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Derbigdog
Derbigdog15-Moonstone
15-Moonstone
April 29, 2026
Question

Concerned about Mathcad Prime

  • April 29, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 144 views

I have been a paid subscriber to Mathcad since the late 1990’s. As a former a beta tester and advisor on new features, my interest and commitment to Mathcad is substantial. However, I am concerned about the future of Prime when I see more discussions on it not working rather than use.

Yes some old problems are addressed with each new release. But installation and operation issues are starting to out number Topics on using the software to solve engineering and science problems. Even just upgrading to the new version or obtaining the new license keeps changing, adding to the frustration.

For many of us, Mathcad is our only reason to use PTC’s products. Please do not make it a reason to be the last.

 

 

 

    3 replies

    DJNewman
    DJNewman18-Opal
    18-Opal
    April 30, 2026

    Two questions…

     

    One, is this something you’d like the product manager to address in next week’s Ask Me Anything?

    Two, is the inherent question here, “What will PTC be doing to make installing, licensing, and on-boarding Mathcad easier in the future?”

    PTC Marketer for Creo and Mathcad. I run their YouTube channels, some Creo campaigns, and all Mathcad campaigns and communications.
    Derbigdog
    Derbigdog15-MoonstoneAuthor
    15-Moonstone
    April 30, 2026

    I would say both questions need to be addressed.

      amcgough
      amcgough14-Alexandrite
      14-Alexandrite
      May 5, 2026

      Hi,

      If your comment is on overly difficult licensing or installation - there is room to make Mathcad Prime easier to get up and running on your system. I’m not the biggest fan of any complex licensing process and though I believe Mathcad Prime isn’t that difficult to install (download the installer, run it (licensing is a post-installation step)) and open it, the licensing itself can be improved - it is one of the top complaints we get from users.

      To that end, I’m looking at the possibility of cloud licensing for Mathcad - that is, with the use of a licensing agent installed alongside Mathcad Prime, and a simple admin portal for assigning users (both named and concurrent), removing the need to a license file and having Mathcad open based on your login credentials. Do you think that is something that would make life easier for you as a Mathcad user?

      Many thanks,
      Andy.

      Derbigdog
      Derbigdog15-MoonstoneAuthor
      15-Moonstone
      May 5, 2026

      I definitely do not like the idea of the license sitting on the cloud.

      What if I have to finish my report or presentation to meet a deadline but:

      • My internet goes down 
      • PTC gets hacked and the license database is altered or damaged. 
      • PTC is down due to internet or site issues 

      The problem is that the procedure to obtain a license keeps changing. The license use to be mailed to you. The latest procedure requires the user, after paying, must log into the License Management System enter a SON/ Subscription and then navigate to the correct page to find the license(s) and download them individually. This is not as straight forward as it sounds.

      I also have issues with renewing my license as a retired single user. PTC’s default procedure is to get me generate a Purchase Order. As I am not employed not something I can do. Second they want me to wire the money, again not something easy for me to do. So I must contact a Sales Representative and arrange for an invoice. Then until 2025 I had to contact accounting to make a Credit Card Payment. 

      How about something simple for Single License Users. When the license has to be renewed you mail an Invoice, We can go on line, enter the Invoice number and pay the amount do with a credit card or other acceptable system like PayPal. Then be guided to the link to download the license(s). 

      The installation problems, while not concerning me personally , are so bad that a separate forum has been setup just to handle them. As a 30+ year user of Mathcad I had never seen this issue become so common place.

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