# FAQ: Troubleshooting 3DF and HOOPS Exchange compatibility and license issue

**URL:** <https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/faq-troubleshooting-3df-and-hoops-exchange-compatibility-and-license-issue/1371>\
**Category:** HOOPS Visualize Desktop\
**Tags:** knowledge-base, faq\
**Created:** [June 2, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/faq-troubleshooting-3df-and-hoops-exchange-compatibility-and-license-issue/1371 "2021-06-02T04:00:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gabriel.peragine](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.techsoft3d.com/gabriel.peragine/32/1535_2.png) [@gabriel.peragine](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/u/gabriel.peragine)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/faq-troubleshooting-3df-and-hoops-exchange-compatibility-and-license-issue/1371/1 "2021-06-02T04:00:00Z")

</div>

## Problem

You have license or compatibility issue when you start using HOOPS Visualize 3DF and HOOPS Exchange together, or if you upgrade to the newer versions.

## Solution

## 1. Identify the compatible versions

HOOPS 3DF version are compatible with specific version of HOOPS Exchange. Please access the [release notes page](https://docs.techsoft3d.com/3df/latest/build/general/3df_release_notes.html) to know what version of HOOPS Exchange you should use.

Example:

- HOOPS 3DF 25.10 is compatible with HOOPS Exchange 2020 SP2

 ![image-20210125-135544](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/techsoft3d/original/1X/adaeda532b40f85e4f3c0f9ba422a2dd76e21441.png)

## 2. Set a fresh installation and test it:

In this example we are using **HOOPS 3DF 25.00** and **HOOPS Exchange 2020 SP1** on Windows:

- 🔑 Generate a new license key on [our license generator](https://developer.techsoft3d.com/license-generator/).
- ⬇ Download a HOOPS Visualize 3DF 25.00 fresh package (vs140 or vs141)
- ✏ Update hoops\_license.h `HOOPS_3DF_2500\Dev_Tools\hoops_3dgs\source\hoops_license.h` with the generated key 🔑
- ⬇ Download a HOOPS Exchange 2020 SP1 fresh package
- ✏ Update hoops\_license.h `HOOPS_Exchange_Publish_2020_SP1\include\hoops_license.h` with the generated key 🔑
- ⚠ If you are using the environment variable `HEXCHANGE_DIR` please make sure it points on HOOPS Exchange 2020 SP1 root directory
- 📂 Copy all the content of `HOOPS_Exchange_Publish_2020_SP1\bin\win64` into `HOOPS_VISUALIZE\OFFICIAL\HOOPS_3DF_2500\bin\nt_x64_v141` and `HOOPS_VISUALIZE\OFFICIAL\HOOPS_3DF_2500\bin\nt_x64_v141d`
- 🧪 Build & Run `hoopspartviewer_v141`
- 🧪 Import the file `HOOPS_Exchange_Publish_2020_SP1\samples\data\catiaV5\CV5_Aquo_Bottle_Aquo Bottle.CATProduct`

⭐ You should get the following result. That means your license key and binaries for 3DF and HOOPS Exchange are all correct.

 ![image-20210125-135923](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/techsoft3d/original/1X/e2cafc4570d3cc7e7805fe4ea666bdfb8e7a2391.png)

If the versions of the Visualize and Exchange binaries are not compatible, the Part Viewer will display a VersionMismatch error. For example,

 ![image-20220808-233605](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/techsoft3d/original/1X/106fb658f2c3647f7ff621549757b983739a4a9d.png)

## 3. Check your application development set up

- ❓ Check all the licences set in your application code by searching for the call to

`1HC_Define_System_Options("license = <> ");`

- 📂 Check the HOOPS Exchange DLL used by your project are the correct ones
- 📂 Check the HIO\_Exchange binaries are correct `HOOPS_3DF_2500\bin\nt_x64_v141\hio_plugins\hio_exchange\hioexchange2500_x64.hio`
- ⚠ If you build HIO\_Exchange yourself, be sure `HEXCHANGE_DIR` is correctly set and you build it against the correct version of HOOPS Exchange