Download and Installation on Windows

Owned by Marc Lievin
Jul 22, 2024
10 min read

Introduction

Vortex Studio is compatible with both Windows and Linux operating systems.

About coexistence

Co-existence of Vortex Toolkit versions is supported (e.g., 2023.5 and 2023.6 on the same workstation).

Installation packages for the Vortex® Studio family of products are available from the CM Labs' Asset Store.

Head to the https://asset-store.prod.vortex-cloud.net/.

Getting Vortex Setup

VortexSetup is the main Vortex Studio installation tool.

VortexSetup is required to install Vortex Studio software and content packaged in the CM-Labs' proprietary format (.vxpackage).

Download the latest Vortex Setup

  • click the green button “Download for Windows”.

  • VortexSetup application will be downloaded.

It is crucial to consistently acquire the most recent VortexSetup version when setting up Vortex Studio products.

The latest VortexSetup version is designed to be backward compatible and includes the most recent updates and functionalities required for installing CM-Labs product packages.

The software version can be easily verified in the toolbar of VortexSetup or by accessing the Info section. (by clicking on the icon on the first page)

Create a VortexSetup directory.

Upon completion of the download process, your VortexSetup will consistently reside in the designated Download folder as specified by your browser.

VortexSetup will automatically download all Vortex Studio Packages to the same location as its executable.

To streamline package downloads and simplify package removal, it is recommended to relocate VortexSetup to a fresh working directory, for example, C:\CM Labs\Setup.

This designated directory will be referred to as the "workspace" throughout this document.

Installing Software and Packages

Vortex Studio Setup (VortexSetup.exe) is an executable designed to streamline the installation process of Vortex Studio.

This tool is capable of downloading essential components and installing them seamlessly, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

VortexSetup initiates the download of chosen packages prior to the installation process.

VortexSetup offers the option to install Vortex Studio on either a desktop computer or a distributed simulator (computers within the same network involved in a shared simulation).

Upon launching VortexSetup, users will encounter an initial page presenting various modes or workflows available.

To assist in selecting the appropriate mode, a brief guide is provided outlining the objectives and anticipated outcomes for each workflow.

Install

Use Install when you want to install a Platform product or a Simulation product which is not currently installed, locally or on a distributed simulator.

Once a base product is selected, you can select the add-ons or components to install as well.

Modify

Use Modify when you want to install components or add-ons to an already installed Platform or Simulation product, locally or on a distributed simulator.

Update

Use Update when you want to update to the latest release an already installed Platform or Simulation product, locally or on a distributed simulator.

Uninstall

Use Uninstall when you need to delete any installed packages, locally or on a distributed simulator.

A dependency check will make sure you are not uninstalling packages that are required by currently installed products.

Installation on a desktop computer

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Install on Desktop.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. The first window to be presented will display a list of Platform and Simulation product. Select all base products you want to install and click Next.

  5. In the next window, you will see a list of components available to install based on your selection and the products that have been already installed. Select all the components you want to install and click Next.

  6. On the following Summary window, double-check your selections, then click Confirm.

  7. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

At the end of the process, a summary is displayed.

Installation on a multiple-computer simulator

Simulator installation is used to set up a complete distributed simulator. Vortex Studio Setup will make certain that all computers in a distributed simulator have the same Vortex Studio components installed. This is usually done on the master computer of a distributed simulation.

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Install on Simulator.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. The first window to be presented will display a list of Platform and Simulation product. Select all base products you want to install and click Next.

  5. In the next window, you will see a list of components available to install based on your selection and the products that have been already installed. Select all the components you want to install and click Next.

  6. Select the computers from the chosen network interface where you want to install Vortex Studio. On remote computers, a window indicates that the Vortex Studio Setup client is communicating with the Vortex Studio Setup server.

  7. Click Select.

  8. Confirm the choice of components

  9. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

After installation, a summary is displayed.

Modifying an installation

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Modify on Desktop or Modify on Simulator.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. n the next window, you will see a list of components available to install based on the products that have been already installed. Select all the components you want to install and click Next.

  5. When Modifying on a simulator

    1. Select the computers from the chosen network interface where you want to install Vortex Studio. On remote computers, a window indicates that the Vortex Studio Setup client is communicating with the Vortex Studio Setup server.

    2. Note that all systems selected will be synchronized, which means that independently of what was selected, all computers will have the same Vortex Studio Packages installed.

  6. Click Select.

  7. Confirm the choice of components

  8. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

After installation, a summary is displayed.

