Tutorial 2: Creating a Test License and Activating a Protected Application

As we are using the test author account, there is no need to create a Product or Product Option in SOLO Server as we will use the existing Products. Normally, after you have created a Product and Product Option in SOLO Server, you can then create a license for that Product Option. When a customer activates with the license, it will use the data set in the Product Option to set the data in the customer's license file. You can create either test or live licenses, and each one will have a unique License ID.

Continuing to use the SOLO Server test author account, we will create a test license for the same Product Option synchronized in Tutorial 1.

Important

Test licenses are available for your development and testing needs as you may deem necessary, but test licenses should not be distributed to customers. At the end of each calendar month, all test licenses are purged from SOLO Server. You will not be charged for creating test licenses.

All other non-test (or "live") licenses created in SOLO Server (regardless of how the licenses are created) will not be purged, however, and will result in account charges/fees being assessed to your SOLO Server account. There are various ways of creating non-test licenses, including, but certainly not limited to the following examples: Manually adding a license, processing an order without using the test credit card number, or performing Web service calls.

To test an activation, you must first generate a license in SOLO Server.

Log into SOLO Server by visiting https://secure.softwarekey.com/solo/authors/Default.aspx in your browser.

Use the Test Author credentials given below:

User ID: test
Password: test

To add a test license for this product option, mouse over Customers in the navigation bar, and click ‘Add Test License’.

Select the Instant Protection PLUS 3 Sample Perpetual License Product/Product Option from the list.

Click the Add New Test License button. Click OK on the informational popup that explains test licenses are for development purposes only and are deleted at the first of each month.

The Test License has now been created! We now have a License ID and Password to activate our protected application. In addition, because we set our protected application to check with SOLO Server for license validation, we have a license we can remotely control.

Leave this browser window open as we will need it to get the activation information.

Step 2 Activating the application

If your protected application is not running then run it now so the activation dialog is shown.

Notice how we have the option to purchase, activate, or evaluate. These are all due to the selections we made when wrapping. The option to purchase shows because when we synchronized in tutorial 1, the purchase link was created. We selected at least one method of activating (we actually selected three different methods) which causes the Activation button to show. We selected to have a 15 day trial and the Evaluate button is shown along with the proper number of days until the trial ends. Note the "Go To Website" link at the left. This is from the link we entered on the General Product Options wizard step. You can experiment with the different links and buttons if you like. If you click the Evaluate button you will need to exit and restart the protected application to return to this dialog.

When you are ready, click the Activate Tutorial Application button.

In tutorial 1 we selected to use online activations, activating from another computer, and phone/email activations, and on this dialog we see each option.

Notice the link on the left? This is the support URL we entered on the General Product Options wizard step.

Click the Activate Tutorial Application Online button.

Now switch back to your browser window showing the test license you created in SOLO Server.

Copy the License ID number from the test license you created and paste it in the "Enter your License ID" field on the activation dialog of your protected application.

Copy the Activation Password from the test license you created and paste it in the "Enter your Password" field on the activation dialog of your protected application.

Click the Continue button on the activation dialog.

If all went well you should see the above dialog. Click Continue to let the protected application run. When you exit and restart, you will not see the activation dialog again.

If for any reason, you received an error during activation, retry the activation making sure the License ID and Password are entered correctly. In addition, check the list of common errors which should help. If the problem persists please contact us for assistance.

Step 3 Remotely Deactivating the Application

Return to the license you created in SOLO Server.

Important

Due to restrictions on the SOLO Server test author account, the revocation method shown will revoke all computers activated for this license. When using your own SOLO Server account, you should deactivate by installation.

Click the License drop down next to Actions and select Edit.

Select the Status drop down and change it to Expired.

Scroll to the bottom and click the Submit button. You license should show a status of Expired.

Run your protected application. If it is already running, exit and restart it.

You should see the above dialog with our custom message. Click OK.

Helpful Information

As we set the protected application to check the license with SOLO Server every run we immediately deactivated. In many cases you may not want to validate with the server as often as it can delay your application's startup if the user has a slow Internet connection.

Now the user has only options to purchase or activate. The license has been revoked, therefore they must purchase a new license or contact you for assistance with the revoked license.

Tutorial 2: Creating a Test License and Activating a Protected Application

Summary