HELP FILE

 

All graphic images are displayed in US / ENGLISH.

  1.0 - Introduction

    1.1 - Adding SOFTLOCX ActiveX (OCX) Control to a project

    1.2 - SOFTLOCX Properties

    1.3 - Running SOFTLOCX

    1.4 - Return Values

  2.0 - Unlocking your protected software

    2.1 - Unlocking your protected software

    2.2 - Removing a SOFTLOCX license during development

  3.0 - Advanced features of SOFTLOCX ( Professional Version )

     3.1 - Create your own protection screens

    3.2 - Create your own registration screens

  4.0 - Using the SOFTLOCX - UCG ActiveX (OCX) Control ( Professional Version )

    4.1 - Create your own unlock code programs

    4.2 - SOFTLOCX - UCG Property settings

    4.3 - Generating an unlock code

1.0 - Introduction - All examples are in Visual Basic

 

  1.1 - Adding SOFTLOCX ActiveX (OCX) Control to a project

  • Add SOFTLOCX to your project and you should now see the SOFTLOCX padlock and key icon on your component tool bar.

  • Place the SOFTLOCX component on to a form in your project. You should now see the SOFTLOCX logo on the form ( this is invisible at runtime ).

  • Highlight the component and the following properties should now be set :

  1.2 - SOFTLOCX Properties
 
About  This shows you an about box on the version of the control.
*Application This is the name of your application. The maximum length of this field is 40 chars.
*EncryptionKey This is a code that is used to encrypt your license file and also used in the algorithm to generate the unlock codes. The EncryptionKey is case sensitive and has a max length of 20 chars.
*ExpireType The settings are SL_Credits, SL_Days and SL_Date. Choosing one of these if you wish to have your software expire on a number of Credits, Days or a set date.
*ExpireValue This setting is set to a value of 0 - 9999 if you have selected an ExpireType of SL_Credits or SL_Days. If the ExpireType is set to SL_Date then a date must be set with the format of DD/MM/YYYY i.e. 12/10/1998.
LogoPicture This setting should be set with a valid bitmap picture and the image should be distributed with your software. The size of the image should be 338 pixels in width and 58 pixels high. An example of this setting is "c:\myapp\logo.bmp".
SerialNumber SOFTLOCX generates random 8 digit serial numbers when it first executes and creates a new license. If you wish to use your own serial number then set this to an 8-digit number of your choice ie.12345678.
TransferLicense A SOFTLOCX license can be transferred from one PC to another. If you wish to prevent this from occurring then set this value to NO otherwise set it to YES.

NOTE - Properties that are marked with " * " are required settings. You will be warned if you have made mistakes in setting the properties when you run SOFTLOCX.

 

  1.3 - Running SOFTLOCX

There is one method called Run, which is a function that returns a string value.

Above is an example using VB5

 

  1.4 - SOFTLOCX Return Values

The following values can be returned from the SOFTLOCX1.Run function

LEVEL1 The user has LEVEL1 access.
LEVEL2 The user has LEVEL2 access.
LEVEL3 The user has LEVEL3 access.
EVALUATION The software is in trial / demo mode.
EXPIRE The software has expired.
ERROR There has been an error this could occur if the user has backdated the system date.
BAD SETTINGS This is returned if there is an error with one or more property settings.

 

2.0 - Generating an unlock code using the Unlocx Code Generator

 

2.1 - Unlocking your protected software

 

  • Input the 8 digit serial number e.g.12345678

  • If you have purchased SOFTLOCX (Professional Version) then you will be able to select the GOA SN # (tick box) to the right of the serial number. This will allow unlock codes to be generated for use in unlocking your own protection solutions using SOFTLOCX (GOA) functions.

  • Click the "~~~>" Icon for the next screen

 
  • Enter the EncryptionKey that used within the control e.g. MyKey

  • Click the "~~~>" Icon for the next screen

 
  • Select the level to unlock SOFTLOCX

  • 1.LEVEL1

  • 2.LEVEL2

  • 3.LEVEL3

  • 4.GRACE+ – This option allows you to add up 9999 days / credits to an expired license. If your software expired on a given date (ExpireType = SL_Date) then this will increase by the value of days. This can be performed any amount of times you requires.

