Last Modified August 30, 2022
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License Code Types
License Codes are like "Serial Numbers" and identify a specific software License and its specific License
settings. License codes are issued to users for Evaluations or when purchasing your software and are used by the
user to activate their copy of your software application.
There are three categories of License Codes
Activation License Codes |
used for general licenses, with multiple settings
and options to offer a variety of licensing schemes
|
Evaluation License Codes |
codes that expire in 1 to 60 days and used for
Evaluation or Trial licensing, allowing your potential customers to try your software before purchase
|
Test License Codes |
codes that expire in 15 days, are free for developers (max 15 per DNA Product), and
used to perform regular testing of the overall activation process. They can be used while your product is in
ACTIVE or Testing Mode.
An advantage of Test License Codes is that they can be reset from the
Control Panel so that you can retest the initial activation process as if it was a new License Activation Code.
While in Testing Mode, you can also use regular License Activation
or Evaluation Codes, which are all free of charge
|
License Codes are of the following format
<Prefix><random_code>
Prefix |
an optional 1-4 alphanumeric label used for the following:
- easy identification of the type of License, example : STD, PRO, GOLD, ...
- allows your App to configure itself based on the PREFIX
- giving your "Resellers" selective access to the DNA Control Panel to manage Licenses
See the following for details
|
Random Code |
a 12 to 20 numeric or alphanumeric random series of digits
that identifies a specific licence. It is important that this be a random series of digits, and the longer
alphanumeric sequence is recommended
|
Typically, License Codes are automatically generated by software_DNA with the above format.
How to Generate Codes
for details on how License Codes
can be created / generated
Product and License Code Settings
Multiple settings / options can be set for a Product and all it’s codes, and several settings are code specific and
apply onlly to that License code. They include:
Product wide settings/options |
Validation Level |
3 levels of Validations are possible, Activation, Continuous
and Mandatory
Validation Levels
|
Re-activation Lockout |
determines the number of reactivations
allowed during a given period before the License code is locked and for how long the License Code
stays in lockout mode. Typical setting is 2 re-activations in 30 days and a 30 day lockout, which allows
legitimate License
owners to re-install the software on a new computer, but stops "other" users from installing the
software on many computers
Re-Activation Overview
|
Single-User / Multi-Computer |
Licensing for activation on 1, 2 or 3
computers
Multi-Computer Licensing
|
Multi-User |
licensing for activation of many users / seats
Multi-User (seat) Licensing
|
Roll-Over Re-activation |
used with Single-User / Multi-Computer licensing,
when a new computer activation exceeds the
license limit (1, 2 or 3), the activation is allowed and previously activated
computers/licenses are automatically disabled. The user does
not need to first de-activate a computer/license, providing a less complex user experience.
When Roll-over is not used, a new computer activation that exceeds the limit will be rejected.
The user will need to de-activate an activated computer/license to proceed or contact your
Tech Support to de-activate a license from the DNA Control Panel.
Roll-Over Re-Activation
|
User Authentication |
adds a License Code Password that increases the security of License Codes
User Authentication
|
Anti-Fraud |
places a 45 and 60 day timer on the License Code such
that the code must complete a DNA Server Validation within 45 to 60 days of Activation. This allows
you to ban License Codes where a purchaser has initiated a Credit Card ChargeBack transaction, which
must typically be done within 30 days of purchase
Anti-Fraud Option
|
Offline Activation |
allows License owners to use the Offline Activation
process (a web based portal) to activate a License destined for an offline computer. If this setting is not
enabled or User Authentication is not enabled, then you can perform the Offline Activation
for your users from the DNA Control Panel.
You can override this setting for individual License codes
Offline Activation Process
|
License Manager |
this enables Single User licenses (1 seat) to use
the License Manager to retrieve, view and change their License Code information (password and email).
Multi-User License owners always have access to the License Manager where they can also view
the activated seats of the Multi-User License.
License Manager
|
Language |
You can set the Language that will be used when sending one of the
Custom Emails (ex: Resend Password Email) to your Users.
Customizing Emails sent by softWORKZ
|
License Code specific settings/options |
License Code Password |
when User Authentication is enabled
User Authentication
|
Email |
as part of the License Activation process,
the user provides an email address to allow them to receive
information emails from software_DNA such as a Send Lost Password
email. The email
can be changed for the user from the Code Configuration / View screen.
Customizing Emails sent by softWORKZ
|
Expiry Period |
the expiry period can be set for each License Code as
required. Typically, a default value is set for the Product for general licenses (0 to 2,000 days, where
0 = never expires) and Evaluation License (1-60 days). This value can be changed for an individual
code from the Code Configuration / View screen. The Expiration Date is adjusted based on the License
Activation Date and the License Expiry Period.
|
Seats for MultiUser Licenses |
the number of Seats for the License Code
can be set per Code. The Seat setting used is typically set as part of a eCommerce transaction, or
when License Codes are generated from the DNA Control Panel. The Seat setting for a specific
License Code can also be changed from the Code Configuration / View screen
Multi-User Licensing
|
License State |
the State of each License Code (Banned, Revoked)
can be changed from the Code View screen
Using Ban Controls
|
Offline Activation |
individual License Codes can be given the right
to use the Offline Activation process, as an override to the Product wide setting.
Offline Activation
|
Generating License Codes
Normally, the required Activation and Evaluation License codes are created on-demand (
"Just-in-Time")
by the DNA Server as a result of receiving eCommerce purchase confirmations. With eCommerce connections
set-up with the JIT option for License Code generation, your License Fulfillment process can be fully
automated and run 24/7. The License Codes are created as per the Code Generation settings in the
Product Configuration.
eCommerce Integration
for additional information.
Additionally, you can add License Codes for a Product in the following ways:
Using the Code Generator |
you can request the DNA Server to create
a batch of License Codes with specific settings.
Generation of License Codes
for additional information.
|
Uploading License Codes |
you can create your own License Codes offline
and upload them to the DNA Server
Uploading License Codes
for additional information
|
Removing License Codes
In general, License codes are never deleted from the database. If you want to disable a License Code, use the
Revoke License option for that code from the
Code Configuration / View screen.
There are circumstances where this is allowed:
- At the end of TESTING MODE when you have completed your
testing of the implementation of software_DNA, and you are ready to launch your product.
When you change the State of the Product in the Product View Screen from
TESTING MODE to ACTIVE
all of the codes for this product will be deleted and all the statistics
will be reset. The Configuration Settings will remain intact.
- Unused Evaluation Codes can begin to accumulate over time.
This happens when users download your
software, request an Evaluation License Code, but for some reason, never activate the software. You can
clean out old and unused Evaluation Codes via the
Codes -> Bulk Delete menu selection