ClickOnce with x-day Trial versions? | The Coffeehouse

JohnAskew
9 girl in pink sweater

Have you run across a strategy/pattern or component that enables trials for software we publish with ClickOnce?

This is for both Windows.Forms and WPF if possible, though either is helpful.

EDIT:

Ah, here is a nice freebie: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/Trial_Maker.aspx

Any others you can suggest? It seems like there should be a nice ClickOnce add-in for this...

dahat

There is also the Shareware Starter Kit which enables more than just having a trial mode.

JohnAskew
9 girl in pink sweater

In reply to dahat

#Oct 28th @ 1:59 PM

The Shareware Starter Kit link says:

We have decided to end the SSK project. Please contact info@personifydesign.com if you have any questions.

dahat

In reply to JohnAskew

#Oct 28th @ 2:10 PM

Grrr... I knew they retired the free online service... but figured they’d still be making the service source code available (which they did quite some time ago)... but it seems only the client bits are on the DL site... shoot em an email and see if you can get the web service bits as well.

figuerres
???

In reply to dahat

#Oct 28th @ 3:05 PM

or use the idea and make your own system......

setup a wcf service that uses ssl and binary xml that will keep the data small and fairly safe over the wires.

but you also need to make sure the client has to phone home / get auth keys ....

kettch

I have a barebones sample project that I did quite some time ago that does online activation. I think it can generate files to activate in offline scenarios. It transmits binary encoded XML that is signed to be tamper evident. I know it can do a time limit, and it can also contain information on available features.

It's proof of concept for something that got integrated into a product, so it's not pretty and it's not commented at all. If you want, I have some time next week, I can clean it up and send it to you.