hello fellow Access Developers
I have developed an Access database program (97/2000/and XP versions) for which a market already exists. These people want to be able to purchase program via internet. So I have a web site / PayPal / Autoresponder set-up that will automatically email customer with the program as an attachment upon confirmation of payment.
The MDE file is encrypted, and SHIFT and F11 keys disabled.
My question: HOW do I keep one paying customer from distributing copies? (my market is an association of people who work in various regions throughout the State, but meet frequently throughout the year).
Two years ago, when I developed the first edition of this program, a customer - a regional director in fact - distributed my program to those he supervised. Yes, it was copyrighted, but attoney fees are prohibitive. Now the state safety code has changed and he, and those he gave it too, can't use it anymore. I have a new edition ready to sell, but I don't want to open my self up to theft again.
I would like to make it so only the pc that downloads the email attachment can run the program.
I read somewhere in this forum about writing to the Windows registry. Can anyone tell me how to do this?
If I use WinZip and bundle an executable file with the mde, the exe file will execute upon unzipping the archive. I could have that exe, or batch file, rename a font file for instance. I could write an AUTOEXEC macro in the mde that would run everytime the mde is open to check for that font file change. If it doesn't exist, Access quits.
Can anyone tell me how to write a macro in ACCESS that would check a file's existence or properties outside of ACCESS? Or does anyone have another idea to prevent easy copying?
Even if I can accomplish the above, I still have the problem of customer just downloading his email attachment onto a different computer (especially if his email is web-based). Does anyone know a way I can have the email and/or attachment self-destruct after opening, or within minutes of initial opening.
I know I won't be able to protect it from a hacker, I just want to protect it fom being copied by the average Joe.
I have developed an Access database program (97/2000/and XP versions) for which a market already exists. These people want to be able to purchase program via internet. So I have a web site / PayPal / Autoresponder set-up that will automatically email customer with the program as an attachment upon confirmation of payment.
The MDE file is encrypted, and SHIFT and F11 keys disabled.
My question: HOW do I keep one paying customer from distributing copies? (my market is an association of people who work in various regions throughout the State, but meet frequently throughout the year).
Two years ago, when I developed the first edition of this program, a customer - a regional director in fact - distributed my program to those he supervised. Yes, it was copyrighted, but attoney fees are prohibitive. Now the state safety code has changed and he, and those he gave it too, can't use it anymore. I have a new edition ready to sell, but I don't want to open my self up to theft again.
I would like to make it so only the pc that downloads the email attachment can run the program.
I read somewhere in this forum about writing to the Windows registry. Can anyone tell me how to do this?
If I use WinZip and bundle an executable file with the mde, the exe file will execute upon unzipping the archive. I could have that exe, or batch file, rename a font file for instance. I could write an AUTOEXEC macro in the mde that would run everytime the mde is open to check for that font file change. If it doesn't exist, Access quits.
Can anyone tell me how to write a macro in ACCESS that would check a file's existence or properties outside of ACCESS? Or does anyone have another idea to prevent easy copying?
Even if I can accomplish the above, I still have the problem of customer just downloading his email attachment onto a different computer (especially if his email is web-based). Does anyone know a way I can have the email and/or attachment self-destruct after opening, or within minutes of initial opening.
I know I won't be able to protect it from a hacker, I just want to protect it fom being copied by the average Joe.