Do all developers need a license?
Every developer who actively uses AlterNET Studio to develop and compile applications requires a license. However, end-users and testers of the final application do not need separate licenses.
Can I activate on multiple machines?
Each license comes with three activations. This allows you to install it on your primary computer, a laptop, and potentially a build server.
Can I transfer my license to another developer?
Yes. It’s recommended to deactivate your license on the old machine before activating it on a new developer’s computer. You can do this using the LicenseActivation.exe -deactivate tool found in the AlterNET Studio program folder. For updating license information or requiring more activations, contact AlterNET Software’s sales team.
How do I activate my license?
Once you purchase a license, you’ll receive a License Key. To activate, run the LicenseActivation.exe tool located in in the AlterNET Studio program folder and enter the key. You can also activate during installation.
Do you provide node-unlocked licenses?
For specific scenarios like protected environments, multiple build servers, or Azure Pipelines, we provide node-unlocked licenses. These are copied to a specific folder (default: ProgramData\AlternetSoft\Licenses). You can change this location using the ALTERNET_STUDIO_LICENSE_DIRECTORY environment variable.
Do I need to pay you royalties if I use AlterNET Studio components in my application?
No royalties are charged for redistributing AlterNET Studio components within compiled applications. Refer to the License Agreement’s “Redistributables” section for a list of distributable DLLs. However, applications using AlterNET Studio components must be compiled with a valid license for distribution.
Please refer to our License Agreement for more information
What benefits am I getting when I renew my subscription?
When you purchase AlterNET Studio, you will receive AlterNET Studio annual subscription alongside your AlterNET Studio perpetual license.
Perpetual License grants you the right to use AlterNET Studio indefinitely, while AlterNET Studio Subscription entitles you to receive 12 months of free upgrades to any subsequent releases and premium technical support services, providing you with direct access to AlterNET Studio’s experts for assistance and troubleshooting. Renewal prices are typically lower than purchasing a new perpetual license.
After the 12 months, you may choose to renew the subscription and receive another year of free upgrades. If you choose not to renew, you can still use the last version of AlterNET Studio you acquired with the perpetual license. However, you won’t receive any new updates or features.
Can I continue to use AlterNET Studio when my subscription expires?
Yes. The perpetual license you purchased grants you ongoing access to the version of the software you received. However, keep in mind that you won’t receive any further upgrades to newer versions with bug fixes and new features. These will only be available with a renewed subscription.
If you need to renew your subscription after it lapsed, please contact AlterNET Software’s sales team
I’d like to order AlterNET Studio license. What are the steps?
Go to the AlterNET Software website and locate the Buy page.
Choose the appropriate license option based on your needs and click the “Buy now” button.
Proceed to the checkout page and enter your billing information and confirm your purchase. For convenient access to your order history, consider creating a user account during the checkout process.
After you place your order, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing details about your purchase and the next steps. You’ll typically receive a license key within 24 hours, which you’ll need to activate your AlterNET Studio license.
I am an existing customer and would like to renew my subscription. What should I do?
If you have an existing subscription, navigate to the “AlterNET Studio Subscription and Renewals” section on our Buy page and select one of the options: Renew or Subscribe. To renew a subscription, you must have an existing license. If you’re unsure about the status of your subscription, please contact AlterNET Software’s sales team
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept payments by Visa/MasterCard and Apple Pay directly on our website. Additionally, we accept PayPal, which handles other credit card types.
If you’re representing a company, you can submit a purchase order. For larger transactions or specific requirements, wire transfers to AlterNET Software’s bank account are an option. Contact our sales team for banking details.
Do you offer multi-developer discounts?
Yes, AlterNET Software offers tiered discounts for teams purchasing 5 or more licenses. If you need licenses for multiple developers within your organization, site licenses may be a cost-effective option. To learn more about multi-developer discounts and site licenses, please contact our sales team.
How can I get support, and what is the response time?
There are two main ways to get support for AlterNET Studio:
Support Forum: Join our community forum to discuss issues and find solutions with other users and developers.
Email: For more direct support, send your questions to the AlterNET Software’s support team.
The team strives to reply to all support questions within one business day. However, it’s important to note that response times can vary depending on the current workload of the support team.
If you’re considering purchasing AlterNET Studio, pre-sale support is available to answer any questions you might have before buying.
Technical support from AlterNET Software is available to developers with active AlterNET Studio subscription.
I found a bug found in your product. Will you provide a hotfix?
Yes, we generally provide either a workaround or a hotfix for reported bugs. However, there are exceptions:
Some bugs may require additional development and testing. In these cases, we aim to include the fix in the next service pack.
Important Note: Hotfixes and workarounds are part of the premium support services included in your AlterNET Studio subscription.
Do you provide a source code for AlterNET Studio?
Yes. The universal edition of AlterNET Studio includes the complete source code, including a design-time code.
Can I modify the source code that you provide?
You can modify the provided source code. However, maintaining these changes becomes your responsibility when applying future updates or fixes from AlterNET Software. Extensive modifications might affect support availability for your altered source code.
While you can modify the source code, AlterNET Studio doesn’t provide its strong key for signing the modified assemblies. You’ll need to use your own strong key and update the .licx files accordingly.
Can I distribute my projects compiled with modified sources?
Distributing your projects compiled with modified sources is allowed, as long as you don’t repackage and redistribute AlterNET libraries as competing products. You will also need to sign modified assemblies with your own strong key file, as we do not provide ours.
Redistributing the source code itself is strictly prohibited unless you have an OEM license and written permission from AlterNET Software.
Can I debug the AlterNET Studio source code?
Debugging the AlterNET Studio source code is possible. We provide PDB files along with the source code, which you can add to Visual Studio Symbol (.pdb files) locations at Tools > Options > Debugging > Symbols.
You may also choose to disable Enable Just My Code and Step over properties and operators (Managed only) in Debugging General Settings for a better debugging experience. Please refer to this article for detailed instructions
You can also reference our .csproj files in your solution, allowing you to stop on breakpoints in the AlterNET Studio source code.
How do I build source code?
The Universal edition includes Visual Studio 2022 compatible solution files for building the source code.
While AlterNET libraries use a strong key not provided to users, you can compile the source code with your own strong key created using the sn.exe command-line utility included in Microsoft .NET Framework SDK. Refer to the readme.txt file for detailed instructions on obtaining the new public token after building with your key.
This new token needs to be updated in your project’s .licx files to use a public token of a newly created strong key.