Integrated Licensing System

License keys, trial periods, and hardware-locked activation built into your DLL.

Overview

Add license key activation, trial periods, and subscription management to any VBA application — no server required. Generate hardware-locked keys, display built-in activation dialogs, and control how your protected macros are used and distributed.

Key Benefits

Built-in activation dialog — no extra UI code needed
Hardware-locked keys prevent unauthorized sharing
Full, Trial, Subscription, and Feature-based license models
Built-in key generator with batch export
Tamper-proof keys with strong cryptographic signatures
Optional online activation for automated license management

VBA Padlock licensing and activation settings

Everything You Need to License Your VBA Application

VBA Padlock bundles a complete licensing toolkit inside your compiled DLL. No third-party services, no external dependencies.

Key Generator

Generate single or batch license keys from VBA Padlock Studio. Export to CSV for your e-commerce or CRM platform.

Activation Dialogs

Built-in dialogs for key entry, hardware ID display, and status messages. No UI code to write.

Trial & Evaluation

Time-limited or run-limited trial mode with configurable nag screen. Convert prospects to paying customers.

Hardware Locking

Bind each license key to one machine. Prevent key sharing with a fingerprint-based Hardware ID.

Deactivation & Transfer

Let users release a license and reactivate on a new machine — online or via certificate.

Online Activation

Optional server-based activation with the included PHP kit. Automate key validation, quotas, and renewals.

Choose the License Model That Fits Your Business

From simple one-time product keys to recurring subscriptions with online validation — configure it all from VBA Padlock Studio.

Perpetual License

One-time purchase, permanent activation. Ideal for desktop tools and utilities sold with a single price tag.

Excel add-ins, Access database tools

Subscription

Date-based keys with built-in expiration. Combine with online validation to enforce renewals automatically.

SaaS-style VBA tools, annual plans

Trial / Evaluation

Time-limited or run-limited access before purchase. Users see a nag screen with remaining days or launches.

Free trials, feature-limited demos

How License Activation Works

From your end user's perspective, the activation flow is seamless. VBA Padlock handles every step.

User launches your application

Your VBA macro calls VBAPL_Init to load the compiled DLL. The licensing engine checks for an existing valid license.

Activation dialog appears

If no license is found, a built-in dialog prompts the user to enter their license key (and shows their Hardware ID if needed).

Key is validated and stored

VBA Padlock verifies the key's cryptographic signature, hardware binding, and expiration. Valid licenses are stored locally.

Application runs with full access

Your protected code executes normally. You can query license properties like edition, seat count, or expiration at any time.

Licensing in Action

From key generation in the IDE to the end-user activation experience.

VBA Padlock key generator producing license keys with hardware ID and expiration — Key Generator — create single or batch keys with hardware ID, expiration, and custom properties.

End-user license activation dialog in a VBA Padlock protected application — Built-in activation dialog — the end user enters their key and sees their Hardware ID.

Trial mode nag screen showing remaining days before license expiration — Trial nag screen — shows remaining days or launches to encourage purchase.

Simple VBA Integration

Check license status in a few lines of VBA. The Bridge module exposes all the helpers you need — activation, trial detection, and license property queries.

If VBAPL_IsLicenseValid() Then
    ' Full license — run protected code
    Call VBAPL_Execute("Main|RunProtectedTask")
ElseIf VBAPL_IsTrialMode() Then
    MsgBox "Trial: " & VBAPL_GetTrialLimitLeft() _
        & " days left."
Else
    ' No license — show activation dialog
    VBAPL_ShowActivation
End If

Activation Return Codes

Code	Meaning
1	Activation successful
0	Cancelled by user
-1	Not initialized / DLL error
-2	Activation not configured

See the full return codes reference for deactivation, trial, EULA, and online validation statuses.

Key Security

VBA Padlock offers two key formats to fit your distribution workflow:

Short keys — compact, easy to type or dictate. Ideal for manual delivery and B2B scenarios.
Long keys — asymmetric digital signatures (ECC Ed25519). Tamper-proof and recommended for online activation.

Both formats are project-specific — a key generated for one application cannot unlock another.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license models does VBA Padlock support?

VBA Padlock supports perpetual (one-time purchase), subscription (date-based expiration), and trial/evaluation (time-limited or run-limited) license models. You can also embed custom properties like edition codes, seat counts, and feature flags inside each key.

Do I need a server for license activation?

No. VBA Padlock works fully offline by default — keys are validated locally using cryptographic signatures. If you want automated activation, quota management, or remote deactivation, you can optionally deploy the included PHP activation server kit.

Can I add a free trial to my VBA application?

Yes. VBA Padlock includes a built-in trial mode with configurable time limits (days) or run limits (number of launches). A nag screen shows remaining usage. When the trial expires, the user is prompted to purchase and activate a full license.

Are license keys tied to specific computers?

Optionally, yes. You can enable hardware locking so that each key is bound to one machine's Hardware ID. This prevents customers from sharing a single key across multiple computers. Deactivation lets users transfer their license to a new machine.

How secure are VBA Padlock license keys?

VBA Padlock uses strong cryptographic signatures to make license keys tamper-proof. Keys cannot be forged, modified, or transferred between projects. The signing keys are unique to each project, so a key generated for one application cannot unlock another.

Licensing overview

Business models, key types and runtime checks.

Setup guide

Step-by-step activation, trial and hardware locking setup.

Return codes reference

Handle activation and validation states correctly in VBA.

Hardware locking

Bind licenses to machine identity to prevent key sharing.