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Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the main features of VBOLock software protection?

How stable is VBOLock?

Will VBOLock work under Windows 2000?

Will VBOLock allow me to lease my software for a period of 1 year?

Will my customers need a new unlock code if they format their hard drive?

Will it handle any date locale?

Will it affect my users' installation, i.e. registering controls?

Where does the license.dat file go?

Where do I install the VBOLock.OCX?

What is the maximum number of uses I can set for a trial?

What is the maximum number of days I can set for a trial?

What is the last thing I do before I create my setup program?

How many extra bytes will it add to my zipped download?

What files do I need to distribute with my application?

How do I create a License file?

How can I extend the trial for a user?

Does VBOLock access the Registry?

Do I get royalty free distribution rights if I buy VBOLock?

Are there any sample files?

Can I change the Background Screen?

Can I get a DLL to generate the unlock codes?

Can someone copy my program with VBOLock installed?

Can the user shut down his computer while waiting for the authorization?

How Do I get the username after a user registers?

How Do I get the Registration number?

How Do I Disable the Order Button?

What Events does VBOLock generate?

What do the Personal Key and Product ID fields in the License Generator mean?

I want to use a case statement instead of events, can I do this?

How do I use VBOLock with shareit.com?

What is VBOLock's Anti-Monitoring code?

What is VBOLock's Anti-debugging code?

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What are the main features of VBOLock?

• Your applications cannot be back-dated.
• Your applications cannot be copied to another machine.
• Unlock code only works on a per-machine basis.
• Multiple unlock code(s) per machine. If someone buys 3 different software packages from you, they will each require a different unlock code.
• Once the trial has expired, your application cannot be reinstalled.
• You can create crippled versions.
• You can configure the order button to go straight to your web site
• If another company uses VBOLock, their unlock codes will not be able to unlock your apps.
• You can set your trial by number of days or number of uses.
• If you wish, users can extend the trial by typing extend into the unlock textbox.
• You can enable or disable certain parts of your program.
  
  

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How stable is VBOLock software protection?
Over 1000 users to date have applications using VBOLock, and the numbers are growing.

Will VBOLock work under Windows 2000?
Yes, VBOLock will work with Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP. If a user has your product running under windows 95/98 and wants to use the same product under NT/2000 they must install it in a different directory than the 95/98 OS or vice-versa. If they don't then the license.dat file will be overwritten as soon as the install is finished.

Will VBOLock allow me to lease my software for a period of 1 year?
Yes, you can set the number of days to 365.

Will my customers need a new unlock code if they format their hard drive?
No

Will it handle any date locale?
Yes

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Will it affect my users' installation, i.e. registering controls?
No, VBOLock only uses one OCX without any dependencies.

Where does the license.dat file go?
Make sure the License.dat file is located in the same directory as the application.

Where do I install the VBOLock.OCX?
The best place is in the Windows/System directory.

What is the maximum uses I can set for a trial?
999 times. (When your program is started that is one use.)

What is the maximum number of days I can set for a trial?
999 Days

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What is the last thing I do before I create my setup program?
Regenerate your license file.

How many extra bytes will it add to my zipped download?
Approximately 630KB. This could change as new releases appear.

What files do I need to distribute with my application?
Only two files have to be added to your project:
1) LICENSE.DAT - this is created by clicking on properties for vbolock.ocx. You customize this to your preferences. It is basically like a dongle.
2) VBOLOCK.OCX - this is a self-contained OCX and needs no other runtime modules.

How do I create a License file?
Right click the vbolock.ocx in your form and select properties.

How can I extend the trial for a user?
You can extend the trial for another 7 days. In the Unlock Code box on the Trial Status window, have your user type "extend" (no quotes.)

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Does VBOLock access the Registry?
Yes

Do I get royalty free distribution rights if I buy VBOLock?
Yes, you do!

Are there any sample files?
Yes, sample files are located in the directory where you installed VBOLock.

Can I change the Background Screen?
Yes, Create a .JPG file Width=517, Height=313 and name it skin.jpg
Include this file with your distribution; Make sure it is in the same directory as the
LICENSE.DAT file.

