Expanding FilePro Market

[Nancy Palmquist]

Richard Tartaglias wrote:
> I have been using FilePro since the days of the Tandy model IIII and it 
> was called ProFile. Now I about to venture into unknown waters. I may 
> offer for sale a program that I use in house that there seems to be a 
> market for.  
> 
>  
> 
> I am sure a lot of the people on the list write “for sale programs”, so 
> I thought I would ask the questions rather than take 2 steps forward and 
> 10 back.
> 
>  
> 
> When I buy a FilePro license do I keep it in my name and lease the 
> rights to the end user along with the program or do they own the rights.
> 
Customer owns the license to filePro and for each CPU which has the 
filePro binaries installed they must own a new license for the correct 
number of users.  Retail cost of runtime licenses $85/user.  Single user 
licenses are a bit more but network types are more common.

>  
> 
> Should I put some type of security in the code to shut down the software 
> if maintenance fees are not paid when do.
> 

I use a system for start up, which allow me to give them a 90 day or 
forever password.  I use the 90 day password if I have not received full 
payment, then give them the full password after that.  The password is 
tied to data in the setup so they have to call me if it changes hands, 
the company name changes, stuff like that.  That way I can keep track of 
my installations, even if they do not pay me annual support fees.  If 
they do call for a new password, I can determine if this is a known 
installation or not.  Providing a new password, without cost, if it is 
and I can update my ownership information.

I also have the system ask for a Activation Password every year.  It is 
only tied to the system date on the computer.  This is not a blocking 
password but only a notice to give us a call for a new password every 
year.  If they do not choose to do this it pops up every day until they 
do.  Now I did this as a way to tell if a system is still in use and to 
try to catch pirates that got around my first plan.  It gives me a bit 
of time on the phone each year to promote new stuff and just see what is 
going on.  It has been very helpful.  As a side advantage it has caught 
more than a few idiots that have set their computer date to the wrong 
year, triggering the warning and a phone call.  That in it self has been 
worth it.

When my customer calls 1 or 2 years after they told me they were 
changing products or no longer needed my software, I can tell it was not 
as easy to leave as they expected.  Often it has prompted them to begin 
to pay my support fees for updated versions to add features they were 
hoping to get with the switch.

I would never include any feature that would block a user from the data, 
  I have a module that allows prescription printing and it is licensed 
by the year.  If they do not renew the product, it will still allow them 
to access all the data, but the prescription itself will no longer 
print. This is clearly indicted in the materials and license.

I do agree with Mark that blocking access to the data is an invitation 
to problems and I do not build that in to the package once the money has 
been paid.  I do insist on getting the full payment before I give them 
full access to the package, I think that is only right.

>  
> 
> I hope these questions are appropriate for this list. It is about 
> expanding the use of FilePro.  
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Rich Tartaglia
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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-- 
Nancy Palmquist 		MOS & filePro Training Available
Virtual Software Systems	Web Based Training and Consulting	
PHONE: (412) 835-9417		   Web site:  http://www.vss3.com