Tekla Structures licensing covers how Trimble licenses Tekla Structures, its building information modelling (BIM) software for structural steel, concrete and precast detailing, and the related Tekla Structural Designer, Tekla Tedds and Tekla Model Sharing. Tekla licences are governed by Trimble’s End-User License Agreement for Tekla Software Products (reference TRIMBLE-TEKLA-EULA-2024-revB). Under it, each licence “shall permit one concurrent floating or one named User of the Software, as specified in the Order Form”.[1] For Tekla, the Trimble Supplemental Terms for Software add rules on Professional Consultants and territory.[9] Tekla licensing is now mostly subscription-based, and Tekla’s support site states plainly: “It is no longer possible to buy new perpetual licenses.”[2] Catalog proof: Tekla Floating License: concurrent users of Trimble's license server; New perpetual Tekla Structures licences can no longer be bought.
Editions
Tekla Structures subscriptions are sold in three configurations:[2]
| Subscription | Purpose (Tekla FAQ) | Configurations included |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | Viewing models, extracting data, collaborating | Project Viewer, Production Planner |
| Graphite | Authoring constructible models and design documentation | Carbon plus Construction Modeling, Engineering, EPM Modeler, Rebar Detailing |
| Diamond | Detailing of any material, production automation | Graphite plus Drafter, Primary, Precast Detailing, Steel Detailing, Full, Partner, Educational |
The older names (Project Viewer, Drafter, Steel Detailing, Full and so on) are the configurations that legacy perpetual licences were sold as. Subscriptions include version updates, local and online support and forum access.[2] The Tekla Structures Named User licence “also includes Tekla Model Sharing and Trimble Connect Business Premium licenses”.[3] Users with Carbon, Graphite or Diamond Named User subscriptions need no separate Tekla Model Sharing licence.[11]
Metrics
Named User (Trimble Identity)
A User License requires the user to “(i) be identified by a unique user identification, the Trimble ID and (ii) be an individual, not a group associated with a generic login”. No one else may use the same Trimble ID.[1] The Named User License may be used worldwide, is limited to one Trimble ID per licence, and re-assignment is “not allowed, except as defined in the Documentation”.[1] Administrators assign seats in the Tekla Online Admin Tool, and “each license seat can only be assigned to one user”.[5] Re-assignment is possible only when the licence went to the wrong user, when the user leaves or changes role, when a contractor’s engagement ends, or at renewal.[3] These are the same cases as in Trimble’s User Assignment and Device Management Policy.[12] Catalog proof: Tekla User License: unique Trimble ID, individual, no shared logins; Tekla Named User seats: one user per seat, assigned in the Tekla Online Admin Tool.
Legacy subscription tiers: Standard, Flex, Worldwide
Before 2023 Tekla sold user-licence subscriptions in three tiers:[2]
| Tier | Where usable | Reassignment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Country of purchase | “a maximum of four times in each calendar year” |
| Flex | Country of purchase | Unlimited |
| Worldwide | Any country | Per documentation |
| Named User | Any country | Only on leaving the company (and the policy cases) |
Standard and Flex licences may be used outside their territory for up to two months. Longer or full-time use abroad requires a Worldwide or Named User licence.[2] Catalog proof: Tekla Standard licences: four assignments per calendar year; Named User not reassignable; Tekla: Domestic, Educational, Evaluation, Flex and Standard licences limited to the ordering territory.
Floating licences (legacy perpetual)
“Floating License means that the number of Users using the Software concurrently to connect to Trimble’s License server shall not exceed the number of Licenses purchased by You.” Previously acquired permanent Commercial Domestic and Commercial Enterprise licences remain Floating Licenses until they are exchanged for subscriptions.[1] They run on Tekla’s on-premises license server, based on FlexNet, which an administrator installs and on which the entitlement certificate is activated.[8] When Tekla Structures starts, the user chooses either the online license server (subscriptions) or the company’s legacy on-premises server (perpetual and maintenance licences).[2]
Counting / floors
Offline use. Online subscription licences work anywhere with an internet connection and can be used “offline for up to 72 hours”. One licence can be used “from one computer at a time”.[6] Catalog proof: Tekla online licences usable offline for up to 72 hours.
Borrowing on-premises licences. Users can borrow licences from the on-premises server with the License Borrow Tool while connected to the office network or VPN. “Keep in mind that borrowed licenses are reserved for the chosen duration of the borrowing even when they are not in use.” Borrowed licences return automatically on the chosen date.[7] For a concurrency count, a borrowed licence is therefore in use for its whole borrowing period. Catalog proof: Borrowed on-premises Tekla licences stay reserved even when unused.
