Understanding ThingWorx Navigate Licensing

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ThingWorx Navigate licensing opens many users a way to access PLM data and functionality at an attractive price tag when they don’t need to use the full power of Windchill functionality. 

Watch the replay to know more about - 

• ThingWorx Navigate Use Cases and Packages
• License Structure – Big Picture and Close-up
• End-to-end journey from obtaining to assigning and monitoring licenses 

Q and A Summary 

Q&A

1. I imagine that there are some mechanisms to control the license usage depending on the actions that are done in ThingWorx Navigate, however what is the impact of customizations in Windchill?

Customizations made on Windchill will not impact the available user features in Navigate. Navigate features are made available to the logged-in users depending on their license level: Navigate View allows to view Windchill data, Navigate Contribute includes certain actions like creating Problem Reports, or changing the status of a Change Request.

2. Will a Navigate app allow users to perform actions through Windchill customizations that they are not entitled to?

No, ThingWorx Navigate licenses only permit the licensed functionality and data access in Windchill. Access to Windchill functions and data is controlled by Windchill permissions. 

3. Will pre-existing Navigate ADK licenses be automatically transformed to a Connected PLM license?

Customers that currently use ThingWorx Navigate ADK licenses for their custom apps should ask their PTC Sales representative or Channel Sales partner for a quote to convert their existing licenses into the new Connected PLM license model. 

4. In the past ThingWorx Navigate Author License allowed to use ThingWorx Navigate apps (view and contribute). When a customer moves from Author to WC Base, can they still use ThingWorx Navigate apps? 

Windchill Base users need a ThingWorx Navigate App-only license to be able to use View or Contribute apps. This new license is available in the Registered User license type so that Windchill users with Base, Advanced, or Premium licenses can get access to the standard ThingWorx Navigate Apps.

5. In Windchill the Windchill Admin is granted access without the need for a license, however in Navigate we must allocate this user a license to manage the Navigate configuration. Will Navigate at some point include a license exclusion so we can do admin tasks without consuming a license? 

In Windchill a dedicated user like WCAdmin can login without consuming a license. ThingWorx does not provide a similar mechanism.  

6. Do ThingWorx Navigate Contribute ADU users have direct access to Windchill as well as the ability to use the standard Navigate apps? 

Yes, the ThingWorx Navigate Contribute ADU license includes Windchill Contribute access – which also covers View capabilities – along with access to the ThingWorx Navigate standard View and Contribute apps.   

7. Is there any specific license features that are applicable for the ThingWorx Connected PLM license? 

The entitlements that come with ThingWorx Connected PLM are currently paper-based to ensure a smooth transition for customers that are currently still using ADK licenses. Future releases will come with technical controls to enforce the correct license keys. 

8. Windchill user has a Windchill Advanced license, do we need a license to use Navigate Standard Apps? 

The Windchill Advanced license does not include an entitlement to use ThingWorx Navigate Standard apps. However, these users can get access to these apps through a ThingWorx Navigate View or Contribute App-Only license. Custom apps require a ThingWorx Connected PLM license. 

9. Since when is DC/Terminal license available? 

The Terminal as Designated Computer (DC) license is available since late 2020.  

10. Are there thoughts of pulling the license info like Windchill 11.1 and higher, instead of having to retrieve the license file? 

ThingWorx Navigate licensing uses a different technology from Windchill. Therefore, the actual technical mechanism might be different in some areas like retrieving the license keys.  

11. We already use Windchill and ThingWorx. However, we use custom apps for ThingWorx. Does it mean that we must use Windchill Base licenses with the Connected PLM Licenses that allow the users to use custom apps for all users?  

Custom apps that connect with Windchill require a Connected PLM License and the corresponding Windchill access entitlement. This entitlement can be provided with either a Windchill Base license for Windchill author access or a ThingWorx Navigate View or Contribute license for Windchill view or contribute access, respectively – depending on the use case that is implemented in the custom app.  

12. What about Author ADK licenses? 

Author ADK licenses are no longer available for new purchases. Customers with existing ADK licenses can continue using them. However, the new capabilities that are offered with Connected PLM – ThingWorx Flow and advanced Reusable Components – are not available with ADK licenses.  

13. What are the standard apps? What do they do? 

Here is a resource that has helpful descriptions of our standard apps. We also have an online trial available here if you're interested in exploring the standard View apps

14. We want to connect to a 3rd part product management data server. Do we need any separate license to connect with any 3rd party server with ThingWorx Navigate? 

ThingWorx Navigate supports this use case with the ThingWorx Connected PLM license. This license includes ThingWorx Flow that can be used to connect with the 3rd party system. Data access and authentication to the 3rd party system must be covered through the 3rd party system’s license and access control management.  

15. Can My Tasks App be customized to use a custom Change Workflow process? From which ThingWorx version is it supported?                                                                                                                            
     

    My Tasks is available since ThingWorx Navigate 8.5.3. The standard implementation that comes out-of-the-box based on the standard Windchill Change Management workflow with full track change review & approval. Customizations require modification of the ThingWorx Navigate app implementation.                                                                                                   

16. How many users are allowed to use the designated terminal using the Designated Computer as Terminal License? 
     

    We recommend 4 users per designated computer terminal workstation. That same rationale was used to determine pricing for the license. The limit will eventually be explicitly constrained.