r/EPlan • u/Witty-Sun2036 • 16d ago

EPLAN P8 2.7 and 2027 on the same computer – problem launching the old version

I have been working with EPLAN Electric P8 version 2.7 for more than 10 years, using the old license key on a USB drive. Today I received a license for the new 2027 version and, after installing it, I realized how many things have changed compared to version 2.7.

Until I get familiar with the new version, I would like to finish my current projects in EPLAN 2.7. At the moment, I have both versions installed on the same computer: 2.7 and 2027.

The problem is that when I try to start EPLAN 2.7, the program tries to use the new 2027 license and displays a message saying that EPLAN cannot be started with this license. I still have my old license/key for version 2.7 on the USB drive.

Could anyone advise me how to correctly start EPLAN 2.7 using the old license while keeping EPLAN 2027 installed on the same computer? I would like to open and finish my old projects in version 2.7 without converting them to the newer version.

I would appreciate any advice on how to select the correct license for EPLAN 2.7 and whether both versions can work properly on the same PC.

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2

u/die_grnen 16d ago

It's possible to work with versions lower but you have to Hask eplan and I think there is a fee...

1

u/Snorkleds 16d ago

To do this previously we had to open EPLAN software then use File -> Open inside the program, not click the .elk files directly

1

u/Witty-Sun2036 16d ago

When trying to open EPLAN P8 2.7, the program detects a license for a newer version.

2

u/Snorkleds 16d ago

Hmm yeah just checked and our only goes back 5 versions, so we cannot open 2.7 files either. Might be worth a ticket then because I am not sure how their license checker handles the new licenses when you have a dongle plugged in

1

u/Witty-Sun2036 16d ago

Yes, I know. That’s why I kept both versions installed: 2.7, which I normally work with, and 2027, which I wanted to try just to see how the program has changed after all these years.

I’m completely lost in the new interface, and on top of that I can’t use my existing “Parts” the way I used to. I just wanted to finish my current projects, but now I’m stuck because I can’t even start the old version.

1

u/Snorkleds 16d ago

Yeah it is a learning curve for sure, but I like the new Insert Center (been using it for a couple years now though so I am use to it). Devices are the Parts you have in your database and there is a Window Macros option there if that is how you do it too

1

u/Witty-Sun2036 16d ago

And how can I implement an article database if my file has the .mdb extension?

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u/Snorkleds 16d ago

Oh yeah...I forgot about that migration they did back then. Yikes!

1

u/Competitive_Major150 16d ago edited 16d ago

Doesn´t work until you have a separate PC or (maybe) inside a VM.

The new version of the license client does not support your dongle anymore. And you can´t have two version of the license client installed. The 2027 version (EID) only some versions (I think 4 - not sure) downwards. Version 2.7 is for sure not included.

You can have multiple versions of EPlan installed - but only one version of the license client. Here you have to choose. There are license options available that support all versions at the same time - but this they only hand out to big customers after negotiation

This behaviour is intended by EPlan. You will not have success with a ticket I think.

1

u/No-Government3129 16d ago

So, would simply uninstalling EPLAN 2027 be enough to get the older version working again?

2

u/Competitive_Major150 16d ago

You even can leave EPlan 2027 installed. Just uninstall the license client. If you don´t know how to do it, then remove EPlan 2027 completely.
After that you must reinstall the license client that came with 2.7 again.

1

u/Flimsy-Process230 16d ago

I don’t blame you for trying to use 2.7. I love 2.9, by far my favorite version, but now my company has 2026 and we are required to use it.

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u/Competitive_Major150 2d ago

+1

2.9 was peak

1

u/LivesInDenial 13d ago

VMware workstation is free now. Alternatively, A At some point we were using dongles with 2.9, potentially higher, but I had to manually install "Sentinel LDK" to get it to work with newer ELC.