CardExchange PPC's premier card production software is licensed and activated via a hardware ID and unlock code. Initial installations are often installed using an activation code that makes a connection to the CardExchange licensing server to register the machine ID against that activation code and create a license file.

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As always our goal is to provide world leading software at the lowest possible price and constantly improve our products. With this in mind we work closely with CardExchange on new features and enhancements including improvements to the licensing process. Version 4.x of CardExchange will see some additional enhancements as listed below to make installation and licensing even simpler.

New Installation Licensing

There are 2 methods of licensing CardExchange. At this point its important to note that on a new installation CardExchagne, is fully functional (with all features enabled) in demo mode with the limitation that it will only run for 42 days and will print the word demo across the card. If testing by an IT department or configuration of the system is required prior to installation on the final machine this can be done in demo mode without the need to license these systems as license activation is a one time action and requires a relicense request to be reissued if the software license needs to be moved at a later stage.

Methods of Licensing

License Activation Key or .AUT File- Typically on the inside of the PPC CD case supplied with the CardExchange and Fotoshot software will be a sticker with the CardExchange License Activation Key. (Sample Activation Key: 01562-D8F51-E86B4-488BB-17T67-02370-73FT). This key can only be used once.

Alternately Activation File is provided as an email attachment and is a file with the extension .aut and if you were to look inside this file you would see an activation key similar to the above number. Activation files are typically used for licensing non standard stock version of the software or are issued as replacement licenses on relicensing requests.

Both Activation methods of licensing require the system to communicate with ExchangeIT Licensing server and send a Hardware ID code. The server then generates an unlock code to match the hardware ID and returns a license file that is stored on the PC to verify that CardExchange is licensed to run on this system.

If you have problems connecting to the ExchangeIT activation server the following information may help you or your IT person allow connection through a firewall etc.

CardExchange Activation Server:
TCP/IP address: 217.195.245.157 
Port: 5094

If you have a problem connecting to the Internet (eg. your corporate firewall is blocking the communication) and you have an activation file or code then you can request PPC to provide a license file based on your Hardware ID.

CardExchange Online Activation Form
"Do not use this link for relicensing CardExchange see the details below"

Relicensing CardExchange Explained

Activations files/codes are a currently a 1 time use and cannot be used to relicense the software again (even on the same machines). Future updates plan to use the Activation file to re-license against the same Machine ID if required. Backing up the license file once created will do the same thing as this process.

The license file should be back up incase of corruption or accidental deletion so that you do not need to request a re-license. There are some slight changes between licensing in version 2.x and 3.x of CardExchange and these are:

License files on version 2.x of CardExchange use some software indicators in their Machine ID and therefore will not work if windows is re-loaded. The 2.x license file is called "licsrv" (no extension) and can be found in the "c:\Program Files\CardExchange" folder.

License files on version 3.x of CardExchagne use a pure hardware ID and can be re-used even after an operating system re-load. The 3.x license file is called "licsrv" (no extension) and can be found in the "..\My Documents\CardExchange\License" folder. (Be aware that the My documents folder on a PC may be linked to a specific user/login) This can be changed at installation to an alternate directory and the path to locate the license file is contained in the cardexchange.ini file.

In version 3.x of CardExchange you may find that you receive more than 1 activation file/code. This will occur if you have purchased CardExchange Premium and additional modules (eg Database Module).

Should you require a relicense of your CardExchange Software you can request a new activation file by filling out the re-license form. Please be aware, the license of CardExchange does not allow for the software to be running on more than 1 PC without the purchase of a separate license. If you have to move the software for a technical reason then you are required to remove CardExchagne form the originally licensed system.

Please be reminded that your 3.x license file can be re-used on the same PC even if you re-load the Operating system.

CardExchange Online Relicense Form

Why use hardware ID and unlock codes for licensing?

Hardware ID and unlock codes are a common method of licensing to ensure deserved revenues are returned to the developers who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars creating the software and need to protect their investment.

Unfortunately as with any system of licensing there are some drawbacks and with the CardExchange Safenet system of licensing there are a few things you may find in some circumstances that you need to re-license the software.

A common alternative is to use a USB dongle to control the software licensing. This is a practical and effective way to control the software license but it adds cost to the package. CardExchange does have USB dongle's available at an additional cost if our prefer this option.

PPC and ExchangeIT are working closely to streamline the licensing process and will make continual improvements to the system.

Improvements made in version 3.x

Some planned improvements for version 4.x are: