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Software Protection - Primary Resources
Nirvana Bound
Software Protection User Guide
Software Key Protection Plus
On-Line Manual.
Recommended Overview Reading:
Anything that
discusses integrating the ActiveX Control into your project you do not need to
worry about because I have done that for you with the
system book :-) However, make sure that you
refer to the User's Guide for important information on how you can get the
most from your Protection Plus System.
Other Resources
Software Key
Frequently Asked Questions
Software Key
NewsServer
Creating Product Definitions
Before you can create a license file, you need to create a product definition
where you specify special codes that will interact with your program. This
ensures
that even people who have LFEdit cannot get into your programs or modify your
license files without you unlocking the program. Product Definitions are
created using LFEdit. There are six tabs on the Create a Product
interface. Each tab has a help button that will provide you with an
excellent explanation of the items on that tab. Here is some addition
information that I have found to be most important for my customers who are
using Protection Plus (this does not mean that if I don't discuss it it is not
important):
- License File Tab - Your password is very important. This
protects your license and program from other developers
who are also using Protection Plus. Use
commonly accepted good practices for selecting the password. For further
protection I recommend that you have a different password for each product
that you are going to protect.
- Trigger Codes Tab - Here you will specify a unique Seed which is
used for all trigger codes and a second seed code for unlock codes that
require additional numeric data be passed along with the Trigger Code Event
ID. The main seed code is require and is used to further randomize all
of the Trigger Codes. You should choose your own personal Trigger Code seed.
You may choose the same or different seed for all of your
products. You must ensure that the Use EZ
Trigger is checked as this is the heart of the system that I supply.
- EZ Trial Parameters - In working with the developers of Protection
Plus, I have found that the settings shown below are the best for Protection
Plus and ToolBook. Please make sure that you have NOT checked: Update
last used time and Convert illegal copes to demo.
- Automation Client - You only need to add this information if you
are using the automation client. The URL for Activation is the URL that
you specify if you are using the SoloServer.
Creating License Files
With the system I have developed you only will need one license file for all
of your product variations (30 day demo, CD-ROM, network with concurrent users,
etc). In addition, there is no need to create a special license file each
time you ship out a product as the license file gets customized when you unlock
it either manually or through the automated unlock system (automation client).
However, you will need a different license file for each product.
To create the license file in LFEdit simply select File, New. Select
the appropriate product. Save the license file and you are set! Just
distribute this file with your application and make sure that it is in the
location that you have specified in your program.
Manually Unlocking Applications with LF Edit
Make sure that you have selected the proper product and then select the
unlock icon. Select the appropriate trigger code.
The Software Protection interface in your program
will generate two codes: Serial Number 1 and Serial Number 2. Enter
these in User Code 1 and User Code 2 respectively. If you are using a
trigger code that requires a value (number of concurrent users, number of days,
etc.) enter the value. Select the Generate button.
LFEdit will return one or two RegKeys (two if you
added a value in the previous screen). This is the information that you
need instruct your user to enter into the Software Protection interface. A
message should return that the program is authorized. See below if you get
any error codes.
On-Line Automated Unlocking of Applications
When you set up your product definition, be sure to specify the location of
the URL for activation as softwarekey.com/unlock/getcode.asp. For
additional information on setting up the solo server, please refer to the Solo
Server documentation.
Error Codes
A comprehensive list of error codes from both Protection Plus and the
Automated client are provided in the product documentation. These error
codes will provide you with very useful information if there is a problem with
the unlock process. These error codes are NOT generated from the
Software Protection System Book in your program.
Packaging Your Installation
You will need to install three items to your users Windows System folder for
Protection Plus (skcl.dll skca32.dll and machnm1.exe).
When installing for a network these files need to be
installed on the client PCs also and the server path MUST be the same mapped
drive on all clients. Only the skcl.dll needs to be
registered on installation. DO NOT register the skca32.dll and DO NOT run
the machnm1.exe. In setting up your installation, please keep in mind that
your program may not be the only program on the users computer that uses the
Protection Plus System. Follow good installation practices for setting the
properties of the dlls (ie overwrite only if newer, never uninstall - obviously
these are decisions you have to make based on you knowledge of your users).
Also, keep in mind that the Windows System folder may be different depending on
the Operating System.