Registration

This page explains how to register and activate your Erik's ToolBox license. A valid license unlocks the full functionality of the ToolBox in production environments, including write operations and all advanced features.

License Overview

Erik's ToolBox uses a subscription-based licensing model. The license determines whether you can use the ToolBox with full functionality or in a limited trial mode.

Environment Type	License Required	Functionality
SaaS Sandbox	No	Full functionality available without registration
SaaS Production	Yes	Trial mode without license (read-only); full functionality with license
On-Premises (any)	Yes	Trial mode without license (read-only); full functionality with license

In trial mode, you can explore the ToolBox interface and run scripts that read data, but you cannot perform write operations (insert, modify, or delete records). To unlock write access and all other features, you must register a valid license key.

Where to Purchase a License

You can purchase a license for Erik's ToolBox from the official website:

Purchase page: https://www.hougaard.com/product-category/toolbox/
General information: https://www.hougaard.com/toolbox/
Support: https://www.hougaard.com/support

After completing your purchase, you will receive a registration key via email. This key is a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) in the standard format, for example: a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890.

Supported Product Codes

When your license key is validated against the hougaard.com license server, it is associated with one of the following product codes:

Product Code	Description
4565	Erik's ToolBox - Standard
4570	Erik's ToolBox - Included with other products
4571	Erik's ToolBox - Bundle
4572	Erik's ToolBox - Extended

You do not need to know or enter the product code yourself. The system determines it automatically based on your registration key.

The Register ToolBox Page

The registration page is where you enter your license key and view your current license status. To access it:

Open the ToolBox Setup page (search for "ToolBox Setup" or navigate from the ToolBox main menu).
In the action bar, choose License.
The Register ToolBox page opens.

The page displays different content depending on whether you are already registered:

When Not Registered

A message explaining that the demo version cannot update data.
A link to purchase a license at hougaard.com.
A Registration Key field where you enter your key.
A Register button in the footer bar.

When Registered

A confirmation message thanking you for registering.
A License valid until field showing the expiration date.
A Remove License button to clear the current license.
A Change License button to replace the current key with a different one.

Entering a Registration Key

Follow these steps to register your ToolBox license:

Open the ToolBox Setup page.
Choose the License action from the action bar.
On the Register ToolBox page, locate the Registration Key field.
Paste or type the registration key exactly as it was provided in your purchase confirmation email.
Press Enter or tab out of the field to validate the key.
Wait while the system contacts the license server to validate your key.
If the key is valid, you will see the message: "Thank you for registering Erik's ToolBox, all functionality is now enabled."
The page closes automatically after successful registration.

License Validation Process

When you enter a registration key, the ToolBox performs the following validation sequence:

Format check: The system verifies that the key is a valid GUID format. If the format is invalid, you see the error: "Please enter a valid registration key."
Product lookup: The system contacts https://check.hougaardlicense.com/api/LocateProduct to determine which product the key belongs to.
Product verification: The system confirms the product code is one of the supported codes (4565, 4570, 4571, or 4572). If the key is for a different product, the error "This license key is not for Erik's ToolBox" is shown.
License check: The system contacts https://check.hougaardlicense.com/api/CheckLicense with your product code, Azure AD tenant ID, and registration key.
Expiration check: If the server responds successfully, the system stores the key and checks the expiration date. If the license has already expired, an error is shown.
Storage: Upon successful validation, the system stores the license information securely.

If the license server cannot be reached, you will see the error: "Cannot contact the hougaard.com license checker, please email support@hougaard.com."

If the HttpClient requests are blocked for the extension, you will see: "Please activate Allow HttpClient Requests on the ToolBox app (in Extension Management)."

License Storage

The ToolBox stores license information using Business Central's IsolatedStorage mechanism. This provides a secure, extension-scoped storage that other extensions cannot access.

Storage Key	Content	Description
KEY	Registration key (GUID)	Your license key
PRODUCT	Product code (text)	The product identifier (4565, 4570, 4571, or 4572)
EXPDATE	Expiration date	The date your license expires, stored in XML format

IsolatedStorage is scoped to the extension and the environment, meaning each environment requires its own license registration.

