Set up a license key generator

License key generators allow you to create customized licensing information for customers at the time of purchase. Unlike license key lists, these licenses aren't pre-generated. Rather, when the customer clicks Buy, the Cleverbridge platform calls your license key generator, submits the purchase details, and requests the license information back as a response.

This offers you the following advantages:

• Manual effort to regularly upload additional license key lists is no longer required.
• The license can include information about the customer. This helps reduce software piracy because customers are less likely to pass this information on to someone else.

Manage license key generators

To manage license keys, go to SCM and select Configure > Tools > Key Generator.

note

To offer license key upgrades using our APIs, see License Key Upgrades.

The Key Generator table displays all the key generators added by the account users. The following fields are available:

Field/Option	Description
Key Generator ID	Unique ID of the key generator.
Name	Name of the key generator.
Type	Type of the key generator. You can add a new web key generator by clicking Add Key Generator.
Date created	Date and time when the key generator was created.
Date modified (optional)	Date and time when the key generator was modified.
Created by (optional)	User who created the key generator.
Last modified by (optional)	User who modified the key generator.

Add a key generator

To add a web key generator, do the following:

1. In the main menu of SCM, select Configure > Tools > Key Generator.
2. Click Add Key Generator.
3. Enter information in the following fields:

Field	Description
Name	Enter a unique name for the key generator.
Path	Enter the full URL of the key generator. note The URL of your key generator must have an HTTPS scheme. note SSL certificates for HTTPS are only supported if they are signed by a trusted authority.
Authenticate	Enable the toggle to authenticate username and password access to the key generator.
User Name	Enter a username that will be used to access the key generator.
Password	Enter the password that will be used to access the key generator.
Repeat Password	Repeat what you filled in for Password.
Interface	Select Type 1 unless Client Experience has instructed you otherwise.
Character Encoding	Select the type of JSON or XML character encoding to use for the key generation. Most clients typically choose Unicode (UTF-8).
Use romanized contact values	Select to render western characters for the Company, First name, and Last name contact values for languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
Call once per purchase	If enabled, the key generator is called once for the entire purchase in the shopping cart. If left unchecked, the key generator is called once for every purchase item in the shopping cart.
Client handles errors	Enable if you wish to manage key generation errors on your own. If you don't select this option, Cleverbridge manages key generation errors (recommended). note If a key generation or key list error occurs, the following happens: If you have set up this notification type, you receive an ErrorNotification. An error log entry is created. The Cleverbridge platform makes up to five attempts to generate or obtain the key (after 1-2-4-8-16 hours). After each unsuccessful attempt, an ErrorNotification is sent and an error log entry created. If the fifth attempt to generate or obtain the key fails, our Customer Support will investigate the error (unless Client handles errors is enabled).

4. Click Save and Close.

For more information, see Implement License Key Generator.

To add a key generator using Commerce Assistant (CA), see Key Generators.

Connect the key generator to a product

After you add the web key generator, configure the product that should use it:

1. In SCM, go to Configure > Manage Products.
2. Select the product.
3. Open the Delivery tab.
4. Select the license-key delivery type and the web key generator.
5. Configure the customer-facing Key Template and Email Key Template, as required.
6. Click Save and Complete.

For the complete list of product-level options and supported placeholders, see Delivery settings.

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