tentenths

fmlock is perfect...thanks!

I will do more research on demos and locking and look at the link. the best method for copy protection I have seen is what macromedia uses...you get 2 installs and you must install and uninstall over the web. You can move it from computer to computer this way...but if a drive fails then I'm not sure how to handle that. thanks guys.

Fenton....you are a power user and most of what you posted is above me. About 5 years ago I was able to make a simple filemaker database with a nice front end for cataloging media for a video editing company...so that's the only experience I have. What I'm investigating is the ability to market a filemaker application and protect it's structure and let the customer protect the database. You wrote: "you will not be able to fix, copy or even see the structure; not anyone, not even you. So obviously only do it on a copy." Does this mean I can make a production working version and then make a copy and fully protect that copy and sell that one to the customer and they can fully use all the data entry fields and calculations and functionality built in but would not be able to modify or copy it to use on a 2nd computer? What drove me to this is some overpriced software running on foxpro (pc only) that is very not slick and very primitive. After a week of using it, I kept thinking about filemaker and how it could probably do a better job. I guess in summary...do many people sell the custom applications for specific businesses or do you just sell your services as the designer?...I would prefer to sell the software product. thanks again... Morgan

Hi Fenton...thanks for the response. I was not clear. Let's say I design a really nice user interface to route messengers for delivering small packages. It has contacts, scheduling, billing and tracking. I put alot of time in to this and want to sell it for other messenger companies to use. Can I make a 30 day demo that will expire? Can I make this application copy protected so they cant give it away and must buy a license. The software I want to sell would have an empty database and the customer will add the data..so I'm not trying to protect the data. I want to protect the application and user interface??? tia Morgan

I could not find a "newbie" section so I apologize in advance. If I designed a front end for a specific industry could I lock down the front end so it could not be copied and used by a competitor or have a company purchase one license of my "custom software" and open it up and modify it for themselves??? I'm sure the database can be locked down tight but not shure about the UI. tia Morgan