Impact 2023 (Dynamic Constraints Edition) release is available for download, bringing with it a host of new features. Available here.
Impact FAQs
No, none of the products from Arden utilise or are affected by the vulnerability exposed by Log4j.
Whilst we do use the log4net logging library, which is based on Log4j within the utility tool EnterpriseServicesStressTester and WEBcnx's Workflow Services application, this known vulnerability is specific to log4j-core and does not affect log4net, log4cxx, or other Apache Logging Services projects.
By default, when viewing a project’s Preview Pane, the background is black in the stand-alone Impact Viewer.
Solution
In Impact Viewer, the Preview Pane’s background colour is tied to the GUEST user’s Project Background colour. Follow these steps to change the default colour.
1. Log in to Impact Viewer and, in the Databases pane, right-click your Impact database and click on Properties
2. Choose Connect as Guest, uncheck User Master Tool Settings from this connection, click OK to close this screen and then click OK on the two following Information dialog boxes
3. Restart Impact Viewer by exiting and opening the application
4. In the Standard Toolbar click on the Impact Viewer Options icon
5. In the Colours section and under General Colours, click on the (Primary) category, click on Project Background, and then click the Change button.
6. Choose your preferred background colour, click OK button to close the Colour window, and then click the OK button to close the Impact Viewer Options window
7. In the Databases pane, right-click your Impact database and click on Properties.
8. Choose Connect as Guest, uncheck User Master Tool Settings from this connection, click OK
9. Right-click your Impact database and click on Connect
10. Your background should now be your chosen colour
The .NET 3.5 Framework is a required Windows component necessary for many of the Impact scripts to function properly.
Windows 10 and 11 does not automatically enable it. You must do this manually.
- Go to Windows > Start and type Windows Features (alternatively, you can type APPWIZ.CPL). Choose the option to Turn Windows Features on or off.
- Choose the option from the list named .NET Framework 3.5 (includes 2.0 and 3.5). Make sure a check mark appears in the box.
- Reboot your computer if prompted to ensure the changes take effect.
| Applies from Version: | Impact 1.3 | Applies to Version: |
To find out what functionality you are licensed to use...
- Click the Help menu and pick the About Impact option.
- Click the Licence page to display the dongle features.
This will display features such as licence type (Designer, Diemaker etc), components (Graphics, Parametrics & Standards Designer, 3D etc), import-export filters (CFF2, PDF, DXF etc) and plotter drivers (HPGL, General Laser etc).
The details may be saved to a text file if required - simply click the Save to File button at the bottom of the page.
A .apz file is an Arden Package. This is a file that is compatible with the Arden package installer and can be downloaded from the website. On opening the file, the Arden Package Installer will automatically install the package.
'Package' can contain one or more standards, design components, symbols, templates, or master tool settings.
Check out the linked downloads to get your copy of the Arden Package Installer.
The primary use of Arden Licence Server (formerly, Impact Licence Server) is to allow floating licences between workstations to aid flexibility.
The Licence Server utility is installed on a server or designated workstation and given an IP address. The licences are then loaded into the licence server for deployment. Finally, each Impact workstation is then configured to look for the server IP address. Upon connecting to the database the user will be prompted to choose a licence to allocate. Once disconnected from the database the licence is freed to allow another user to use it.
As of Impact 2019, it's now possible to run an Impact Licence Server without a physical dongle.
Impact running on a workstation that uses a license from the Impact License Server can be used via Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). (While Impact that uses a standard activation licence cannot)
If you are interested in using Licence Server as a solution or have further questions, please contact Arden Software Support.
Refer to the Licence Server User Guide for more information regarding its usage and setup.
You need to be able to access https://my.nalpeiron.com on HTTPS port 443 (the default) or HTTP port 80 from the workstation where the licence should be activated.
Manual Activation
If your computer does not have an internet connection, or for any reason Impact is unable to contact the licensing server at https://my.nalpeiron.com/ (TCP port: 443) when trying to activate a Nalpeiron-based licence, you can press the Manual Activation button to generate a request code.
Note, the button will only be enabled when a compatible, 18-digit licence code has been entered, e.g. 4965XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Having clicked Manual Activation, you will be presented with the Impact Manual Licence Activation dialog as shown below.
At this moment, a Request Code will have been automatically copied to the Windows clipboard, ready to paste into the self-service ImpactCAD Manual Licence Activation portal at the following web address:
http://www.impactcad.net/?redir=activate
The self-service portal prompts you to paste the Request Code from your Windows Clipboard into the Activation Certificate field and click Activate.
You should temporarily see a green banner confirming ‘Activation Successful’, and the Activation Certificate now becomes the Licence field.
It’s important that the new code generated within the Licence field is now copied in full and pasted back into the Confirmation Code field on the original Impact Manual Licence Activation form.
Note, how the Request Code and Confirmation Code (aka Activation Code) are intentionally different.
For manual licence activations of Impact v13 or later, you are also required to enter a valid Authentication code before the OK button will be enabled. Arden Software are able to generate these authentication codes, which are then tied to a specific activation date.
Click OK to complete the manual activation process.
A successful activation will appear as follows:
This will include details of the number of licence activations (1) allocated from your licence code and the unique workstation ID (2) Impact is now activated on.
If you attempted Manual Activation, but did not complete the process, upon a return to the Impact Manual Licence Activation dialog you will be told that the Request Code has already been generated.
If you no longer have access to the original Request Code within your Windows Clipboard, you will need to start the process again and generate a new Request Code.
To generate a new request code:
- Close/Exit Impact
- Locate and delete the 206aa16f79294eae8f.lic file, located in the C:\ProgramData\Arden Software Ltd\Impact folder (Note. From Impact v13 and later, this licence location has changed to a version-specific sub-folder, e.g. 'C:\ProgramData\Arden Software Ltd\Impact\13').
- Start Impact and repeat Manual Activation as described earlier in this document
Manual Deactivation
If your computer does not have an internet connection, or for any reason Impact is unable to contact the licensing server at https://my.nalpeiron.com/ (TCP port: 443) when trying to deactivate a Nalpeiron-based licence, you can press the Manual Deactivation button to generate a request code.
Having clicked Manual Deactivation, you will be presented with the Impact Manual Licence Deactivation dialog as shown below.
Click Deactivate Licence at which point a Deactivation Code will be generated and automatically copied to the Windows Clipboard, ready to paste into the self-service ImpactCAD Manual Licence Deactivation portal at the following web address:
http://www.impactcad.net/?redir=deactivate
The self-service portal prompts you to paste the Deactivation Code from your Windows Clipboard into the Deactivation Certificate field and click Deactivate
You should temporarily see a green banner confirming ‘Deactivation Successful’
Click Close on the Impact Manual Licence Deactivation dialog.
A successful deactivation will appear as follows.
Note. If a manual deactivation is performed in Impact but not applied via the Deactivation portal, the activation will not be counted, and the licence may not be free to activate elsewhere, or will simply not accurately reflect the correct number of currently available activations.