Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

[WayneS]

The concept of "try before you buy" is used quite extensively by many companies and for a wide variety of things.

In the past the approach was to allow the end user to use either a full version or limited version of the software for either a set number of days (like 30) or a set number of times to run the program before the person would buy (or stop using).

I would like to internalize this in alpha without purchasing 3rd party software.

Currently I have an opening window that pops up as the program is started and shows the user an update page on my website. On that web page I simply allow the user to look at the updates and then download and install if any are available.

I want to internalize this opening page such that it shows how many days are left before the end-user must either purchase or the program stops running. Time restriction is optional but preferred. Number of runs could also serve as a similar limit. Than, assuming the restriction is enforced, a new window pops up that leads to the purchase "sales" page of the software.


Any ideas on how one would accomplish this in alpha? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Wayne

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

http://www.learn alpha.com/Licensing/Register.htm

[WayneS]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

Thanks for the quick reply. Will look it over shortly.

[Ted Giles]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

Depends how confident you are with Alpha.
I have developed an automated licensing application in Alpha, so you can let it run and supply machine specific keys to a purchasor. It prevents the old "lift and shift" problem.
No great leap of faith to have a couple of levels, like 30 days, 20 records etc.
There are two elements in the process. 1 you build into your application, the other runs on your pc.
Not complex, but you need a reasonable understanding of Alpha.
Others will be able to provide licensing software for Alpha for a reasonable sum of cash, but it really is quite easy to do it yourself.

[WayneS]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

Thanks for replies, Stan and Ted.

I think I am still missing something. For example, I have a "sales page" and would like to process the payment (assuming a person wants to purchase it) via, say, PayPal. I can tell PayPal where to go to (url) for download but I would like to somehow automate the generation of the license number.

The example Stan suggested was nice and one of the links on that page sort of addressed how to gen a key or serial number. View it at http://www.learn alpha.com/Licensing/Licensing.htm.

But the question then becomes how to produce the key on the website for a specific individual purchase.

I would not care to send a key to each individual that purchases the software because that would require me to react to every purchase within a reasonable amount of time, whatever that might mean.

I would also not care to have a customer send a copy of their receipt to show proof of purchase before I issue a license number or serial number.

I would like to automate this as much as possible without human interaction, if possible.

Thanks for any and all comments and direction to proceed.

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

Wayne,

I'm sure you have built a great application but I can almost guarantee you will not be overwhelmed to reply to emails to send out keys.

If you are vary smart, you could write a script that runs when the the application on your machine, receives an email with say "Key" in the subject line, which is sent from within the application on their machine and then sends back the key with the value saved in your "Sales" app. This application would of course, have to be kept running the whole time.

Something else you could look at is http://www.exeshield.com/ this will save you a whole load of time of codiing and testing.

[DaveM]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

It is not that hard. take some key from the new client's machine and turn it into a number within first start of alpha. Also multiply that number by a universal number like 8. Client's computer polls the website with his pre-key and the website gives him the actual key to enter like 48/8, he would have a key of 6. It would be much larger of course. If you wished to give a 30 days demo time, add a code to the end like 99 for 30 66 for 15 and so on.

Alpha can read this stuff in an instant on startup. Once purchase is made, send an update that does not overwrite data without all the code in it, if you wish. but keep the code in the system that designates the computer so if it gets moved to another computer(copied), it won't work. Rather it wants you to get paid.

[Ted Giles]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

You could always sell and get paid through Allstar Applications?
You can put a free trial and a Premium product on the site quite easily.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

It is not that hard.

Love ya Dave,
but I'm not agree with you here. Cal Locklin and Tom Cone have experience with this and might have some thoughts also, but I can share that my foray into integrating a trial period application component into a web download offering is that this process, to be done correctly, is complex. Not beyond a good developers reach, but complex. none the less. My partner and I on one application development ended up deciding to purchase a license to integrate an addin. Since then, 2 years ago now, I have, on the side, been playing with developing an addin of my own to use with future endeavors. Still developing that. Maybe I am not that bright, but a trial period component integrated into an application with licensing keys, time periods/run counts, alerts and redirects to websites to purchase if the time/run counts has lapsed is a complex endeavor. Anxiously waiting to hear the thoughts of others.

[DaveM]

Re: Letting User Try Software for X number of Days before Purchase

Mike.
All the tools are in alpha to do this already. It just takes putting it together. You can get motherboard number, hard drive numbers, etc. change the characters to numbers, run the whole thing through remspecial() and you have a numeric string. That is basically what you use for the registration.

As far as time, I have one that runs for 90 days( long time, I know) it starts reminding at 60 days then 75 the every new date until 90 when it shuts down completely. all you can do is start and add the numeric code given to make it run. I actually take the long code after being sure it is long enough and multiply by 6

The only thing it does not do is auto register. I prefer a phone call with this particular application. all I do is divide what they send me by 6 for that one.

