Skip to content

Desktop app or web app?

Concept — The two forms of Herzog CAB, their strengths and how they work together

Since version 2.0, Herzog CAB exists in two forms:

  • The desktop app — installed on Windows or macOS, works with a workspace folder on the computer or network drive, licensed via the customer account or (existing installations) a dongle.
  • The web app — in the browser at app.herzog-cab.com, works in the workspace of the customer account on the Herzog server, licensed via the same annual subscription as the desktop app.

Both share the customer account (one login), the data model (orders, designs, machines, master data, print templates) and the calculation engines — results and braid patterns are identical.

Which one when?

Situation Recommendation
A fixed workstation in production planning, data should stay in-house Desktop app
Operators at several locations, tablets on the shop floor, home office Web app
Creating mixed designs Desktop app (only available there)
Restoring earlier versions and deleted entries Web app: Versions and recycle bin, also for data that the desktop app uploads via cloud sync
Designing print templates Both: print editor in the program or Print editor in the browser (templates from the web app also come into the program from program version 2.1.0)
A team should see the same data at the same time Web app (one workspace per account) — or desktop app with the workspace folder on the network drive
No computer with admin rights, no installation possible Web app
Working without internet (trade fair, construction site) Desktop app with offline lease
Just trying it out first Both: request a trial version from Herzog, 30 days in the program and in the browser

Many companies use both: the desktop app as the leading system in production planning, the web app for looking things up and calculating on the shop floor and in sales.

Interaction

flowchart LR
  D[Desktop app<br>Workspace folder] <-->|Cloud sync<br>automatic| W[Web app<br>Workspace in the account]
  D -- ZIP import<br>one-time --> W
  W -- ZIP export --> D
  K[Customer account<br>Licence portal] --> D
  K --> W
  • Cloud sync (desktop ⇄ web): The desktop app automatically uploads its workspace folder as soon as the switch under Settings > Licence is set, and then fetches back what was created, changed or deleted in the web app (can be switched off). In case of conflicts, the desktop wins.
  • ZIP import / export: One-time transfer in both directions via Import from the desktop.
  • Customer account: Users, roles and modules apply to both — see Customer account and invitation.

Sync in both directions — the desktop takes precedence

With the return path switched on, changes from the web app come into the workspace folder, including deletions. If both sides change the same entry, the desktop version applies; the version from the web app is kept there under Versions. If the return path is off, nothing flows back. How to set this up appropriately is described under Bringing data from the desktop into the web app.

What only one of the two has

Desktop app only Web app only
Creating mixed designs, two-window comparison in the Designer Operation on tablet and smartphone
Several profiles (workspaces), local users, Entra/LDAP Custom roles per account with checkbox assignment
Built-in web server with QR code Subscription and ordering in the browser
— One shared workspace per account without paths
— Versions and recycle bin
Switching plan of the Braiding Simulator: print, save as PDF or CSV —

The complete comparison can be found under Web app.

Related pages