License manager

The primary function of DiffPlug's license manager is to never impede a customer. To ensure that's the case, DiffPlug's license model is flexible and simple to understand. You don't have to choose between a floating license or a node-locked license - DiffPlug only offers one kind of license, and you can lock it to a single machine or share it between multiple people, with some simple limitations described below.

The license model is essentially a daily-active user limit. If you expect to have 10 different people using DiffPlug in a single day, then you'll need 10 licenses. If you need to stretch your licenses further than that, you have the option to lock a license to a single computer which could then be used by multiple people.

User activation vs machine activation

A DiffPlug feature license allows either one user or one machine to use the feature for the duration of the license.

You can switch a license between a user activation and a machine activation at any time. It's the same license - user vs machine are just different ways to activate it.

*simultaneous sessions on a single networked machine are not allowed - sequential access only

We do not offer an on-premises license server. However, we do support offline activation for air-gapped or firewalled computers using an easy method of copy-pasting a magic URL to a web browser.

How do I activate a license?

Most of DiffPlug is free, so when you first start DiffPlug you don't need a license. When you need a licensed feature, DiffPlug will let you know.

The license manager will walk you through your options, but this manual will walk you through the process with screenshots so you know what to expect.

Copy-paste activation

After clicking Use copy-paste instead DiffPlug will give you a magic URL to open in a web browser. If the computer you are activating is air-gapped, it's fine to open the URL on a different computer.

When you paste that URL into a web browser, it will show you which licenses you have available.

After picking a license and an activation type, it will give you a code which you need to copy-paste back into DiffPlug.

Once you paste this code back into DiffPlug, your license will be activated and you can continue on your way! When it comes time to deactivate or extend your activation, you can use the same copy-paste procedure.

Username and password activation

When you first create your DiffPlug account, it doesn't have a password. You can login to your account just by clicking a magic link in your email, so you don't ever need a password if you're only using copy-paste activation. But if you want DiffPlug to automatically checkout and return licenses for you without any action on your part, then you'll need to create a password.

If you're already logged-in, you can do that on the settings page, or if you're not logged-in you can use forgot password.

Once you've got a password, you can enter it into DiffPlug's keyring.

Now that DiffPlug has your password, you can activate and deactivate licenses without copy-pasting a magic URL into a web browser.

How do I share a license?

The first step is to create a team. Go to the settings page, then scroll down to My teams. Type a name for your team and click Create team.

Now you can invite your teammates by typing in their emails. When you invite a teammate, they will get an email that automatically creates their account when they click the link. Only administrators can invite other users to the team, and you are automatically the team administrator for any teams that you create.

Let our sales staff know which teams you would like your licenses to be assigned to. Everyone on the team can use those licenses. If you select User activation, then DiffPlug will automatically return licenses to the team pool when DiffPlug closes.

Proxy and firewall settings

DiffPlug attempts to detect your proxy settings automatically, but your proxy may require a username and password. If DiffPlug has any connection problems, you will automatically be prompted to Debug connection and proxy settings, which will open this dialog:

If you are not being prompted but you want to examine the proxy settings anyway, you open them from the license manager by clicking here:

More options

License manager

DiffPlug will automatically open the license manager when it is necessary. If you'd like to open it manually, open the command console with Ctrl+Shift+P, then type License Manager.

Air-gapped activation

The best way to activate an air-gapped computer is with a standard copy-paste activation, described above. However, this requires copying an approximately 300 character alphanumeric code from the air-gapped computer to the public internet. If that is not possible, then you can select More options..., then Air-gapped activation. You will be presented with the dialog below which is more amenable to pen-and-paper. However, this method obviously does not allow User (aka floating) activations.

Legacy licenses

DiffPlug's old license management systems are deprecated, and are not guaranteed to exist in future versions of DiffPlug. We recommend that you migrate to the new license manager at your earliest convenience.

In the meantime, click More options..., then Legacy xml license.

Licensing emergencies

Sometimes things go wrong - maybe somebody locked the machine to their computer and then spilled coffee on it. Just let us know at [email protected] and we'll reset your license right to make sure it's available again. But if it's the weekend and we don't see your email right away, there is an emergency workaround. Select More options..., then Emergency temporary activation. You will be presented with this confirmation dialog.

As the dialog indicates, this is not a long-term solution to your licensing problem. But if you're in a licensing pinch, our license manager will never stop you from getting your work done.