License

Location on ribbon: Tab DVD Addin → Group About

Command ID: btnupdatekey

What it does

Opens the License dialog, where you sign in to your DVDAddin account and activate the license on the computer you are working at. It is also the quickest way to check the current state of your license: trial or activated, Standard or PRO edition, the expiry date, and the Machine ID of this device.

Engineers typically reach for this command in three situations: first install on a new machine, right after buying a key and receiving the account email, or when moving a license between machines — sign out on the old one, then sign in on the new one.

How to use

1. Go to the DVD Addin tab → About group → click License. No selection or open workbook is required.
2. The License window opens. The top half is a status card: the heading shows the current license state, the detail line spells out the edition and expiry, and the last line prints the Machine ID in a monospaced font so you can copy it when contacting support.
3. If the machine is not activated yet, an orange Buy License button appears inside the status card — clicking it jumps straight to the purchase dialog.
4. The lower half is the sign-in form with two fields: Email (up to 200 characters) and Password. Enter your DVDAddin account credentials.
5. Click Sign in at the bottom right (or press Enter). The result appears inline: a red panel for wrong credentials or a connection problem, a green panel when activation succeeds.
6. Once the machine is activated, a red-outlined Sign out button appears at the bottom left — use it to release the license from this computer.
7. Click Close to dismiss the dialog. The ribbon refreshes to match the new license state.

Example

Nam, a quantity surveyor, has just bought a one-year PRO plan for his estimating team. After the account email arrives he opens Excel on the office PC and goes to DVD Addin → About → License. The status card still reports a trial. He types [email protected] and the supplied password, then clicks Sign in. A green panel confirms activation, the status card switches to PRO with an expiry date, and the Buy License button disappears from the ribbon. PRO commands such as EVM and Lookahead now open normally.

Later he switches to a site laptop: he reopens the dialog on the office PC, clicks Sign out, then signs in on the laptop with the same account.

Notes

• One account is bound to one machine at a time. To use a different computer you must Sign out on the old one first, otherwise the new sign-in is rejected.
• Signing in and activating require an internet connection to reach the license server; an offline machine or a blocking firewall produces an error in the red panel.
• The Machine ID shown in the status card is the value support needs when you ask for a manual unlock or machine transfer.
• After activating, fully close and reopen Excel if a few commands still claim a license is required — the ribbon may keep the old state for the rest of the current session.
• This dialog only signs in to an existing account. If you do not have one yet, use Buy License first to place an order and receive your key.

Related

• Buy License — pick a plan, generate a payment QR code, and receive activation credentials.
• Buy License — the ribbon shortcut shown while the machine is not activated.
• Check Update — check for and install a newer add-in build once you are licensed.
• About — author information and support contact channels.