Sharing values across projects (session variables)

[Shide]

Hi,

I have a menu application and a data application, the menu application launches the data application. In this way if I need to do a true-update then I only need replace the smaller data application.

Having said that, I don't want users to be able to launch the data application manually without the menu application launching it.
To achieve this I thought I could;

on button click in menu app

Application.SaveValue("AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END", "YES");
in the menu application and

onstartup in data app

licensed = Application.LoadValue("AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END");
if licensed=="NO" or licensed==null then
result = Dialog.Message("vifox.com Notice", "You are not licensed for this module.\r\nPlease click \"Purchase\" to buy now online.\r\nThank you for using FoxDocs.", MB_OK, MB_ICONSTOP, MB_DEFBUTTON1);
Application.Exit(0);
else
end

on shutdown in data app

Application.SaveValue("AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END", "NO");

But of course the reason I'm here is that it doesn't work.
So I assume that Values stored during the session are only valid for the defining executable?
If so, is there another method that I could use to ensure that the sub-application cannot be launched other than from the menu app?
Remember, users are tricky, if I maintain an ini file or registry setting that is un-encrypted then within 10 minutes it will probably be a ***** on the internet somewhere.

Thanks in advance
Andy

[RizlaUK]

try useing a encrypted registry key instead

eg:

result = Crypto.BlowfishEncryptString("no_568_licence_423_f or_457_this_378_app", "mega_254_super_894_duper_4256_password", 0);
Registry.SetValue(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\\My Application", "My Value", result, REG_SZ);

[RizlaUK]

ok, iv been looking at this and iv found where the key is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Indigo Rose\ACData\YOUR_KEY_NAME

so if "Application.LoadValue" isent finding the key then use "Registry.GetValue" to find it

eg:

Registry.GetValue(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\\Indigo Rose\\ACData\\AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END", true);

but i would encrypt it anyway, or have some kind of backup system in place (someone could just change the key to "YES" and run the app

[Shide]

Marvellous

Thanks RizlaUK. Registry encryption method works like a dream.
This is certainly a more professional solution than mine.
I did get my method working in the end though.

On my button (on-click) that launches my other .exe file I put

Application.SaveValue("AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END", "YES");
File.Open("AutoPlay\\Docs\\AP Reconciliation.xls", "", SW_MAXIMIZE);
File.Run("AutoPlay\\Docs\\Oracle Accounts Payable.exe", "", "", SW_SHOWNORMAL);
Page.Jump("Main Menu");

Then in my embeded .exe file on-startup

licensed = Application.LoadValue("AP_LICENSE_STATUS", "MONTH_END")
if licensed=="NO" then
result = Dialog.Message("vifox.com Notice", "You are not licensed for this module.\r\nPlease click \"Purchase\" to buy now online.\r\nThank you for using FoxDocs.", MB_OK, MB_ICONSTOP, MB_DEFBUTTON1);
Application.Exit(0);
elseif licensed=="" then
result = Dialog.Message("vifox.com Notice", "You are not licensed for this module.\r\nPlease click \"Purchase\" to buy now online.\r\nThank you for using FoxDocs.", MB_OK, MB_ICONSTOP, MB_DEFBUTTON1);
Application.Exit(0);
else
end

pretty simple. Of course as you pointed out it would be best to put a dummy string in the variable instead of YES. But it works ok.

I will change over to the encrypted registry variable value, but I will need more than just 2 values I think. If I encrypt "letmein" and "dontletmein" then it's pretty easy to work out what encrypted variable to copy and paste.

Thanks for the advice.
Andy