Application preferences

The Preferences window includes the Application preference settings.

To access the Application preferences:

From the menu bar, select Settings Preferences.
The Application preference settings display.

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".

NoteIf 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, refer to the Network Licensing topic in the Autodesk 2014 Installation Help.

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.

ImportantYou 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 License Behavior topic in the Autodesk 2014 Installation Help at: www.autodesk.com/installation-help-2014-enu.