Online activation needs a remote server with the necessary program files installed on it. User registration information for your publication is directly checked and downloaded from the server by the publication: thus, you can remotely control who can activate certificates and unlock registered editions of your publications. Moreover, activation ensures that end users can only activate their key on a given number of computers, and that users who got a refund cannot access the publication anymore.

Activation Steps

1. The user places an order for your publication or ebook from your authorized reseller (for instance PayPal). The latter sends the user information to a dedicated script on your server. This script creates a record with the user information in the database and sends a unique registration key to the end user (by email for instance).
2. The user starts the publication and enters his activation key in the nag screen as shown below. He clicks Activate.

3. The publication connects to your server, calls a dedicated script while passing parameters such as the registration key, the unique system ID. No private personal data is sent.
4. The script on the server searches for the record associated with the registration key in the database. If the account is found, it checks the number of allowed activations, whether the account is locked or not... The script generates registration data (with the user's name, unique system ID...) and returns it to the publication.
5. The publication analyzes the registration data. If the activation is allowed by the server, the certificate is unlocked; otherwise, an error message is displayed.

Everything can be automated thanks to scripts and/or controlled manually thanks to the online administration panel.

Moreover, you can validate the access to the publication each time it is run for instance. This lets you control who can access your publication.

Server requirements