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Can I get a DLL to generate the unlock codes?
Yes, we can supply you with a DLL to generate the unlock codes upon request.

Can someone copy my program with VBOLock installed?
The LICENSE.DAT file that VBOLock generates is encrypted and works similar to a dongle. The user will not be able to copy, move or zip your program with the intention of giving copies to others for free. The user will only be able to install one copy on one machine.

Can the user shut down his computer while waiting for the authorization?
Yes

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How Do I get the username after a user registers?

Dim UserName as String
UserName = LockIt1.GetUserName

How Do I get the Registration number?

Dim regNumber as String
regNumber = LockIt1.GetRegNumber

How Do I Disable the Order Button?

LockIt1.SetOrderButton (0) 1= Set the order button invisible
0=Set the order button visible

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What Events does VBOLock generate?

VBOLock has 6 events that you can insert code into. Here is a list of events generated by VBOLock You insert your code or Boolean variables for each of the different actions:

Private Sub LockIt1_OnExpired()
' Trial version expired
End
End Sub

Private Sub LockIt1_OnIllegal()

' this is an illegal copy
End
End Sub

Private Sub LockIt1_OnMaxtimes()
' Max times exceeded
End
End Sub

Private Sub LockIt1_OnMissing()
' License file is missing
End
End Sub

Private Sub LockIt1_OnRegistered()
' The program is registered

End Sub

Private Sub LockIt1_OnRunning()
' Trial program still running
End Sub

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What do the Personal Key and Product ID fields in the License Generator mean?

When you purchase a copy of VBOLock, you will be assigned a Personal Key which you must enter in the Personal Key textbox. Every purchase of VBOLock is assigned a different Personal Key. This way, no one can use their registered version of VBOLock to unlock one of your products.

The Product ID is an optional field; it is used to protect your program from other users who have a copy of VBOLock and decide to load your license file into their program and change the number of days or uses. The product ID must be typed in every time you regenerate your license file. You can enter any number in the product ID. In your VB code this is what you would do if you decide to put in a Product ID:

If Product_ID <> "191157" Then
END
End If

So, if someone loaded your license file in and tried to regenerate it, the Product ID would be 0 since they don't know what ID you entered, but the program would since you entered it. The 2 letter identifier is an optional field, it is only there to distinguish your products. You can enter any two letters for each product. Let's say you have a product called SWEEPER and you enter SW as the 2 letter identifier, the registration number would look like this 123456-SW. This way, when a user sends you the registration number you know what product he is using. If you leave this field blank, the registration number would look like this: 123456.

(IMPORTANT: Every time you load your license file you have to regenerate it before leaving.)

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I want to use a case statement instead of events, can I do this?

Yes, in your Form Load you can use this code.

Dim RetVal As Integer 'VBOLock Return Value

LockIt1.Visible = False 'Set OCX to invisible
LockIt1.SetPath (App.Path) 'Let OCX know where LICENSE.DAT FILE is
RetVal = LockIt1.GetTrialStatus 'Check to see status of protection

Select Case RetVal
Case -1
' Still running

Case 0
' LICENSE.DAT file is missing
Case 1
' Trial Expired
Case 2
' Illegal Copy
Case 3
' Maximum times used
Case 4
' Registered copy
End Select

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How do I use VBOLock with shareit.com?

You simply sign up as an author on shareit.com, and rename the shareit.DLL provided with VBOLock to <ProgramID>.DLL, where <ProgramID> is your ShareIt! program ID.
See https://secure.element5.com/shareit/cp/download/KeyGenReadme.html for more info!
Then read Information for Authors at http://shareit1.element5.com/information_authors.html to learn how to use shareit.com to distribute your products.

What is VBOLock's Anti-Monitoring code?

VBOLock will shut down if any of these monitoring programs are running: Filemon, ExeSpy, ResSpy, Win-eXpose-Registry, Regmon, RegistryMon, Window Detective, SMU Winspector, and more.

What is VBOLock's Anti-debugging code?

VBOLock has code to defeat most debuggers, including W32Dasm, SoftIce, TRW 2000, Turbo Debugger, Sourcer, and Memory Monitor. If a debugger is in memory, VBOLock will shut down.

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