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.NET Forum / .NET Framework / New Users / August 2005Looking for a better licensing technology
We have a .NET class library with a built-in license-control system that checks for the presence of a digitally signed license file AT RUNTIME. This is a fairly standard technique that distinguishes between "trial" licenses (which only allows only limited functionality) and "full" licenses. We have not, however, figured out an effective way to apply licensing techniques AT DESIGN TIME. I have evaluated a few different licensing technologies and products and I have not figured out a way to achieve any control, record or react to what kind of license is present when code that is referencing our class licrary is bein compiled. I have explored the facilities for licensing in System.ComponentModel and (as far as I can tell) that only impacts what happens when a "component" is being visually manipulated by designer tools such as a Visual Studio forms designer. It does not seem to prevent anyone from compiling code that simply instantiates my classes and calls my methods, not does it record any licensing information when such code is being compiled. At a high level, what I want to achieve is that developers can use a trial license of my class library to compile and execute their own test programs, but they should not be able to "go live" until developers have obtained a "full" license, recompiled the app, and deployed to a machine that has a "full" license. Have you looked at the license compiler lc.exe? You still check licenses at runtime, but you have to embed them into the assembly at design-time. You can, for example, display a "This is a Trial version" form at runtime if you don't find a valid embedded license. Interesting. Is there a way to make sure that this happens everytime an application that references my assembly is compiled? > Have you looked at the license compiler lc.exe? You still check > licenses at runtime, but you have to embed them into the assembly at > design-time. > > You can, for example, display a "This is a Trial version" form at > runtime if you don't find a valid embedded license. Hi I think the license check occurred at the designtime or runtime when the code is executed but not the compiling time. Here are some links for your reference. Licensing Your Components Creating Designable Components for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Designers http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dndotnet/ht ml/pdc_vsdescmp.asp Licensing Components and Controls http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cpguide/htm l/cpconlicensingcomponentscontrols.asp LicensedControl Sample .NET Samples - Windows Forms: Control Authoring http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cpqstart/ht ml/cpsmpNETSamples-WindowsFormsControlAuthoring.asp Licensed Applications using the .NET Framework http://www.codeguru.com/columns/Experts/article.php/c5469/ Best regards, Peter Huang Microsoft Online Partner Support  SignatureGet Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
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