PrimeCenter 4.x Windows Troubleshooting

This guide identifies key file paths and procedures for managing PrimeCenter 4.x on Windows systems. This is essential for resolving session errors, managing licenses, or performing clean reinstalls.

Tip: The %USERPROFILE% variable refers to your specific Windows user folder (e.g., C:\Users\Caldera\). Note that the AppData folder is hidden by default; to see it, enable Hidden items under the View tab in File Explorer.

1. Core Application Folders

These directories house the program files and standard profiles.

• Service Directory: C:\Program Files\CalApiSvc\*

• Application Directory: C:\Program Files\PrimeCenter\*

2. User Data & Configuration

These folders contain recipes, custom profiles, and hardware settings.

• Global Service Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\*

• Application Support: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\*

• Media & Roll Sizes: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\settings\medias.json

• General Settings: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\settings\settings.json (Includes reports, units, and contours)

• Preflight/Fixup Settings: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\settings\preflight.json

3. Hardware & Output

• Cutter Devices: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\public\ (Devices organized in alphanumeric subfolders)

• Cutter Media Presets: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\device_storage\ (Contains materials and methods)

• Default Output (PDF/XML): %USERPROFILE%\Documents\PrimeCenter\*

4. Session & License Management

If you encounter errors related to recipes, fixups, or synchronization, resetting the session is a highly effective troubleshooting step.

Resetting the Session

To start with a clean slate without losing your main configuration, rename the session.txt file. This helps reveal if errors are tied to specific current recipes or session data.

• Active Session Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess...\ (Contains recipes, profiles, and file stores).

• Session Pointer File: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\session.txt

• Result: Upon restart, PrimeCenter will automatically generate a new session directory at: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess...

Post-Testing Options:

1. Revert: If the error persists in the new session, you can delete the new session.txt and restore your original one.

2. Migrate: If the new session works, you can manually copy specific data folders from the old session directory to the new one.

License Reset

If PrimeCenter fails to recognize your license or throws registration errors after a session reset, you may need to reset the license pointer.

• License File: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\caldera\prime-center\license.json

• Procedure: 1. Rename license.json. 2. Restart the PrimeCenter service via CalderaDock > Home tab > Services. 3. Re-attach the license within CalderaDock.

These folders inside the session, store data for files loaded into the Layout Creator and File Inspector. These are session-dependent; they can be removed to clear temporary data and will repopulate when files are reloaded.

• Input File Settings, Sizes, & Previews: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\imgDef

• Stored Input Files: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\fileStore

• Input File Paths & Metadata: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\fileCopy

• File Copy Index (Internal Processing): %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\fileCopyIdx

• File Signature Index (Internal Processing): %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\fileSigIdx

• File Inspector Recipes & File Index: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\imgGroupIdx

• Layout Index & Grouping Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\sessions\sess....\imgLayoutIdx

5. Maintenance & Uninstallation

Restart PrimeCenter Service

Service restarts should be performed via CalderaDock > Home Tab > Services. Always stop the service before manually renaming data folders.

Standard Uninstallation

Uninstall both the core application and the background service:

• Via Windows GUI: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall CalApiSvc and PrimeCenter.

• Via Manual Uninstaller: * C:\Program Files\PrimeCenter\unins000.exe

  • C:\Program Files\CalApiSvc\unins001.exe

Clean Reinstall ("Blank Slate")

To completely reset the software, manually rename or delete these folders after performing the uninstall:

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\PrimeCenter\

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\calapisvc\

Reinstallation

To avoid version conflicts, download the latest .exe directly from Caldera WorkSpace. Avoid using CalderaDock for the initial reinstall if the system is confused between an "update" and a "new install."