says it's activated.  What is wrong?

There are several possibilities, but these are the most likely:

  • You may be trying to run a standalone copy remotely.  With our standalone licenses, you must be physically present at the computer where the software is installed.  If trying to run remotely, you get a FLEXnet error 103, a Palisade License Activation popup, or a "Method InitializeEx failed".

  • You may have installed a different product from the one that is licensed.  For example, if your license is for DecisionTools 5.x you have to install DecisionTools 5.x, not @RISK or StatTools or whatever as a separate product.  Also, we have different editions of our products (Industrial, Professional, and Standard for some products), and a license for one edition won't work for a different edition.  If you're not sure whether you have the correct product installed, please send a screen shot of the Palisade License Activation screen, showing the Activation ID, to Technical Support at tech-support@palisade.com.

  • You may have used an Activation ID that belongs with a later release. If your Activation ID begins with three letters, it belongs with release 6.x or 7.x of our software. Unfortunately, releases 5.x of our software will accept a 6.x/7.x Activation ID and activate it, but they can't actually use such a license.

    If you "activated" a 5.x version with a 6.x/7.x Activation ID, email Palisade Tech Support to ask for the correct installer; include your Activation ID in your email. Then, perform a Clean Uninstall and Reinstall of Palisade Software. During uninstall of 5.x, you don't want to deactivate the license. During install of 6.x or 7.x, on the Customer Information screen, change "15-day trial" to "I am upgrading or reinstalling." After the install, the software should pick up the activated license, but if it doesn't then open Help » License Manager, click Select License, and select your activated license.

  • Your computer may be a client in a network installation, and all of your company's network licenses are currently in use, or the software on your computer can't connect to your company's license server.  Check with your IT department to verify that the company isn't having network problems.  If that's not the cause, you will have to try the software again later, when someone else has stopped using it.  If you frequently need to run the software when no license is available, please contact your Palisade sales manager to purchase additional concurrencies.

For more possible causes, particularly if this happens during the first session after an activation, see Activation Went Fine, But It Asks Me to Activate Again (5.x).

Last edited: 2018-08-02

3.7. Changing a 5.x Standalone Copy to a Concurrent Network Client

Applies to:  Palisade software releases 5.x
(If you have 6.x software, please see Changing a 6.x Standalone Copy to a Concurrent Network Client.)

I have a user with an installed trial version, or an activated standalone version. How can I add that user to my Concurrent Network?

Yes, you can. Be aware that, after you convert a standalone copy to a network client, that user will need to be connected to your network to run the software. (There is a provision for temporary off-network use; see the "Borrowing" section of your network readme file.)

There are two methods to make the change: reinstall with the network information, or edit the System Registry. Either method can be done at the computer or via remote login.

Method 1: Reinstallation

  1. On the user's workstation, log on to Windows as a full administrator.

  2. Click Start » All Programs » Palisade DecisionTools » Palisade License Manager. If you see an activated license, write down the Activation ID and then deactivate it by the Automatic or Manual procedure. Do not proceed until you have deactivated the license and received a success message.

  3. Close the License Manager.

  4. There is no need to uninstall the standalone copy. Reinstall the software, but this time ensure that you have the Client.ini file in the same folder as the installer .exe program during the install.

Method 2: Registry Edit

  1. You will need the server name and the communications port number. The easiest way to get these is to look at the System Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\FLEXlm License Manager\PALISADE_LICENSE_FILE in an existing client. However, you can also get them from the server:

    • The server name is the Computer/Hostname from the System Settings tab of LMTools.
    • Look at the license file on the server. On the Server line, there are two or three fields after the word SERVER: a host name (possibly "this_host"), an Ethernet address (possibly "any"), and an optional communications port number. If no communications port number appears, then server and client negotiate one dynamically.

  2. On the user's workstation, log on to Windows as a full administrator.

  3. Click Start » All Programs » Palisade DecisionTools » Palisade License Manager. If you see an activated license, write down the Activation ID and then deactivate it by the Automatic or Manual procedure. Do not proceed until you have deactivated the license and received a success message..

