How To Serialize Each Copy Of Workbook

**Launchnet** · 05-02-2009, 01:50 PM

I have posted this in programming as I believe that it will take VBA code to do it.

I want a way to track and register who has a copy of my workbook, something like a serial number and where they have to give me User Name, Company Name, Address, City, St, Zip, Phone, eMail, and Serial Number . . . OR . . . they get no support, since the workbook and spreadsheet are protected with password

The only way I can think of doing it is to send the user, along with the actual workbook, a message stating that they have to register the workbook if they want support services.

I would probably have to do this with a website & database. They would get their number after completing the log information at the website.

Or, can anyone give me a forum for Access that can help me do this totally on line.

I will also be looking for a good method of distributing a large quanity of workbooks to individuals and companys that want the overall program.

Any Ideas would be appreciated.

**martindwilson** · 05-02-2009, 02:10 PM

i dont think to can do this there are ways and means of opening any excel file protected with vba.
a third party product would be safer
such as
http://www.lockxls.com/ does all that you want and more but it costs!!!!

**shg** · 05-02-2009, 04:09 PM

You could have them give you the serial number of their disk drive, and you could encrypt that and give it back to them as a password, which your workbook prompts for and then stores on a hidden sheet.

Your workbook must have an algorithm to decrypt the password to extract the drive number and match against the installed drive.

**Launchnet** · 05-02-2009, 10:49 PM

Here are better details on what I'm looking for. Please review and give me your ideas, suggestions and possible problems. The following is how my ideas are coming together and they are not set in concrete at all. I want to point out that the customer should always be able to open the workbook.

During Beta Testing, I believe that I can get along with having an exclusive number assigned to each user.

By doing just the exclusive number, it will give me time to design a database in Access that can do what I need. I'll explain after I explain how I will get exclusive numbers to start from day one and can continue on with the same numbering system when I have a database set up.

The 1st workbook has 3 sheets . . . 1 = Main Menu, 2 = Instructions and 3 = Setup. I will have Setup displayed when the workbook is opened for the 1st time. After the exclusive number is developed, the Main Menu will always open.

On the Setup Sheet I will have the following inputs made by user.

Todays Date . . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ 050209
2 Digit State . . . . . . _ _ CA
Time of Day. . . . . . . _ _ _ _ 0649
Your Initials . . . . . . . _ _ MG
Any 4 Digits . . . . . . . _ _ _ _ 2791

These inputs generate the number . . . 050209CA0649MG2791

Does anyone think that this value would ever be duplicated ?

Additionally, I would have the user enter:
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
St
Zip
Phone No
eMail

I would have a button on the Setup Sheet that would protect these values and protect the Sheet with password. Also, I think that this data could be sent via eMail to me until the database was completed. Then all of it could be controlled by the database including a password.

When finished, a button would be clicked and the Main Menu Sheet would be displayed and the entire Workbook would be saved.

Now, the user can go to the Setup Page and read his code number when needed.

The reason for all of this is . . . If I give this program away free, the user has to register to get some support and updates. Full support and other updates would require a monthly fee.

As eMails come in from people that are registering, I would post this information to the Database that I will be developing. Please remember that this is for a very limited number of people i.e. no more than 100 until the database is completed. When the database is completed, users can download the program automatically from the website after they have generated the above described inputs.

Wow . . . I'm going to need help on the database.

Hope I haven't forgotten too much.