Checking for Existing Toad Product License Keys Without User Interaction (4378098)

Administrators or automated systems may need to verify the presence and validity of Toad product licenses without requiring user intervention. Manually checking each user's license information can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially in large deployments.

Toad products store their license information in the ProductLicenses.xml file. This file is located at:

C:\Users\<Windows User ID>\AppData\Local\{08439167-4CA5-48E9-A810-A3A7C0B80B06}

This file is generated during the initial software installation. Subsequent installations will update the existing file with the latest licensing information.

By programmatically accessing and parsing this XML file, it's possible to retrieve license details for any user of Toad products without requiring them to be actively involved.

Modifying XML Files Remotely:

1. Remote File Access (e.g., SMB, SSH): If the target machines are accessible via a network share (SMB) or SSH, scripts can be used to copy, modify, and replace the ProductLicenses.xml file. For example, using Python's shutil library or command-line tools like scp (for SSH) or xcopy (for SMB).
2. PowerShell Remoting: PowerShell provides robust remoting capabilities. You can use PowerShell cmdlets like Invoke-Command to execute scripts on remote machines, including scripts that modify XML files using PowerShell's XML handling features.
3. Configuration Management Tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef): These tools are designed for managing and automating system configurations across multiple machines. They can be used to distribute and apply changes to files, including XML files, ensuring consistent configuration across your environment.
4. Custom Scripting with WMI or REST APIs (If Available): If the target systems expose WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) or REST APIs for file management, these can be used for remote modification.

Important Considerations:

• Permissions: Ensure that the account used for remote access has the necessary permissions to access and modify files on the target machines.
• Security: Use secure protocols (e.g., HTTPS, SSH) for remote communication to protect sensitive information.
• Error Handling: Implement robust error handling in your scripts to handle potential issues such as network connectivity problems or file access errors.
• XML Structure: Be mindful of the specific structure of the ProductLicenses.xml file. Incorrect modifications can lead to application instability. It's recommended to back up the file before making any changes.