  4. Close the License Manager.

  5. Open the System Registry and navigate to this key:
                HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\FLEXlm License Manager\PALISADE_LICENSE_FILE
    If you have 64-bit Windows, navigate to this key instead:
                HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\FLEXlm License Manager\PALISADE_LICENSE_FILE

  6. Change the key to the form portnumber@servername, such as
                27009@server1
    If there was no port number on the SERVER line in the license file, specify @servername only, such as
                @server1
    Either way, the @ sign is required.

  7. Now run the software, and it will get a network license if one is available. If no network license is available, or if the client cannot communicate with the server, the software wil not run.

On the server, to see when a given client starts and stops using the network license, run LMTools and on the Config Services tab click View Log.

Last edited: 2013-02-28

3.8. Authorization Went Fine, But It Asks Me to Authorize Again (1.x/4.x)

Applies to:
All Palisade software releases 1.x and 4.x
(For Palisade software releases 5.x, please see Activation Went Fine, But It Asks Me to Activate Again.)

Problem:
I authorized my Palisade software, and it said "fully authorized".  Everything seemed fine and I did my work.  But when I reopened the software, I again got a request to authorize.

Solution 1:
Palisade software versions 1.x and 4.x record authorizations in the System Registry, specifically in a subkey of the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key.  Some installations have implemented Windows security policies that do not allow regular users to update this key.  Please ask an IT person to log on as a full administrator and do the authorization using the same code.

An authorization applies to all users on a given computer, so you will then be able to run the software without getting prompted for authorization.

Solution 2:
If you authorized on a docking station, and the software works on the docking station but not when you're undocked (or vice versa), please contact Technical Support for assistance.

last edited: 2014-01-10

4. Upgrades

4.1. Upgrading to Version 8: Standalone Software 1.x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x or 7.x

Disponible en español: Actualización a la Versión 7: Software individual 1.x, 4.x, 5.x, o 6.x
Disponível em português: Atualizando para versão 7: Standalone: 1.x, 4.x, 5.x, ou 6.x

Applies to:
Palisade software releases 6.x and earlier, standalone licenses.

For upgrades from other releases or license types, please see Upgrading Palisade Software.

In general, you can upgrade for free if you have current maintenance. You can do some free upgrades yourself, but others will require assistance from Palisade; please see the appropriate section below.

If your maintenance has lapsed, please contact your Palisade sales manager to get a quote for the upgrade.

Regardless of your maintenance status, when you upgrade to 8.x from 7.x or earlier, you need a new Activation ID or a new license certificate. You cannot run version 8 software on a version 7 license, just as you cannot run version 7 software on a version 8 license.

Upgrading commercial and academic versions 5.x/6.x/7.x to 8.x:

If all of the following are true, you can upgrade yourself by using our Web script:

  • Your product is @RISK or the full DecisionTools Suite.
  • You have a current maintenance contract.
  • Your Activation ID is permanent. (Help » License Manager shows whether your license is permanent or has an expiration date.)

If any of these conditions aren't met, or if the script doesn't work for you, please contact your Palisade sales office for assistance in upgrading.

If the conditions are met, please follow this procedure:

  1. Please use our automated script at https://www.palisade.com/Updates/ to register for your upgrade. You'll receive a new serial number, a new activation ID, and a download link.

    If you have any problems with the script, please contact your Palisade sales office to obtain the upgrade.

  2. Download the software by copy/pasting the link into the address bar of your Web browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

    The link does not require a password. Any kind of authentication that might appear is coming from your end, so please ask your IT department for assistance.

  3. Run the installer (requires full administrative rights), and enter your new Activation ID when prompted.

    If you don't have full administrative rights, ask your IT department to install the software for you.

  4. If Automatic Activation fails during the install, it is probably a matter of your company's firewall. When you run the installed software, click License Manager on the first screen, then Activate » Manual Activation and follow the prompts on screen.

  5. If you have any Palisade software versions 7.x or older as active add-ins in Excel, remove them. Click File » Options » Add-Ins. At the bottom of the right-hand panel, click Go. Remove the tick marks for the old versions, and click OK. Add-ins are a per-user option, so this change needs to be made under the end user's profile.

    Our software does not need to be an active add-in, unless you want it to start every time Excel starts; see Opening Palisade Software Automatically Whenever Excel Opens.

  6. (optional) In Control Panel » Programs and Features (or Add or Remove Programs), uninstall the 5.x, 6.x or 7.x software.

