Reviewed July 2020
One of the key data elements of the software license and key is the "maint. expir." date. The "maintenance expiration" date works like this:
• Regardless of the expiration date, A-Shell will run properly; the maintenance expiration date has nothing to do with the normal running of A-Shell. A-Shell will keep running forever, regardless of the maintenance expiration date—unless you try to update, as explained in the following notes.
• The expiration date has only to do with your ability to update A-Shell.
• As long as the expiration date has not passed—i.e., your software maintenance is "current"—there are no restrictions or limitations on your ability to update A-Shell.
• When the expiration date is in the past, then your ability to update is limited. The general rule is: don't update A-Shell if the maintenance expiration date is in the past.
More specifically, here's how that works:
• When A-Shell runs, it checks its own release date against the maintenance expiration date. If the A-Shell date is newer than the expiration date, then A-Shell will run, but it judges the software license to be invalid. An invalid license means that A-Shell will operate only in demo mode, which in turn means that only one user is permitted and annoying "nag" messages appear frequently.
• Note that the comparison of the A-Shell date and the expiration date do not involve today's date. In other words, it doesn't matter when you perform the update; what matters are the dates of A-shell and the expiration date.
Practical Concerns
I just got a new A-Shell license. Must I install it?
No. You should install it, so that when you check the status of your A-Shell license, it shows the same date as your most recent authorized license. However, you don't need to install it unless/until you are planning to update your A-Shell software.
My license has a maintenance expiration date of 15 October 2019. Can I install the latest update?
No. The latest version of A-Shell is more recent that 15 October 2019. Therefore, if you install that update, the date of the A-Shell program will be more recent than your expiration date, and A-Shell will revert to demo mode.
My license has a maintenance expiration date of 15 October 2019. What version of A-Shell can I install?
Anything with a release date before 15 October 2019. Check the A-Shell History documentation, and determine what is the newest version of A-Shell that was released before 15 October 2019. You can install that version of A-Shell, or any one that is older.
I accidentally updated A-Shell to a version that's newer than my license, and I'm now able to run only in demo mode. What do I do?
Contact MicroSabio or the firm from which you bought A-Shell, and get an updated license. Once you install the new license, with an expiration date in the future, A-Shell will run in licensed mode.
If you are unable or unwilling to install an updated license, then you can try installing an older version of A-Shell. Check the A-Shell History documentation, and install a version of A-Shell with a release date before the maintenance expiration date on your license.
How to I check the maintenance expiration date?
Get to the A-Shell prompt and enter LICENS or ABOUT. In A-Shell/Windows, you can also check Help...About on the menu bar.