WinLicense > FAQ > Registration > Smartkeys > I'm still lost about how to use SmartActivate keys, can you give me some examples?

As you might know, an application can be registered via a file key or a Registry key. SmartActivate keys is another way to register an application but it's basically the same as a file or Registry key, though we have to make use of some APIs in order to install the SmartActivate key as a file or Registry key.

The steps are the following:

1. In the Registration panel, we have to check the option "Enable SmartActivate System for user-side generated keys"

2. You have to choose if you will finally install the SmartActivate key as file or Registry key, so we check the option "Single File" (In the Registration panel) if you plan to finally install the SmartActivate key as a file key

3. In your application, you have to implement a dialog where you allow a user to register the application via SmartActivate keys (See examples in the WinLicense examples folder)

4. Protect your application

5. Let's create a SmartActivate key from the WinLicense License Manager. You have to give your client the SmartActivate key information in order to register your application

6. When your customer inserts the SmartActivate key in the dialog where you allow the insertion of SmartActivate keys, you have to call the API WLRegSmartKeyCheck and if it returns TRUE, you have to install the SmartActivate key as file (or Registry) using WLRegSmartKeyInstallToFile (or WLRegSmartKeyInstallToRegistry)

7. Restart your application (you can call WLRestartApplication) and it should run as registered!