If you plan on updating your MSRS or MSLS site (or purchasing MSAS) Please read:

[Greg-J]

A single file which has nothing to do with -- and will not effect -- the level customization in MSAS in function or presentation will be encoded to prevent piracy. In the past a few people had difficulty with the loaders and I would like to labor to make that a non-issue this time around.

After having spoken with each of the 3 major encoding companies I have decided that SourceGuardian is still the best encoder and company to work with because they offer many more loaders and a better all-around approach. Zend is more widely adopted by default, but it does not offer dynamic loaders. IonCube is great because you can encode files for dirt cheap, but there are far too many limitations with either their online solution or their purchased encoder.

Which brings me back to SourceGuardian. I would like for you to take a minute to download http://www.sourceguardian.com/ixeds/sg4-howto-install.zip. It has one file in it. Just upload that file to your server and navigate to the page.

You will either get a message that says "SourceGuardian loaders are already installed." or you will see very simple directions on how to install them. Please take a minute (it took me 2 minutes to do all this) to follow the directions and post here what your results were. This will help us anticipate any issues and provide a support section for them before we release MSAS.

This is very important as there will be brief periods where I am not going to be around for days at a time. I have a camping trip scheduled for the end of this month and in 3 weeks I will be flying out to train the new support staff which likely cause delays in support. So your help would be greatly appreciated.

[zodiac01]

downloaded, extracted, edited php.ini

and navigating back to howto nothing changed.
this is at bottom of page too though.
Run-time loading

Run-time loading is not possible because of following functions should NOT be disabled - dl(), phpversion(), php_uname(), ini_get(), dirname().
Use server-wide setup or re-configure PHP engine.

did find/replace for those in php.ini only one i found was dl it said off, changed to On.. still same.

[Compu]

I got my VPS provider to install / edit the php.ini file with no issues. :)

[quickbeam]

A single file which has nothing to do with -- and will not effect -- the level customization in MSAS in function or presentation will be encoded to prevent piracy. In the past a few people had difficulty with the loaders and I would like to labor to make that a non-issue this time around.

After having spoken with each of the 3 major encoding companies I have decided that SourceGuardian is still the best encoder and company to work with because they offer many more loaders and a better all-around approach. Zend is more widely adopted by default, but it does not offer dynamic loaders. IonCube is great because you can encode files for dirt cheap, but there are far too many limitations with either their online solution or their purchased encoder.

Which brings me back to SourceGuardian. I would like for you to take a minute to download http://www.sourceguardian.com/ixeds/sg4-howto-install.zip. It has one file in it. Just upload that file to your server and navigate to the page.

You will either get a message that says "SourceGuardian loaders are already installed." or you will see very simple directions on how to install them. Please take a minute (it took me 2 minutes to do all this) to follow the directions and post here what your results were. This will help us anticipate any issues and provide a support section for them before we release MSAS.

This is very important as there will be brief periods where I am not going to be around for days at a time. I have a camping trip scheduled for the end of this month and in 3 weeks I will be flying out to train the new support staff which likely cause delays in support. So your help would be greatly appreciated.

After the royal pain in the *** this was for MSLS. I can't believe you are going to use it again. It sounds like it is a different version now. I hop it is not like the last one which would just stop working for no apparent reason and then Des would have to 'Fix' something to get things to work and it would take forever for des to get to things.

Not a very conforting thought to know you will be gone and we will be at the mercy of the encoding system.

I will test the files on my server tonight but how realiable is this encoding system?

[Greg-J]

That's a very fair concern quickbeam.

Even while I am gone there will be 2 other developers to work with people to sort out these issues.

Unfortunately, encoding is the only option. From the customers side, it's an inconvenience. As a developer, it's the only insurance against piracy we have.

[ladyborg]

I have mediatemple hosting - I just asked them to install sourceguardian for me.

I will let you know how it goes.

[ladyborg]

NO go for mediatemple:

SourceGuardian is outside of our scope of support; Installing third-party modules and components is not something we can do on your behalf. In addition, it appears that the instructions you sent to us require root access and access to the core modules of our entire OS. This is not something that can be done on the (gs) Grid Server, as far as I can determine.

Thanks for your understanding, and have a great day.

[Greg-J]

Then they don't understand your request. I have a copy running on Media Temple and have since before MSLS was ever released...

[ladyborg]

I don't understand the installer - so i think i'm kinda stuck.

I think sourceguardian needs to help us more if they want their product to spread. What's the use of a source code protector that scares people away?

In the meantime, if you could let me know how to get it installed on mediatemple that would be great. :)

[littleguy]

Greg. Just popping to check if the new script has been released. I am however disappointed in the hear about the encoded file.

The reason I bought the script in the first place is that it was not encoded. However, I do understate that you want to protect your product. Although if they really wanted to they can still decoded anyway.

Regarding the encoded file(s) what exactly is the file(s) doing?

Also if the script is already released please send me the info so I can download it. Thanks!

[Greg-J]

Actually, files encoded with SourceGuardian cannot be decrypted. Or at least, it hasn't been done.

I've got a trip that has been planned for months coming up tomorrow and my main developer doesn't get back from his 3 week holiday until the 28th. I got a data card and confirmed I will have coverage from where I will be so I can work while away -- but I'm not releasing until I know there are at least 2 of the 3 of us available to provide support during release.

Regardless of the delay, I'm not going to have another FlickScript release on my hands.

If anyone has any specific questions, PM me and I'll try to answer you as timely as possible. I'm closing this thread while I'm away because I'm not sure how fast my connection will be, so my inbox is the only thing I want to have to check.