M
MikeDd
Hi Fellow Developers,
As part of my Corporate Downsizing "Recovery Plan" (in case I'm layed
off), I'm working on a Excel Utility that I think I could sell to other
companies in my current industry. My utility condenses large quantites
of customer documents into a very user friendly package where-as today,
it's a very manual intensive task filled with potential of human error.
The problem I may have, is how to turn what is currently a Macro-Filled
Workbook, into a distributable application that can have some protection
against copy-right infringement? I would want to sell my application as
a "Subscription" type of cost model (pay for 3 months service at a time)
since it may require some level of support. How do I insure they only
use a "licensed" copy for the specified time period?
Since this would be a very focused application for a small market, I
don't want to have to go through a third party for
verification/authentication/etc... I need to keep it in-expensive and
within my control.
Are there any websites that can help me.. help myself? I'm looking for
how-to techniques/tricks to make my file Expire, how to generate key's
or some other method to turn functions on or off if the subscription
period has expired. Even how to create a saleable "Plug-In" App if it
meets my requirements below.
In case it helps point me in the right direction, I'll also give you an
idea of what the app needs to be capabile of, and what my
experience/capabilities as a programer are.
My capabilities:
Currently work for Fortune 500 Company where I've used Excel/Word & VBA
to find ways to manage / analyize data that no one thought was possible.
I've got 7 years of self-taught programing with my most advanced
project exceeding 8000 lines of code using over 60 Sub
Routines/Functions and dealing with arrays 300,000 x 100 in size. I can
do more with Excel than anyone in our company in North America, but also
know I'm far from knowing everything. Basically, I know more than
enough to be dangerous, but I'm not a professional programmer and have
never created a "Plug-In" application.
What Excel elements my application currently contains:
* Excel Workbook (Macro Workbook)
* "Control" Worksheet in Macro Workbook -
Allows user to adjust settings for the utility
* VBA Module (in Macro Workbook)
* Various hidden worksheets used as "keys" to tell the VBA
routines what to do.
* Various hidden "Report" worksheets used as templates
for creating the "Results" workbook.
What my application does:
* Reads numerous lengthy customer excel documents
- up to 100's at a time
* Scans each one for various key information
* Creates a new "Report" Workbook
* Copies the hidden "Report" worksheet from the Macro Workbook to
a Result workbook for each customer excel document
* Pastes various info from each scanned file onto report worksheets
* Creates "Summary" Tab with key info on each file that was scanned
* Renames customer files using Smart Name based on info it contains
What else I want it the Results Workbook to be capable of:
Macros to help user easily sift through the report file etc...
I'm not sure if it would be best to use 2 stand alone workbooks... the
macro and an empty "Report" File that already has the macros in them...
to avoid the VB Security issue.
Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd greatly
appreciate it.
Thanks,
MikeDd
As part of my Corporate Downsizing "Recovery Plan" (in case I'm layed
off), I'm working on a Excel Utility that I think I could sell to other
companies in my current industry. My utility condenses large quantites
of customer documents into a very user friendly package where-as today,
it's a very manual intensive task filled with potential of human error.
The problem I may have, is how to turn what is currently a Macro-Filled
Workbook, into a distributable application that can have some protection
against copy-right infringement? I would want to sell my application as
a "Subscription" type of cost model (pay for 3 months service at a time)
since it may require some level of support. How do I insure they only
use a "licensed" copy for the specified time period?
Since this would be a very focused application for a small market, I
don't want to have to go through a third party for
verification/authentication/etc... I need to keep it in-expensive and
within my control.
Are there any websites that can help me.. help myself? I'm looking for
how-to techniques/tricks to make my file Expire, how to generate key's
or some other method to turn functions on or off if the subscription
period has expired. Even how to create a saleable "Plug-In" App if it
meets my requirements below.
In case it helps point me in the right direction, I'll also give you an
idea of what the app needs to be capabile of, and what my
experience/capabilities as a programer are.
My capabilities:
Currently work for Fortune 500 Company where I've used Excel/Word & VBA
to find ways to manage / analyize data that no one thought was possible.
I've got 7 years of self-taught programing with my most advanced
project exceeding 8000 lines of code using over 60 Sub
Routines/Functions and dealing with arrays 300,000 x 100 in size. I can
do more with Excel than anyone in our company in North America, but also
know I'm far from knowing everything. Basically, I know more than
enough to be dangerous, but I'm not a professional programmer and have
never created a "Plug-In" application.
What Excel elements my application currently contains:
* Excel Workbook (Macro Workbook)
* "Control" Worksheet in Macro Workbook -
Allows user to adjust settings for the utility
* VBA Module (in Macro Workbook)
* Various hidden worksheets used as "keys" to tell the VBA
routines what to do.
* Various hidden "Report" worksheets used as templates
for creating the "Results" workbook.
What my application does:
* Reads numerous lengthy customer excel documents
- up to 100's at a time
* Scans each one for various key information
* Creates a new "Report" Workbook
* Copies the hidden "Report" worksheet from the Macro Workbook to
a Result workbook for each customer excel document
* Pastes various info from each scanned file onto report worksheets
* Creates "Summary" Tab with key info on each file that was scanned
* Renames customer files using Smart Name based on info it contains
What else I want it the Results Workbook to be capable of:
Macros to help user easily sift through the report file etc...
I'm not sure if it would be best to use 2 stand alone workbooks... the
macro and an empty "Report" File that already has the macros in them...
to avoid the VB Security issue.
Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd greatly
appreciate it.
Thanks,
MikeDd