Viewing the Expiration Date

To check when your license expires:

Open the ToolBox Setup page.
Choose the License action.
On the Register ToolBox page, the License valid until field displays the expiration date.

Alternatively, each time you open the main ToolBox page or the Interactive Code page, the system automatically checks the license status and will notify you if there is a problem.

License Expiration and Warning Period

The ToolBox checks your license status each time you open a main ToolBox page. The behavior depends on how close you are to the expiration date:

License State	Condition	Behavior
Active	More than 14 days before expiration	Full functionality, no warnings
Warning period	Within 14 days of expiration	Full functionality, but a warning is shown
Expired	Past the expiration date	License is removed, ToolBox reverts to trial mode

When the license expires:

The stored license key is automatically deleted from IsolatedStorage.
The ToolBox enters trial mode with restricted functionality.
In a SaaS sandbox environment, all features continue to work because sandbox does not require a license.
In production or on-premises environments, write operations are blocked until a new license is registered.
The Expired ToolBox page appears, explaining that your key has expired and providing a link to purchase a renewal along with a field to enter a new key.

Renewing a License

To renew your license before or after it expires:

Purchase a renewal or new license from https://www.hougaard.com/product-category/toolbox/.
You will receive a new registration key via email.
Open the ToolBox Setup page and choose License.
If your current license is still active, choose the Change License button. This opens the key entry page where you can enter the new key.
If your license has already expired, the registration key field is displayed automatically.
Enter the new key and press Enter to validate it.

Removing or Changing a License

Removing a License

If you need to remove the current license (for example, to transfer it to another environment):

Open the Register ToolBox page from ToolBox Setup > License.
Choose the Remove License button in the footer bar.
Confirm the action when prompted: "Remove the current license and fallback to trial license?"
The license key, product code, and expiration date are deleted from IsolatedStorage.
The ToolBox reverts to trial mode.

Changing a License

To replace the current license with a different one:

Open the Register ToolBox page from ToolBox Setup > License.
Choose the Change License button in the footer bar.
A new page opens where you can enter a different registration key.
Enter the new key and validate it.

The About ToolBox Page

The About ToolBox page provides version information and useful links. To access it:

Open the Erik's ToolBox main page.
Choose the About action in the action bar.

The About page displays:

Field	Description
ToolBox Version	The currently installed version of the Erik's ToolBox extension (e.g., 3.0.0.310)
AL Compiler Version	The currently installed version of the AL Compiler and Interpreter extension (e.g., 3.0.0.310)

The page also includes links to:

Documentation at hougaard.com - Opens the online documentation.
Support at hougaard.com - Opens the support page.
Purchase a license at hougaard.com - Visible only when unregistered; opens the purchase page.

Sandbox vs. Production Licensing

One of the key advantages of Erik's ToolBox is that it operates with full functionality in a SaaS sandbox environment without requiring a license. This allows you to:

Evaluate all features before purchasing.
Develop and test scripts in a sandbox without license constraints.
Train new users in a safe environment.

When you move to a production environment, you need to register a license to continue using write operations and the full feature set. If you open the ToolBox in a production environment without a license, you will see a notification: "This version of Erik's ToolBox is not registered, this is not available in a production environment without a license."

Troubleshooting License Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
"Please enter a valid registration key"	The key is not in GUID format	Verify the key format and re-enter
"Cannot contact the hougaard.com license checker"	Network issue or HttpClient disabled	Enable HttpClient requests for the extension and check network connectivity
"Please activate Allow HttpClient Requests"	HttpClient calls are blocked	Go to Extension Management and enable Allow HttpClient Requests for the ToolBox
"This license key is not for Erik's ToolBox"	Wrong product key	Contact support@hougaard.com
"License key cannot be used"	Key rejected by license server	Contact support@hougaard.com with details
License expired unexpectedly	Expiration date passed	Purchase a renewal at hougaard.com