Check-out and Check-in Licensing

Last updated on August 18, 2026

The LAN-Based Floating Network License and the Cloud-Based Floating Network License versions of the software allow the user to check-out a license from the network license pool for use on a computer that is not connected to the Network License Server. This allows the user to run the software on a laptop while working from home, at a project site, while traveling, or in other locations where access to the Network License Server may not be available.

The user can specify the number of days for which the license will be checked-out from the network license pool. When the specified check-out period expires, the license is automatically returned to the network license pool by the Network License Server. There is no need to check the license back into the network license pool.

A license can be checked out for a minimum of 1 day (24 hours) and a maximum of 30 days. A checked-out license can also be checked-in back to the network license pool before the specified time period expires. However, the check-out time period for an existing checked-out license cannot be extended. To extend the time period, the user must first check the license back into the network license pool and then check it out again for the required duration.

Note: License check-out functionality is not available with the Node-Locked Workstation License.

This article describes how to check-out and check-in a license from the network license pool (either LAN-Based Floating Network License or Cloud-Based Floating Network License).

How to Check-out a License

Before checking-out a license from the network license pool, make sure that either a LAN-based floating network license or a cloud-based floating network license is successfully activated on the computer.

To check-out a license from the network license pool, follow these steps:

Start up the software.
Select File | About. This will display the About backstage page.
From the About backstage page, click on the [License Manager] button.
The License Manager dialog box will be displayed. The License Manager will display the current license version activated on the computer (either LAN-Based Floating Network License or Cloud-Based Floating Network License).
Choose the Check out local license from floating network license pool. Click on the [Next>] button.
Choose the number of days to check-out the license in the provided spin-control field. Then click on the [Next>] button.
If the license is successfully checked-out from the network license pool, the following dialog box will be displayed when using a LAN-Based Floating Network License.
The following dialog box will be displayed when using a Cloud-Based Floating Network License.
Click on the [Done] button to close the License Manager dialog box.

Verifying Checked-Out License Status

To verify that the software license has been successfully checked-out of the network license pool, follow these steps:

For LAN-Based Floating Network License:
Start up the computer independent of the network that the Network License Server is running on by unplugging the network cable or disconnecting from the WIFI connection.

For Cloud-Based Floating Network License:
Disconnect from the Internet.

Start up the software. Select File | About. This will display the About backstage page.
The license status should be shown as Product Activated and the Days Remaining corresponding to the checked-out license period should be visible as well.

How to Check-In a License

The user can specify the number of days for which a license is checked-out from the network license pool. When the specified check-out period expires, the license is automatically returned to the network license pool by the Network License Server. There is no need to check the license back into the network license pool. However, if required, a checked-out license can be checked-in back to the network license pool before the specified check-out time period expires.

To check-in a license back to the network license pool, follow these steps:

For LAN-based floating network license:
Make sure that the computer and the Network License Server are running on the same network by plugging-in the network cable or connecting to the WIFI.

For cloud-based floating network license:
Make certain that the computer has an Internet connection.

Start up the software. Select File | About. This will display the About backstage page.
From the About backstage page, click on the [License Manager] button.
The following License Manager dialog box will be displayed.
Choose the Check in local license back to floating network license pool. Click on the [Next>] button.
The License Manager will display the following message. Click on the [Confirm] button.
If the checked-out license was successfully returned to the network license pool, the following dialog box will be displayed. Click on the [Done] button to close the License Manager dialog box.

Verifying Checked-In License Status

To verify that the license has been successfully checked-in to the network license pool, follow these steps:

For LAN-Based Floating Network License:
Start up the computer independent of the network that the Network License Server is running on by unplugging the network cable or disconnecting from the WIFI connection.

For Cloud-Based Floating Network License:
Disconnect from the Internet.

Start up the software. Select File | About. This will display the About backstage page.
You should see the license status as Product License Not Found, as shown above.
Shut down the software.
Reconnect the computer to the network or the Internet. This will re-establish a connection to the network license server.
Start up the software and check the license status. It should show a valid product license.

Additional Support

If you are still experiencing any technical issues, contact CivilGEO technical support. Our support staff will be glad to assist you further.

To activate a LAN-Based Network License, refer to this article in our knowledge base.

To activate a Cloud-Based Network License, refer to this article in our knowledge base.