5.8 Licensing Considerations

The ACUCOBOL-GT Web Plug-in is licensed in one of two ways. Most often, you install an ACUCOBOL-GT runtime license on the server that will accommodate the number of concurrent plug-in users that you anticipate. (If you anticipate 100 concurrent users, you need a 100-user runtime license file on the server in addition to the AcuServer license file.) AcuServer Version 5.2 detects plug-in connections and checks out a standard runtime license for each connection if a license file is not found. When a plug-in user disconnects from AcuServer by exiting the COBOL program, the runtime license authorization is released and made available to subsequent users. If the number of plug-in users exceeds the number of authorizations available on the server at any given time, the COBOL program receives a file status code 9D,105 and this message is output to AcuServer's error log:

You have exceeded the licensed number of clients for AcuServer. If you would
like to add clients, please contact your customer service representative

If your COBOL program receives a status code of 9D,105, it should display a message box stating that the Web file server is busy, and to please retry later.

It is important to note that the plug-in continues to run even when no license file is available, but in a restricted mode. In restricted mode, programs run with the plug-in cannot use the following:

Indexed files
Acu4GL
AcuSQL^TM
Debugging
Printing

If an end user tries to perform an activity that is not permitted, your program should present a message that explains why the activity cannot be completed. For example, if an end user tries to print something in restricted mode, your program could display a message that says "A software license could not be found. XYZ Software is unable to print." Otherwise, the user might think that the printer is turned off, unplugged, or jammed. Your program should accommodate all of the limitations of a restricted plug-in in some manner.

Programs running in restricted mode can use AcuConnect to call programs on a server machine that can use Acu4GL, AcuSQL, and the server's printing facilities. AcuConnect counts the number of concurrent runtimes it launches on the server. Programs running in restricted mode can also use COBOL applets, local sequential and relative files in permissible directories, C$GETURL, ActiveX, and OLE.

Note: If you want to test from COBOL whether a plug-in application is running in restricted mode, you can test the SERIAL-NUMBER field of the SYSTEM-INFORMATION item after an ACCEPT from SYS-INFO. If the SERIAL-NUMBER field is SPACES, the COBOL program is being run in restricted mode.

Alternatively, plug-in users can purchase a runtime license and install it on their local machine or network server. Upon execution, the plug-in searches for a license file in the same directory as the executable, "plugins". The license file will have the same name as the executable, but with a different extension. If a license file is found, the plug-in has all the power of a standard ACUCOBOL-GT runtime. If no license file is available, the capabilities of the plug-in are restricted until the plug-in tries to open an indexed Vision file with AcuServer. At that point, AcuServer checks for an AcuServer license file. If one is found, the OPEN succeeds, indicating to the plug-in that AcuServer has checked out an authorization for it. Then the plug-in runs in unrestricted mode.

If you move the plug-in executable to a new directory, be sure to move the corresponding license file.

If you are licensed for additional Acucorp technologies, such as Acu4GL or AcuSQL, a license file for each product the plug-in will work with must reside in the same directory as the plug-in executable. Contact your Acucorp representative for additional details.

Note: Nothing in this section is intended to amend the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement between you and Acucorp, Inc. Rather, this section is meant to summarize the various aspects of Acucorp's licensing technology which are required to operate the Web plug-in. The terms and conditions of your licensing of Acucorp software shall continue to be governed by the applicable license agreement between you and Acucorp, Inc.