Skip to main content
A
akovacs1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 11, 2016
Question

dongle protection

  • December 11, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 5659 views

I would like to know how to provide proper protection for my complex worksheets before sharing it with external parties.

Aiming for the followings:

- protection of the hidden areas against opening

- time limit of usage using expiry date (hopefully not linked to system time of the particular computer)

- runs only if hardware dongle is present (therefore copies and the distribution of software is limited)

Regards,

Andras K.

4 replies

M
MartinHanak24-Ruby III
24-Ruby III
December 12, 2016

Hi,

I guess request no.1 is planned for Mathcad Prime 4.0. Two others are not implemented.

MH

V
24-Ruby III
VladimirN24-Ruby III
24-Ruby III
December 12, 2016

In the future Mathcad Prime 4.0 release you can only set a password for hidden areas (more about Prime 4.0 planned feature here: PTC Mathcad Prime Roadmap (2015/2016 update) 😞

Pic_9.png

    D
    DJF16-Pearl
    16-Pearl
    December 13, 2016

    So, according to the schedule 4.0 is due this week, or maybe next week at the latest.  Should I hold my breath or expect another 6 month delay?

    schedule.jpg

    V
    24-Ruby III
    VladimirN24-Ruby III
    24-Ruby III
    December 14, 2016

    According to the latest information Mathcad Prime 4.0 planned to be released end of December 2016 year.

    Pic_2.png

    M
    MJG1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    December 12, 2016

    Mathcad 15 allows you to lock hidden areas.  As noted by others, Prime 4.0 is supposed to include this feature.

    The other two requests would likely need to be filled outside of Mathcad.

    A
    akovacs1-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    December 13, 2016

    Hi Mark,

    I would like to have your advice how do that when you say the other requests to be filled outside of Mathcad.

    Regards,

    Andras K.

    M
    MJG1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    December 13, 2016

    I don't know of any software myself, but I'd imagine there are ways of achieving what you want - just not through Mathcad.

    Specifically for your last request - I'd imagine that the maker of whatever dongle you use could provide direction on how to protect certain files (Mathcad files, in this case).

    A
    akovacs1-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    December 20, 2016

    As a first step I was trying to get actual date from the web as computer date can easily set back and the worksheet would run even after expiry. (mathcad 15 and Prime 3.0)

    Mathcad date taken through Scriptible object: "SEP date control" takes the date of the computer, which can be modified easily, so does not help.

    Taking the date from the web works fine in excel. Tried two options: one with VB, the other with web query. Nicely updates especially when done in VB.

    So I tried to integrate excel into the mathcad.

    If the excel with web query integrated as a component into mathcad then you actually have to get into the excel file to make sure that it runs so not really automatic.

    If you integrate excel component with VB than everything is red.

    Finding a way to get date from web would as a first step at least set a time limit on the sheet, then as a second step number of copies could be limited by linking to a dongle.

    Andras

    V
    24-Ruby III
    VladimirN24-Ruby III
    24-Ruby III
    December 20, 2016

    Andras Kovacs wrote:

    ... Finding a way to get date from web would as a first step at least set a time limit on the sheet, then as a second step number of copies could be limited by linking to a dongle. ...

    You can insert a link on a document containing data (but as I remember here the address with "https" not working) by select "Insert" --> "Reference":

    Pic_1.png

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement