Version 3.0.1.1 Released!

 

Version 3.0.1.1 of Serial Key Maker introduces the ability to wrap documents and applications with licensing logic.  It provides non-developers (and developers who do not wish to change thier code) the ability to take advantage of Serial Key Maker’s licensing logic.

Basically, the user drags the file they want to wrap on to the Serial Key Maker interface, selects some options, and then clicks “Wrap”.  Serial Key Maker, takes the document or application and wraps licensing logic around it.  When a user tries to access the document or application, they are presented with a prompt to enter a valid license key.  If they enter a valid key, they are able to open the document or run the program.  Any document that can be opened by Windows , or any application that can be run by Windows (no matter what language it was written in) can be wrapped by Serial Key Maker. 

It is important to know how this wrapper functionality is implemented before deciding if it is appropriate for your business model.

When Serial Key Maker wraps the document or application, it takes that document or file and *encrypts* it into a new file called “configsettings.skm”.  This file is unable to be read or executed until a valid license key is entered. 

When a valid license key is supplied, the original document or file is decrypted and written to disk.  The user can then open the document or start the application.

This wrapper functionality provides a *once off* licensing solution, so it is not appropriate for demo versions, or for all users. 

The reason it is a once off is because of the nature of the documents it will be wrapping. If you have a database application or an excel spreadsheet you want to protect, the user is typically going to need to save changes to that document.  For this reason, Serial Key Maker does not tamper with the file after it has been unlocked.  Once unlocked, the file is written to disk, and the user then has full control of that document.

What the Wrapper functionality is appropriate for:
Once off protection for any kind of Windows document or Application
No need to change code in existing applications
Works with any Windows application regardless of the language it was written in
Perfect for locking Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and PDF documents

Not Appropriate for:
Documents or applications that need to run in demo mode
Documents or applications that need to be license-validated every time before they start

Also in this release:

1. Redesigned website, that include a forum section
2. Enchanced Error handling and messaging

We trust that you find this enhancement useful!

Testing software with different versions of IE and Windows

This post is not about profoundly new information, but it is so extremely valuable that I can’t image anyone not taking advantage of it.  And, its free!

Microsoft makes testing your software on various editions of Windows, and with various versions of IE so much easier by their continued support for making time-limited versions of their OS and other applications available for free.  They do this via their Virtual PC platform. 

At any time I have tried, I just go to their Virtual PC downloads section, and get a virtual hard disk copy of one of the available versions of the OS, download it, and within about 30 minutes, I am running my software on a completely clean installation of windows, and whatever browser I am targetting.

You first need a copy of the Virtual PC software, which MS has made available for free (!).

Get it at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

Then you need to download an image of the OS.  At the time of this writing, there are 4 Operating System images available on the following page: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=21EABB90-958F-4B64-B5F1-73D0A413C8EF&displaylang=en

The exact ones available changes, so just seach for “VPC Image”, and you’ll find a few.  I found TFC and SQL server images, which could also be useful for testing.

This has made testing Serial Key Maker a much more certain process.  I can install on clean systems, and muddy the water as much as I like and see how my installation process goes, and how my program runs.

For example, I develop on a beefy Vista machine.  However, I have just about all the security settings turned way down, and run as an administrator.  I forget all the things I have turned off to be able to develop efficiently.  So, to get a good sense of how my applications will run on a vanilla (a.k.a locked down) Vista install, I just fire up the VPC and run my new version.

I have found and fixed tons of unobvious but annoying bugs this way.  I’d honestly pay for the ability to do what Microsoft is (currently) giving out for free.

Show and Tell

I originally planned to have version 3.0.0.1 available by the end of August, and I have been reluctant to post about it in favor of getting it done.  (Also, it forces me to admit that I am late!)

Unfortunately I am still not done.  I underestimated the number of problems I would run in to, and how long it would take to fix them.  I will post about some of the issues I found and how I solved them in a later post.  This post is to provide some information on where I am, and what you can expect in the new version. 

I have finished the coding of the application and have fixed all known outstanding bugs.  I am now wrapping the application into a setup package which is proving to be a little more complicated that the previous versions.  This edition has some additional files that need to be deployed as part of my wrapper technology.

To recap, this version supports the ability to simply drag your file (any windows file – PDF, Word, Excel, EXE) onto my app, select a few customizations, and the app will generate a wrapper around your file.  My wrapper will handle the license key validation, so you need write no code!

Here it is in action:

4 steps to license key wrapping

Customizing the wrapper

The sample above takes a PDF document, wraps it with Serial Key Maker logic, and then produces an executeable (“How to Win at Amazon.exe”).  You then distribute this executeable to your paying customers, and provide them with a license key.  You do not need to write any code!

When they launch your application, the wrapper checks that they have a valid license, and if they do, opens the document.

User is presented with a screen to enter license key

 

I am very excited about this new feature.  I have had a lot of requests from people to implement this functionality, and I can’t wait to get it out there.

In addition to this change, I am revamping the Serial Key Maker web site.  It has a new look and I am going to add a message board so I can share answers with all users, and get more feedback on how to improve the product.

Here is a screenshot of what the front page will look like:

Click to see full

I am working furiously to get all this done…I’ll get it out as soon as I can, but I won’t release until I am confident it is good, so I don’t want to promise any more dates.

I’ll post here as soon as the new version is available.