Technical Document #1001

Subject: Transferring the keyless security between an Office and a Home computer (or any two remote site computers)

Product: All Digital Formation Products

Last Updated: February 22, 1999

Overview

This document describes how to keep a copy of a Digital Formation software product on both an office computer and a home computer. The difficulty lies with transferring the license between the two computers. When transferring over two computers on a network, the Direct Transfer method may be used. The Floppy Disk Transfer is easily used to transfer between two computers not on a network, but the procedure requires moving a floppy disk between the two computers. This is very easy when the two computers are in close proximity to one another, but is extremely inconvenient when the computers are not (such as at the office and at home). This document describes a technique for transferring a valid license between two remote computers, using the Floppy Disk Transfer method.

Details

The trick to keeping the two computers up to date, is to use two transfer disks. For the purposes of this description, we'll assume you want to transfer between an office and a home computer. This technique should be followed VERY closely. If you are careful, this technique will work flawlessly.

To begin, you will need two diskettes. To keep things straight, label each disk as follows:

Disk #1: Office to Home Transfer

Disk #2: Home to Office Transfer

The first time you do this will require an extra trip between the computers. After that, you will be able to follow these instructions, and simply move between the computers. You will have to keep both transfer disks with you for all transfers, to ensure you will not have to make any additional trips.

Begin by installing the software on the Office computer. You should then authorize this copy of the software. See your software documentation or the on-line help (keyword: Security) for information on first-time authorization. The documentation also describes the three steps for the Floppy Disk Transfer; these are the Register Transfer, Transfer Out and Transfer In options. The rest of this document assumes you know where and how to use these options. These are also described in the documentation.

Now, take the installation disks home, and install the software on the Home computer. Don't forget to bring the two transfer disks with you. You are now ready to setup the dual transfer. Begin by inserting Disk #1: Office to Home Transfer, and run the Register Transfer option. This disk is now ready to transfer the license from the Office computer to your Home computer. Now use the following to transfer the license between the computers:

I'm at the office, and want to transfer the license to my Home Computer:

1. Insert Disk #1: Office to Home Transfer and select the Transfer Out option. This will transfer the license to the diskette.

2. Insert Disk #2: Home to Office Transfer and select the Register Transfer option. This will prepare the disk for when you want to move the license back to your office.

3. Go home. Be sure to take both Transfer disks with you.

4. Insert Disk #1: Office to Home Transfer and select the Transfer In option. This will transfer to license to your Home computer.

5. You may now use the software on your Home computer.

I'm at home, and want to transfer the license to my Office Computer:

1. Insert Disk #2: Home to Office Transfer and select the Transfer Out option. This will transfer the license to the diskette.

2. Insert Disk #1: Office to Home Transfer and select the Register Transfer option. This will prepare the disk for when you want to move the license back home.

3. Go the office. Be sure to take both Transfer disks with you.

4. Insert Disk #2: Home to Office Transfer and select the Transfer In option. This will transfer to license to your Office computer.

5. You may now use the software on your Office computer.

Conclusions

The technique has one obvious drawback -- it's complicated. But the advantages are also clear; you can work on two computers, at remote sites, without having to purchase multiple copies of the software. This technique ensures that the software will not operate on more than one computer simultaneously (thus ensuring the license agreement is not violated).

You may wish to mark the disk in some way to denote the disk has been REGISTERED and when is has the LICENSE (Perhaps using removable labels). The disks cannot be write-protected during any of the transfer processes. If you attempt either of the outlined procedures on the wrong disk, the program will simply alert you that the disk has not been registered (The first step is to transfer the license out - but this will only succeed to a registered diskette).

Also, you can use the same disks to transfer the licenses of multiple Digital Formation products. You will just have to perform each action twice, once for each application.