Installation & activation

01 / Prepare

Before you start

Get the current approved stable package from Download. No account or credit card is required. Purchased-release recovery remains available in Account → Downloads. Check the supplied release information, system requirements and checksum before opening the package.

1. Extract the complete ZIP into a new, ordinary folder on a fixed local drive. Do not run from inside the ZIP or extract over an older installation.
2. Keep the entire extracted tree together. Use a writable folder outside OneDrive, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, network/NAS shares, removable drives and shared VM folders. Avoid linked paths.
3. On Mac, also avoid Desktop and Documents, which may be synchronized by iCloud even when their paths look local. Use a dedicated folder in your home directory outside those locations.
4. On Linux, use a writable dedicated folder in your home directory on a fixed local disk. The supported filesystem families are ext, XFS, Btrfs and F2FS; a writable, non-removable backing block device must also be verifiable. Locations under /mnt, /media and /run/media are excluded by path policy. Overlay/container and memory-backed filesystems such as tmpfs are unsupported for the authoritative database.
5. Check that your organisation permits the package and chosen entry. The supplied launchers do not require Node.js, npm or package installation at startup.

Already using PM Control Workbench? Follow Updating without losing your work before opening an existing workspace with new software.

02 / Start

Choose your launcher

Start with the supplied entry for your computer. These entries use their bundled Python runtime; you do not need to install Python separately.

Mac Terminal

./Start_PM_Control_Workbench.command --port 8801

Linux terminal

./Start_PM_Control_Workbench.sh --port 8801

Open the local browser address printed by the launcher, for example http://127.0.0.1:8801/. It points to the Workbench on your computer. Use a browser supported by your package. Add --no-browser if you prefer to open the address yourself.

When your company permits Python instead

Where your organisation explicitly approves this entry, a supported package can run through Start_PM_Control_Workbench.py using an IT-approved, compatible 64-bit Python 3.11 or newer. The active Python installation must already include the approved cryptography component used to verify licences. Python being present alone is not sufficient.

Close every Workbench runtime first. In a terminal opened in the extracted folder, use the command for your approved Python installation:

Windows Command Prompt

python -B -I -S Start_PM_Control_Workbench.py --port 8801

Mac or Linux terminal

python3 -B -I -S Start_PM_Control_Workbench.py --port 8801

Have IT confirm that python or python3 selects the approved interpreter. This is an explicit alternative, with no automatic fallback. See IT requirements if it is unavailable or blocked.

03 / Activate

Start the trial or activate a purchase

The first eligible launch starts your 30-day trial automatically. No account, browser approval or licensing-service connection is needed. Reinstalling or deleting ordinary settings does not restart the trial.

When purchasing is available, choose Buy PMCW after the trial ends. Create or sign in to your purchaser account and complete checkout. PMCW checks for completion and installs the verified licence automatically; no code copying or manual Check step is needed.

Already purchased? Use this route when the Workbench computer can reach the licence service. You need an eligible licence or operator grant; signing in alone does not grant use.

1. In the application, open Settings → About → License → Activate an existing purchase.
2. Follow the opened browser page to the account website. Sign in as the licence owner or authorised assignee.
3. Review the device, select an eligible licence if prompted, and choose Approve this device.
4. PMCW finishes activation automatically. Confirm the licence status allows editing on this device and version.

If the browser cannot open the account site, or the application cannot contact the service, use the file-exchange route below from another permitted computer.

If opening Account → License yourself, expand Manage activation to see the activation controls.

03 / Alternative activation

Activate with a .lic file

Your work computer can remain offline, or have the licence website restricted by IT. A second, permitted computer with internet access handles the request and response. Use your organisation’s approved method to transfer the files.

1. Work computer: open Settings → About → License → Create offline request. Save the generated request file.
2. Connected computer: sign in at pmcontrolworkbench.com → Account → License using the eligible account.
3. Expand Manage activation if needed. Under Process an activation request file, upload the request and select Create signed response. Download the signed .lic file.
4. Original work computer: return the response, select Import .lic response in the License card, and choose the downloaded file.
5. Confirm the licence is verified and permits editing. Make a small edit, confirm Saved, stop normally and restart to check it remains saved.

If no permitted connected computer or approved transfer method is available, ask IT or support to arrange activation.

04 / Keep working

Check your setup

1. Check that the expected workspace and licence status appear. An unexpectedly empty workspace is a reason to stop and confirm its location.
2. Create a small test project or edit, wait for Saved and zero pending edits, stop the runtime, then restart using the same entry. Confirm the edit survived.
3. Create a verified backup and check it in Backup Explorer. Keep backups in an approved location separate from the live workspace.

After activation, including offline use

The €149 one-time licence grants permanent use of the purchased eligible release. PM Control Workbench may make corrective or maintenance builds eligible where appropriate. Future commercial releases are not automatically included unless explicitly stated; semantic version numbers do not define entitlement. The licence is verified locally without a heartbeat or recurring refresh. No renewal is required. A valid installed licence remains usable during service outages or retirement; initial issuance and replacement-device activation need the service.

The full 30-day trial needs no card and never converts automatically. After expiry, editing pauses; reading, search, export, backup and recovery remain available. Future commercial releases may require a new purchase; future development, upgrades and discounts are not promised. Historical issued licences retain their signed terms.

Activation is device-bound: moving software on the same computer and activating a different computer are different operations. Keep your licence backup and protected device identity. A saved .lic file can restore entitlement on the original identity; it cannot activate a different device or recreate lost private keys. Use the authenticated activation path for available replacement-device slots.

Know where your workspace lives

Follow the storage location documented for your package. A universal portable keeps its workspace under user_db inside the extracted folder. The Windows package uses %LOCALAPPDATA%\PM Control Workbench\user_db; moving its software folder does not move that workspace. Never copy a live SQLite file to transfer your work. Use the supported verified backup and restore process.

For the offline manual, open Settings → About → Open User Manual or Help → User Manual. The supplied RELEASE_INFORMATION.html contains package-specific launch information.