FAQ

General / Installation

• What are the system requirements for the current version of MDESIGN?

  System requirements for the current version of MDESIGN 2022:

  System (server, clients):

  • - Windows-compatible PC
  • - screen resolution of min. 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • - Hard drive capacity: application server or local = max. 4 GB; client = max. 100 MB
  • - RAM: at least 8 GByte
  • - Workstation operating system: Windows 10, Windows 11; 64-bit systems
  • - Server operating systems: Windows Server 2019, 2016; 64-bit systems

  Installing MDESIGN 2022 alongside an existing 32-bit Microsoft Office installation may corrupt your Microsoft Office installation. Migrate Microsoft Office to a 64-bit version before installing MDESIGN 2022 or select a different computer to host MDESIGN 2022.

  Firewall settings:

  • - Release the applications lmgrd.exe and TEDATA64.exe via the Windows firewall.
  • - For the hardware firewall, the ports for incoming and outgoing traffic must be enabled.
  • - The vendor port is 28064.
  • The following URL must be enabled for working with MDESIGN 2022 in the firewall on the customer side:
  • - https://sxdms.sharepoint.com            For MDESIGN updates
  • - https://www.mdesign.info                    For vendor information and content pages
  • - https://net.mdesign.online                   For calculation information and content
  • - https://contact.mdesign.online           Hotline requests online
  • - https://tedata.vemas.cloud                 Customer forum
  • - https://www.mdesign.de                     Content
  • - https://www.tedata.com                      Module up-to-dateness

  Notes:

  Operating environments such as Citrix, virtual machines, etc. may be limited in functionality depending on Windows compatibility. Systems such as UNIX can be used for the application server as a "share" (e.g. Samba). The system administrator must ensure that the relevant directories are released, used as a share (e.g. Samba) and that the MDESIGN files can be addressed by the clients.

  MDESIGN also works fully if the Windows operating system is running on a virtual machine. However, the prerequisite for this is that the virtualization corresponds 1:1 to the Windows system.

• Can MDESIGN 2022 be installed in parallel with other MDESIGN versions?

  MDESIGN 2022 is a new, stand-alone version of the MDESIGN calculation software. MDESIGN 2022 can be installed in parallel with all other previous versions of MDESIGN. Earlier versions do not need to be uninstalled.

• How can files from an older version of MDESIGN be opened in a newer version?

  Older files can also be used in newer MDESIGN versions.

• Why is the HostID assistant in MDESIGN 2022 not available (greyed out)?

  The HostID assistant in MDESIGN 2022 is only available if MDESIGN was started via the context menu: Right mouse click on your MDESIGN button, then choose "Run as administrator".

• How do I generate the "HostID file" in order to request license files?

  The licenses can only be generated if the complete HostID file has been submitted to us in the correct format. Please follow the instructions below to generate the HostID file:

  1. Start MDESIGN from the context menu with "Run as administrator".
  2. Start the HostID assistant in MDESIGN via “Help” and “HostID assistant” in the menu bar.
  3. Complete the fields (incl. your customer number).
  4. Save this data as HostID file in a directory of your choice.
  5. Then send the saved HostID file directly to service@mdesign.de as an email attachment.
  6. After successful authorisation, you will be sent the license files by email within two working days.
  7. After putting the license files into the appropriate folder (see handbook) and restarting the computer, MDESIGN is activated and all licensed calculation modules can be used.

  Note: If you use a license server, the HostID assistant (HostIDsAssistent.exe) can be found in the folder C:\Programs\FLEXlm64\MDESIGN.

• Why can't the license files be saved in the mentioned folder?

  Saving files in sensitive folders may be blocked by Windows.

  First save the license files on the desktop or another folder. Open the "Properties" for all four files by right-clicking. In the "General" tab, under Security ("The file is from another computer. Access may have been blocked for security reasons."), check the "Allow" box. Now you should be able to copy the files to the license folder.

• What does the “General error in the CREATETABLE function” error message mean?

  The error message indicates that the user is lacking permissions.

  For client server installation of MDESIGN 2022, it is necessary for any number of clients to have read permissions for the entire MDESIGN directory "C:\Programme (x86)\MDESIGN" and write permissions for the "C:\ProgramData\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 19\Common Files" directory.

