Activation codes are based on project settings and Site/MID codes from remote computer. There are two types of activation codes:

Standard

Standard activation code can hold activation key and custom features. It is 35 characters long and has the following structure:

XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX

where X can be any hexadecimal number (0-9 and A-F).

Extended

Extended activation codes are longer than standard activation codes. These codes can hold the same information as standard activation codes (activation key and custom features) plus demo mode limitations (number of days, number of runs, fixed date limitations), limited license limitations (number of days, number of runs, fixed date limitations), custom counters and maximum allowed number of application instances.

 

Activation file can hold same information as extended activation code plus user information, updates policy and serial number information.

Generation of activation codes

Activation codes can be generated from PC Guard (activation panel), AC Generator and Activation center (ACEN) manually by end users (clients) and administrator users or automatically by using ACEN web service methods.

Here is general procedure for generating activation codes in activation panel:

1 Load project that was used for protection.

2 Open activation panel.

PC Guard: Activation panel

 

3 Set Site/MID codes from remote computer.

Be sure to set next Site/MID codes and not current Site/MID codes in case you intend to generate license extension activation code.
Select V5 option for applications protected with old V5 of PC Guard. PC Guard will also try to detect if Site/MID codes are generated by application protected with V5 and enable this option.

4 Set custom features as required (optional).

PC Guard: custom features

5 Set extended activation options as required (optional).

PC Guard: Extended activation panel


Use extended activation options in case you need to change default demo limitations, change default limited license limitations, change default custom counters or change default maximum number of application instances.

If at least one of extended activation option is enabled, activation panel will generate extended activation code.

Changing default demo mode limitations

Select Update demo limitations option and set available limitations. Select Fixed date limitation to update fixed date limitations.

Update demo limitations option will be available only in case demo mode is enabled in project settings.

Changing default limited license limitations

Select Update license limitations option and set available limitations.

Select Add values to existing limitations if you want to add defined number of days and number of runs values to existing counters on remote computer. By default, these values will replace existing counters in remote computer.

If required, change default day of the month expiration. Select Fixed date limitation to update fixed date limitations.

Update license limitations option will be available only in case demo mode is enabled in project settings.

Changing default custom counters

Select Update custom counters option and set custom counters as required. These counters will replace existing counters on remote computer.

Click on reload button to reload default values of custom counters from project settings. Click on reset button to reset all counters to zero.

Changing default maximum number of application instances

Select Update max number of application instances option and set appropriate value.

6 Click on DECODE button to decode Machine ID (MID) and display locking parameters window. (optional)

PC Guard: Decoded MID code

 

This operation will also check if Site/MID codes are valid.

7 Click on GENERATE button to generate activation code.

PC Guard will also automatically generate removal code for license removal feature. Validation of Site/MID codes is also automatically done before activation code is generated.

8 Click on SAVE button to save information about generated activation code to activation report.

Activation report is a text file with all relevant information about generated activation code and activation files.

Default activation report filename can be changed manually or by clicking on '...' button. Click on '>' button to open activation report in default text editor.
Activation reports should be kept secure and backed up together with project files and protection reports!
Click on GENERATE & SAVE button to automatically generate activation code and save protection report.

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