Application preferences

You can set the following preferences in the Application category of the Preferences window.

If you are not sure whether you are using a network license or a standalone license, you can check your license type in the Product License information window via Help About MotionBuilder, and in the About MotionBuilder window, click Product License information.

A network license is reclaimed by the license server if MotionBuilder is idle on a computer for more than the timeout period defined in the MotionBuilder Application preference settings. The default idle time (or timeout) period is set to 15 minutes. The timeout period reflects the license timeout period whose minimum value is the timeout period configured by the license server (.opt file).

MotionBuilder is considered busy during any of the following activities:

• Playback in Timeline
• Playback of audio and video clips
• Execution of Python script(s)
• File IO
• Rendering
• Keyboard and mouse interaction
• Running of progress bar
• "Online" state of external device(s)

A lost license server connection is detected after two minutes. Following this "disconnect" event, MotionBuilder attempts to recover the license. If the license connection cannot be restored within the 120-minute "Recovery Period", a dialog appears stating two hours have passed since the connection to the license server was lost and the application will exit in 10 minutes. The 10-minute "Grace Period" begins after you click OK. You can save your work during the "Grace Period".

Note: If MotionBuilder is busy (rendering, cache writing, executing script, etc.) when the Recovery period is up, the Grace Period begins only after MotionBuilder is back from the busy state.

If you lose your license because of the idle timeout, MotionBuilder attempts to claim a new license once you use the product again. If no license is available, a dialog is displayed enabling you to save your work in progress before MotionBuilder shuts down.

To set up a license server, see MotionBuilder Installation and Licensing.

To enable and set the network license timeout, the adskflex.opt file needs to reside in the same folder as the network license file and the network license requires to be set up to handle license sharing.

Important: You cannot make changes to the network license timeout via the MotionBuilder Application preferences on your system as the timeout period is configured by the license server (.opt file).

Refer to the Lost network license behavior topic in the MotionBuilder Installation and Licensing help.