Installation

Install Vextra, restart Illustrator, and confirm that the tools and panel are there.

Install on macOS

The installer places VexyVextra.aip inside a supported Adobe Illustrator app in /Applications.

  1. Quit Adobe Illustrator.
  2. Open the Vexy Vextra DMG.
  3. Run the installer package and follow the steps on screen.
  4. Start Illustrator again.
  5. Choose Window → Vexy Vextra.

Illustrator loads plug-ins only at startup, so restart it after installing or replacing Vextra.

To install by hand, use the copy of VexyVextra.aip included on the DMG. Quit Illustrator and copy the file to:

/Applications/Adobe Illustrator <year>/Plug-ins.localized/

Finder shows this folder as Plug-ins.

Remove older copies of Vextra before you restart Illustrator. Two copies lead to missing tools, duplicate panels, and startup errors.

Install on Windows

  1. Quit Adobe Illustrator.
  2. Run the Vexy Vextra Windows installer.
  3. Select the Illustrator installations that should receive Vextra.
  4. Finish the installation and restart Illustrator.
  5. Choose Window → Vexy Vextra.

The installer adds the complete Vexy Vextra folder to each selected Illustrator installation. Move the whole folder rather than the .aip file alone, because the resources and updater beside it are part of the plug-in.

To install by hand, copy the Vexy Vextra folder into Illustrator's Plug-ins folder while Illustrator is closed.

Check the Installation

A complete installation gives you:

  • Window → Vexy Vextra.
  • Vextra Editor, Eraser, Optimizer, Knife, Scissors, and Pencil among Illustrator's tools.
  • The Vextra panel with its tool, helper, measurement, and command buttons.

If a Vextra tool is missing from your toolbar, open Illustrator's toolbar setup and drag the tool in.

Update Vextra

Vextra checks for new releases periodically. Choose Check for Updates… from the panel menu to check right away.

An update asks Illustrator to quit, replaces the plug-in, and starts Illustrator again. On macOS it asks for an administrator password, because Vextra lives inside /Applications.

You can also run a newer installer over the current version while Illustrator is closed.

License and Trial

Vextra runs as a time-limited trial and on a subscription license. The current license state appears as a link at the bottom of the panel.

Click that link, or choose Manage License… from the panel menu, to activate Vextra, check the license, open your account page, buy or renew, or deactivate this computer.

Vextra revalidates an active license periodically and shows a reconnect date in the panel. Connect the computer to the Internet before that date, and choose Check License if automatic validation has not finished.

Activate

  1. Open the Vextra panel.
  2. Click the license status at the bottom of the panel, or choose Manage License… from the panel menu.
  3. Copy the complete Vextra serial number from your FontLab Pass account.
  4. Paste it into the Vextra License dialog.
  5. Click Activate.

The activation is stored on this computer, and routine license refreshes do not ask for the serial again.

Manual Activation on macOS

Use manual activation when Illustrator cannot reach the license server. Both methods below build a secure activation request for this Mac, so choose the one that matches the Internet access you have.

In the Vextra License dialog, click Browser / Offline Activation….

Use the Browser on This Mac

Choose Activate in Browser when a browser on this Mac reaches the Internet even though Illustrator cannot reach the license server.

  1. Vextra opens the Licenser page in your default browser and sends the activation request for you. There is no file to select or upload.
  2. Enter your complete Vextra serial number.
  3. Click Activate Vextra.
  4. Leave Illustrator open while the browser hands the signed license back to Vextra.
  5. Wait for Vextra to confirm that the license is ready.

If the browser cannot hand the license back, download the .fllic response from the page. Then return to Browser / Offline Activation…, choose Use Another Computer…, and click Import Response….

Use Another Computer

Choose Use Another Computer… when this Mac has no Internet access, or when the browser handoff does not reach Vextra.

  1. Click Save Request… and save the .flreq activation request.
  2. Move the .flreq file to a computer with Internet access.
  3. There, open licenser.vexy.cc/manual-activation.
  4. Select the .flreq file, enter the complete Vextra serial number, and create the response.
  5. Download the .fllic response and move it back to the Mac that created the request.
  6. In Vextra, open Browser / Offline Activation… → Use Another Computer… again.
  7. Click Import Response… and select the .fllic file.
  8. Wait for Vextra to confirm that the license is ready.

The file-transfer alert also offers Open Licenser…. Use it when the browser on this Mac can open the Licenser page; otherwise open the page on the computer that processes the request.

Manual License Refresh on macOS

Once a Mac is activated, the dialog offers Browser / Offline Refresh… in place of the activation command. Use it when Vextra holds an activation but cannot refresh it normally.

  • Refresh in Browser sends the refresh request to the browser on this Mac and brings the signed license back automatically.
  • Use Another Computer… saves a .flreq refresh request. Process it at licenser.vexy.cc/manual-activation, move the .fllic response back to the original Mac, and choose Import Response….

A refresh request already identifies the activation, so the page does not ask for the serial number.

Request and Response Files

  • A .flreq request does not contain your serial number.
  • A .fllic response is signed and works only on the computer that created its request.
  • Keep each request with its matching response. A response from another computer, or one built for an earlier request, cannot be imported.
  • Manual activation carries the same reconnect date as normal activation. Refresh the license before that date.

Remove Vextra

Quit Illustrator, then remove Vextra from Illustrator's plug-in folder:

  • On macOS, remove VexyVextra.aip.
  • On Windows, remove the Vexy Vextra folder, or uninstall it from Windows Installed apps.

If the artwork has to look the same on a computer without Vextra, expand a copy of it before you remove the plug-in.

If Illustrator Reports a Plug-in Problem

  • Confirm Illustrator 28.7 or later and a supported operating system.
  • Use the official release package. On macOS, use the notarized DMG.
  • Remove duplicate copies of the plug-in.
  • Confirm that the plug-in sits inside the Illustrator app's plug-in folder.
  • Restart Illustrator.

Vextra logs critical errors only; normal editing writes nothing.

  • macOS plug-in log: ~/Library/Logs/Vextra/plugin.log
  • macOS updater log: ~/Library/Logs/Vextra/updater.log
  • Windows plug-in log: %LOCALAPPDATA%\VexyVextra\Logs\plugin.log

See Troubleshooting for more help.