Run Time apps with expiration date

[bugs4]

Is there any method for developing a run time version of the app and have it "expire" based on some type of parameter, ie date?

I'm building some sales/contact databases and the customer wants the app to "time-out" after a certain date just in case a rep were to leave the firm, the data would no longer be accessable after a specific date.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance - Bugs4

[FMDuck]

There's many issues to address here.

As only a couple of points, assure you associate the app with the hard drive serial number and check to assure the system date hasn't been set backwards by more than a day.

[SteveB]

Please post your version of FM and the operating system to your profile, as the solution will be different.

Steve

[bugs4]

How would you go about doing that? Hard drive serial number and date. Is there a script to do that or some sort of plugin?

Thanks in advance.

Bugs4

[SteveB]

Unfortunately, I'm only going to be able to give you advice for the PC, as I don't know anything about Macs. I also use v6, which also may impact what I tell you.

There are a number of ways to get the hard drive serial # There is a free plugin from David Mackee at Protolight Software (sorry I don't have web address). This plugin will return the serial # and encrypt it (or anything else you want encrypted). You could also use WinBatch which (altho it is not free) can do the same thing and a lot more.

If your application is date-sensitive (ie changing the system date screws up the user's data), that's one less thing to have to protect for.

If the user might move the system date back, you'll need to record 'yesterday's' date as well as the install date. Check Status(CurrentDate) (or what is equivalent in v7) against install date and against 'yesterday's date.

Additional bells and whistles complicate things: I prevent users from re-installing the app by hiding a file on the disk that tells me the demo has already been installed once.

I suggest you check Ray Cologon's site at www.nightwing.com. He has a plugin (or an unlocked solution that can do most of this for you and it will be xplat.

Steve

Edited August 2, 2005 by Guest

[bugs4]

I don't understand the reference to "I suggest you check Ray Cologon's site at www.nightwing.com. He has a plugin (or an unlocked solution that can do most of this for you and it will be xplat."

I went to the site and it deals with Ray and his artwork. Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance, Bugs4

[SteveB]

He has a number of different sites...try this one: http://www.nightwing.com.au/FileMaker/#Products

[mike275]

i am using exeshield.... try it if you like www.exeshield.com