Demo Maker Template

questions faq
1

Is anyone using the Clarion DEMO MAKER template?
Alternatively, does anyone have ideas on making a time-limited demo of an existing app?

2

What is this please?

3

The DEMO MAKER template for Clarion “allows you to convert any application into a demo and specify how many days it should run. You can then optionally supply a file containing licence info which will convert the demo into a full version.”

4

any link?? . . . . . . . . .

5

Tried to send it to you but get “An error occurred: Sorry, you can’t include links in your posts.”

6

Hi Sim,

New accounts start at Trust Level 0, which has some limits to help keep the forum free from spam. One of these restrictions is that links can’t be posted until a member has spent some time reading and exploring.

After reading a few topics and posts (about 5 topics, 30 posts, and 10 minutes), accounts are promoted to Trust Level 1 automatically, and links will then be allowed.

This is just to help keep spam out — you should get there quickly just by looking around a bit.

Regards
Mark

7

Post URL in a Code Block … that has 3 backticks ``` on a line above and below

E.g. URL https://github.com

Code block

https://github.com

You can also mangle it a bit so it does not scan as a URL. Like add spaces between parts. Mention how you mangled it.

https :// github . com
(FYI link above had spaces added to get past link restriction.

10

Thanks Mark.

How about submitting an attachment.
I tried attaching a TPL and a TXT or a ZIP containing both - also rejected.

Sim

12

Hi @Sim

When you reach Trust Level 1 — which you’re only about 8 posts away from — you’ll be able to attach files and share links.

Just to clarify: a post is an individual reply or message inside a topic, while a topic is the overall thread. So you just need to read a few more posts. Simply scrolling through a topic with multiple replies will count each reply as a post read, as far as I know.

Once you’re at TL1, you’ll also be able to upload attachments. At the moment, the forum allows these file types:
jpg, jpeg, png, gif, inc, clw, equ, ico, addin, pdf, resources, svg, tpw, tpl, txr, txd, txa, int, zip, mp4, txt.

I wouldn’t be keen to change the default criteria for new users (TL0), as they’re there to help keep the forum safer from spam.

1 Like
15

I thought you would post a link to the Product Website.

You cannot post a zip with the Product so your posts were removed.

Maybe post the About text from the template or documentation so we know more.

In the Form procedures check record count instead of time

If Request = AddRecord
   If Glo:DemoFlag and Records(Primary) >= 5 Then
      Message('The demo can only have 5 ...
    Do Procedure Return
16

DEMO MAKER FREEWARE TEMPLATE

This freeware was kindly supplied by Alex Oberhard of Komputery (Poland).
Compatible with Clarion 4 & 5, ABC & legacy.

What Demo Maker does

It will allow you to convert any application into a demo and specify how
many days it should run. You can then optionally supply a file containing
licence info which will convert the demo into a full version.

Installation

  1. Register MDEMO.TPL in your template registry
  2. In your dictionary create a file with one field. It doesn’t matter what
    the field is because it won’t be read. The file is created at runtime and
    the datestamp is checked. This is the “flag” file.
  3. You could use a filename with a familiar sound - such as contact.tps
  4. Make sure the create attribute is selected in the dictionary
  5. In your .app click on global button and under Individual File Overrides
    set the above file’s access mode to be Read Only
  6. Also at the Global button - click on Extensions and add the MDEMO template.
  7. Fill in the template prompts as follows:

Choose File - this is the file created at (2) above. It should be in the same
directory as the app.

Name of Second File - this is the file (such as LICENCE.TXT) with full version
information. If this file is not found then the app will strat running as
a demo. Based on the datestamp of the file above at (2).

Enter number of days - this is the number of days for the demo to run

Text which will be shown to the user when the demo expires.

  1. Add the “flag” file to the file schematic under Other Files in your
    Frame (main menu) procedure.

IMPORTANT - make sure you don’t deliver the empty flag file with your app.
This must be created the first time the app is run for a valid start date to
be obtained.

19

Rather than a zip suggest you setup GitHub Repo with all the files not zipped. That way we can see it all without downloading. Also others can fork it.

Then you can post a link to your GitHub.

As you’ve been told twice to post Links you need to reach TL1. Just spend 10 minutes here reading 30 posts and 5 topics.

20

Most frustrating. I tried to copy/paste the TPL source and click Reply but this just responds with: “An error occurred: Sorry, new users can only mention 2 users in a post.”

There are NO users or links in the template source

21

No a big template, but then templates are not my “ken”. I wish I could figure out how to USE this template.

MDEMO.TPL (4.4 KB)

22

So looking at the template its an extension, so add it as an extension template on your initial procedure. It checks for the existence of 2 files. Depending on if they exist and when then were created you app is either in demo or release mode.

23

Yes, indeed, I got that part.
But with the template registered, I do not see how to efficiently it implement in my app.
I need to:

  • put the word DEMO in the main window header
  • identify the demo status for start-up flash
  • access the no. of days remaining for the start-up flash and ABOUT window