FMX: Where to Install

"Where exactly do I install FMX?" is one of the questions we hear most when people start out -- it is a fair one, because FMX, the Cloud platform, and the iPad app each play a different role. This article walks through which machine FMX belongs on, how it relates to the Cloud, and how licensing works across devices, so you can set things up correctly the first time.

When You See This

You are reading the right article if you are wondering any of these:

• "Should I install FMX on my laptop, my booth's PC, or my iPad?"
• "Why doesn't FMX show the events I created in the Cloud?"
• "Can I run FMX on more than one computer with the same license?"
• "I downloaded FMX, but I cannot find the license -- where do I create workflows?"

FMX vs Cloud: Two Different Things

This is the foundation of everything else. Foto Master gives you two pieces of software, and they do different jobs:

• Foto Master Cloud (cloud.fotomaster.com) is the web-based control panel. You use it from any browser, on any laptop, tablet, or phone, to create events, build workflows, manage assets, view analytics, and download photos. You do not install Cloud -- it is a website. Anyone on your team can be a user.
• FMX is the desktop application that runs the booth itself. It is what the camera, printer, screen, and printer talk to during an event. FMX is installed on the physical booth computer -- the PC inside or attached to the photo booth that captures and processes guest sessions.

Where FMX Should Be Installed

Install FMX on the computer that controls the booth at the event. That is almost always the small-form PC, NUC, or all-in-one inside the photo booth (or a laptop dedicated to running the booth on event day).

Do not install FMX on:

• Your day-to-day office laptop, unless that same laptop is also what you bring to events to operate the booth.
• A shared computer used by multiple people for unrelated work -- background processes can interfere with capture and printing.
• A virtual machine. FMX needs direct access to the camera, printer, and graphics hardware.

One License Per Device

FMX is licensed per device. A single FMX license can be active on one booth computer at a time.

If you try to log into FMX on a second computer using the same license while the first one is still active, the second machine will refuse to activate (or, if you force it through, the first booth will be signed out and stop working). This catches people off guard mid-event.

Can FMX Be on Multiple Computers?

Yes -- but each booth needs its own license.

If you operate three booths at three different events on the same Saturday, you need three FMX licenses. They all live under the same Cloud account, so you create events once and assign them to whichever booth is going to that event.

To purchase additional licenses, sign in to cloud.fotomaster.com and go to Licenses > Add License, or contact sales@fotomasterltd.com for multi-license bundles.

Moving FMX Between Computers

When you upgrade a booth PC or replace a damaged machine, you do not need to buy a new license -- you move the existing one. The license tracks which device it is currently on, so you have to release it from the old computer before activating it on the new one.

1. On the old computer: open FMX, go to Global Settings > Cloud Tab and choose Sign Out (or Deactivate depending on your version). Wait for the confirmation that the license has been released. See the Cloud Tab settings reference for full details.
2. Install FMX on the new computer. Download a fresh installer from the Cloud dashboard.
3. On the new computer: open FMX and sign in with the same Cloud account. The license will activate automatically.
4. Sync your events so the new booth picks up the workflows and assets you have already built in the Cloud.

Common Issues

"I Installed FMX on My Laptop and the License Won't Activate"

Problem: You installed FMX on a laptop separately from your booth computer. When you sign in, the license activation fails or shows the license as already in use.

Cause: Your license is currently active on the booth computer. FMX will not run two simultaneous activations.

Solution: Decide which machine should hold the license. If you only want FMX on the laptop temporarily (for example, to design workflows in the office), use the Cloud dashboard from a web browser instead -- you do not need FMX installed to build events and workflows. Save FMX for the actual booth.

"I Can't Find the License or Where to Create Workflows"

Problem: You installed FMX on your office computer, opened it, and there is nothing to do. There are no events to choose from and no obvious place to build a workflow.

Cause: FMX is the operator-side app. Workflows and events are created in the Cloud dashboard, not in FMX. FMX downloads them from the Cloud after you sign in and sync.

Solution:

1. Open cloud.fotomaster.com in a browser and sign in with your account.
2. Build your workflow under Workflows and create your event under Events.
3. Assign the event to the booth device.
4. In FMX on the booth, sign in with the same Cloud account and tap Sync. Your event and workflow will appear.

Switching from FMX to FMX on the Same PC

Problem: You want to start using FMX on the computer that currently runs the older FMX software.

Solution: You can install FMX next to FMX -- they do not conflict during install. However, only one can be signed in to your account at a time. Sign out of FMX before logging in to FMX so the license transfers cleanly. Both apps can stay installed during the transition period while you test FMX with your existing events.