Licenses gone after upgrading to Measurement Studio 8.1.2 from 8.1.1

[Grant_LECO]

I've recently updated my enterprise setup to version 8.1.2.  I've been able to get everything else, that would be CVI and VC C++ 6.0, working by reinstalling NI-DAQmx a couple of times.  I've repaired my 2005 install and removed the .NET 2.0 support and reinstalled it.  This seemed to fix a package problem along with the NI logo not showing up on the splash screen when VS2005 starts.  Let me know if you are interested in any of those fun experiences.

I have a new project with one switch on it and it gives the following error  :

this.switch1 = new NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Switch();
Error Name : LicenseException was unhandled
Error Info     : NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Switch is unlicensed.

Here is my directory structure and contents under C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2005\DotNET\Assemblies :

8.1.20.119
8.1.20.204
8.1.20.222
8.1.20.415
8.1.20.472
8.6.20.15
Current

Do I need all these versions?  It's just two of us working with the code.  I would rather just have the latest and rebuild everything else as needed.  No big deal I guess if there are old versions running around but they aren't doing anything for me.

From reading other posts it seems that Current is supposed to hold all the latest dlls.  Here is what is in Current.  Each .dll has an .xml file and .msl file of the same name :

NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise.dll
NationalInstruments.Common.dll
NationalInstruments.Common.Native.dll
NationalInstruments.DAQmx.ComponentModel.dll
NationalInstruments.DAQmx.dll
NationalInstruments.MaxConfiguration.dll
NationalInstruments.Net.dll
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.dll
NationalInstruments.NI4882.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.Styles3D.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.dll
NationalInstruments.VisaNS.dll

Here is what is in 8.1.20.472.  Again, along with a .msl and .xml file of the same name for each :
NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise.dll
NationalInstruments.Net.dll
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.Styles3D.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.dll
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.dll

Here is the my licenses.licx file in my Properties folder of my C# project :
(Included in the next message since I went over 10000 characters)

Here is a snapshot of my GAC showing the NationalInstruments.UI.WIndowsForms entries that are showing up as not licensed in my little app with one switch on it. (Windows\assembly folder) :

Assembly Name                                         Version            Public Key Token      Processor Architecture
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms   8.1.20.472   4544464cdeaa541               x86
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms   8.1.20.378   4544464cdeaa541               x86
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms   8.1.20.377   4544464cdeaa541               x86
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms   8.1.20.256   4544464cdeaa541               x86
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms   8.0.20.334   4544464cdeaa541               x86


I've tried to include the information that I saw in similar posts. 

Again, I had a completely working station that was running 8.1.1.  Everything seems to be fine now except I can't get anything licensed in C#.  I was given a licensing utility from an App Engineer but it doesn't support .NET controls.  I've seen several examples for moving from 2003 / MS 7.X to 2005 but I'm already at 2005.  Or at least I was 12-16 hours ago.

Grant

// System Info
Windows XP SP2
.NET Framework : 2.0.50727
VS2005 8.0.50727.762 (SP, 050727-7600)
NI Measurement Studio 8.1.20.472

[Grant_LECO]

# The following section of this file was autogenerated by Measurement Studio.  Do not edit or remove this file from the project.
# This file is used for licensing Measurement Studio components.
# Begin Measurement Studio licenses
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.ToolStripPropertyEditor, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Meter, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Switch, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.SwitchArray, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Thermometer, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.LedArray, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Knob, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.NumericEditArray, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Slide, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.NumericEdit, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Legend, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Gauge, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Led, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.WaveformGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.ScatterGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.Tank, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.ComplexGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.DigitalWaveformGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.InstrumentControlStrip, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms.PropertyEditor, NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.DigitalWaveformGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.WaveformGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Tank, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.NumericEdit, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Meter, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Switch, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.AutoRefresh, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.ScatterGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.ComplexGraph, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Slide, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Legend, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Knob, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Led, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Gauge, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms.Thermometer, NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.WebForms.NetworkVariableDataSource, NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.NetworkVariableLicenser, NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.WindowsForms.NetworkVariableDataSource, NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable.WindowsForms.NetworkVariableBrowserDialog, NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.Net.DataSocketSource, NationalInstruments.Net, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.Net.DataSocket, NationalInstruments.Net, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.Net.DataSocketServer, NationalInstruments.Net, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
NationalInstruments.Restricted.AnalysisLicenser, NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise, Version=8.1.20.472, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=4544464cdeaab541
# End Measurement Studio licenses

[JonathanN]

Hi Grant,

The <MeasurementStudioVS2005>\DotNET\Assemblies\Current directory just lists out all the assemblies that make up those individual version folders. For example, if you look in the 8.1.20.472 folder, you notice the NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise.dll which is version 8.1.2.472. Then if you look in the Current dirctory, you also notice the NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise.dll and its version is 8.1.2.472. 

