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Installation

This guide covers installing Hydronia's desktop solver (RiverFlow2D or OilFlow2D) and enabling the corresponding QGIS plugin. HydroBID Flood installs the same way as RiverFlow2D; where the flow differs, it's called out.

System requirements

  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). Windows 7 is legacy-supported but not recommended.
  • Privileges: install as a user with local Administrator rights.
  • QGIS: 3.40 LTR or later.
  • Disk: 2 GB free for the solver and sample data.

Software installation

  1. Make sure you are logged in as a Windows Administrator.
  2. Download the installer from the link you received at purchase.
  3. Run the installer and accept the defaults.
  4. Reboot the computer before attempting to activate the license.

Reboot is required

Several licensing components only register with Windows after a restart. Activation will fail if you skip this step.

Activation

The software cannot run until a license is activated. Hydronia supports two licensing models:

  • Standalone — one license, one computer, one activation.
  • Network — one centralized license, multiple concurrent users on the same local network.

Pick the model that matches what you purchased and follow the Licensing page for the step-by-step procedure.

Enabling the QGIS plugin

Installing the solver does not automatically enable the QGIS plugin. You need to enable it once, per QGIS profile:

  1. Launch QGIS.

  2. Open Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins.

    QGIS plugin manager with RiverFlow selected

  3. In the Installed tab, locate the plugin (RiverFlow2D, OilFlow2D, or HydroBID Flood) and tick its checkbox.

    QGIS Installed tab with the plugin checkbox ticked

  4. Close the dialog. The plugin's toolbar appears immediately in QGIS.

If the plugin is not listed under Installed, the installer did not register it correctly — re-run the installer as Administrator and reboot again.

Enabling RiverFlow2D in Aquaveo SMS

If you use Aquaveo's SMS in addition to QGIS, the solver can be registered as a generic model:

  1. Run SMS.
  2. Edit → Preferences, open the File Locations tab.
  3. Scroll to Model Executable → Generic.
  4. Browse to the RiverFlow2D install folder — typically C:\Program Files\Hydronia\RiverFlow2D — and select RiverFlow2Dm4.exe.
  5. Click OK to close the preferences dialog.

Troubleshooting

  • The installer fails part-way — re-run as Administrator. Temporary folders left by a failed install are cleaned up on retry.
  • The plugin's toolbar doesn't appear after enabling the plugin — QGIS sometimes needs to be restarted. Close all QGIS windows and relaunch.
  • The desktop shortcuts are missing — they're created under the installing user's profile only. Re-run the installer under the account that will actually use the software.

Report any installation error message to support@hydronia.com.

Finding your license file

If support asks you to share your license details, the activation files are:

  • Standalone: C:\ProgramData\AVU\RF2DA.ini
  • Network License Server: C:\Program Files\Hydronia\LicenseManager\RF2DA.ini

The file usually looks like this in Notepad:

RF2DA.ini open in Notepad

Open with Notepad and send the contents to support — never share these files in public channels.