A REAL Filepro manual or just charge my ass and help me out with this memo exporting please

[Fairlight]

Richard,

Most of the software today come with licensing schemes which do one of the
following:

1) Activate with a simple code, and don't care about hardware changes.

2) Activate with a simple code, care about hardware changes, and give you a
grace period to reactivate.  (Windows follows this, I believe.)

3) Activate with a simple code, care about hardware changes, and give you
-no- grace period.  (Office 2010 definitely falls into this category, as to
PopCap Games' games.)

4) Activate with a dongle-based license, against an eLicenser, iLok, or
similar USB dongle or HDD-based key store.  The dongle-based solutions
allow you to switch which computer you're using, irrespective of hardware
configuration; if you have a dongle with a valid license, you're golden.

Of the software which cares about hardware changes, -most- only track
cumulative changes before bitching.  Windows doesn't care until you replace
2-3 components at once, typically.

Then there's filePro.  It cares if you change the two pieces of hardware
-most- likely to change, which are your HDD and your NIC.  Hell, I
preemptively upgrade hard drives before they start dropping sectors, both
to make sure I don't have data loss issues, and to upgrade capacity.  I
upgraded three hard drives last year, from 2TB to 6TB each, plus my SSD
from 512MB to 1TB.  There were about five pieces of software which even
cared, and the only one which was problematic was Office 2010, which
required a 3hr-long argument with Microsoft before they finally relented
and gave me a new license.  [This is one reason I'm so reticent to move
from Win7 to Win10, as it's documented that it'll do it again.]  The only
reason it tripped some software was because I replaced so four pieces at
once.  Aside from Office, I was pain-free within an hour, and you have no
idea how much software I have installed, from games, to VSTs, to
productivity software.

As far as NICs, I've seen too many blown NICs at client sites to want to
rely on that.  That's insane.

Not only that, you're at the mercy of the company to get the new code.
It's not like they have a simple and automated challenge/response client
built into anything, as iZotope does.  Oh, and when you need to do an
emergency reinstall because your box blew out at 1am on a weekend?  No,
thank you very much.

This draconian kind of scheme does not belong in what would purport to be
enterprise-grade software.  Even AutoCAD, dicks though they are, were at
least dongle-based.

***NO*** software company should have the right to dictate that your
legitimately licensed software immediately stops working properly the
second you dare exercise -your right- to freely upgrade your hardware, for
whatever reason you choose to upgrade.  Compounding the issue is the
general consensus from people I speak with who say that fP-Tech is
notoriously hard to reach in a timely fashion.

It's a matter of principle.  When allegedly business-class software has
worse user protection than artistic/creativity-based software like music
VSTs, there's an issue.

I'll say this:  As a developer myself, I accept piracy as a cost of doing
business.  That is the price of playing in the software sandbox, full stop.
Piracy is going nowhere, ever.  My products are not inexpensive (OneGate is
$1k, as are a few others).  If someone needs to steal from me that badly,
they need the money more than I do, apparently.  I could use the money, but
so be it.  (God help them if I catch them, but I'm not going to penalise
people with a horrible UX or borderline spyware up-front.  No.)  

I would rather sink R&D time/money into features which cause users to
-want- to purchase my quality software, rather than punish paying customers
with draconian DRM.  If you're making software which is good enough that
people -want- to pay you for quality goods, and you can survive in a
meritocracy, then you know you're doing it correctly.  If you have to force
them to do it, it's time to re-evaluate your offerings.

I would rather every software company followed suit, and did business
decently, rather than screwing their paying customers.  A lot of people are
dropping companies who play ball like this, because the -only- thing a lock
does is keep an honest man out.  People have also been known to pay for
licenses of software, then pirate a copy with the DRM bypassed, strictly
for the better UX.  It is not an uncommon practise.

