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    How to license novaPDF SDK

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    This article applies only to novaPDF. If you don't have it yet, you must download it first.

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    Jul 14, 2021
    novaPDF SDK 11.x, 10.x, 9.x, 8.x
    We strive to keep our articles as accurate as possible. If you notice any inconsistencies or outdated info please let us know.
    You can use the novaPDF Co-Branding tool to customize the setup you have to integrate with novaPDF SDK or novaPDF OEM.
    After you succeeded to integrate novaPDF SDK in your application (see the How to integrate topic in the Help file installed with novaPDF SDK) you have to follow the next steps:

    1. Purchase a license

    If you want to remove the novaPDF SDK notice from the generated PDF files, you have to purchase a license. There are two types of application licenses:
    • SOFTWARE APPLICATION LICENSE. This type of license grants you the right to develop, market and distribute ONE program or ONE software product that integrates novaPDF OEM to an unlimited number of end users without any additional fees.
    • SOFTWARE COMPONENT LICENSE. This lets you develop, market and distribute ONE component, ONE wrapper, ONE library or ONE module that integrates novaPDF OEM to an unlimited number of developers without any additional fees. The resulting products that include the component, wrapper, library or module can be distributed to an unlimited number of end users without any additional fees.
    After purchasing you will receive an email with following information:
    • License key
    • License file
    • Customization file
    Each licensed user will received an unique ID that will guarantee your customized installers will install separately from the other users'.

    2. Customize redistributable novaPDF installers with your license

    When you install novaPDF SDK there is also another tool installed called novaPDF SDK Co-Branding. You should run this tool to generate the msi files customized for your license. You can start this tool from the novaPDF 11 SDK Developer installation menu. See the Customize your setup section from the help file for more details. You will need the resulting customized setup files in step 3 below.
    Important: Up until now in your code you called the Initialize function of INovaPdfOptions just with the PrinterName parameter. In order for your code to work with the licensed printer you created before, you must also pass the product key to the Initialize function. You must do this change everywhere in your code where the Initialize function is used.

    3. Install customized printer

    For testing purposes, install novaPDF running the resulting customized setup files (MSI) in the order described below.
    On Windows 32 bit computers:
    • novaPDF11PrinterDriver(x86).msi - installs both 32 and 64 bit versions of the printer driver
    • novaPDF11COM(x86).msi - installs the 32 bit version of the COM
    • novaPDF11SDK(x86).msi - installs the custom, licensed printer
    • novaPDF11Tools.msi - installs Profile Manager tool
      Note: If you are using an older version, replace novaPDF11 in the filename above with your own major version (i.e. novaPDF10).
    On Windows x64 computers:
    • novaPDF11PrinterDriver(x64).msi - installs both 32 and 64 bit versions of the printer driver
    • novaPDF11COM(x64).msi - installs the 64 bit version of the COM
    • novaPDF11COM(x86).msi - installs the 32 bit versions of the COM (only install this if your application is 32 bit)
    • novaPDF11SDK(x64).msi - installs the custom, licensed printer
    • novaPDF11Tools.msi - installs Profile Manager tool
      Note: If you are using an older version, replace novaPDF11 in the filename above with your own major version (i.e. novaPDF10).
    You can install the MSI silently using the following command line instructions:
    msiexec /i <msi file name> /qn
    You van install the package bundle silently using following command line instructions:
    <setup name> /q
    To create the final release build you need to create an installation package bundle and run it.

    Build an installation package bundle

    If you already have an installation package for your application, you only need to add the novaPDF SDK Developer msi files to your package. If not, you can start with the installation package sample that is included when you install novaPDF SDK Developer.
    Follow the steps below to create the bundle:
    • Install WIX Toolset (http://wixtoolset.org/releases/).
      This is a free and open source set of tools for building Windows installation packages. You will use this to create the bundle.
    • Sign the novaPDF SDK Developer MSI files. All msi files have to be signed with a valid digital signature.
      You can sign them by running the signtool.exe tool and providing your company digital signature file. If you do not have a digital signature file you can upload the msi files on our site to be signed with Softland's signature. Log in to your account, go to your license key and press the CODESIGN REQUEST button: Account Login
    You will be requested to enter your novaPDF SDK Developer license key, your email address and the path to the msi file. You have to upload and sign these two msi files:
    • novaPDF11SDK(x86).msi - installs the custom, licensed printer
    • novaPDF11SDK(x64).msi - installs the custom, licensed printer
    • novaPDF11PrinterDriver(x86).msi - installs both 32 and 64 bit versions of the printer driver
    • novaPDF11PrinterDriver(x64).msi - installs both 32 and 64 bit versions of the printer driver
    • novaPDF11COM(x86).msi - installs the 32 bit version of the COM
    • novaPDF11COM(x64).msi - installs the 64 bit version of the COM
    • novaPDF11Tools.msi - installs Profile Manager tool
      Note: If you are using an older version, replace novaPDF11 in the filename above with your own major version (i.e. novaPDF10).
    You will receive an email with the download link for the signed msi files.
    • Open the Installation package bundle sample and build the setup executable.
      In the sample you have to change the defined variables with information about your application: application name, company name, version, company site url. It is very important to change the Upgrade code to a new generated GUID, because each application should have its unique GUID so it installs separately on Windows.
    If you wish to sign the bundle exe, you have to use your company's signature. Use the signtool.exe and the insignia.exe tools to sign, like this:
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.9\bin\insignia.exe" -ib "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF 11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\SDKBundle.exe" -o "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF 11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\tmp.exe"
"signtool.exe" sign /f "<your signature file>" /p <your signature password> /du "<your companysite>" /t http://timestamp.verisign.com/scripts/timstamp.dll "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\tmp.exe"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.9\bin\insignia.exe" -ab "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF 11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\tmp.exe" "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF 11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\SDKBundle.exe" -o "C:\Users\Public\Documents\novaPDF 11\SDK\Samples\SDKBundle\SDKBundle\bin\Release\SDKBundle.exe"

    4. Print without unlicensed notice

    Your printer should be licensed now so the generated PDF files should not have the unlicensed footer notice.