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How to install and run FRAMECAD Steelwise for the first time

Installation steps, minimum system requirements, opening Steelwise, viewing licence information 

Steelwise is a desktop application that requires a license to use. When an organization signs up as a customer, FRAMECAD® grants the customer a license based on the specific modules, seats, and number of users they require. FRAMECAD then gives customers access to FRAMECAD Communities where licensed users can download Steelwise.

Minimum PC requirements for running Steelwise

You can install and run Steelwise only on a PC with a 64-bit operating system with the following minimum specifications:

• Intel® Core i7 processor or equivalent
• 32GB RAM
• 1GB free disk space (plus additional space for saved job files)
• A licensed version of Windows10/Windows11 

Installing Steelwise on your PC

Follow these steps if you're installing Steelwise for the first time:

  1. Log into FRAMECAD Communities using your FRAMECAD credentials. 
  2. Scroll to Software Download, then click Steelwise. 
  3. Double-click the file to launch the installer then follow the prompts to complete Steelwise software installation. 

The application automatically installs in C:\Program Files\FRAMECAD\FRAMECAD Steelwise.

Data files, documents, and libraries will be located in C:\ProgramData\FRAMECAD\FRAMECAD Steelwise.

FRAMECAD provides some customers with a customized data file. Affected users must copy this file to a hidden library. To do this, open File Explorer, click View > Show > Hidden Items, navigate to C:\ProgramData\FRAMECAD\FRAMECAD Steelwise\Library and drag the file into the library.

If you are currently running older versions of the software and wish to clear all settings back to factory default, open the program and run RESETALL. This will clear the registry which is basically the same as if you were to do a clean install on a new computer. Ensure you have saved any jobs you are currently working on as the program will automatically shut down after this operation.

Running Steelwise for the first time

Click the FRAMECAD Steelwise shortcut on your desktop (if you opted to create one during installation) or select FRAMECAD Steelwise in the Windows Start Menu.

Steelwise will open to an empty Drawing1.dwg file, with the Menu, Ribbon, and Command bars, and Draw and Modify toolbars visible.

If the Steelwise menu does not appear in the Menu bar or if commands do not appear in the Command bar, enter DO_ONCE in the Command line. This resets to default values.

Viewing version and licence information

Steelwise requires a licence to use. It includes a unique ID number and expiry date. 

A 30-day trial licence automatically activates when you install  the software. A trial license enables all application capabilities except printing and RFY export. 

To view your licence and expiry date, enter VER in the Command line, or click Steelwise Help in the Menu bar and select VER Software Version.

  • Current IRX Version: Refer to this number, if requested, when seeking help from customer support.
  • Last IRX Version: This is the IRX version that was being run when the job was last saved. 
  • Initial IRX Version: This is the IRX version that was being run when the job was first started.