Usage-based licences. Usage-based Licenses are Commercial Enterprise Licenses that Professional Consultants may not use. Trimble monitors usage for invoicing, and “the usage reports shall constitute conclusive and binding evidence of Your use of the Software”.[1] Catalog proof: Tekla Usage-based licences: usage reports are binding evidence.
Territory, affiliates and consultants
The EULA defines Territory as “the country where Your purchase order for the Software was originated” unless the Order Form says otherwise.[1] The Supplemental Terms limit Tekla Offerings designated Domestic, Educational, Evaluation, Flex or Standard to the territory where they were ordered.[9] For Offerings designated Domestic, Evaluation, Partner, On-demand, Standard, Trial, Usage-based or Domestic Project, “Customer may not allow Professional Consultants (as defined below) to use the Offerings”. Professional Consultants are third-party firms providing engineering, drafting or detailing services.[9] Named User and Commercial Enterprise licences may be used by employees of Authorized Affiliates and by Professional Consultants.[1] Catalog proof: Tekla: no Professional Consultants on Domestic, Standard, Usage-based and similar licences.
Virtualization & partitioning
The EULA forbids enabling “use of the Software by duplication through virtualization or comparable technology in a manner that would exceed the number of Licenses purchased by You”.[1] Tekla’s remote-working guidance covers VPN and remote desktop access to an office computer. In that setup licensing works as in the office, with either on-premises or online licences.[6] Catalog proof: Tekla: no duplication through virtualization beyond licences purchased.
Programs
- Tekla subscription. “Recurring” subscriptions last one year and renew automatically. “Term” subscriptions have a fixed validity of up to three years and do not renew. Notice of termination must reach the Trimble office or reseller at least 30 days before the period ends. “Terminations that have not been received 30 days before the end of the subscription period only take effect after the next subscription period ends.”[2] The EULA allows subscription periods of three months or longer and renews recurring subscriptions for 12 months “on then current fees”.[1] Catalog proof: Tekla subscriptions: terminate 30 days before period end.
- Named User transition. “Starting from from September 1, 2023, we sell only Named User licenses.” Customers with active subscriptions could buy more Standard, Flex and Worldwide licences until 2025-09-30 and may renew them until 2027-12-31. “Starting from 2028, all subscription licenses are Named User licenses.”[3] Renewals beyond 2027 are automatically switched to the corresponding Named User products unless terminated, and standalone Model Sharing subscriptions end.[4] Catalog proof: Tekla sells only Named User licences from 2023-09-01; all Named User from 2028.
- Maintenance for perpetual licences. Maintenance fees are charged per perpetual licence, in advance, for calendar-year terms. They cover Main Releases and Sub-releases, with Sub-releases only for the two latest Main Releases.[1] On 2024-06-11 Trimble announced the end of sale of maintenance for all perpetual licence types: “Tekla maintenance contracts renewed for 2027 will be terminated on December 31, 2027 and cannot renew for 2028 (and on) anymore.”[4] Existing perpetual licences may still be used and can be exchanged for subscriptions.[2] Catalog proof: Tekla maintenance for perpetual licences ends 2027-12-31.
- Other licence types. The EULA also defines Educational (territory, non-commercial), Evaluation (90 days), Partner, Student (365 days), Trial (30 days, commercial testing allowed) and Archive licences. Archive licences cover Tekla Structures 2018i and earlier for holders of User Licenses facing version compatibility issues.[1]
Audits and compliance
Trimble and its Authorized Distributors may audit “at any time” on at least five days’ notice. Audits may also run electronically through “the audit functionality of the Software”. If non-compliance is found, the customer must remedy it, for example by buying licences, and compensate Trimble for reasonable audit costs.[1] Tekla’s compliance page says it works with the BSA and ITCA and offers to check whether a prospective subcontractor is licensed. Without Trimble’s written consent, Tekla licences cannot be sold, loaned or transferred.[10] The Trimble Solutions v. Quantum Dynamics case shows how in-product telemetry was used as evidence of unlicensed Tekla use. Catalog proof: Tekla audit on five days notice, or electronically through the software; Tekla licences cannot be sold or transferred without Trimble consent.
Out of scope
- Tekla PowerFab and Tekla EPM licensing, managed partly in the Trimble Admin Console.
- Tekla Structural Designer and Tedds licence service details beyond the shared Named User rules.
- Prices; Tekla sells through local Trimble offices and resellers by quote.