How to authorize your XLSafe PRO files for use on other computers

XLSafe PRO uses an innovative hardware activation method to automatically determine whether a computer is authorised to access the contents of an XLSafe PRO spreadsheet. By default:

- Your XLSafe PRO spreadsheet will ask for an activation key when the spreadsheet is opened for the first time on each computer (unless the computer has been pre-authorised to open XLSafe PRO files - see "Colleague PCs" section below)

- The activation key created for each computer is unique. The client needs to send an activation e-mail either to the DataSafeXL online authentication server (see below) or to your specified license administrator. The activation e-mail contains a unique "request key" which you will use to create the activation key via the built-in key generator of your XLSafe PRO file.      

- Once the client enters the unique activation key in the spreadsheet, his computer will be authorised and he will never be asked again to activate the particular XLSafe PRO spreadsheet on his computer. However, if the client tries to transfer the XLSafe PRO spreadsheet to another machine, XLSafe PRO will recognize this and ask again for a different activation key.

- You can choose different protection scenarios for each XLSafe PRO file via the built-in protection panel of each file. Please read the rest of the topics in this user guide to become familiar with the various features of XLSafe PRO.

Colleague PCs (applies only for multi-license versions of XLSafe PRO)

 If the computer is a 'Colleague PC' (i.e. it has a registered installation of a multi-license XLSafe PRO version), then the XLSafe PRO spreadsheet will open without showing the activation screen.  

The contents of the spreadsheet will be protected and the 'Colleague PC' user will need to obtain a password from the creator of the XLSafe PRO file to access the XLSafe protection panel and/ or edit the spreadsheet.  

Client PCs

When an XLSafe file is opened from any other computer, this will be recognized as a 'Client PC'. The following activation screen will automatically be presented to the user:

The  'Client PC' will create an activation e-mail which is send to the license administrator in order to obtain an activation key and reveal the contents of the file.

The license administrator can either be the author of the spreadsheet who can use the key generator to create an activation key or you can use DataSafeXL's online activation services (see below).    

When the file contents are revealed, these will be protected and the user will not be able to compromise the security of the data.

The following diagram summarises the default protection scenario for XLSafe PRO files (applies only for multi-license versions of XLSafe PRO):

Online Authentication Server

The DataSafeXL online authentication server can be used to automatically issue activation keys to your clients. You will need to obtain a list of unique registration codes from the DataSafeXL support team (support@DataSafeXL.com) in order to use our online server.

The online activation process works as follows:

1. The client receives a unique registration code from you.

2. When the client clicks on the button "Send Activation Request" on the activation screen he will be prompted to enter this code.

3. The activation request is automatically sent to the DataSafeXL activation server.

4. The server will check whether the registration code is valid and that it hasn't been used before.

5. When the above conditions are met, the server will reply back to e-mail address of the client with a unique activation key. In addition, the registration code will be marked as used and it can never be used again by other persons.

6. The client enters the activation key in the spreadsheet and the XLSafe PRO spreadsheet is activated on client's machine.