Copyright: Copyright 1995, Ronald S. Levy, M.D.


Registration Editor 1.0
Registration Editor 1.0 Help File

  1995, Ronald S. Levy, M.D.

  All Rights Reserved.

Registration Editor 1.0 is a simple but useful tool to embed a registration number into your distributed .EXE file. This program allows you to define your registration prefix  plus the program will then sequentially increment the Sequence Number each time you run the program. It will also allow you to maintain separate database tables if you have different programs so you can keep the registration numbers coordinated within each programs database. The program will also allow you to edit the database tables. This will allow you the opportunity to enter user information, version information, bug comments, etc., as you receive them back from the registered users.

CONTENTS

Embed a Registration Number

Updating the Registration Database

Registration Information

Technical Support


Embedding a Registration Number

Prior to running this program, several programming steps must be taken.

1. Define a Global (Public) constant in your program as:

Global Const SERIALNUMBER = "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

 The constant contains a total of 30 Zs

2. In your About... form, add a line which, when the program is compiled, will show the registration number. For example:

LblRegNumber.Caption = "Registration Number: " + SERIALNUMBER

' NOTE: if you run the program in immediate mode or run the .EXE

' file without using the embed program, the About... box will list

' your Registration number as "Registration Number: ZZZZZZZZZZZZ..."

' But after you use this program, it will list it as the number you

' assigned.

3. Create the .EXE file as you normally would but save it under a different name than the final application .EXE name. For example, if you program is to be named MYPROG.EXE, create the .EXE as MASTER.EXE. The reason for this is that, each time you run the registration program, it will modify the .EXE so you wont be able to create a second registration number. By creating the MASTER.EXE, you can copy it to MYPROG.EXE each time you want to create a new distribution set. You would then run the embed program, compress it and add it to your distribution disk.

4. Copy MASTER.EXE to <MYPROG>.EXE where <MYPROG> is the name of your final executable file. Now you have two copys of your executable.

5. You can create you distribution disk(s) in the normal way (using the setup wizard or any other method you choose)  using the <MYPROG>.EXE as the executable (This sets the file name in the setup program to be correct).

6. Run the REGISTER.EXE on the <MYPROG>.EXE.

Under the File menu, select Embed a Registration Number. This will take you through

an Embedding Wizard. This is the step that permanently changes the .EXE file.

7. Manually COMPRESS this executable (which now has the registration information embedded) to the same name as appears on the distribution disk. For example, if the distribution disk has the file <MYPROG>.EX_ you would type:

COMPRESS <MYPROG>.EXE <MYPROG>.EX_

8. Replace <MYPROG>.EX_ on your distribution disk with the compressed version of your embedded <MYPROG>.EXE for each distribution set you create (i.e. if you make 3 distribution sets, replace the .EX_ file on the FIRST set with the embedded .EX_ with the FIRST registration number, replace the .EX_ file on the SECOND set with the embedded .EX_ with the SECOND registration number, etc.).


Updating the Registration Database

To update the registration database, you must first select the table to use. You should have one table for each program you are distributing After receiving the registration information from the user, find the registration number by stepping through the records (the next version of the program will include a search function) and then add the appropriate information.

The program allows you to save the following information:

Last Name

First Name

Company

Address, City, State, Zip Code

Home Phone

Work Phone

Version, release and revision

Registration Number

Sequence Number

Comments

After entering the appropriate information, press SAVE to update the database.

See Also


How to Register This Program

This program is Shareware and as such you can use the program without charge as well as distribute the program to friends, BBS services, etc. So long as you dont add to, delete from or modify the program in any way. If you like the program as believe in the Shareware concept, you can become a registered user by sending a check or money order for $15 + $2 S/H to:

Ronald S. Levy, M.D.

110-21 73rd Road

Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375

or register the program through the Compuserve SWREG, ID #8232 As a registered user, you will receive bug fixes, interim releases and technical support free.

Note: Obviously, after you become a registered use you can then distribute a copy of your registered version to others (who then would not have to look at my nag screen), but I request that if you like the program and think others will like it too, to give them a copy of the unregistered version (or refer them to the download area you got the program from).


Technical Support

As a small software company (1 employee - ME), I dont have the luxury to test this program on all monitors, resolutions, etc. Etc. And so, there may be problems I am unaware of.This is the first release of this program and as such, there may be a few bugs. I would greatly appreciate any bug related problems you may have (especially those related to resolution, user interface, appearance, etc). As a registered user, you will received an updated version of the program as soon as it is available. I will also answer any other technical questions via Compuserve. You can reach me at 102065,736.


Embed a Number

To implant a number into a specified place in the .EXE file which will later appear in the About... box.


Saving and Deleting Records


Saving and Deleting Records
Saving a Records

After identifying and modifying the approriate record, hit the <Save> button to update the database.T

Deleting a Record

To delete a record, hit the <Delete> button.  Note: Once you delete a record, it cannot be retrieved.


Any set of characters or digits you choose to identify your program. For example: If you were sending revision 3 of version 2 of your program and that program was last revised on May 4th, 1995, you might set your prefix at 0203-050495-. You do not need to have a prefix but it is recommended to make it more difficult for non registered users to gain access.


Program distributed by Microsoft to compress files. You would need to find a copy of COMPRESS.EXE (usually found on your VB\SETUPKIT\KITFILES in VB3 on Win 3.1 or Visual Basic\SetupKit folder on VB4 under Win95 or possibly under C:\DOS).


Embedding Wizard

A wizard is a step-by-step guide to help you in the registration creation process. This wizard has four steps:

1. Select the .EXE file:

You can enter the full path directly or use the Browse... button to locate the file.

2. Enter version information.

Optionally enter any version, release, revision information.

3. Select Database Table.

Select the table to enter the information into. If you select an existing table, the program will use the existing registration prefix  and add on the Sequence Number. If you select <New Table>, the program will ask you for a new table name and a registration prefix.

4. The program will then display the proposed registration number. If you hit Apply, the number will be implanted in the .EXE file.


Sequence Number

Auto-incrementing number concantenated onto you registration prefix to create a sequentially increasing registration number.