The default licensing method for our products is a Serial Number / Authorization code method where you send us a serial number and we send you an authorization code which unlocks the software for the number of licenses you purchased. In most situations, this method has proven reliable, but it does have some special requirements and items that you should be aware of:

• The licensing is based upon your computer's hardware configuration: Because of this, it is not possible to simply "copy" the software from one computer to another. Also, certain upgrades, such a new hard drives, a new version of Windows, etc., may require you to obtain a new authorization code.
  
  
• Windows Only: When using a network based license, the file server where you have the software installed must be running a Microsoft Windows operating system. The licensing system is not compatible with Novell or Linux / Unix.
  
  
• File Permissions: Once the software has been run for the first time, inside the folder where you installed the software will be another folder with a series of numbers and dashes. This is your software's license folder. All users who will run the software MUST have READ / WRITE permission to this folder and the files contained in it.
  
  
• Registry Permissions: Your users will need READ / WRITE access to the following registry key and any keys below it: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acudata\Sheriff
  
  
• Dates & Times: If you have the software installed as a network style license, then the system clocks of all of your users (including the file server) must be within about 5 minutes of each other. If not, then the licensing system thinks that someone has tampered with a license and will report an error. Make sure that the Times Zones are set correctly as well.