  • Click the "~~~>" Icon for the next screen

 

  • Your unlock code will now be displayed

  • E.g.TYJ5NEWU

  2.2 - Removing a SOFTLOCX license during development

  • The SOFTLOCX license can be removed from a PC during development by select the tools icon ( next to the exit button ). This will present you with the following screen.

  • A SOFTLOCX protected license can only be removed with a valid ApplicationName and EncryptionKey , this prevents other users removing your protected software from their PC. Once these details have been completed click the "Remove License" button to remove the license or "Finished" to cancel. Remember to tick the "GOA SN # " checkbox if you are removing a license using a SOFTLOCX GOA function call ( Professional Version Only ).

 

3.0 - Advanced features of SOFTLOCX ( Professional Version )

 

The standard facility to run SOFTLOCX will check the protection but also display the SOFTLOCX window. The two Graphical Open Architecture (GOA) calls  hide the standard SOFTLOCX screen and allow you to develop your own screens by data passing to triggered events.

  3.1 - Create your own protection screens

GOA_License

The GOA_License call allows the SOFTLOCX license to be checked. If the license is not present on the PC then it will be created automatically with the settings taken from the SOFTLOCX controls properties. Once the GOA_License subroutine has been called the LicenseStatus event is then triggered and the following parameters are passed back:

>>> Triggers event

  • LicenseStatus(Status, SerialNumber, ExpireValue )

The LicenseStatus event returns three string values and are as follows:

Status LEVEL1, LEVEL2, LEVEL3, EVALUATION, EXPIRED and ERROR.
SerialNumber This is the 8 digit SOFTLOCX serial number
ExpireValue This is the value of when the license will expire. DAYS and CREDITS return a numeric value between 1 - 9999. A DATE ExpireValue within your property settings will return a date in format of DD/MM/YYYY.

  3.2 - Create your own registration screens

GOA_Unlock(UnlockType, SerialNumber, UnlockCode)

PARAMETERS PASSED:

UnlockType There are four types of unlock REGISTER, UPDATE, GRACE and TRANSFER
SerialNumber This is the current serial number of the license if the UnlockType is TRANSFER then this should be set to the serial number of the PC you wish to transfer the license to.
UnlockCode This is the 8 digit unlock code.

The GOA_Unlock call allows the SOFTLOCX license to be unlocked to all levels LEVEL1,LEVEL2, LEVEL3. It also allows GRACE unlock codes so the license can be extended at any point to any value between 1-9999. The call also allows the license to be transferred to another PC.

 

>>> Triggers event

  • UnlockStatus(Status, TransUnlockCode)

goaustatus.gif (12539 bytes)

The UnlockStatus event returns two string values and are as follows:

Status The values LEVEL1, LEVEL2, LEVEL3 or GRACE are returned. If the UnlockCode is incorrect then the value INVALID is returned.
TransUnlockCode If your transferring a license to another machine this will contain the UnlockCode for the target PC.

 

4.0 - Using the SOFTLOCX (UCG) ActiveX (OCX) Control

 

  4.1 - Create your own unlock code programs

SOFTLOCX (UCG) control allows you to create unlock code programs for SOFTLOCX protected software.

  • Add the SOFTLOCX - UCG control to your project.
  • The following properties are available from this control

  4.2 - SOFTLOCX - UCG Property settings

EncryptionKey This is the EncryptionKey that was used within your SOFTLOCX protected software.
GOA Select YES / NO if you wish to generate a SOFTLOCX (GOA) unlock code
GraceIncrease If you wish to increase an evaluation period then set a number between 1 - 9999 in this setting.
License This is the unlock code you received when you first purchased the software.
SerialNumber This is the eight digit serial number that you wish to generate an unlock code for.
UnlockType Select LEVEL1, LEVEL2, LEVEL3 or GRACE. If you select grace then remember to set a value in the GraceIncrease property.

  4.3 - Generating an unlock code

There is one method called Run, which is a function that returns a string value.

     

Above is an example using VB5

 

© SOFTLOCX 1998