Compatibility between the professional version and the student version of Vectorworks

Guiding an intern can sometimes raise technical questions, especially regarding the exchange of files. That is why we would like to explain the ground rules to you.

Drawings created with a Vectorworks student license are intended exclusively for educational purposes and may not be used commercially. To guarantee this distinction, Vectorworks applies strict security measures. For instance, drawings from a student version are always printed with a watermark.

However, the most significant limitation lies in the compatibility between the professional version and the student version: files created in a student version cannot be opened in a professional Vectorworks environment. This prevents educational licenses from being used unintentionally for commercial projects.

An intern can open a professional file in their student version, but caution is advised. As soon as a professional file is opened and saved with a student license, it is permanently converted into a student file. You will then no longer be able to open this file on your professional workstations.

To ensure that an intern can contribute to your ongoing projects immediately and without compatibility issues, you might consider temporarily renting a professional license. Please contact our team in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, or Poland to find out everything you need to know about the possibilities of these rental licenses.