Is the new cloud licensing system compatible with GDL REQUEST "CONFIGURATION_NUMBER" commands?

[concepsys]

Hi,

We have recently been informed by our local reseller of the licensing transition program that will change the current web based or physical licenses into a new cloud based subscription system.

We are Archicad users but also Archicad library developers. We have developed library parts that work dependent on the Archicad license codes, (any type of licenses such as, SWxxxxxxxx, 2-xxxxxxxxx, etc).

These library parts use the GDL commands, such as:

[From the GDL manual]

n = REQUEST ("program_info", "", name[, version[, keySerialNumber[, isCommercial]]])

Returns information on the currently running program. Expression returns 0 and contains dummy return values (emtpy string or 0) if used in parameter

script, causing additional warning.

name: name of the program

version: version number of the program

keySerialNumber: serial number of the keyplug

isCommercial: returns true if there is running a full (commercial) version of the program

and 

n = REQUEST

("Configuration_number", "", stConfigurationNumber)

to acquire the Archicad stConfigurationNumber and work accordingly.

We use these libraries for many years in our projects, but we also provide them to others.

Because of this announcement, we are being contacted by Archicad users that use our objects, asking if with the new licensing system these libraries will still work. The problem is that we don't know, and even our local resellers can't answer this very specific question regarding the new licensing system.
Therefore, we are trying to contact Graphisoft directly on this forum to have an answer on this:
Will the new cloud licensing system still maintain some kind of code that will populate these GDL commands and allow the library parts to acknowledge a particular stable Archicad stConfigurationNumber code they are working with?
If the new system keeps compatibility with those GDL commands and still allow some kind of license identification, (even if the stConfigurationNumber itself is now somewhat different), that wouldn't be a concern, it would just be a matter of updating the license codes. But if these commands stop working or don't return some/any kind of recognizable stConfigurationNumber, then many crucial already placed objects that populate many projects over the last years will suddenly stop working! And that will prevent us and others to migrate to the new licensing system right away, until a solution to this issue is found.
Thank you in advance for an answer.

[Barry Kelly]

Maybe this will help?

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/GDL/Cloud-Licensing-and-GDL/m-p/589158#M6356

Barry.

[Peter Baksa]

Hi concepsys,

The new license information is available with

n = REQUEST("GSID_INFO", "", userId, organizationIds)

You will have to update the GDL code to support the cloud licensing, keySerialNumber and stConfigurationNumber is undefined in the new system.

There is additional information here about the returned values: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Developer-Insights/Introducing-new-user-identification-to-the-AP...

[concepsys]

Thank you for your answer Peter,

I have consulted all the linked information and I have some new questions:

Question 1. I have now found this new command  information on Archicad 28 GDL manual. I believe it is not mentioned either on the 26 or 27 GDL manuals. Nevertheless, it seems this command is backward compatible with any Archicad from version 26.5. Correct?

Question 2. If I understand correctly, we will no longer be able to identify license keys, but instead, users?

Let's say, as an example, previously a company had many users and many Archicad hardware/software licenses.

Any user would be able to use a particular licensekey. So, we could say that a particular licensekey was being used, and make a library part to work only with that particular key, regardless of its location or user. 

Now, the command 

n = REQUEST("GSID_INFO", "", userId, organizationIds)

it seems it will return a userID inside a company, instead of a particular AC_licencekey.  If so, it will be a very different system. Is this userId, in fact, the ID of a license (among the many licenses a single company may own) or is it an actual user?

If it is the first case, then the system will be similar to the previous one. The userID is in fact a licenseID. No more explanations needed.

If it is the second case, it means that it's not possible to associate a particular library part to a particular license anymore?

Trying to make my questions more clear,

Question 3:

If a user/company owns several licenses, is it possible to still make an object work with a single particular license from that user, or now an object will always work with all the licenses of that user?

Question 4:

If a user owns several licenses, is it possible to know how many licenses are actually working at a given time?

Can you please explain a bit more how this works?

[concepsys]

Thank you so much, Barry.

[Peter Baksa · Accepted solution]

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Question 1. I have now found this new command  information on Archicad 28 GDL manual. I believe it is not mentioned either on the 26 or 27 GDL manuals. Nevertheless, it seems this command is backward compatible with any Archicad from version 26.5. Correct?

It was made available in updates 26.5 and 27.3.0, and works in AC28 from first release.

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it seems it will return a userID inside a company, instead of a particular AC_licencekey.  If so, it will be a very different system. Is this userId, in fact, the ID of a license (among the many licenses a single company may own) or is it an actual user?

It is an actual user, and all the companies he is a member of as this user.

A license is not given to a computer, but a user logged in with GSID to Archicad.

---

If a user/company owns several licenses

If a user owns several licenses

I don't know the details of how licenses are assigned to users, please ask your reseller about these.

The request doesn't return validity of licenses of the company/user, only their GSID identification that is used to check their licenses. You can build your own licensing on this data.

[concepsys]

It's a whole new licensing world...

Thank you for your support.