Location of the CDM License File

This location must be accesible in Read/Write mode for the User(s) of the application on the target device. The recommended location of the CDM license file depends on the licensing objective and the OS (Windows, Mac, Linux, or Android) as described below.

The location of the CDM License file is set with the DNA_SetProperties("CDMPathName",<pathName>) (V6 or later) or the DNA_SetCDMPathName(<pathName>) API call and must be the first call made to the DNA Library. If not used, the CDM License file will be located to the default location indicated below which may not be the recommended location.

Notes on CDM Location for Windows

• One License per Computer, shared by all Users

  
  

  On Windows, in order to protect the system environment on the user's computer, some directories are not "Read / Write" for all Users, such as:

  • C:\Program Files directory
  • C:\ProramData directory
  
  

  Our recommended location ensures all Users have the required "Read / Write" permissions.

  If the DNA_SetProperties() or DNA_SetCDMPathName() API call is not used, the CDM file will be written to the folder where the App is stored, or a VirtualStore folder which is likely to create conflicts as multiple CDM files could exist on the computer.

• One License per Windows User

  
  

  Each Windows User on the same computer would need their own License Activation Code.

  In addition to our recommended location above, the CDM License file could be stored in the following location:

  • Application.CommonAppDataPath -> C:\ProgramData\<app_name>\<app_name>\

    Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonApplicationData -> C:\ProgramData

    Use only for "One License per User" scenario

    Although described as a common directoy for application files, the ProgramData directory only allows read-write access to the creator of a file in that directory. Other Users only have read access and would not be able to validate the CDM License file.

  • Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE") + "\\<app_name>\\<app_name>.CDM"
    -> C:\Users\<user>\<app_name>\<app_name>.CDM

    Use only for "One License per User" scenario

  • Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonDocuments -> C:\Users\Public\Documents

    Use only for "One License per User" scenario

    If Windows Defender Folder Control is enabled on the computer (possible in Enterprise environments), then this folder will have restricted access permissions for other Users.

Notes on CDM Location for MAC OS

The default location for the CDM License file is in the application Package Contents directory and should not be used when Code Signing or App SandBox are used.

The CDMPathName should be an absolute path to the target location. Do not use a path with the Tilde such as ~/Library/.... You can use the stringByExpandingTildeInPath function to convert such a path to an absolute path.

• One License per Computer with one User

  
  

  Other locations can be used with the following considerations:

  / Users / <userName> / <app_name> / <app_name>.CDM

  / Users / Shared

  • these directories are ONLY Read/Write for the original writer of the files in that directory. All other users will have Read Only access even when "shared"
  • if the CDM License file is created in these directories on Activation of the software, then only this user would have Read/Write access to the CDM file. Other users would only have Read ONLY access and software_DNA will not work
  • Use these locations if there is assurance of only one user on the MAC computer.

• One License for multiple MAC Users (V6.00)

  
  

  This approach will allow different Users on the same MAC computer to share the same License Code:

  • use a Multi-Computer or Multi-User License
  • set up the DNA Properties as follows:
    • DNA_SetProperties("CDMPathName","/Users/"+NSUserName()+"/Library/Application Support/<app_name>/<app_name>.CDM")
    • DNA_SetProperties("userID",NSUserName())
    The NSUserName() function will ensure each CDM License file is unique and specific to the MAC User

  The Users sharing the same License may be on different computers.

  Other locations that can be used:

  / Users / <userName> / <app_name> / <app_name>.CDM

Explanation of CDM Location for Linux

The location of the CDM License will depend on where the Application is installed (root or home directories) as this will determine the read-write access permissions of where the CDM license file can be stored. The installation script may need to modify access permissions.

For example, if the App is installed in the $Home directory of the User and the default CDM Location is used, then no special permissions are required and each User would need their own License Activation Code, and have their own CDM License file.

If the App is installed in the root directory (/usr/lib/...), the CDM License file could be installed in /var/tmp/<app_name> /<app_name>.CDM. The installation script would need to create the folder and a dummy (empty) CDM file and change the permissions to read-write for all User(s).

Explanation of CDM Location for Android

The recommend location is the App-specific internal secure storage allocated to your App by the Android OS, which has the required "Read / Write" access permissions.

The location is determined via Android API calls:

getApplicationContext().getFilesDir() + File.separator + "<app_name>.CDM"

Do not use sub-directories, and use only the CDM file name. For example:

getApplicationContext().getFilesDir() + File.separator + "HelloWorld.CDM"