Activating and deactivating Flare

[qtxasjo]

I'm the only tech writer at my company and I'm using Flare to create our documentation, we have one Flare license. I'll be leaving soon for a six-month maternity leave and one of my colleagues will be responsible for the most urgent updates of the documentation, that is, updating exising files and publishing. If there are any more advanced issues, like updating the CSS files, table styles, importing etc, I think I'll have to do these myself from home.

I have been planning to deactive Flare on my laptop before I leave so that she can activate it on hers but what if I need to do some work from home? Is it possible to deactive Flare on her computer at work and activate it on my laptop at home for a short time period and then back again when I'm done?

[RamonS]

Talk to MadCap and get an official response. From what I recall you can install Flare on multiple systems and use the one license as long as you use only one instance at a time. This may be restricted to the same person, but MadCap support knows better than I do.
Another option would be to transition Flare to a VM / PC that can be connected to via remote desktop. While you are out your coworker can use that and if needed you can connect from home to that system. Sure, that could also be your coworker's computer, but while you are logged in she would not be able to use her computer at all, which is probably not desired.

[Robotman]

My understanding, from Flare, is that you can activate the Flare licence twice - as long as it's not on the same domain. So if you activate it at work and at home, you should be able to use both. What I don't know is if you can use the same licence at the same time.

If you do enter the world of virtualisation, ensure the MAC address does not change as you'll encounter licensing issues as we did.

As noted, chat to Madcap. They'll point you in the right direction.

[qtxasjo]

I had just assumed that you'd need a maintenance plan (which we don't have) to get support like that from MadCap but after your replies I emailed MadCap, and, as usual, they excel when it comes to customer service. I have already received a reply and happily enough, the solution is very simply and I don't need to even think the word virtualisation (phew).

In Flare 8, it's possible to deactivate and reactivate the license any number of times, so if my coworker needs my help she can just deactivate the license on her computer (from the Flare Help menu) and I can activate it on mine. As soon as I'm done, I deactivate it and she reactivates it again.

[rob hollinger]

You can deactivate it on your laptop so your co-worker can activate it on their machine.
Once you get home - log onto your home network(not your domain) - Then activate the product. This way both versions are active and working correctly.
Then VPN in and work from home (cannot both have Flares open at the same time).
If you run into issues - email customerservice@madcapsoftware.com and explain you need to deactivate your license from either machine and provide your License key.
They will clear the key here (usually within an hour or so) and let you know its ready to be used.

There have been some issues using Flare through a VPN connection. Ive found its much easier to open a VPN connection, then Remote into my computer and use Flare like that. Possible you could remote into your co-workers system if needed and use Flare on it.

Just some ideas to help take the stress off of working while on leave.