Controlling upgrades

[NewsArchive]

For some time I have provided free upgrades to my clients but am now
changing all that and providing 12 months upgrades free then charging after
12 months.

I currently use an installer and update product to collect upgrades from my
server based on a registry value on my users machine. Clearly that needs to
be controlled by date now. Incidentally I am seriously considering
purchasing Setup Builder now and have posed this to Friedrich to see if SUB
can help in any way. I know SUB can provide updates (I think) but based on
date of install?

Anyway at the moment I can only think of 2 ways to control the installation
date and that is by writing the value to a tps file (encrypted) or using a
registry entry hidden somewhere. Both are not safe because if the registry
is trashed or the application reinstalled (yes a client has deleted a live
copy before) then the date would be reset.

Handling individual client control manually is not an option because of the
numbers and having something on a server to check a database again is not
really an option at this time.

Does anyone have any ideas how to provide the safest check on whether
updates are to be allowed based on time after initial install? The ONLY
absolute check I do have is in my own administration database where I hold
the version and date of purchase.

Oh another thing that springs to mind that i did try but failed is that
someone may buy and we release a major version within the 12 months of
purchase that they would be entitled to. I release a major version on Jan1st
every year so someone who buys in September would be entitled to that free
so cannot use the version number to control things.

BTW I provide bugfixes free for life so I could have 2 installs (1 for
bugfixes the other for new features)

TIA

John Fligg

[NewsArchive]

Hello John,

This is a built-in SetupBuilder Developer Edition feature.

setupPROTECT—Generate Serial Numbers and Subscription Keys to protect your
installations. This technology is well suited for software subscription
services in which the end-users subscribe, for instance on a monthly,
quarterly, semi-annually, etc. basis.

At the end of the subscription period, end-users will have the option of
extending the subscription or simply continuing their current version. But
end-users will no longer be able to utilize product updates released after
the subscription expiration date/version.

BTW, here is an interesting Success Store:
http://www.lindersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1191

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

John,

Just purchase SetupBuilder mate. It allows you to generate and implement
subscription codes, which expire! Therefore if a user does not renew their
support with you SetupBuilder will not download any updates!

This has been a huge success for my business. I now email support renewal
notices by email and once payment has been received I email a new
subscription key which the user simply copies and pastes into my app, as
this is then stored in one of my config files. On the Help menu of my app I
have a 'Check for Update' item which when selected reads the subscription
key from the
registry and the config file, and if they don't match the one in the config
file is written to the registry, which is then read in by SetupBuilder's
WUpdate executable.

Works like a charm and I highly recommend it, as well as the numerous other
features that SetupBuilder comes with :)

Colin Wynn [Administer Software Ltd]

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

Please explain how to do this.

Thanks

Sim

[NewsArchive]

Hi Sim,

Very simple. You can create unique subscription keys from within the IDE
(bulk subscription key generation will be available soon).

Then in the installer, use a Edit Data [Multiple Line] dialog -OR- the
"Verify Subscription Key" script function to check the validity of a
subscription key. At runtime, your user will be required to enter a valid
(not expired) subscription key in order to continue with the installation or
(web) update.

We are using this technology to control the SetupBuilder subscription model.

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner