                                SoftKey
                   Software Distribution System (SDS)
                         By Solid Oak Software


SoftKey SDS is a specialized set of programs to provide the professional 
software developer a secure and effective method for distribution of 
Shareware and demonstration programs.


Q:   SoftKey  SDS... What ISN'T it?

A:   SoftKey SDS is not an installation program.  There are several fine 
Shareware and commercial applications available that we would not 
care to compete with.

SoftKey SDS is not a data compression program.  We use, and 
recommend PKZIP. The compression features of SoftKey SDS are not 
intended to replace your current method of distributing compressed 
files.

SoftKey  SDS is not a data encryption program.  While we employ data 
encryption methods in conjunction with our compression routines, the 
FBI, CIA or Secret Service would never rely on SoftKey SDS for its 
encryption needs.  While the encryption methods we use will keep out 
all but the most persistent hacker, it is in no way as secure as DES or 
other sophisticated ciphering systems.


Q:   Well then what IS SoftKey SDS?

A:   SoftKey SDS is a combination of all three of the above.  SoftKey  
SDS gives software developers the capability of distributing totally 
secure, encoded versions of their software that can be activated 
remotely by the developer whenever necessary.  This can be 
especially useful for Shareware authors or whenever public electronic 
distribution of software is desirable or necessary.

As a software developer, you can encode all or portions of the 
application and associated files so that you can control their use at 
the users site.


Q:   How does SoftKey  SDS work?

A:   Basically, SoftKey  SDS consists of 4 programs which are described 
in greater detail later in this document.  

First, there is a program (CANIT.EXE) to compress and encode your 
distribution files.  You use this to prepare any files that you want to 
control access to (at least until you get paid).

Secondly, there is a program to distribute with your application 
(BUYME.EXE).  This program will display your customized message as 
well as give the user a special code that he will give to you when he 
orders your software.  You then give him a special password that, 
when supplied as a command line parameter, will decode your 
previously encoded files and your user will have immediate access to 
your software!

THE PASSWORD YOU GIVE THE USER IS UNIQUE FOR EACH USER AND IS 
ONLY GOOD FOR THE CURRENT DAY.  In other words, every user will 
require a different password.  One users password will not work for 
another user, and his password will not work tomorrow or the next day 
or ever again.  YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL.

A third program (PASSGEN.EXE) generates the activation password 
when the customer calls.  The user gives you their 8 digit numeric 
activation code when they order,  you give that to PASSGEN, and it 
will give you a six character password that you will in turn pass on to 
your customer.  Your customer types in BUYME plus the password you 
have supplied, and his copy of your application is ready to run.  Its 
really easy to use, and you maintain absolute control.

There is one other program included with SoftKey SDS.  This program 
(BRAND.EXE), is how your program becomes unique to you.  Run it and 
it will give you an activation code.  When you register SoftKey SDS give 
us the code, and we will give you a password that will brand the three 
programs mentioned above, with a code that is unique to you and 
only you.  No other users of SoftKey SDS will have the ability to activate 
your programs.  

ALTHOUGH THIS COPY OF SoftKey SDS IS COMPLETELY FUNCTIONAL, 
YOU MUST BRAND YOUR COPIES OF THE SoftKey SDS PROGRAMS TO 
ENSURE THAT YOUR APPLICATIONS AND FILES WILL BE ENCODED SO 
THAT  ONLY YOU CAN PROVIDE THE PASSWORDS THAT WILL DECODE 
THEM.


Q:   How will SoftKey SDS help me get more sales and registrations?

A:   First of all, if you have an interesting application that end users 
want, half the job is done.  If your Shareware or demo version has 
limited functionality, now you can distribute a encoded version of the 
real thing with the Shareware or demo version, or make It available for 
download.  Your customer will be able to activate the software on the 
spot and that ability alone will encourage more registrations.  

You might also simply encode a TRIGGER file, and distribute that with 
your Shareware or demo version.  A trigger file might be some small file 
that your application examines for content, size, or feature that will tell 
the application whether it is a registered copy or not.  This would add 
very little to the size of the entire application, and still give you 
complete control. 

It is a well known fact in marketing that the customers interest is at its 
peak when first exposed to the product.  SoftKey SDS will give you the 
ability to give your customers the same immediate gratification they 
would get if your software were available in stores.  Rather than 
pondering the purchase, they make a call and get their software.  Its 
as simple as that.


Q:   How can I register SoftKey SDS?

A:   We have three levels of licensing for SoftKey SDS.

Shareware Developer.  This category allows unlimited use of SoftKey  
SDS for all your Shareware applications, and allows you to distribute 
BUYME.EXE with your applications.  The registration fee for this 
category is $25.

Commercial Developer.  This category allows unlimited use of SoftKey  
SDS for all your Shareware and/or commercial applications, and 
allows you to distribute BUYME.EXE with your applications. The 
registration fee for this category is $95.

Publisher/Distributor.  This category allows unlimited use of SoftKey SDS 
for all your Shareware and/or commercial applications by publishers of 
Shareware or demo disks, CD-ROMS, disk clubs, etc., and allows you to 
distribute BUYME.EXE with all applications. The registration fee for this 
category is $295.

Please see the accompanying file ORDER.FRM for more information.


PROGRAM REFERENCE


CANIT.EXE 

Syntax: CANIT.EXE filespec

This program prepares your distribution files by encoding and 
compressing them.  It creates 1 uniquely named output file for each 
file matching the file specification.  Each output file will have the 
extension .OAK.  The Original input file is unchanged.  Your current 
directory must be the directory where the input files reside.

Example:  CANIT *.EXE

This example will prepare all EXE files in the current directory for 
distribution.


BUYME.EXE

Syntax:  BUYME [password]

This is the program you will distribute with your applications.  When 
your customer decides to purchase your software, he will run 
BUYME.EXE and an activation code will be displayed.  The activation 
code will consist of 4 numbers, a hyphen, 4 numbers, another hyphen, 
and some more numbers.  Example:

                            1234-5678-12156

The first eight digits are a uniquely generated based on a combination 
of things and on the current date.  The last set of numbers are sort of a 
check code so that you will know that the customer is activating the 
proper files.  In the above example, the 12156 indicates that there are 
12 files totaling 156 KB. 

By verifying the check code against your records, you prevent a 
customer from activating more files than he is allowed to.  If you have, 
for instance, distributed a demo disk with several applications on it, 
you can verify that the customer is in fact activating the application 
he is supposed to.  

THE PASSWORD YOU GIVE HIM WILL BE TOTALLY UNIQUE AND WILL NOT 
WORK WITH OTHER APPLICATIONS ON THE DISK.

BUYME.EXE will also optionally display your own custom message.  The 
program checks for a file called BUYME.MSG in the current directory, 
and if it exists, it is displayed when BUYME is run.

BUYME.MSG must be a plain ASCII file, can be on any length, 80 
characters in width.  If your file is greater than 20 lines in length, BUYME 
will pause after each 20 lines and allow the user to press a key to 
continue.


PASSGEN.EXE

Syntax:  PASSGEN.EXE nnnnnnnn  

Where nnnnnnnn is the first eight digits of the customers activation 
code.

This program will generate activation passwords when the user calls in 
to register his software.  PASSGEN will give you a 6 character activation 
password to give your customer.  That password will in turn activate 
your application on the customers machine.

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT ACTIVATION CODES.

Activation codes are date and machine sensitive.  The password you 
give your customer will only work for the one application, only on the 
customers computer that generated the activation code, and only on 
the date that the password is given on.  The password you give your 
customer WILL NOT work for any other application, on any other 
computer, or on another day.

THE DATE ON THE CUSTOMERS COMPUTER MUST BE THE SAME AS THE 
DATE ON YOUR COMPUTER WHEN HE CALLS FOR A PASSWORD.


BRAND.EXE

You will use this program when you register SoftKey SDS.  When you call 
us to register, you run BRAND.EXE and give us the activation code.  We 
will in turn give you a password that will uniquely BRAND your copy of 
SoftKey SDS.  No one else will be able to activate your programs 
without your permission, not even us.


ORDERING INFORMATION

Solid Oak Software accepts Master Card, VISA, American Express, POs 
and prepaid orders.  If you prepay your order, please give us a phone 
number and time of day when we can reach you.  We will need to 
give you an activation password over the phone, so you will need to 
be at your computer, or have the activation code, generated that 
day, close at hand.  Purchase orders must be pre-approved.

For more information or to register this copy of SoftKey SDS, please call 
us between 7am and 4pm Pacific time, Monday - Friday.


                           Solid Oak Software
                          Post Office Box 6826
                        Santa Barbara, CA 93160

                     1-800-388-2761 or 805-967-9853
                            FAX 805-967-1614
                         Compuserve 75500,2610

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