>Not only that, but if they are smart enough to modify the source code and recompile it, they can get around any licensing he sets up. I might look at some third party tools. However, what is to keep them from recompiling the source code to an app with a different name? That would bypass the licensing he sets up anyway. Encrypting the fields would not work because the decryption would be in the source code (which they would see) unless they wrap that part up into a com object as you mentioned which may work...he would have to modify the code before he sells it to access the data through the com object first and then not allow them to modify the com object. If the com object decrypts the data for the app to see it and encrypts it before it is stored, then they are limited that way... just bouncing ideas around alittle....
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>>Hi Tracy,
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>>Basically he is selling them the rights to use and modify the source code as it is today He will not be maintaining or updating their code. Due to the cost the company that is buying it will pay over 3 years in quarterly payments.What he is afraid of is that the company buying the code will quit paying him after a time and though he will have legal recourse we all know that takes time and money so basically he wants an insurance policy to keep them honest.
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>>I just cant think of any way to do this unless he wraps some of the core functionality into a com object that checks for a license. Problem with that is they cant modify all the source code.. I guess if he is giving them everything there is not much you can do to prevent them from using it.
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>>Paul



Since Visual Foxpro, as with any Visual Object language, is modular. I would suggest that if they want to make three payments, give them one third of the code each time. Create three modular .exe and make sure to equal the best features out between the three. This is kind of how I built a program for someone who didn't even want the code, but they paid me as I got certain modules done as a percentage of the whole and it was contracted that way. This idea would kind of be the reverse of that. Just an idea...