7. License Creation
License files provide an easy way to create restrictions for particular end-users without having to re-encode an entire project as would be necessary with file based restrictions. Changing the license permissions for a particular user is simply a case of issuing a new license file, and when issuing software updates, the same encoded files can be given to every user and not encoded for each user with custom restrictions.
When a file has been encoded to require a license file, at runtime the Loader will search for an appropriate license. If a license file is found, restrictions within the license (such as IP address restrictions) will be checked against the server, and properties contained within the license will be matched with properties in the encoded file. If these tests fail then execution of the script will either stop, or the script will be able to detect that a license is invalid and behave appropriately.
Before a license file can be created with the Encoder GUI, it is necessary to define which restrictions and properties will be stored in the license file and any expiry time for the license. These settings are entered on the license settings dialog, and are saved in the Encoder project file.
Once the license settings have been configured, a license file can be created by launching the create license dialog. Values are entered for properties that were specified on the license settings dialog, along with any server restrictions. If a default expiry time has been set, this can be modified if necessary.
If you have created a license file previously, the settings used in it can be viewed using the decode license dialog or imported into the current project from the create license dialog.
The following pages describe in more detail how to create licenses for your PHP products using the Encoder GUI. Please also consult the Encoder User Guide PDF for further discussion on creating licenses, using the command line license generator, and for related functions in the Loader API.
- 7.1 License Settings
- 7.2 License Generation
- 7.3 License Decoding