Migrating exocad Libraries to a New PC: Step-by-Step Guide

Swapping out a workstation or moving to a new dongle is exactly when it's easy to lose dozens of installed implant and tooth libraries. Good news: migrating exocad libraries to a new PC doesn't require buying anything again, and in most cases it comes down to copying a few folders. Let's look at where exocad physically stores libraries, how to move them without reinstalling, and what to do if they don't appear in the systems list after the transfer.

Where exocad stores libraries on disk

All libraries sit inside the installation folder, in the library directory. The path usually looks like `...\exocad\DentalCADApp\library`. Inside are subfolders by type: `implant` (implant libraries and Ti-Base/titanium bases), `implantgingiva`, plus tooth morphology directories (tooth/teeth). Each implant system is a separate nested folder with geometry files and metadata.

It's important to understand the difference between two kinds of data. Library files are what you downloaded and unpacked. What exocad shows in the dropdown when you pick a system is generated when it indexes those folders. So a proper transfer isn't just copying files — it's also making the program 'see' them again.

• `library\implant` — implant, scan body and Ti-Base libraries;
• `library\implantgingiva` — gingiva profiles for gingiva formers;
• morphology directories — reference tooth shapes;
• user folders — your saved projects and settings.

How to migrate exocad libraries to a new PC

The basic scenario is when the new computer already has the same or a compatible exocad version installed. Then the steps are:

• close exocad and DB-Manager on both PCs;
• on the old PC, copy the needed subfolders from `DentalCADApp\library`;
• move them into the matching `library` directory on the new PC (USB stick, network share, cloud);
• launch exocad and refresh/reindex the database via DB-Manager;
• check that the systems appear in the list when you create a project.

If the exocad versions on the old and new PCs differ, don't move the entire installation folder — only the contents of `library`. Library files are usually compatible across neighboring releases, but the application's system files are not.

Dongle and license: what to know when replacing a PC

The hardware key (dongle) stores your exocad license and the list of activated modules — Implant Module, Model Creator and others. Libraries are not stored in the dongle. So when you move, you simply plug the key into a USB port on the new computer, install the CodeMeter driver, and get a working license.

A separate case is switching from a hardware dongle to a software license or the reverse. Here the licensing part is handled through your exocad reseller, but the libraries are still transferred by copying folders separately. If some system isn't at hand, you can always download it again from the DentalLibs catalog — for example, Osstem/Hiossen TS Transfer or Camlog iSy scanbody + implant base.

Libraries didn't appear after the transfer: troubleshooting

The most common complaint is that files are copied but the system isn't visible in the list. Let's go through the typical causes and what to check first.

• reindexing wasn't done — launch DB-Manager and refresh the library database;
• the folder sits one level too high or too low — the nesting structure must match the working one;
• 'folder inside a folder' unpacking — the geometry should be inside, not another directory with the same name;
• no write permissions — install exocad and copy libraries to non-protected system directories;
• the library version is older than the engine — re-download the current release.

If the system still doesn't appear after indexing, it's easier to delete the problem folder and download the library again — that's more reliable than fixing files corrupted during copying. Many transfer errors overlap with typical installation errors, so a clean reinstall of a single library closes most cases.

Migrating exoplan and RealGUIDE planning libraries

The logic is the same, but the directories differ. In exoplan, the implant libraries for planning (the FDA versions with the `plan` suffix) are stored in their own planning-module folder, separate from the prosthetic libraries in DentalCAD. When you move, transfer both if you work in a surgery + prosthetics combo.

exoplan has enormous library coverage — in the DentalLibs catalog that's 1271 libraries for planning and 1058 implants for exocad. Popular systems like Straumann Bone Level Roxolid SLActive Loxim are easier to re-download for the version you need than to drag over from the old PC.

RealGUIDE uses its own format and imports libraries through the program's interface, so the transfer there isn't done by copying folders — libraries are added again from files. If you're unsure what to choose for guided surgery, base it on the implant system and the Sleeve format.

Frequently asked questions about migrating exocad libraries