Last Modified August 30, 2022

License Codes

  1. License Code Types
  2. Format of License Codes
  3. Product and License Code Settings
  4. Generating License Codes
  5. Removing License Codes

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

 

Format of License Codes

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