Remote blocking an application

driessen · Post by **driessen** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:59 pm

Hello,

Everyone of us who are working with customers do have customers now and then who aren't paying their invoices.

Therefor I want to develop a remote blocking system so I am able to block an application on a customers PC whenever I want to do that.

To get this, I have this idea :

Every customer of mine do have a customer number. If I put a file on my website (for instance "12345.TXT" for customer nr. 12345), I want to check if this file exists. If it exists, the application is blocked until I delete the file on my website.

My problem is : how can I check if a file is existing on a website ?

I tried to use this code :

Code: Select all

IF FILE("http://www.mywebsite.be/12345.txt")

but unfortunately (but also understandable), this isn't working.

How can I check the existance of a file on a website in FWH ?

Or does anyone have another idea for any system to block an application remotely ?

Thank you very much in advance for any help.

Regards,[/quote][/code]

Jeff Barnes · Post by **Jeff Barnes** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:35 pm

driessen,

If you want to use the internet to enable / disable a customer from using the program you do not want to stop the program if the file IS on the internet, instead stop the program if it is NOT on the internet.

The reason for this is ... if they simply disconnect the computer from internet or use firewall software like ZoneAlarm to block internet access to that program then the file is not found so the app will run.

Keep in mind that using this type of protection forces all of your clients to have their systems connected to the internet. If they have a problem with their internet connection the app will not be able to run, even if they are a customer in good standing.

I hope this makes sense

Post by **Antonio Linares** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:37 pm

Michel,

Do you have a FTP server ?

Please review fwh\samples\FtpDir.prg

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:09 pm

Jeff,

I don’t think such a system is within the legal norms.
Did you check that?

Regards,
Otto

Gale FORd · Post by **Gale FORd** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:09 pm

It would probably be better for a timeout/renewal process. If they did not pay you then they could not get the program updated to continue using it.

driessen · Post by **driessen** » Wed May 07, 2008 11:53 pm

Thanks guys, for your information.

It seems to me that it's better not to do such a blocking.

Case closed as far as I am concerned.

Regards,