    If you keep the older software installed, you can still run it but not at the same time as 8.x, not even in separate instances of Excel.

Your 8.x software is now installed and activated. The 5.x/6.x/7.x software is not usable on any other computer. Please replace your old 5.x/6.x/7.x serial number and Activation ID in your records with your new 8.x serial number and Activation ID.

Upgrading textbook versions 7.x to 8.x:

  1. Uninstall your current software in Control Panel » Programs and Features (or Add or Remove programs).

  2. Go to the link printed in your book, or enter your ISBN on our general textbooks page. Repeat the download and install.

Upgrading course licenses 7.x to 8.x:

Please ask your professor or IT person, whoever administers the course license, to contact Palisade for an upgrade of the whole course license.  Course licenses cannot be upgraded one user at a time.

Upgrading individual student licenses 7.x to 8.x:

These licenses cannot be upgraded. If you need the newer version, please go to our student order page to obtain a new license with a new expiration date.

Upgrading 1.x or 4.x software to 8.x:

Please contact your Palisade sales office for assistance. @RISK for Project 4.x will be upgraded to @RISK 7.x for Excel, which includes a Project component.

Last edited: 2020-03-26

4.2. Can I Uninstall Earlier Versions after Installing Release 6.x, 7.x, or 8.x of Palisade Software?

Applies to: All products, major upgrades to releases 6.0 and newer

After upgrading my software, I notice that the old icons are still there, and the old version still shows in Control Panel » Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs. Can I uninstall it?

When the first digit of the release number changes, we call this a major upgrade. When you perform a major upgrade, such as 7.x to 8.x, each major version has its own files and folders and will not interfere with the older version. If you want to free up a few hundred megabytes of disk space, you can uninstall the old major version in Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs.

An upgrade where only the second or third digit changes is a minor upgrade. A minor upgrade will overwrite the earlier version, for instance when upgrading from 7.0.0, 7.0.1 or 7.5.0 to 7.5.1. So you can't have two 6.x versions or two 7.x versions on the same computer.

Does that mean I can continue running old and new major versions in parallel?

Yes, but not at the same time, not even in different copies of Excel. If you have the old major version in Excel's list of Active add-ins, remove it so that it won't start automatically when you're trying to run the new major version. When you have no more need for the old major version, you can uninstall it in Control Panel without disturbing the new major version.

Because you surrendered your old license when getting the upgrade, there are some restrictions on the old version after your upgrade. While you can continue running the old major version on the same computer where it was already activated, you can't transfer it to another computer or reactivate it for any other reason.

See also: Upgrading to Version 7: Standalone Software 1.x, 4.x, 5.x, or 6.x

last edited: 2020-03-20

4.3. Can I Uninstall Earlier Versions after Installing Release 5.7 of Palisade Software?

Question:
After I upgraded to release 5.7 or 5.5 of Palisade software, I noticed that Control Panel's Programs and Features (Add or Remove Programs in Windows XP) shows both that one and an earlier release, such as 5.0 or 4.5.  Should I uninstall the earlier versions?

Response:
The 5.7 and 5.5 installers overwrites the earlier 5.x program files and shortcuts, so that the earlier version is actually not on your computer any more.  Unfortunately, the older version is still listed in Programs and Features.  Please do not uninstall the earlier version after installing 5.7 or 5.5: it may make the new version malfunction.

The "orphan" entry in Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs isn't doing any harm.  But if you would like to remove it, please see Microsoft's Knowledge Base article 314481, How to manually remove programs from the Add or Remove Programs tool.

The 5.x installers do not overwrite any program files and shortcuts from releases 1.x and 4.x.  The entries in Add or Remove Programs (Programs and Features) are legitimate. Releases 1.x and 4.x can coexist with 5.x on the same workstation, as long as you don't run them at the same time.  However, if you want to save disk space, you can uninstall releases 1.x or 4.x using that entry in Control Panel.  (The DecisionTools Suite 4.5 is alphabetized under T, not D.)

If you uninstall release 1.x or 4.x after installing 5.x, you will need to repair the 5.x release.  A repair is different from an uninstall/reinstall; please see Repair of Palisade Software for easy instructions.

last edited: 2016-07-05