Help Tab Overview
The Help tab provides access to documentation, support resources, system diagnostics, software updates, and license management. These tools help you learn Volvicon, troubleshoot issues, keep your software current, and manage your license activation.
Register Volvicon, About, and Check For Updates are also available on the Account page in the File tab, so you can reach them even before a project is loaded.
Tab Sections
The Help tab is organized into the following sections:
Document
Resources for learning and reference:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| User Guide | Opens this documentation in its own window (F1) |
| Tutorial | Opens the same window on the tutorials overview |
System
Tools for diagnostics and software maintenance:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| System Information | Displays detailed hardware and software configuration for troubleshooting |
| Check For Updates | Checks for new Volvicon versions and manages software updates |
| Send Feedback | Opens the issue reporting page in your default web browser |
Product
License and application information:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Register Volvicon | Opens the License Manager for license activation and management |
| About | Displays application version, license type, copyright, and open-source licence notices |
User Guide
The User Guide button opens the complete Volvicon documentation in a window of its own, separate from the main application. It covers:
- Feature descriptions and reference material
- Guided tutorials and worked examples
- The scripting API reference
- Troubleshooting guides
The documentation ships with Volvicon and is served from your own machine, so it works with no internet connection and shows exactly the version that matches your installation. The window follows the application theme you have selected.
Press F1 anywhere in Volvicon to open the User Guide without switching to the Help tab.
Tutorial
The Tutorial button opens the same documentation window directly on the tutorials overview, which provides:
- Step-by-step guides for common tasks
- End-to-end workflows for medical and industrial data
- Scripting examples that can be run as they are
The User Guide and the Tutorial share one window. Clicking one while the other is open closes the first and reopens the window on the page you asked for.
System Information
The System Information dialog provides detailed information about your computer's hardware and software configuration. This information is essential for:
- Troubleshooting rendering issues: Verify which graphics card Volvicon is using
- Performance optimization: Understand available memory and CPU capabilities
- Technical support: Provide accurate system details when requesting help
- Compatibility verification: Confirm your system meets requirements for specific features
Overview Tab
The Overview tab displays key system information at a glance:
Graphics Driver Information
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Renderer | The graphics card or GPU being used for 3D rendering |
| Vendor | The graphics hardware manufacturer |
| OpenGL Version | The supported OpenGL version for graphics operations |
| GLSL Version | The shader language version available |
System Information
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows version and build information |
| CPU | Processor model and specifications |
| Physical Memory | Total installed RAM |
| Virtual Memory | Available virtual memory |
| Logical Processors | Number of available CPU threads |
Detailed Tab
The Detailed tab provides comprehensive system information organized by category, including:
- Extended CPU information (cache sizes, instruction sets)
- Memory details and usage statistics
- OpenGL extensions and capabilities
Exporting System Information
The System Information dialog provides options to save or share the collected data:
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Copy to Clipboard | Copies all system information as text for pasting into emails or support tickets |
| Export... | Saves the complete system information to a text file |
When contacting technical support, use Copy to Clipboard or Export... to include your system information. This helps support staff quickly understand your configuration.
Check For Updates
The Check For Updates feature helps you keep Volvicon current with the latest features, improvements, and bug fixes.
How It Works
When you click Check For Updates, Volvicon connects to the update server to compare your installed version with the latest available release. If an update is available, you'll see:
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Installed Version | Your current Volvicon version |
| Available Version | The latest version available for download |
| Release Date | When the new version was released |
| Release Status | Whether it's a stable release, beta, or other designation |
| Release Notes | Summary of new features, improvements, and fixes |
Update Options
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Install Update | Downloads and runs the installer for the new version |
| Remind Me Later | Postpones the update notification for 7 days |
Automatic Update Checking
By default, Volvicon checks for updates automatically when the application starts. You can control this behavior:
- Always check on startup: Enable or disable automatic update checking via the checkbox in the update dialog
When automatic checking is enabled and an update is available, the update dialog appears after Volvicon starts.
Download Progress
When you choose to install an update:
- The download section appears showing progress
- Once downloaded, the installer launches automatically
- Volvicon closes to allow the update to proceed
Update downloads require an active internet connection. The installer may require administrative privileges.
Send Feedback
The Send Feedback button opens the Volvicon feedback portal in your default web browser. Use this to:
- Report bugs or unexpected behavior
- Suggest new features or improvements
- Share your experience with the software
- Request documentation for specific topics
Your feedback helps shape future Volvicon development.
Register Volvicon
The Register Volvicon button opens the License Manager dialog for activating and managing your Volvicon license. This is the same dialog that appears automatically when Volvicon starts without a valid license.
For complete instructions on license activation, see the License Guide.
Quick License Overview
Volvicon supports node-locked and floating licenses.
Node-locked license
- Generate a hardware key (
.dat) from the License Manager. - Upload it with your request in the license portal.
- Download the issued
.licfile. - Apply it on the same computer.
Floating license
- Obtain the floating
.licfile and concurrent seat count from your administrator or Volvicon licensing. - Deploy the same file to the authorized workstations.
- Select the file using Existing license on each Windows user profile.
- Volvicon automatically secures a seat from the hosted licensing service when it starts.
The License Manager also displays:
- Current license status and type
- License expiration date (if applicable)
- Licensed modules and features
About Dialog
The About dialog has two tabs.
About tab
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | Volvicon with your licence edition and the version number |
| Version | The installed software version |
| Release Date | The date this version was released |
| License Type | Your current licence edition |
| Website | A link to the Volvicon website |
| Copyright | The legal copyright notice |
Open-Source Licenses tab
Lists the third-party components Volvicon is built on, with the version, licence, and copyright holder of each, and a link to the source of the components whose licences require it.
The Third-Party Licenses link on this tab opens thirdparty_licenses.txt from your installation folder, which carries the complete licence texts and attribution notices for every third-party component.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Documentation Won't Open
- Verify the documentation files exist in your Volvicon installation directory
- Check that no firewall is blocking the local documentation server
- Try restarting Volvicon
Update Check Fails
- Verify your internet connection is active
- Check that your firewall allows Volvicon to access the update server
- Try again later—the update server may be temporarily unavailable
License Issues
- See the License Guide for detailed troubleshooting
- For a node-locked license, ensure the license file matches this computer's hardware key
- For a floating license, check seat availability, the configured
.licpath, and access toapi.volvicon.com - Contact support if your license was working but has stopped
Graphics Problems
- Use System Information to verify which GPU Volvicon is using
- Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date
- Check that your GPU meets the minimum requirements
Related Topics
- License Guide - Complete license activation instructions
- Installation Guide - System requirements and installation steps