mark->


On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 01:35:39PM -0400, Richard Kreiss thus spoke:
> Top Post:
> 
> I don't know why everyone is bitching.  Most of the software one purchases
> today comes with some sort of licensing scheme.  All  of the paid Anti-virus
> programs and the various tool programs come with licensing and will not
> function if the registration code or license code is not entered.
> 
> My Microsoft Action Pack comes with licensing and the user count available
> with that software.  If it comes with a single user count, it only allows
> for the software to be installed and registered on one computer.  If you try
> to install it a second time, you will get an error message.
> 
> Keep in mind that the *nix version of filePro always had user restrictions,
> the Windows version on the other hand did not.  One could purchase a 5 user
> network version and have 250 users access it.  Or an employer (direct
> purchase) could purchase a 20 user license and not have any issues as the
> business grew and added more users without paying for additional licenses.
> 
> Yes, I wish there was an easier way to implement filePro's license manager.
> However, I and my clients have not had issues with it.  The only issue is
> when a session does not end properly and the license manager needs to be
> stopped and restarted to release that session.  This happens mostly with
> remote sessions.  
> 
> Also, at least with the Windows version, a batch file for adding the license
> is supplied in case there is a problem installing the service at
> installation time.  With a minor modification this batch file can also stop
> and the restart the license service.  This could also most likely be
> re-written using Windows PowerShell scripting.
> 
> If you are referring to the complaint about sessions vs. seats, that is
> something else.  Intuits' QuickBooks also has a per session license.  
> 
> I have a client who used the Xenix version of filePro many years ago and was
> familiar with that licensing.  When we moved to the Windows licensing, he
> was not happy with the per session licensing as a number of his employees
> opened multiple windows, including himself.  The trade-off was he did not
> have to consider system command outputs as part of his user count.   After
> analyzing his usage, he only had to purchase an extra 5 user runtime to
> handle the additional sessions.
> 
> Although I am one person programming, I can have open 4 to 5 sessions on my
> computer or 2 sessions on my laptop(tablet).  I therefore have a 5 user
> license for my office and a 2 user license for my tablet.
> 
> What I find interesting is that those who have not upgraded are missing out
> on all of the new features and functions that have been added since the
> older version you are running.  fP Tech has made upgrading rather cost
> effective with their subscription plan.  Keep in mind that they need to be
> selling(have cash flow) to stay in business and their primary product has to
> have new features and functions to keep up with client needs.  
> 
> Some of these features many would consider minor such as the ability to have
> a scrolling screen field or the ability to apply a selection set to an
> automatic index( making an auto index into an automatic demand index).  Some
> major changes are the ability to encrypt a field and now a complete file.
> Visually the new selectbox() function which is similar to a listbox() except
> one can prompt the user to type in characters to get to the item wanted.
> Also added, although not as easy as PrintWizard, is the ability to output
> PDF files.  This breaks the dependency on PCL 3 and 5 compatible printers.
> 
> For use developers, this can be an added income source in converting
> existing outputs to PDF.  I already did this for one client from and @key
> which listed 3 letters which one could be selected.  It then asked printed
> or PDF.  The print option the allowed for the selection of a printer.
> 
> I had wanted to allow the user to select one of two directories(folders) to
> send the PDF but that was nixed.  It is dent to the user's "My Documents"
> folder on their local machine.
> 
> Mark, You develop tools to be used to handle issues that the primary program
> cannot handle or cannot or does not handle well.  You also have a licensing
> mechanism to insure that your software is not pirated. 
> 
> Sans the license manager, isn't there new functionality that can be added to
> an existing application that will entice your clients( developer or in-house
> programmer) to want to upgrade?  They do offer a free 30 day license to test
> the new version.  It is worth a look and the time spent.
> 
> I have been developing with filePro since it was owned by Small Computer
> Company at 230 W 41st street.  I mention this as my offices were at 140 W
> 40th.  I started with Tandy's proFile and moved to FilePro 16 (Xenix) 1983.
> I have been doing this for a lot of year now and am still learning.  I have
> received much help for others on the list when I have had problems.
> However, there is nothing like being able to "play" with new functionality
> to see what it can or can't do.  One of the wish-list items was the ability
> to size a browse window to fit the number of records selected,  This was
> especially true when only 2 or four records were selected  when programmed
> for 12.  I took up this challenge one day and found a way to accomplish
> this.  I do use that programming when appropriate.  Ken Brody demonstrated a
> way to make a memo window dynamic at a filePro conference.
> 
> Yes, filePro has shortcomings but how many programs can run software
> developed on their early iterations?  I can run programs I wrote in versions
> 3,4, 4.1,4.5,4.8,5.0, etc.  that goes back to programs I wrote in the late
> 80's and 90's.  I have clients who are still running by textile brokerage
> program in versions earlier then 5.0 and only call when they need a new
> printer or need to move the program to a new computer.  The just don't have
> problems.  If they do, it is usually just a matter of rebuilding the
> automatic indexes.
> 
> Many years ago I had my primary application lifted by an employee who left a
> client.
> 
> After that, I had to write programming that in effect locked that
> application to my client's equipment.  The programming is similar for fP
> Tech's licensing but without the user count.  I also added programming to
> insure that I received any payments where a client owed me monthly.  No
> payment, They could see and print out reports on what was already there but
> could not add any new records.
> 
> The interesting thing about this was the fellow who stole my software had
> hired a bookkeeper who had worked for another client and when they finally
> had an issue called me do come in a fix it.  That was some 6 years after
> pirating my program.  I politely explained to the bookkeeper that I wouldn't
> be available except if they paid the current price of the software plus a
> rental fee for 6 years of prior use by certified check.  An appointment
> would be made after the check cleared my bank.  They of course never paid
> and the program became useless to them.  By the way, this company is no
> longer in business.
> 
> So, the question is, how much pirating of filePro has been reduced and how
> much income have they gotten from this licensing model?  Everyone, keep in
> mind the original owner's Small Computer Co. sued there largest outside
> developer for thousands of dollars in lost revenue by that developer giving
> away versions of filePro.  I don't remember the name of the company but I
> think it was in Pennsylvania. Small Computer won that case.
> 
> Richard Kreiss
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Filepro-list [mailto:filepro-list-
> > bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Fairlight
> via
> > Filepro-list
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 9:01 AM
> > To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> > Subject: Re: A REAL Filepro manual or just charge my ass and help me out
> with
> > this memo exporting please
> > 
> > On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 12:53:59PM +0000, Henry Melancon via Filepro-list
> > thus spoke:
> > > Do they not realize they are losing money because of the licensing????
> > 
> > Well, I see two possible options:
> > 
> > 1) They've only heard it from third party consultants/programmers rather
> than
> > direct customers (although I know Brian White has said it, and is an
> employee of
> > a direct customer), or
> > 
> > 2) They've heard it from customers, and simply don't care.  That's an
> approach
> > big companies like Adobe can afford to take, as people are always going to
> want
> > Adobe products.  I wasn't under the impression that fP-Tech was in that
> league.
> > 
> > mark->
> > --
> > Audio panton, cogito singularis.
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> 
> 

-- 
Audio panton, cogito singularis.