Hi all,

I have a couple of questions regarding runtimes if I may.

1) Can a runtime check a website for a version number?
The thinking behind it... if website version number > current version number
then display a message that a new version is available and provide a
download link
I have seen the Troi URL plugin but I don't think I need anything that
extravagant for this. Perhaps I am wrong.

2) Backing up - I will write a script in order for the user to run a backup
(and restore) which files should I be backing up in the runtime file
structure in case they had to reinstall the app, would it just be
databasename.USR (when using the default setup)
This seems to be the only file that ever changes in the runtime directory.

3) A similar question to one asked recently. How would I go about allowing
the user to perform an upgrade without losing their data? Would they need to
run an export first, upgrade then import? Seems very messy.
I have thought about the split solution so one database for front end and
one database for the actual data but then if I made changes to the database
structure then the back end would also need to be upgraded so I see little
point at this juncture.

4) Checking license number - The runtime is offered as a 30day demo. I have
written all of this in so it will not function after 30 days, it does all
the necessary checks such as checking if the user has tried the computer
date change trick etc so I have all that covered. I have also written a very
complex hashing procedure to produce serial numbers - basically this creates
a random hash based on random characters and character counts which is
further based on 3 other pieces of information which have been hashed and
character counted so basically a hash of 3 hashes. One of the pieces of data
being used in the algorithm is the MAC address of the NIC card. This
prevents the same serial number being used on more than 1 PC - but I do have
to allow for the fact that the user changes the PC it is installed on or
changes the NIC, so they can reapply for a new serial number. At this point
one will be issued but the previous serial ID will be added to a blacklist.
I would like to write into the runtime a feature which will check a website
(hidden from the user) every 3 months. If current serial number = a
blacklisted serial number then kill the program.
Does anyone have any thoughts on checking the list of hashes - again I am
thinking I may have to go to the Troi URL plugin for this if no native
features are available

Many thanks for your time

Ed


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