License confusion (again).

[MiloDC]

Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere, but I am really not understanding how the developer license file works.

The way I understand it, you use the License Sign program to generate a [username].lic file that resides in your Documents folder, at which point you can run any TV3D app without seeing the watermark.

What happens in my case is that I am coding two apps (one the main program, the other a tool that I use to maintain TV package files), and my .lic file works for one app but not the other.

When I run my TV packager, TVEngine.Init3DWindowed(IntPtr, bool) fails.  So I generate a new developer license file, then the TV Packager runs fine.  Then I try to run my main app, which fails, again at TVEngine.Init3DWindowed(IntPtr, bool).  So I generate a new license file, then the app runs fine.  Then I try to run my packager, which fails again, so I generate a new .lic file, which causes the main app to fail again, etc. etc. etc.

What am I doing wrong, here?

[AriusEso]

That is strange indeed. Both should work. What happens if you run ModelView, does it crash out or does it work( without the watermark display etc ).

[MiloDC]

That is strange indeed. Both should work. What happens if you run ModelView, does it crash out or does it work( without the watermark display etc ).

ModelView fails.

[asia]

Are you sure you are not referencing two different versions (or just file position) for the TV dlls?
Ciao
Fabio

[MiloDC]

Are you sure you are not referencing two different versions (or just file position) for the TV dlls?

Different versions, no.  I performed a system-wide search, and the only DLLs that don't match what I have in the TV3D SDK folder are some DLLs in the project folders of third party tools that I no longer use.

Not sure what you mean by different file positions, though.  Obviously I have the MTV3D65.dll file duplicated in numerous places on my hard drive.  Can you elaborate?  I mean, it says in the licensing FAQ that:

When you have a registered license, you can generate several 'developer license files' for your machines, which unlock any TV3D application that you will run on the machines. It takes less than 1 min to do so and you have to do it once.

It sounds to me like my .lic file should work regardless of which version of the .DLL is loading, and regardless of how many times it's duped on my drives.

[asia]

If you are using several copies of the MTV3D65.dll file you should check they are really the same, ie they are from the same release.
I am saying this because happened to me to have the same problem when one file was from the 6.5 march 2009 release and the other file was from 6.5 October 31th release (the last one).
Generally it is best to keep very few copies of the MTV3D65.dll
Also I found difficulties when the hardware profile change. It is enough to change the modem connection from a network cable to an USB one to have a crush!
Hope this will help.
Ciao

PS
Are you using the last version of the licence sign program?

[MiloDC]

Again: All of my MTV3D65.dll files are the same (except for a few files in third party projects that I haven't built in many months, if not years, none of which I am using in any of my projects).

Yes, I'm using the latest License Signer.  (The latest release is November 2009, and I downloaded it just about a month ago.)

[MiloDC]

LOL, now my license file is crashing ALL of my projects.  If I get rid of it, they work fine.

Seriously, WTF is this.  If someone can just explain to me how this is supposed to work, I'll buy you dinner.

[asia]

And you do not have single licence files in your directories (where the project are manteined)?

[AriusEso]

If someone can just explain to me how this is supposed to work, I'll buy you dinner.

Obviously I use my details. Doing that works for me on multiple projects. As you can see, no watermark in mako or modelview. The only other thing I can think of is like asia said, somewhere you've got an older build of TV screwing up the works. I remember that the license signing was changed in the latest build and doesn't work with the older ones. I would also suggest redownloading the license signer if you downloaded it a month or so ago( at first they uploaded the old one by mistake, maybe you were unlucky and got that one ).

Also, salisbury steak please .

[MiloDC]

And you do not have single licence files in your directories (where the project are manteined)?

No, there are no license files in any of these directories.  Just the [username].lic file in my Documents folder.

Obviously I use my details. Doing that works for me on multiple projects. As you can see, no watermark in mako or modelview. The only other thing I can think of is like asia said, somewhere you've got an older build of TV screwing up the works. I remember that the license signing was changed in the latest build and doesn't work with the older ones. I would also suggest redownloading the license signer if you downloaded it a month or so ago( at first they uploaded the old one by mistake, maybe you were unlucky and got that one ).

My process for creating the developer license file is, of course, the same as yours.

Again, with the exception of some DLLs in third party projects that I am not using (I downloaded the projects just to see some code samples, I never even built them), all of my MTV3D65.dll files are the latest version.

I tried un-installing, re-downloading, then re-installing the License Signer, but the problem persists.  None of my apps run if the [username].lic file is present in my Documents folder.

Thanks for trying to help me, guys.  I'm sure that I'm doing something wrong, maybe Sylvain can be of help.

[sybixsus]

Again, with the exception of some DLLs in third party projects that I am not using (I downloaded the projects just to see some code samples, I never even built them), all of my MTV3D65.dll files are the latest version.

I know it sounds nutty, but I really would delete those just in case. I can honestly say that I have seen Windows somehow managing to reference DLL's exactly as you describe. Things I've never even built, let alone run. I genuinely don't have a clue how it happens but it definitely has happened to me, albeit not with TV3D.

The reason it might break with different DLL versions is that the license sign application gets updated between DLL versions sometimes. I *think* I'm correct in saying that App licenses do not change between versions of LicenseSign, but I also *think* that Dev licenses do. Don't take any of this as gospel as I no longer use TV3D except to maintain Star Sentinel Tactics, but that's certainly my recollection of what I've experienced.

Also, be aware that older versions of TV3D had an issue with removeable drives. Namely that LicenseSign generates some kind of hardware key based on the computer specs, and that can include removeable drives. If drives were then added or removed, the hardware would show as changed, triggering the key to cease functioning. If you're using recent version(s) of TV3D, I'm almost certain this was fixed, but there could be lingering issues. Again, I'm not offering anything concrete, just mentioning a couple of issues which might give you an idea, as I know how frustrating this sort of thing can be.

[SylvainTV]

The multiple DLL sounds like an issue indeed.
I made debug dlls as promised to check the issue, check your private msgs.