Frequently Asked Questions

Articy:draft 3 can only be used on one device at a time. If you wish to transfer your license to a new device, please open articy:draft 3 on the old device and follow these steps:

1. Click on the top left button

2. Click on license management

3. Click on unregister.

This will unregister your license from the current device and allow you to use it on a different device.

If for any reason you are no longer able to unregister your articy:draft license from the app, please use the form below:

After entering the affected license key below you will receive an authorization code by e-mail that is required to ensure that it is really you who wants the license key to be unregistered.

Yes, you just have to install articy:server on one machine and articy:draft clients on all users’ machines.

Here’s a guide

If you don’t want to host the server yourself, we also offer hosting services where we do all the setup and configuration stuff for you.

Unity: you can implement your data right into your game with articy:draft 3s integrated Unity Importer plugin. With the completely customizable flow traversal engine and out-of-the-box script evaluation you can play through your content with minimal effort. Read more here

Unreal: Use simple C++ and blueprint interface to work with the data and get a substantial head-start into incorporating articy:draft data into Unreal projects while still having enough flexibility to adjust the importer to personal needs. Read more here

The articy:draft API offers direct access to all data within articy:draft. You can use the API to conveniently integrate articy:draft 3 in your pipeline. Read more here

articy:draft 3 comes with various export features, like Excel or Word, .JSON and XML in particular. The .JSON and XML export feature allows the convenient export of the entire project as XML or .JSON for use in your internal tool chain. You don’t even have to have any knowledge of XML. All you need to do is to click the “export to XML” button and an XML file is created.

Yes there is.

With the release of articy:draft 3 we implemented the possibility to use plugins within articy:draft. That allows you to automate tasks and customize functionalities to your workflow. Finally, the Macro Devkit enables you to develop your own macro plugins fast and easily. You can download plugins from our download page.

How hosting can help you

We clearly understand your need to stay focused and productive. Our hosting service helps you get started with articy:draft as quickly as possible and takes the burden of setup and maintenance off your shoulders. So you and your team can focus on what matters most: The creative side of making games.

What are we hosting?

The multi-user collaboration requires an articy:server for the handling of users, licenses and project meta data. The actual project data is stored in an internal SVN (subversion) repository that’s part of the articy:server. We’re hosting the articy:server for you with the integrated SVN server, so you’re ready to go.
Optionally, if you already have an SVN repository or Perforce depot running, you can use it for your project data and ignore the internal SVN but still benefit from the hosted articy:server.

Where are we hosting? (And how secure is it?)

We’re setting up storage space for you in certified data centers in Germany with highest security standards. Your data will be hosted on first class hardware with highest reliability and failsafe raid/redundancy systems. High-speed uploads and downloads as well as unlimited traffic are included.

An automated backup service creates daily copies of your data and stores them externally. So if anything goes wrong, you can always restore an earlier version of your articy:server data.

Lower risks

• Certified EU data centers
• First class hardware
• Daily backups of your data

Faster readiness

• No technical skills required
• Setup/maintenance done by us
• Have a free mind for creativity

Lower costs

• No extra hardware expenses
• No extra maintenance costs
• No extra security costs

We take data security seriously

We not only guarantee performance and reliability, we also ensure security of your sensitive data. We use trusted SSL secured connections between your articy:draft clients and your hosted articy:server. Every client gets a user account which permits access only to their specific articy:server and their projects.

In addition, our hosting partner operates certified data centers in the EU with failsafe hardware and software. We’re also doing daily backups for you.
Visit our shop for details and prices.

The articy:draft & articy:server application runs on:

• Windows 10 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows 8.1 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows 8 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows 7 – Service Pack 1 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows 7 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows Vista – Service Pack 2 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows Server 2012 – 64 Bit
• Windows Server 2008 R2 – Service Pack 1 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows Server 2008 R2 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows Server 2008 – Service Pack 2 – 32/64 Bit
• Windows Server 2003 – Service Pack 2 – 32/64 Bit

Further requirements:

DX9 or higher (can be installed/updated via the installer)

.NET Framework 4.0 or higher (the installer will deny installation if not present and supplies a download link to the microsoft site where you can download the version required)

Needs an internet connection to register/validate the license key

You can use articy:draft on a Mac, but you will have to install Windows as a second OS next to the Mac OS. There are several solutions that can help setting up a second OS on your system, like VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop or VirtualBox.

The short answer is no, we don’t. You have to use a ‘Local’ depot for articy:draft.

Why don’t you support Perforce Streams?

Perforce Streams are a great enhancement of the normal Perforce workflow, which eases working with branches and uses the “Merge down” and “Copy up” methods.
While this works well with isolated, mostly text-based files, it does not work out with articy:drafts highly interconnected object structure, which makes automatic merging very complex.

The drivers from tablet manufacturer Wacom for their drawing tablets is known to cause various problems with articy:draft and other application based on the Windows Presentation Framework. These problems are due to the general approach of these drivers, so we strongly recommend to completely uninstall these Wacom drivers on the system you are using articy:draft on. The Windows operating system has native support for Wacom tablets, so you still will be able to use your Wacom tablet device without the proprietary driver software from Wacom.

To find the logs, please enter the corresponding string below into the address bar of your windows explorer:

%Appdata%\nevigo\articy\2.x\Logs (for Articy:Draft 2)
or
%Appdata%\nevigo\articy\3.x\Logs (for Articy:Draft 3 version 3.1.21 and older)
%Appdata%\Articy Software\articy\3.x\Logs (for Articy:Draft 3 version 3.1.22 and newer)

The resulted folder will contain the file articy.log corresponding to the current running or last session and up to 20 files named articy_nn.log for the past 20 sessions.