Are you able to run any UI shipping examples without getting this license issue? What assemblies do you have listed in your References category in your Solution Explorer? Do you have multiple versions of WindowsForms? Do you have the Specific Version property set for those assemblies? You should only have 1 version of an assembly in that References section.  If you have multiple, delete the older versions and then select Measurement Studio >> Refresh Project License File.

Best Regards,

[Grant_LECO]

Are you able to run any UI shipping examples without getting this license issue?

I tried loading an example project and it worked.  Then I noticed there were no NI controls on the Form so I added one.  Then it failed in a similar way.

What assemblies do you have listed in your References category in your Solution Explorer?

NationalInstruments.Common

NationalInstruments.UI

NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms

NationalInstruments.VisaNS

System.

System.Data

System.Drawing

System.Windows.Forms

System.XML

Do you have multiple versions of WindowsForms?

No.

Do you have the Specific Version property set for those assemblies?

Yes.

 You should only have 1 version of an assembly in that References section.  If you have multiple, delete the older versions and then select Measurement Studio >> Refresh Project License File.

I tried to refresh but it didn't seem to help.

I should have mentioned this up front.  When I view my license information from MeasurementStudio->Licenses I get the following :

Measurement Studio 8.1.2

The following licensed Measurement Studio items have been installed.

Component:	Status:
NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise	No License
NationalInstruments.Net	No License
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable	No License
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms	No License
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms	No License
VC - 3D Graph	Licensed
VC - 488.2	Licensed
VC - Common	Licensed
VC - DAQmx	Licensed
VC - DataSocket	Licensed
VC - Excel	Licensed
VC - Enterprise Analysis	Licensed
VC - NI-Reports	Licensed
VC - TestStand Support	Licensed
VC - User Interface	Licensed
VC - UI Common	Licensed
VC - Utility	Licensed
VC - VISA	Licensed
VC - Word	Licensed

All of these are licensed on a machine I haven't upgraded yet.

Grant

[JonathanN]

Hi Grant,

Do you have any .lic files in your <MeasurementStudioVS2005>\DotNET\Assemblies directory? You should have licenses like WindowsForms.lic, WebForms.lic, etc.  If you don't have those, it makes sense that your getting license messages and that the licenses dialog doesn't show the .NET licenses. The question is, why don't you have those license files.

I assume when you installed Measurement Studio 8.1.2, you did select .NET support correct? Maybe you just selected C++ support? Probably not, but wanted to verify.  Also, if you don't have those license files, have you tried repairing as if they are missing, when you repair we should regenerate them for you.

Best Regards,

[Grant_LECO]

Thanks Jonathan, it's probably something simple like that.  I don't have any *.lic files on my machine at all.  I'll reinstall, or install if I somehow unselected the .NET support option, the .NET support section.

[Grant_LECO]

I put in my NI MeasurementStudio 8.1.2 for Visual Studio 2005/2003 CD and it showed that I had everything installed on the entire disk.  I removed the whole section called something like, sorry I can't remember exactly, Visual Studio 2005 .NET Support.  I then put the CD in again and put those features back on.  You know I wouldn't tell you this if it didn't solve the problem right?  So, yes it worked.  I now have the following files in C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2005\DotNET\Assemblies :

DataSocket.lic,EnterpriseAnalysis.lic,NetworkVariable.lic,WebForms.lic,WindowsForms.lic

and MeasurementStudio->Licenses gives :

Component:	Status:
NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise	Licensed
NationalInstruments.Net	Licensed
NationalInstruments.NetworkVariable	Licensed
NationalInstruments.UI.WebForms	Licensed
NationalInstruments.UI.WindowsForms	Licensed

My projects are building fine now so it looks like I'm all set.  Thanks for the help.

