Creo Simulate Basic License Access Error

[WG_10329200]

Hello,

I am attempting to run a structural design study within Creo Simulate 7.0.4.0. There is a pop-up window that says "The selected functionality requires a Basic Creo Simulate license". 

From what I read online, you need three licenses (MECELITEUI, MECELITEENG, and CREOSIM_Standard) to access the basic functionalities of Creo Simulate. From ptcstatus, I can see that I am not pulling a MECELITEENG license (even though that license is available on the server).

PTCSTATUS shows this:
License In Use Free
------- ------ ----
PROE_DesignEssH Uncounted, Locked
PROE_EssentialsPMHome Uncounted, Locked
MECELITEENG_License Uncounted, Locked
MECELITEENG_License 0 8
MECELITEENG_License 0 34
MECELITEUI_License Uncounted, Locked
MECELITEUI_License 1 7
MECELITEUI_License 0 34
MathcadPrime Uncounted, Locked
MathcadPrime 0 2
PROE_EssentialsP 0 8
PROE_DesignEss 25 3
PROE_EssentialsPM 0 6
MECBASICENG_License 0 3
MECBASICUI_License 0 3
MathcadPrimeSDK 0 2
CREOSCHEM_Lite 0 8
CREOSCHEM_Lite 0 34
CREOSIM_STANDARD 1 2

My feature.dat file reads this:
MEC_BASIC_UI "MECBASICUI_License"
MEC_BASIC_ENG "MECBASICENG_License"
STRUCT_UI "<No license features>"
STRUCT_ENGINE "<No license features>"
STRUCT_THERMAL_UI "<No license features>"
STRUCT_THERMAL_ENGINE "<No license features>"
MEC_ELITE_UI "MECELITEUI_License"
MEC_ELITE_ENG "MECELITEENG_License"

Any guidance is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[skunks]

Here is an overview of the simulate licenses.

[skunks]

ENG ->  for the analysis only, after the start of the analysis!

Simulate Elite is no Basic Creo Simulate license, but this:

MECBASICENG_License 0 3
MECBASICUI_License 0 3

[WG_10329200]

I'm confused - are you saying that Simulate will only pull the MECELITEENG license once the analysis is running? 

Do I need to purchase an additional license to run a design study or buckling analysis?

[Chris3]

The simulate "Elite" (MECELITEUI_License) license comes with the base seat of Creo Parametric. When you try and run any of the options in the Excel file that @skunks outlined for the "basic" or "advanced" options, it will try and grab one of those automatically when you use that functionality (and it will release it automatically when you are done with those features).

It appears to me that you have the licenses to run the basic license and feature.dat is correctly configured. I am not sure why you aren't able to grab a basic license. I would suggest that you run \Parametric\bin\reconfigure on your machine to see if over writing the feature.dat helps for some reason.

[SweetPeasHub]

use the verbose command: ptcstatus -v

Then check that the license is not expired and is at your version or higher.

note Creo 7 = version >=38

[MartinHanak · Accepted solution]

@WG_10329200 can also open their license file in Notepad and check version info related to MECBASICENG_License and MECBASICUI_License.

@WG_10329200 can also modify his feature.dat:
MEC_BASIC_UI "MECBASICUI_License"
MEC_BASIC_ENG "MECBASICENG_License"
STRUCT_UI "<No license features>"
STRUCT_ENGINE "<No license features>"
STRUCT_THERMAL_UI "<No license features>"
STRUCT_THERMAL_ENGINE "<No license features>"
MEC_ELITE_UI "<No license features>"
MEC_ELITE_ENG "<No license features>"

[WG_10329200]

Thank you Martin! I didn't realize that the MEC_BASIC licenses were of a higher tier than the MEC_ELITE licenses so I had deleted those lines from my feature.dat. I think initially having the ELITE lines coming after the BASIC lines did some sort of overwriting.

[WG_10329200]

The "MEC" licenses are at version 42.0 and the CREOSIM_STANDARD license is version 40.0. I am attempting to run parametric/simulate on version 7.0.4.0. Is this ok?

[MartinHanak]

---

@WG_10329200 wrote:

The "MEC" licenses are at version 42.0 and the CREOSIM_STANDARD license is version 40.0. I am attempting to run parametric/simulate on version 7.0.4.0. Is this ok?

---

Hi,

look at the following table

[SweetPeasHub]

I am not familiar with CREOSIM_STANDARD. Is that an extension? If it is then you need to manually check out the extension.

File - Options - Floating Licenses.

A full printout of "ptcstatus -v" (redact server info, usernames, and SCN) might be useful if you posted it.

[WG_10329200]

Here is what ptcstatus -v yields:

License In Use Free Version Expire Date Days Remaining SCN
------- ------ ---- ------- ----------- -------------- -----
PROE_DesignEssH Uncounted 42.0 29-dec-2026 Locked to: 
PROE_EssentialsPMHome Uncounted 42.0 29-dec-2026 Locked to: 
MECELITEENG_License Uncounted 42.0 29-dec-2026 Locked to:
MECELITEENG_License 0 8 38.0 None Permanent 
MECELITEENG_License 0 34 42.0 29-dec-2026 MECELITEUI_License Uncounted 42.0 29-dec-2026 Locked to: 

MECELITEUI_License 0 8 38.0 None Permanent 
MECELITEUI_License 0 34 42.0 29-dec-2026 
MathcadPrime 0 2 10.0 18-oct-2025
PROE_EssentialsP 0 8 38.0 None Permanent 
PROE_DesignEss 26 2 42.0 29-dec-2026 
PROE_EssentialsPM 0 6 42.0 29-dec-2026
MECBASICENG_License 0 3 42.0 18-oct-2025 
MECBASICUI_License 0 3 42.0 18-oct-2025 
MathcadPrimeSDK 0 2 10.0 18-oct-2025 
CREOSCHEM_Lite 0 8 38.0 None Permanent 
CREOSCHEM_Lite 0 34 42.0 29-dec-2026

CREOSIM_STANDARD 1 2 40.0 18-oct-2025

* = License Extensions - Available only on startup.
^ = Borrowed License.

I did not see any asterisks indicating a borrowed license.

[MartinHanak]

Hi,

just FYI ... if you open your license file in Notepad and search for line starting with INCREMENT CREOSIM_STANDARD then you will see contents of CREOSIM_STANDARD license.

[MartinHanak]

#################### FLOATING License ####################
# Serviceable = Creo Simulate Base License
# Feature Name = CREOSIM_STANDARD
# Feature Version = xx.0
# Number of Copies = 1
# Expiration Date = dd-mmm-rrrr
# Optional Modules = INTERFACE
# Optional Modules = Creo Unite
INCREMENT CREOSIM_STANDARD ptc_d

... the above mentioned "code" tells us that CREOSIM_STANDARD is Creo Parametric license with very limited functionality.

[WG_10329200]

Hi Martin,

Where did you find information on the CREOSIM_STANDARD license? I do not know how to find a copy of my license file on my local machine (if a copy is even stored there).

[MartinHanak]

---

@WG_10329200 wrote:

Hi Martin,

Where did you find information on the CREOSIM_STANDARD license? I do not know how to find a copy of my license file on my local machine (if a copy is even stored there).

---

Hi,

I found the information in my "historical records".

INFO: Your license file is located on your license server in FLEXnet installation.

[SweetPeasHub]

Also when installing this may not be on by default.