Yes, Mike, I know exactly how long it takes, but is not really the most complicated thing in alpha.

Time to construct with using help system, proper functions, a little reasoning power is about 3 days. The good part is that most of it is reusable to other apps you make. On second try, it can be done in one day.

With this system, if you copy the whole app to another computer you only ever see a registration form. No answer, then no run. The days to run are expired as well. The new "user" is forced to download a fresh copy. By using 90 days in my time to work, it allows a dealer to put in a whole lot of information and get used to a very large working environment. They do not want to start new with that process and do want to utilize their data.

My pay before you buy doe not have that system because I am paid before they use it.

dim global versionnumber as n
'make sure version is showing
versionnumber = a5_getappversionnumber()

dim global mcar as c
dim global mdpath as c 'data path
dim global mepath as c 'exe path
dim global msysnme as c 'name of computer
dim global musername as c ' user name from computer
mdpath = a5.Get_Path() 
mdpath = alltrim(mdpath)
musername = API_GETUSERNAME()
musername = alltrim(musername)
mepath = a5.Get_Exe_Path()
mepath = alltrim(mepath)
msysnme = API_GETMACHINENAME()

'we get stored data into variables.  We will check for differences and act accordingly.
dim global regepath as c
dim global regdpath as c
dim global reginstdate as d
dim global regexpire as d
dim global reglogdays as n
dim global regregnumb as n
dim global reganswer as n
dim global regfstart as L
dim global regpaid as l
dim global regmach as c
dim mymessage as c = "your copy of Race Car will expire on  " + dtoc(var->regexpire)

'open the table and read it
dim tbl as P
tbl = table.open("regist",FILE_RO_SHARED)
query.description = "registrationget"
query.order = tbl.recno()
query.filter = "recno() = 1"
query.options = ""
qry = tbl.query_create()
regexpire = tbl.expire
reglogdays = tbl.logdays
reganswer = tbl.answer
regdpath = alltrim(tbl.datapath)
regepath = alltrim(tbl.exepath)
regmach = alltrim(tbl.machine)
regpaid = tbl.paidfull
regfstart = tbl.firststart
reginstdate = tbl.instdate
regregnumb = tbl.regnumb
tbl.close()

dim mytesterc as c
dim global closestart as c
'dim mymessage as c = "your copy of Race Car will expire on  " + dtoc(var->regexpire)

'select
	'not paid - no expire date and sys name is not a match or table is empty
	' makes a start so it is in 30 day mode
'	case var->regpaid <> .T. .and. alltrim(remspecial(dtoc(var->regexpire))) = "" .and. var->regmach <> var->msysnme 
'		dim tbl as p
'		tbl = table.open("regist",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
'		tbl.change_begin()
'		tbl.instdate = date()
'		tbl.expire = date() + 30
'		tbl.change_end()
'		tbl.close()
'		ui_msg_box("Expired","Your Have 30 days to enjoy for free.",UI_INFORMATION_SYMBOL)
'		form.view("start")
'	case var->regpaid <> .T. .and. var->regexpire - date() >0 .and. var->regmach =""
'		form.view("start")
    'paid for and expire date is more than 0 days 	should expire in 2041  also system matches table
'	case var->regpaid = .T. .and. var->regexpire - date() > 0 .and. var->regmach = var->msysnme
'  		form.view("start")
'	case var->regpaid = .T. .and. var->regexpire - date() > 0  .and. var->regmach <> var->msysnme
'		ui_msg_box("Expired!", "this copy has expired due to system changes, you will go to the registration Form!" ,UI_NO_SYMBOL)
'  		form.view("registration")
'  	'not paid - expire is between 1 and 30 days - system matches 	
'    case var->regpaid <> .T. .and. var->regexpire - date() < 30 .and. var->regexpire - date() > 0 .and. var->regexpire - date() > 0 .and. var->regmach = var->msysnme 
'		form.view("start")
'    case var->regpaid <> .T. .and. var->regexpire - date() <= 0  .and. var->regmach = var->msysnme .or. var->regmach <> var->msysnme
'    	ui_msg_box("Expired","Your Application Has Expired.  You will now go to the Registration Form.",UI_INFORMATION_SYMBOL)
'    	form.view("registration")
'end select

This simple function needs to also be in the code:

FUNCTION getdays AS d (demotime as n, bdate as d)
'dim demotime as n = .09
dim edate as d
'dim bdate as d = date()
dim ndays as n


select
case demotime = 0.01
ndays = 7
case demotime = 0.02
ndays = 14
case demotime = 0.03
ndays = 30
case demotime = 0.06
ndays = 60
case demotime = 0.09
ndays = 90
case demotime = 0.08
ndays = 7300
case demotime <> 0.01 .or. demotime <> 0.02 .or. demotime <> 0.03 .or. demotime <> 0.06 .or. demotime <> 0.08 .or. demotime <> 0.09
ndays = - 10
end select

getdays = bdate + ndays

END FUNCTION

along with this script: onfirst

dim msysvar as c
dim global mexepath as c
dim global mdatapath as c
dim madded as c
dim many as n
dim global regist as n
dim startdate as d
dim enddate as d
dim regist2 as n
dim regist3 as n
dim normdate as d = date()
dim theenddate as d
dim filename as c = "c:\alda\racecar\zay.dll"
dim result as L
result = file.exists(filename)


if result = .T. then
file.rename("c:\alda\racecar\zay.dll", "c:\alda\racecar\regist.dbf")
end if


dim t as P
t = table.open("regist.dbf",FILE_RO_EXCLUSIVE)
t.fetch_last()
var->theenddate = t.enddate
t.close()

if normdate < theenddate then
goto C
else if normdate > theenddate then
goto A
end if


A: ' if the date has expired, we need to do this
'set the variables
'we need to call a ui to present the numbers and then divide by 8 and add the .03 or what ever.
'Create an XDialog dialog box to prompt for parameters.
DIM sysstuff as N = 3900000
DIM fillname as N
DIM ans as n
ok_button_label = "&OK"
cancel_button_label = "&Cancel"
theanswer = ui_dlg_box("Registration",<<%dlg%
{region}
This is the number to give when you call for the registration:| [%z%.40sysstuff];
Fill this in exactly as given to you:| [%z%.20fillname];
{endregion};
{line=1,0};
{region}
<15=ok_button_label!OK> <15=cancel_button_label!CANCEL>
{endregion};
%dlg%)

startdate = date()
mdatapath = a5.Get_Path()
mexepath = a5.Get_Exe_Path()
msysvar =API_GETMACHINENAME()
madded = mdatapath+mexepath+msysvar 'concatenates a5 path+a5 exe+machinename
madded = remspecial(madded) ' takes all the garbage out
many = ((len(madded)*8)+(len(mdatapath)*8))*800 'does some math on the answer and prepares it for div by 8
regist = round_down(many,0)/8 'rounds it all down

regist = regist+.03 '.03 for 60 days
regist2 = int(regist) 'gets it to an integer
regist3 = regist - regist2 'has to come out as 0.30 or always starts as 0.
enddate = getdays(regist3,startdate) 'function to change to the end date of registration

' this reset the table to the variables above
tbl=table.open("regist",FILE_RW_SHARED)
tbl.enter_begin()
tbl.date = date()
tbl.enddate = var->enddate
tbl.datapath = var->mdatapath
tbl.exepath = var->mexepath
tbl.machine = var->msysvar
tbl.enter_end(.t.)
table.close()


C:

' hide regist.dbf to zay.dll
dim filename as c = "c:\alda\racecar\regist.dbf"
dim result as L = file_exists(filename)

if result = .F. then
goto end
else
file.rename("c:\alda\racecar\regist.dbf", "c:\alda\racecar\zay.dll")
end if
end:

also script: regisafter

dim badwork as c
dim xxexpire as d
dim xxpaidfull as L
select
case var->mmand <> var->mmreg/6 .or. (var->mmlog <> 21 .and. var->mmlog <> 31 .and. var->mmlog <> 51)
badwork = "Y"
goto done
case var->mmand = var->mmreg/6 .and. var->mmlog = 51
xxpaidfull = .T.
xxexpire = ctod("12/31/2041")
badwork = "N"
case var->mmand = var->mmreg/6 .and. var->mmlog = 31
xxpaidfull = .f.
xxexpire = date() + 30
badwork = "N"
case var->mmand = var->mmreg/6 .and. var->mmlog = 21
xxpaidfull = .f.
xxexpire = date() + 15
badwork = "N"
end select
tbl = table.open("regist",FILE_Rw_EXCLUSIVE)
query.description = "stationget"
query.order = tbl.recno()
query.filter = ""
query.options = ""
qry = tbl.query_create()
tbl.change_begin()
tbl.instdate = date()
tbl.machine = var->msysnme
tbl.answer = var->mmand
tbl.logdays = var->mmlog
tbl.firststart = .t.
tbl.user = var->musername
tbl.datapath = var->mdpath
tbl.exepath = var->mepath
tbl.regnumb = var->mmreg
tbl.expire = xxexpire
tbl.paidfull = xxpaidfull
tbl.change_end(.T.)
tbl.close()

if badwork = "N" then
dim mess as c
mess = "Your Program will expire on " + var->xxexpire
ui_msg_box("Registered", var->mess ,UI_STOP_SYMBOL)
form.view("start")
end if
done:
if badwork = "N" then
goto last
else
form.view("registration")
end if
last:

I think that is enough to get started.