When a crash occurs, there will be an additional ZIP-file named CrashInfo-<Timestamp of crash>.zip.

Important note! Should you encounter a crash or otherwise unexpected behavior of articy:draft, please write a ticket and attach the log and/or crash files to make sure our dev team has all the information required to diagnose the issue.

No there is not. To make sure of it, we’re not asking for any kind of payment details to download and use articy:draft 3 FREE.

An object is a single piece of content you add to your project. In articy:draft 3 FREE you will have 660 objects FREE for each of your projects. The FREE objects are split between Flow Elements, Dialogue Nodes, Dialogue Fragments, Entities, Assets and Locations.

If you are using articy:draft 3 FREE you can check the number of used and available FREE objects in the object counter. For step by step instructions please check the tutorial here.
If you are using any other versions of articy:draft 3, you have unlimited objects so the object counter will not appear in your window.

If you are using articy:draft 3 FREE, used up the FREE objects and created additional ones, your project will enter a locked state. If that happens you can choose to upgrade and unlock unlimited objects, but if that’s not your thing you can also delete the extra objects to unlock your project and continue to use the FREE version, we won’t judge.

If you are using articy:draft 3 FREE and have exceeded the number of free objects in one projects, all your other projects will stay unlocked. Each project has 660 objects that can be used for FREE and its own object counter.
If you are using any other versions of articy:draft 3, you have unlimited objects and your projects will not be locked.

Yes, you can use all exports with the FREE version.

No. articy:draft 3 FREE comes with commercial rights included. You are free to use it for commercial purposes.

We would love it if you add articy:draft 3 FREE to your credits or decide to give us a shout out on social media. But you do not have to.

If you decide to upgrade, all you need to do is update your license key in the bubble menu at the top left. You will instantly unlock unlimited objects for all your existing projects and can continue with your story right from where you left off.

There is no direct upgrade path from Single User to Multi User. You can cancel your Single User Subscription at any time and purchase a Multi User Subscription separately. All Single User projects can be converted and continued with the Multi User. If you need any assistance, please contact sales@articy.com.

No, the Multi User does not have a standalone FREE version, but if you and your team wish to try it out, you can download the Multi User Free Trial.

Simply put, it is not technically possible, because the Steam platform was not designed to run Windows services that run unattended with system privileges.

Contact sales@articy.com if you want to upgrade to multi-user from articy:draft 3 you bought on Steam.

Hello, students!

We’ve been students, too, and always somewhat cash-strapped at that time. We want you to be able to use articy:draft without limitations and at an affordable price. The regular price for articy:draft (single-user) isn’t too high already, but we trimmed it down.

The student price also applies to pupils and teachers! After the successful submission of your order, we will contact you shortly and ask you to submit your student ID or teacher verification, but you can start using the software right off the bat.

Please note that student licenses are not entitled to upgrade to a new version (e. g. articy:draft 2 to articy:draft 3).

Thanks for your interest in articy:draft.

– The Articy team –

If you want to grab your copy now, please visit our shop for the student license.

Yes. Please contact sales for more info.

You can also use our educational price calculator to calculate the costs for your required installation.

We offer a wide range of free learning resources and paid software trainings, from quick overview to individually tailored workshops. Our personal trainings will help you get up to speed and become a proficient and productive articy:draft expert.

We can also consult you in figuring out the best possible way of using articy:draft in your specific case, or help you establish a pipeline and workflows that serve your team’s needs.

Regular articy:draft 3

articy:draft 3 is our feature-loaded flagship product. It can be downloaded here on our website and installed as a stand-alone application. Including commercial use right.

It requires a license key sent to you in the welcome email. Your license will be linked to your machine. Switching to another machine requires you to deactivate the license first and then re-activate it on the new machine.

articy:draft 3 on Steam

articy:draft 3 on Steam consists of all the components you’ll also get with the regular version.

Feature-wise, articy:draft 3 on Steam is also identical with the regular articy:draft 3. It is linked to your Steam account, so it is not bound to a certain machine. You can run articy:draft 3 on Steam on any PC where your Steam client is logged in.

Regular multi-user license

This is a full-featured client in the multi-user environment. It connects to the articy:server and lets you create, view and edit projects in a team. Licenses in the multi-user scenario are managed centrally by the articy:server, so each client needs to get a license assigned by the server to be able to log in with their credentials and explore projects. Clients can access projects freely whereever they reach the articy:server.

Floating license

Besides the regular licenses, you can have a pool of floating licenses which can be dynamically assigned upon log-in. Users logging in claim licenses from the pool and return them when they log out. So the size of the pool determines the maximum amount of simultaneous users, but you can have as many inactive users as you want. This option is great for distributed teams across different time zones.

Viewer license

Technically, this is the same client as the regular multi-user version, but the license doesn’t allow any editing and modifying of content. Viewers can freely explore projects and export project data, but cannot contribute in any way. Read-only licenses are often given to the programming team or the publishing partner for review. You can upgrade viewers to regular multi-user licenses or floating licenses any time.

In case you are experiencing glitches on mouse-over and similar occurrences, please check if you have either Nahimic 3 or Sonic Suite 3 from A-Volute installed (among others they come bundled with ASUS mainboards).

Updating Nahimic 3 to v1.8.6 and Sonic Suite 3 to v3.16.18 should fix the issues!