Issue

The Options and Locations of the Navision license file - Native Database Server
Solution

Navision SQL server edition:

In order to work with the SQL Server Option for Navision, you must upload the license file you want to use to all the SQL Servers you wish to access, instead of copying it to the individual clients. The clients automatically work under the same license file as the server they are connected to. By default, the demonstration license file CRONUS.flf is uploaded to a SQL Server when the server is used for the first time. SQL Server 2000 allows you to run multiple server instances on the same computer. The Navision license information must be uploaded to each server instance you wish to access.

The SQL Server Option for Navision allows you to specify that every database that is stored on an instance of SQL Server must use the same license file or that the individual databases can have their own license file. You specify that a database must use its own license file by clicking the Save license in database field when you create or alter the database. This license file must contain the per-database granule or it cannot be stored in the database. The database will use the granules (including the sessions) specified in the per-database license file.

In addition to the license files stored in the individual databases on the server, a common license file must also be stored on the server. The common license file can be identical to one of the license files stored in the databases or it can be a different license file. Any databases that you create on this server that do not contain a per-database license file will use this license file. These databases will use the granules (including the sessions) specified in the server's license file.

Uploading a License File

To upload a license file to SQL Server, in the License Information window, click Upload. In the Upload License File window that appears, you can browse to the license file provided by your Microsoft Certified Business Solutions Partner. Select the license file and then click Open to upload it to the server. This license information will be used by all the clients connecting to this server, unless they change their license information temporarily with the Change function described on page 30, or unless a database license file is being used.

After you have uploaded the license file to the server, store a copy of the license file in a safe place until you need to use it again.

If you receive a new license file that you want all your Navision clients to use, you must upload it to SQL Server. Click Upload in the License Information window. The Upload License File window appears. Locate and select the license file and then click Open to upload it. The license file is uploaded to the server or to the database depending on the license option that you chose when you created the database.

Importing a License File

On the License Information window, click Import to use a different license file. The Import License File dialog box appears. Locate and select the license file that you want and then click Open. The program will then import the license file into the Navision folder on your computer and it will be called fin.flf. The license file will automatically replace any other file called fin.flf without asking you to confirm that you want it to do so.

This new license file will be the active license file the next time you open Navision. When you connect to a SQL Server, the license stored there will become the active license.

Exporting a License File

Click Export to export a copy of your license file, such as to a disk. A standard Windows dialog box appears. Locate and select the license file and then click Saveto export it.

Changing the License File

If, for example, you are an Microsoft Certified Business Solutions Partner representative visiting a customer, you may want to change the license file temporarily. To do so, insert the disk containing the license file and then click Change. The Change License File dialog box appears. Select the license file to be read into the system. The information contained in it will be transferred to the client when you click Open. When you access any servers, this temporary license information will continue to be used instead of the license information stored on the servers or in the databases. The original licenses will be reinstated when Navision is closed and opened again.

Navision warns you before your license expires. If you fail to notice the warning and the license on the server expires, you will not be able to access the server. However, you can use the Change facility to gain access to the server by using an alternative license file. When you receive your new license file, you should use the Change facility to temporarily change to the new license. You can then connect to the server and use the Upload function to upload your new license to the server.

This article was TechKnowledge Document ID: 35152