PVTab controls incompatible with JDK 8

Products

• CA Plex

Issue/Introduction

During the gen&build process in a CA Plex 7.2.1 Java-based environment, upgrading from JDK 6 to JDK 8 results in a blocker. The following error message appears when generating or building panels that utilize PVTab controls: PVTab Bean Control. The runtime licensing key is missing for this control

Environment

• Product: CA Plex 7.2.1
• Variant: Java
• Target SDK: OpenJDK 8
• Control: PVTab ActiveX Controls

Cause

The "Runtime licensing key is missing" error occurs because the legacy ActiveX control (PVTab) requires specific license metadata contained in an OBAX.LIC file. When transitioning to a new environment or JDK version, the runtime fails to locate or validate this file in the execution path.

Resolution

Follow these steps to restore the licensing metadata:

1. Locate the OBAX.LIC file in the previous working environment (e.g., the JDK 6 development machine). This file is typically found in the CA Plex product installation folder.
2. Copy the OBAX.LIC file to the target machine running JDK 8.
3. Place the file in the following two locations:
   • The CA Plex product installation folder.
   • The specific execution folder where the gen&build process is performed.
4. Verify that OpenJDK 8 is the active runtime, as it is the certified version for CA Plex 7.2.1.
5. If the application crashes or the control fails to load after resolving the license error, use the editbin.exe utility to disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for Plex.exe and the generated function EXEs: "####\editbin.exe" /NXCOMPAT:NO "####\Plex.exe"

Additional Information

Long-term Recommendation: Migrate from legacy PVTab ActiveX controls to native Java Swing components (e.g., JTabbedPane). Native components provide better security compliance and stability under modern OpenJDK versions.

See also:

ActiveX control is not registered

Microsoft VBScript runtime error after deployment

Plex migrating from JRE 8 to OpenJDK