fp Sales & Support

[GCC Consulting]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com
> [mailto:filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On
> Behalf Of Brian K. White
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 10:54 PM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: Re: fp Sales & Support
> 
> On 6/28/2012 8:48 AM, Coleman wrote:
> > Wanted to do a shoutout for fP Sales & Support.  I had an appointment
> yesterday for a client to add a new fP module.  Upon arriving, I was told
they
> had recently replaced their WIN server with a new one and had moved my
> application to the new server.  The only thing still running on the old
server
> was the license manager?  Apparently their hardware vendor simply copied
> my app & fP from the old to new server, without regard to the license
> manager.  Not sure how, but they kept the license manager running on the
old
> server with everything else on the new server.  I was asked to resolve the
> license manager issue so they could shut down the old server.  I sent an
e-mail
> to fpSupport/sales who responded quickly to multiple questions I had about
> resolving this issue.  They issued me a new license manager file and
provided
> detailed instructions on manually creating and configuring the license
service
> on the new server.
> > Thank you so much for the quick service.
> 
> They shot you in the foot, then gave you good medical attention so you
only
> felt a small amount of pain. Yay!
> 

Brian,

It was his client who gave him the pain,  they moved to a new server without
first advising him.  Had they done that, he could have had the new license
available and been ready to install the service when he arrived.

Although, since they hadn't advised him, he did, more than likely, have more
billable time there. 

You can't blame FPtech for adding the license manager as a way to insure
that their software isn't being pirated. 

I gather you have never installed QuickBooks. QuickBooks requires both the
serial number and authorization code. If the software is reinstalled on
another computer these numbers have to be reentered and you better have them
on file someplace. Granted this is not quite like starting the service but
it still makes reinstalling the software time-consuming.

I note in my 5.6 fp  directory that there is a batch file called
fpservice.bat. This file has the command structure for installing the
license manager service. I don't recall whether this came with the 5.6
installation or I created it. I have a feeling that it did come with the
installation program and it is an easy way to reinstall the service. It
didn't come with the installation, then I would suggest that FPtech include
this batch file or script for use in cases like this.

I, for one, do not object to the license manager as it also keeps my custom
software from being pirated. I had this happen on two occasions early in my
career. I finally wrote some code into the application which would keep my
software from running on any other computer except the one that was
installed on. This avoided someone from taking my software and using an
unlicensed version of filepro.

The only issue I have with the license manager, and other developers have
also, is that it counts sessions and not users. My clients who are running
5.6 accepted the change when they upgraded from 5.0. The change did make for
some problems initially in coming up with the session license count needed.
However, in all cases my clients required one or more new features that were
made available in 5.6. I will admit that I do have a number of clients who
are still on 5.0 and earlier and will probably never move off that version
as their software runs without a problem. 

The biggest problem I run into today is when a client goes out purchases a
new printer and does not advise me. They usually a purchasing the Windows
only printers and then I either have them return it and get something that
is running PCL 5. One or two cases I have install PrintWizard to handle this
problem.


Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting

Office: 410-653-2813