Projects and activation

Create, open and save

A .meldraw project preserves every page, page order, page names, editable shapes and curves, embedded images and image effects. Save this format as your working original, even when you also export a PDF or image.

File > New project creates a separate project window. File > Open project replaces the active project after offering to save its changes. Cancel keeps the current project open. Opening a project that is already open switches to its existing window. You can also open native .avax or .avx drawings and save them as .meldraw projects.

Save updates the current file; Save as creates a copy with a different name or location. An asterisk beside the project title indicates unsaved changes. Closing a changed project offers Save, discard or Cancel. Save regularly and keep an independent backup of important originals.

Work with several projects

Click a project button below the drawing defaults to switch projects. The Window menu can tile projects vertically or horizontally, cascade their windows or maximize the active project. Each project has independent pages. Editing Undo/Redo belongs to the individual live page; Undo history is not saved in the project file.

Demo and activated use

Demo mode allows creating and editing artwork. Saving, exporting, printing and copying artwork to other applications require activation. Open Help > Activate / deactivate, or click Activate in the header, and follow the activation dialog with your product serial number and an Internet connection.

After successful activation, the header offers Deactivate. Deactivation requires confirmation from the licensing service. Use it when you need to release this computer's activation. If activation fails, check the connection and serial number, then retry. Your existing serial may be checked again after an application update.

Note: Activate before creating work you need to keep: Demo cannot save a project. The application does not provide an automatic project recovery workflow. Exported files are additional deliverables; they do not replace your editable .meldraw original.