Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

[johnsocm]

I have searched for hours and days and have read so many of the posts here and would like to get this straight without being sent to another post that doesn't explain it well enough.

I have purchased a copy of A5 V9 Platinum with a Unlimited Run Engine License and when I created and ran my setup.exe file on a computer that has never seen a instance of Alpha Five, the computer asks me for a License number.

Now is my copy a:

Unlimited Distribution Run Engine License?

Unlimited Run Engine License?

Unlmiited Distribution License?

Are these the same thing or completely different?

The many posts here and the A5 website have me completely confused and all I want to do is distribute an application I made with the Platinum version and have it run on another computer without me having to give the customer my license code.

I just want to sell this application and have as many users use it as they would like but "How do I get rid of the Message stating it needs a license code!"

Please help me as I am so close to give up on this!

Can anyone please help us out and explain this clearly to someone like me that is brain dead now over this topic of the difference in license packages?

I am very new and I spent lots of money and can not figure this out for some reason?

Thank you VERY KINDLY if you can help me out!

Chad

[gaby_h]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

It is really easy and ... don't give up. When I bought A5 I was confused too, See post here:
https://forum.alphasoftware.com/forum/alpha-five-desktop-applications/alpha-five-version-9-desktop-applications/53464-unlimited-distribution-licence?t=75656
and A5 website : (removed broken link)
You need 2 things
1) A5 Standard or A5 Paltinum (the only diff is A5 Platinum allows you to develop web apps, A5 standard does not) to create apps.
2) Runtime (which in you case is an unlimited license) in order for your users to run your app. At client site you install the runtime (not the Standard or Platinum) and enter the licence nbr. Make sure it's the RT license nbr you are entering. Each time you want your user to run you app on a machine you must install a RT. Give your clients a copy of your app + a copy of RT + RT license nbr (not the A5 standard #); they have to have the RT license nbr. It's like purchasing an off the shelf software; each time you install on a machine it you enter a serial code/License nbr.
Hope this helps, getting very late here hope others will clarify more.
Just hang on and things will get clearer and better soon.

[Davidk]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

If you have an Unlimited license, then you have a Runtime license... not a Run Engine license.

The main difference between Runtime and Run Engine is that Run Engine allows you to work with Active Link Tables (SQL Back ends etc) as if they were localled attached tables.

Unless A5 has changed things the Run Engine does not come in an Unlimited flavour.

So, you have an Unlimited Runtime License - which means you can deploy your app or apps to an unlimited number of PCs.

When you purchased your Alpha5 Platinum and Runtime you got a License # for each. Simply enter the Runtime License # you received.

EDIT: I just re-read the information and it looks like there's just one package now called the Unlimited Distribution License - this allows use of Active-Link tables - so the Unlimited Distribution License is kinda like a Runtime and Run Engine all in one. Still, you just need to enter the License # you specifically got with the Unlimited Distribution package.

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

the run engine has been unlimited for quite some time now - you can also include a line in an autoexec script that will avoid the user needing to enter the license number

[Davidk]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

Thanks... didn't know that.

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

unfortunately, right now, I can't find the syntax for it - searching everywhere - it isn't in the runengine documentation

I think it used to be in the release notes. but the release notes have been chopped off and I thing that instruction was lost

maybe someone else will post the correct syntax

I think it is
license=license#

[christobal]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

Found this in a release note of AlphaV9

Build 1441-3175 � 22-Apr-2008

Features




License Keys - Normally, the Alpha Five license key is stored in the Registry. Now, on startup, Alpha Five will check if a file called
license.key exists in the program folder where Alpha Five is installed. If this file exists, Alpha Five will read the license key from the
first line in this file. The main benefit of this feature is for developers who are using the Runtime or Run Engine to distribute applications.
Now if your install program installs the license.key file, your customers will not see a prompt for a license key the first time they start
their Runtime/Run Engine applications.
IMPORTANT: This new feature requires an update to the Runtime 'startup.aex' file. This file is NOT updated by installing a patch.
You must use the link in your e-mail confirmation from the time you placed your original order to download a full copy of the install program.

Hope this can push you in the right direction

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

most excellent
thank's for the help

[johnsocm]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

Hello,

Is there a way the Startup update could be posted on here?

I don't have that email anymore.

Thank you,

Chad

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

Call or email Richard or Brett at Alpha and they will help you get a new download

[Mark Pearson]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

In relation to the license.key file. Can I presume that I simply create a text file with only the license number and save as license.key. Then place this file in the runtime zip folder for distribution is waht is required? Or do I need to put a line of code in the file like "licence = 4444444444444"

[Davidk]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

Just the license # in the file... no other text.

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

you create it with a text editor, but it is not a text file - when you save it, if you create it witth notepad, click on all types, and have the names be license.key

[Davidk]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

I created my license.key file with notepad. It was named license.txt and I renamed it to license.key. I don't think A5 cares... just as long as it can be opened and read.

[martinwcole]

Re: Why is the Licensing so hard!!!

if you look at the name of the file, in details, it will be license.key.txt - it won't work unless you do as I described