  For client server installation of MDESIGN 2020, it is necessary for any number of clients to have read permissions for the entire MDESIGN directory "C:\Programme (x86)\MDESIGN" and write permissions for the "C:\ProgramData\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 18\Common Files" directory.

  For client server installation of MDESIGN 2018, it is necessary for any number of clients to have read permissions for the entire MDESIGN directory "C:\Programme (x86)\MDESIGN" and write permissions for the "C:\ProgramData\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 17\Common Files" directory.

  For client server installation of MDESIGN 2016, it is necessary for any number of clients to have read permissions for the entire MDESIGN directory "C:\Programme (x86)\MDESIGN" and write permissions for the "C:\Programme (x86)\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 2016\Common files" directory.

• Why does MDESIGN not offer to install FLEXlm?

  MDESIGN only offers a FLEXlm installation if no existing FLEXlm installation for MDESIGN is found by the system. FLEXlm is either installed during the MDESIGN installation or a separate FLEXlm installation is offered. The FLEXlm installation is not offered if any of the following points apply: - There is a valid FLEXlm key “HKLM/Software/FLEXlm License Manager/MDESIGN License Manager” with the correct values (see MDESIGN user manual Appendix 1) in the Windows registration. The path for FLEXlm may differ depending on the system. - There is a “FLEXlm\MDESIGN” folder on your system which contains at least the two service files “lmgrd.exe” and “tedata.exe”.

• The following error message appears when starting MDESIGN: Code -15 Cannot connect to license server system.

  If the basic MDESIGN installation was correctly performed, please restart the “MDESIGN License Manager” service. This can be found under “Control panel” / “Administration” / “Services”. You can restart the “MDESIGN License Manager” in the “All tasks” section in the context menu, accessed by right-clicking on the service. Alternatively, you can use the “mdstart.exe” tool for this. This can be downloaded from http://softweb.de/Download/mdstart.exe. Executing (double-click) the “mdstart.exe” file automatically restarts the “MDESIGN License Manager” service. If you are still unable to use MDESIGN, please send us the support info from your computer. Start MDESIGN from the context menu with Run as administrator. You can find the button on the far right in the quick access toolbar upon start-up.

• How can you back-up the user databases before an MDESIGN update within the same 2020 version?

  The user databases are saved in the “Common Files” folder. In a standard installation, the path is: C:\ProgramData\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 18\Common files. The user databases “db18user.mdb”, “db18userlocal.mdb”, dbdc18user.mdb” and “dbespresso18user.mdb” can be backed up and pasted in again after an update here.

• The license files are no longer valid because MDESIGN has been loaded on a new server/computer.

  In order to provide you with new license files, we need the completed license transfer form from you. This can be informally requested via our hotline (hotline@mdesign.de). Please then send us the completed license transfer form by fax (+49 234 30703-69) or by email (hotline@mdesign.de). We also require the HostID for the new server or computer, which you can send us separately by email. You will then receive the new license files by email. Note: The purchase of MDESIGN student edition includes a single use license, an update must be purchased for relicensing or license transfer.

• What is the difference between a new MDESIGN build and a module update?

  Several times a year we offer our service customers a new build with improvements and new features for the current MDESIGN version (current version: MDESIGN 2022). This new build can be downloaded from the customer forum.

  Before the release of this build, you can download single improvements and new features out of MDESIGN as a module update. Note: Only available for MDESIGN customers with a running service contract.

  The update function can be found in the menu bar under "Help" > "Update" > "Available Updates".

  If you have checked "Search for updates on the program start" and "Always inform me about the new versions of the modules" in the MDESIGN options, you will always receive an update notification when using the modules and an update is available.

  For details, refer to the manual.

• Where does MDESIGN 2022 store the settings and databases?

  MDESIGN saves its settings in the "ProgramData" folder. This ensures that all user accounts of a PC can access the files or settings.

  The databases for MDESIGN are integrated in the folder "C:\ProgramData\MDESIGN\MDESIGN explorer 19\Common Files".

• Why should not the computer device name in connection with an MDESIGN installation contain special characters and mutated vowels?