I think it's worth mentioning that peforming a repair didn't fix this problem.  I had to actually remove and then install again from the MeasurementStudio Disk and not the Driver Reference CD.  I guess that's obvious once it's clear the .lic files come in from the MS disk.  I think I can even see some DOS windows pop up at the end of the install to add the .lic files.  I don't recall seeing the screen blink a few DOS boxes the first time I installed.

Here is the order I installed if it helps :

1.) Ran the NI Measurment Studio 8.1.2 for Visual Studio 6.0 CD.  It saw an existing installation of NI Measurement Studio 8.1.2 for Visual Studio 6.0 and asked me to uninstall it myself.  I did that and everything ran through fine with this CD.

2.) Ran the NI Measuremnt Studio 8.1.2 for Visual Studio 2005/2003 CD.

3.) Ran the Driver CDs (1-3).

4.) Installed NI LabWindows CVI 8.5.

5.) CVI didn't see Ni-Daqmx support so I removed it using the driver reference cds (by "it" I mean CVI support under NiDaqmx 8.6) and then installed it again. 

6.) I then didn't have .lic files in my C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2005\DotNET\Assemblies so I removed everything that wasn't C++ related using the NI MeasurementStudio 8.1.2 for Visual Studio 2005/2003 Disk and installed it again.  For an attemp at clarity the NI MS 8.1.2 for VS disk has two folders at the start of the installation process.  One for C++ (the second in the list) and one for Visual Studio .NET (the first in the list).  I removed the first folder and everything in it and then installed it again to get the .lic files back.

What I should have done :

1.) Removed my existing copy of NI MS for VS 6.0.

2.) Ran the NI MS for VS 6.0 CD.

3.) Ran  the Labwindows CVI disk without installing any drivers.

4.) Ran the NI MS 8.1.2 for VS 2005/2003 CD.

5.) Installed all the latest drivers from the 3 Device Driver Reference CDs.

I always forget the order.  Next time I'll have it written down.

Thanks again,

Grant

[JonathanN]

Hi grant,

Thanks for posting back and providing a detailed response. Essentially we have a license tool that we run during install time that generates those license files for us. The DOS windows that you saw correspond to our utility running.  So I am not sure if something went wrong with our utility or the machine didn't launch our application correctly, or if the machine maybe rebooted or something before we had time to generate those license files.

Either way, the way to restore your license files is to modify the installation, de-select some item (i.e. I recommend examples), and then continue. This will put those license files onto your system. Then go back and add in your examples.  Reparing an installation won't put those license files back on.

After reviewing how our current licensing tool and scheme works, we think our current implementation is a little brittle. Thus we are going to be looking at addressing this issue in the future.

Thanks

Best Regards, 

[Steve Gottschalk]

I too had my licenses trashed when I upgraded from 8.1.1 to 8.1.2. The end of this thread indicated that I need to uninstall some "benign" feature like Examples to force the license to install then re-install it.

Is this really the NI recommendation? Seems like the installer should work. My system is pretty clean.

Note the license message occurs after multiple reboots and restarts of MS2005. It also occurred during the install process. I answered No at all times.

[JonathanN]

Hi Steve,

I agree that the installer should work so we are both on the same page there.  As I mentioned in my previous post, we realize that our current licensing tool and process isn't the best and we will be addressing this in the future. For now, the solution to get those license files back is to "edit" the installer as I mentioned in the earlier post. I simply chose the examples item as an option but you could choose whatever you like in the installer tree. We understand this isn't the best option and that's why we will be looking into this. 

For the licensing issue, I am more concerned about how you got into this state. Did you simply upgrade Measurement Studio 8.1.1 to 8.1.2 and that was it? Or did you also install the Driver CD as well after upgrading? Did you receive any errors during install? Do you have Service Pack 1 for Visual Studio 2005? If so, did you install that before installing Measurement Studio 8.1.1?

As far as the attached screenshot, that message doesn't have anything to do with licensing. That is strictly for Visual Studio integration.   Have you tried repairing the existing 8.1.2 installation? Did you receive weird errors with regards to this message during install?

The more information you can give about how you got into this state this would be great.

I'm sorry you've had such a "not fun" upgrade experience.

Best Regards,