Hello Ravi,

>What is the best way to license out software?
>Currently, the client data is hard coded into the application .....

When my application had been sold to more than 50 clients, it became too time consuming to recompile 50+ copies, one for each customer, when an update was released. So I went to a different method.

I created one .EXE that is the same for all users. The .EXE opens a small table (.DBF) file that has been renamed APP.KEY. FoxPro tables don't have to be called *.DBF - you can open a renamed .DBF like this: USE app.key IN 0 ALIAS whatever ...

Inside the keyfile are several records that are used to set application-wide variables, including the user's name, etc. The app.key file also contains a field that has the checksum of the first field. That way if a more advanced user has figured out that they can open the keyfile and alter it's contents, the checksum will be incorrect, and the program will refuse to continue.

While not bulletproof, this is a simpler and low cost way to implement copy protection.
HTH