  The MDESIGN software includes a licensing system from Flexera. Among other things, the device name of the computer or server is used for the licensing. The currently used Flexera version works with standards that do not include encoding for special characters and mutated vowels. To avoid errors during the installation and licensing of MDESIGN, therefore, special characters and mutated vowels should not be used in the device name.

• What does the error message "Please register ActiveX control before using this plugin" mean in MDESIGN multibolt?

  The error message indicates that the registration of the 3D assistant failed during the MDESIGN client installation. This is often caused by the client not having access to the MDESIGN folder on the server.

  To reinstall the 3D assistant, please perform the following steps:

  1. Log in to the client as an administrator or domain administrator.

  2. Make sure that you have an existing connection to the server and to the MDESIGN folder.

  3. Modify the “Register.bat” file (located at: \Server\MDESIGN\MDESIGN multibolt 2022\ Register.bat) as follows:

  - Line 1: "Path to regasm.exe" /register "Path to mdmultibolt3d.dll" /tlb /codebase (The path name "Path to mdmultibolt3d.dll" should contain the specification of the server or the IP address: \Servername\MDESIGN\MDESIGN multibolt 2022\mdmultibolt3d.dll).

  - Line 2: pause

  4. Save your changes.

  5. Run the file "as administrator".

  6. On successful execution, the windows console should display the following message:

  "Assembly exported to '\\Servername\MDESIGN\MDESIGN multibolt 2022\mdmultibolt3d.tlb', and the type library was registered successfully".

   

• Why are modules grayed out despite existing licenses?

  This may occur if the configuration of MDESIGN has not yet been updated. Click on " Refresh configuration" in the "Tools" tab, which will restart and reconfigure MDESIGN.

• Use MDESIGN 2022 together with MS Office 32bit

  MDESIGN 2022 as a modern 64bit version does not run in conjunction with MS Access Database Engine 32bit. MDESIGN 2022 requires the MS Access Database Engine 64bit.

  This causes collisions between MDESIGN 2022 and MS Office 32bit.

  According to Microsoft, 32bit and 64bit Office products are not compatible with each other.

  For using MS Office 32bit and MDESIGN 2022 together we recommend the following workaround:

  1. Install MDESIGN 2022
  2. Modify registry entry (delete entry "mso.dll") or
  3. Modification of registration via group policy / login script

  Notice: If the entry "mso.dll" is not deleted from the registry, the message "Reconfiguring" appears every time an MS Office application is started!

  
  Manually modify the registry:

  1. Open the Registry Editor ("regedit" in the Windows search field of the Start menus, then select "Registry Editor")
  2. Delete or rename the entry "mso.dll" in the following keys (if available):
     1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths
     2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\FilesPaths

  Notice: This workaround is only a temporary solution if an update for MS Office or its components is subsequently applied via Windows Updates. A permanent solution to the problem can be achieved if MDESIGN 2022 is installed on a computer running Microsoft Office 64bit or if a registry change is made in the login script (see "Modifying the registry via group policy / login script").

  
  Automatic modification of the registry

  1. Download and unzip the following file and run the following application as administrator: fix_officex86_md2022.exe (https://softweb.de/Download/_temp/fix_officex86_md2022.zip)

  This program performs the steps described in the "Modifying the registry manually" paragraph automatically.

  
  Modification of the registry via group policy / login script

  A permanent working solution is an entry to correct the previously described registry entries in the MDESIGN users' login script:

  @echo off
  reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths /v mso.dll /f
  reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\FilesPaths /v mso.dll /f

  
  More information about editing the registry can be found here: reg delete | Microsoft Learn

Use / Calculation

• Where do I find the result diagrams for a calculation?

  The result diagrams are displayed in the graphical aids window. Various diagrams for the display can be selected in the pull-down menu for the window. The result diagrams can also be used in the documentation.

• How can I write my own bolt dimensions into the database?

  In the "MDESIGN Control" > "Dimensions, Bolted joint" area, bolts can be selected from the MDESIGN database or from the user database. Own entries can be made under the item "Own assignment" and saved in the user database.

• What do the loading conditions H and HZ mean when entering the permissible shearing stress, the permissible tensile stress and the permissible pressure on the face of a hole in the torque loaded bolt connections module?