Updating an already installed product

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Update on Desktop or Update on Simulator.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. The first window to be presented will display a list of Platform and Simulation product which are already installed. Select all base products you want to update and click Next.

  5. In the next window, you will see a list of already installed components selected for uninstallation as well as a list of components who will replace them. Selection is automatic but some add-ons upgrade might be selectable. Select all additional components you want to install and click Next.

  6. On the following Summary window, double-check your selections, then click Confirm.

  7. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

After installation, a summary is displayed.

Removing an installation

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Uninstall on Desktop or Uninstall on Simulator.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. In the next window, you will see a list of products and components already installed.

  5. Select the products or components to remove. Click Next.

  6. When removing products from a simulator

    1. Select the computers from the chosen network interface where you want to install Vortex Studio. On remote computers, a window indicates that the Vortex Studio Setup client is communicating with the Vortex Studio Setup server.

    2. Note that all systems selected will be synchronized, which means that independently of what was selected, all computers will have the same Vortex Studio Packages installed.

  7. Confirm the choice of components

  8. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

After installation, a summary is displayed.

Installation for a remote computer

When you want to prepare the installation for another computer with limited or no internet access, it is preferable to use the Download and Offline mode of Vortex Studio

Downloading Vortex Products

  1. Launch the Vortex Studio Setup file (VortexSetup.exe) from your workspace to start the setup application.

  2. In the next window, click Download.

  3. After reading the license terms and conditions, select the agreement box and click Next.

  4. The first window to be presented will display a list of Platform and Simulation product. Select all base products you want to install and click Next.

  5. In the next window, you will see a list of components available to install based on your selection and the products that have been already installed. Select all the components you want to install and click Next.

  6. On the following Summary window, double-check your selections, then click Confirm.

  7. A status window appears, displaying global and partial progress.

At the end of the process, a summary is displayed. Copy the Vortex Setup workspace folder on a portable media

Installing Vortex Products without Internet access

  1. Copy the Vortex Setup workspace folder from a portable media to a local folder. It is always preferable to keep a local copy of the Vortex Packages

  2. Click the check box Offline Mode (Use Local Packages Only)

  3. Perform the sequence stated above in Installing, Modifying, or Removing.

Manually downloading packages without using VortexSetup

In the case of issues with VortexSetup, e.g. firewall issues or connection unreliable, previous versions with individual packages are available.

  • To download a specific package of a Vortex Studio version, click on the little eye on the card of the version you want.

  • A detailed page containing the different packages of that version will be made available for individual download.

  • Download the packages in the workspace directory.

  • Once the desired packages are downloaded in the same directory alongside VortexSetup, follow the steps for Installing Vortex Products without Internet access.

Activating my installation

See the Licensing chapter for information on how to activate your installation.

Installation of Windows runtime redistributables

Users who install Vortex Studio for the first time may need the Visual Studio Redistributables package for Visual Studio 2015.

The Vortex Setup application offers installation of the redistributables.

However, users without an internet connection might need to get the packages themselves from the internet.

This documentation will help users get those packages by themselves.

How to get the Visual Studio Redistributables from VortexSetup

When starting Vortex Setup, if the Visual Studio redistributables required packages are not installed on the system, the user will be prompted to do the following:

The Vortex Setup is capable of installing the packages. It will ask if you want to download and install them; an internet connection and administrative privileges are required.

How to get the Visual Studio Redistributables Manually

You can also get them from the Microsoft website and install them on your own. 

Getting the redistributables from the Microsoft website
Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable for Visual Studio 2015

This package is required by Vortex Studio. The software cannot run without it and Vortex Setup will not let you continue if this package is not installed.

  1. Go to the latest supported Visual C++ downloads webpage

  2. Scroll down to Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019

  3. Select the x64 package

  4. Clicking on the vc_redist.x64.exe link will trigger a download

  5. Execute the downloaded file and follow the steps.

Installing the Vortex Licensing Tools

If you need to install a license server or If you need to generate license files for a different computer or a computer that does not have internet access, you can download the Vortex Studio Licensing Tools with the Vortex Studio Setup files from the CM-Labs website.

To install only the Vortex Studio Licensing Tools, do the following:

  1. From the CM-Labs website, Click on the Go to Product Detail Page icon.

     

  2. Find the Licensing tool in the list and click on the Download Package button.

     

  3. In VortexSetup, select Offline Mode and press the Install on Desktop Button.
    We suggest the following article on how to use VortexSetup.

     

  4. On the Install Stage page, press the Next button without selecting anything.

     

  5. On the Component Stage page, select the licensing tool and proceed with the installation.