Excel Software has shipped QuickLicense 7.0 with new protection and licensing features for Mac or Windows desktop software. Enhancements focus on Excel spreadsheet protection in the AddLicense tool, Trial to Product upgrades, In-App purchasing, license management by email or text message and plugin protection.
AddLicense generates an application EXE or APP from an Excel spreadsheet that can be sold with a computer specific licensing process. After activation on the customer computer, it presents a control panel to manage the protected data files. A user clicks buttons to clone, rename, import, export or share data files on licensed computers. An Update button provides instant spreadsheet enhancements from the vendor by Internet communication.
QuickLicense 7 adds enhancements to provide customer assistance during the activation and licensing process. A Lookup button on the Activation dialog enables the customer to retrieve a recently purchased or forgotten Serial Number from the Internet. The automated order processing features in the Safe Activation service support the lookup capability.
A customer has several methods to activate a license, move it between computers, renew a subscription or enable new features purchased in an active license. Most computers have a direct Internet connection so licensing occurs with simple button clicks. Without direct Internet communication, customers can get an Activation or Subscription code from any browser on a connected computer. New enhancements enable license management using Email or Text messages sent from a phone or tablet.
To streamline the product evaluation process, a time or execution limited Trial license presents a status dialog on each launch. The user can view the time or launches remaining or purchase a product license at any time with an integrated purchase process.
The trial license is converted to a product license with a human managed or Internet automated process. When launching the trial, a sequence of web pages can be presented in the default browser to highlight new features, provide tutorials, mention related products and services and inform the user how to purchase.
QuickLicense 7 adds a silent Auto Upgrade feature. When a new product release is shipped with new licensing features, current customers can be automatically upgraded to the new license while retaining stored Serial Number, activation and licensing data.
A license configured with QuickLicense is applied to software with a programming or scripting command or the AddLicense wrapping tool. The AddLicense tool stores a named record of information to build each product and license combination with a button click. New commands allow records to be cloned and organized. The new Batch Build feature can generate trial, product or subscription licenses for multiple products with one button click.
The QuickLicense runtime adds programming commands that enable a plugin developer to protect and license commercial plugins. PluginProtect Photoshop is a free SDK [software development kit] and video to simplify protection and licensing of Photoshop plugins using QuickLicense. New register commands in the QuickLicense runtime safeguard developers that sell redistributable plugins.
QuickLicense 7 costs US$595 for the standard edition or $995 for the pro edition on either Mac or Windows. The package includes a PDF and printed User Guide, tutorials, online videos, programming code examples, the AddLicense wrapping tool and SendMessage testing tool. A QuickLicense purchase includes royalty-free runtime distribution rights for any number of products or licenses on that computer platform. Go to www.excelsoftware.com for more info.