  The load H means the sum of the main loads, including permanent loads and the live load, for example. The loading condition HZ describes the sum of the main and additional loads. Additional loads are loads which may be caused by heat or wind, for example, or which only occasionally act on the bolt connection.

• Why aren’t all MDESIGN materials available in the module for shaft calculation?

  The module for shaft calculation is based on DIN 743. This DIN standard only includes a specific set of materials. Additional materials can be added via the user database.

• Why is a “torque at the periphery of the bolt connection” asked for in the multibolt calculation?

  Multibolt calculation is exclusively used for the calculation of the stability of a multibolt connection against a torque at the periphery of the bolt connection. All other loads must be reduced to the individual bolts so that the bolts can be calculated as individual bolt connections.

• Why does the required minimum screw-in depth automatically increase if a bolt with a higher strength class is selected?

  Determination of the required minimum screw-in depth is not dependent on the load on the bolt. The standard calculates the minimum screw-in depth under the assumption that the bolt connection fails not through shearing of the thread but rather through tearing out of the bolt in the event of overloading. This means that the shear strength of the thread must always be higher than the tensile strength of the bolt. If the strength class of the bolt is increased, therefore, the shear strength of the thread and thus the screw-in depth must also increase.

• Why can no fatigue strengths be entered in shaft calculation even for a purely dynamic load?

  DIN 743, which forms the basis for shaft calculation, works exclusively with the alternating stress values for the materials. No fatigue strength values can therefore be entered even for a purely dynamic load. The fatigue strength values of the material will of course be taken into account for the dynamic load.

• What is the torque which is asked for on the input page for bolt calculation?

  The The torque is the bending moment on the bolt. In accordance with VDI, only one bending moment is permitted. If there are multiple bending moments, these must be vectorially added.

• Why is the sealing surface asked for in a bolt calculation with an operating torque of MB > 0 even though the internal pressure to be sealed should not be taken into consideration?

  The minimum clamping force FKA at the lifting limit for the two connected parts is calculated because there is a risk of gaping at an operating torque of MB > 0. This force ensures that the connecting surfaces of the two connected parts lie securely against one another even with an operating torque of MB > 0. The sealing surface is required for calculation of the FKA force.

• How can you enter user-defined materials in MDESIGN?

  There are various material databases in which own values can be entered. All tables are included in db19user, but should NOT be changed there directly (e.g. via Access) if possible.
  There are different databases available because several material parameters are needed for various calculations.

  1. MDESIGN technology
  Material Data - general material database: included are materials for all modules that use materials according to FKM (not for bolt calculation and shaft calculation), enter the materials you need for calculations according to FKM guideline; materials for bolt or shaft calculation must be entered in the corresponding material databases.
  MDESIGN technology: Open the calculation library "MDESIGN technology" in MDESIGN. Here you will find the module or table "Material Data".

  

  2. MDESIGN control
  The following material databases are available in "MDESIGN control":

  

  • - Materials, Shaft: materials for shaft calculation are included here, please note that you cannot use your own materials for shaft calculation in shaft calculation basis. Your own materials in the "Shaft calculation material database" can only be used in the MDESIGN shaft module.
  • - Materials, Bolted Joint: materials for bolt calculation are included here.

  If you need the same material also for other calculations, please enter it also in MDESIGN technology in the general material database.

  Click on the material database you want to expand. In the "Materials according to" field, select the "Own assignment" option, enter all the values of the material you want to add and save.
  The material will then be added to the material database and will be available for calculations.

  

  Please note: The central user databases in a network can only be changed with appropriate write rights (see chapter "User administration" in the MDESIGN manual). If you do not have write permissions for the central material databases, a local copy of the databases will be created on your computer. All changes to the databases will only be applied to your local copy.

• I'm trying to couple a single shaft section at the origin in MDESIGN gearbox. Why does the software crash?

  In the Gear assembly module with version 19.1.2 of MDESIGN gearbox, there is a known issue where the software crashes when a single shaft section is directly coupled at the origin. To avoid this error, you should not attach your gearbox model directly at the origin. Instead, position the shaft section slightly offset from the origin. Alternatively, you can initially model the shaft using multiple sections and couple them to the origin. This issue will be resolved in the next release.