Core Licensing
Introduction to licenses
To make use of all MANUS Core's features, a license is required. The license is stored on a license key, which is connected to either the machine running MANUS Core or a Bodypack device. In this article we will explain the different types of licenses, their various features and how to manage them.
Features
The table below outlines the different features a license can have. The features are enabled or disabled by the license key.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Recording | Enables recording through the MANUS Core Dashboard |
| Exporting | Enables exporting through the MANUS Core Dashboard in FBX and CSV format |
| Advanced Exporting | Enables the use of LTC timecode when recording and exporting |
| Unity plugin | Enables the use of the MANUS Unity plugin |
| Unreal plugin | Enables the use of the MANUS Unreal Engine plugin |
| Motionbuilder plugin | Enables the use of the MANUS Motionbuilder plugin |
| OpenXR | Enables streaming out MANUS glove data through the OpenXR Hand tracking extension |
| SDK (remote) | Enables the use of the MANUS SDK through MANUS Core |
| SDK (integrated) | Enables the use of the MANUS SDK in standalone / integrated mode. In integrated mode this feature is required in addition to the feature for the session type being used (e.g. SDK (remote) for an SDK session, Unity plugin for a Unity session). |
| Raw sensor data | Enables the use of the raw sensor data in MANUS Core for MANUS Metagloves Pro series gloves |
| Xsens MVN | Enables the use of the glove devices in Xsens MVN |
| Optitrack Motive | Enables the use of the glove devices in Optitrack Motive |
| Qualisys QTM | Enables the use of the glove devices in Qualisys QTM |
| Nokov XinYing | Enables the use of the glove devices in Nokov XinYing |
| FzMotion | Enables the use of the glove devices in FzMotion |
| ESI IC.IDO | Enables the use of the glove devices in ESI IC.IDO |
| Siemens Process Simulate VR | Enables the use of the glove devices in Siemens Process Simulate VR |
| Noitom Axis Studio | Enables the use of the glove devices in Noitom Axis Studio |
| Linux | Required to run the MANUS SDK on a Linux target |
Seats
The amount of seats on a license key determines how many glove devices can be connected to the MANUS Core software at the same time. Each seat allows for one glove pair to be connected.
Note
Seats do not stack, if you have a license key with 1 seat and a license key with 16 seats. You can only connect 1 glove pair at a time. However the feature sets will stack. So the feature set of both license keys will be available.
License terms
As of MANUS Core 3.2.0 licenses also carry a license name and a license term. The license term determines what happens when the license reaches its end date:
- Recurring The license is valid until its expiration date. When it expires, the licensed features are disabled until a renewed license is loaded onto the license key. The newest license for a license key will be fetched directly from the MANUS license service, see Retrieving a license online.
- Perpetual The license never expires. Instead of an expiration date it has a
Service end date: the license keeps working after this date, but no longer works with software versions released after this date.
The license name, term and the corresponding date are shown in the Devices tab of the MANUS Core Dashboard.
Note
Licenses issued before MANUS Core 3.2.0 do not carry a license name or term. These licenses keep working as before and the license term will not be displayed for them.
License management
Connecting a license
The license key needs to be connected to the computer via USB at all times to enable its features. It's presence is then shown in the devices tab of MANUS Core Dashboard. Its features are then shown in the license section of the Devices tab of MANUS Core Dashboard.
Uploading a license
To upload a new license key, the folder icon next to the license in the Key section of the Devices tab can be clicked. This will open a file dialog where the new license key can be selected. The file extension for this license file will be .lic.
Retrieving a license online
Instead of loading a .lic file by hand, you can fetch the newest license for a dongle directly from the MANUS license service with the Retrieve License button in the dongle's section of the Devices tab.
When clicked, MANUS Core reads the dongle's current license, presents it to the license service, and — if a newer one is available — writes it back to the dongle. You will be asked to confirm, since the dongle's current license is overwritten.
Core reports the outcome with a notification:
- On success: "License retrieved. …"
- On failure: "License retrieval failed. …" followed by the specific reason (for example: the license service could not be reached, the request was rejected, or no license could be read from the dongle).
Note
Retrieving a license is an online operation and requires MANUS Core to be able to reach the MANUS license service.