Key Generator

The Key Generator is the engine of your licensing business. It transforms project settings and customer identity into a secure, encrypted string—the Activation Key—that unlocks your application on the end-user’s machine. Learn more about licensing strategies in the Licensing Feature guide.

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Every license key is bound to a registered identity, ensuring a professional “owned-by” experience for your customers.

• Registered User Name: The name of the licensee. This is embedded in the key and will be displayed in the application’s “About” or “Activation” screens. You can also retrieve this name at runtime from your VBA code using VBAPL_GetRegisteredName() to personalize the user experience — for example, displaying the licensee name in a cell or on a slide:

  • Excel
  • PowerPoint

  ' Display the licensee name in cell A1
  Sub ShowLicensee()
      Dim name As String
      name = VBAPL_GetRegisteredName()
      If name <> "" Then
          Sheet1.Range("A1").Value = "Licensed to: " & name
      End If
  End Sub

• System ID (Hardware Lock): To prevent software piracy, paste the unique Hardware ID provided by your customer here. The resulting key will only function on that specific machine. Your end-users will find their System ID in the activation dialog that appears when they first open your protected application (see screenshot below). They need to copy this ID and send it to you so you can generate a hardware-locked key.

  

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VBA Padlock Studio supports two distinct cryptographic formats for your keys. Choose the one that matches your distribution strategy:

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Define the boundaries of your customer’s access using these powerful limiters:

• Trial Period: Set a sliding window of usage (e.g., 30 days from the first launch).
• Hard Expiration: Set an absolute calendar date after which the software will cease to function.
• Execution Count: (Long Keys only) Limit the total number of times the application can be opened.
• Nag Screens: (Long Keys only) Display a custom reminder of trial status to encourage conversion.

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1. Identify: Enter the Registered Name and, if required, the System ID from your customer.
2. Strategize: Choose between Short (simplicity) or Long (advanced features) key formats.
3. Define: Select the License Type (Full, Trial, or Subscription) and apply any time or run limits.
4. Generate: Click Generate to create the encrypted activation string.
5. Deliver: Copy the key to your clipboard or save it to a text file to send to your customer.

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