Key Articles
New Licensing Model for Control Projects
 Following
feedback from users in the field, we are pleased to announce an
important change to Stardraw Control's project licensing model.
Previously a Project could be licensed by purchasing and entering an
Unlock Code within Stardraw Control.
The licensed status of the Project was stored within the
Project itself and from a licensed Project you could compile
executables and copy those executables to the computer that runs
your control system.
Although this licensing model was simple in principle, we learnt
that certain required and legitimate tasks could be problematic.
In particular, backing up, moving and editing licensed
Projects on different computers could sometimes lead to licensing
issues.
The solution is a move from a Project license model to a Machine
license model. The Machine is defined as the computer where the
standalone executable or the server executable will be run. This
means that you no longer need to license a Project, but instead you
license the computer, or ‘machine’, that runs the control system,
typically at the client’s premises.
The advantages on a Machine licensing model are numerous:
- No more Project licenses!
You can generate an executable from any project at any time.
- You can run any generated executable on any
machine for up to 30 days for testing and demonstration purposes.
- Any generated executable will run with full
functionality on your development machine (i.e. with your Stardraw
Control dongle plugged in).
- You need only purchase an unlock code when you
finally deploy your completed control program and need to license
the Machine on which it will run.
- You can edit projects on multiple development
machines without worrying about transferring licenses.
- In client/server deployments, only the Machine
running the server executable requires a license.
Client executables can be run on any machine; no license or
security sub-system is required on the client machines as the server
executable manages the permitted number of concurrently connected
clients.
To deploy Machine licensing is simplicity itself:
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Step 1
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Install the
Stardraw Machine Licensing application.
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Step 2
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Copy your generated executable to the target machine.
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Step 3
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Use the Stardraw Machine Licensing application to purchase your Machine license.
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A great deal of thought has gone into the preparation of this new licensing model and we are confident that it offers
advantages over the previous model for everyone in all scenarios and at every stage of a project, from pre-sales through
development, commissioning and maintenance/support phases. If you have any questions about this or any other matter
related to Stardraw Control please email techsupport@stardraw.com.
Stardraw.com Achieves Highest Microsoft Partner Status
 Having attained Certified
Partner status only a matter of months ago, we are pleased to announce that Stardraw.com has now attained Gold Certified Partner
status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing Stardraw.com’s expertise and
impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Stardraw.com has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft
technologies and a proven ability to meet customers' needs.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive
advantage in the channel and affording the opportunity to partner more effectively both with Microsoft and other Certified Partners.
"We have had a strategic relationship with Microsoft for many years and have used Microsoft technologies since the launch of the first
Stardraw application in 1992," said David Snipp, CEO of Stardraw.com. "We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner
level in the Microsoft Partner Program now. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our
customers, not least because of the requirements of the Microsoft Partner Program."
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Stardraw.com had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft
Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for
a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the
specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Certified
Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft
technologies. Proof of this competency in Stardraw.com’s case included independent testing of their multi-award winning application,
Stardraw Control 2007, to ensure full compliance with Microsoft Vista and an independent survey of customer satisfaction.
"Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy,
corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers
through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with
ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an
important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."
Snipp added "Gold Certified Partners are members of an exclusive family and Stardraw.com is exploiting early access to exciting new
technologies due for release later this year and in 2009. The recognition we have gained through the Microsoft Partner Program is
not only important in view of past achievements but is a key factor in our strategy for delivering outstanding software solutions in the future."
Integrating Stardraw Control and Global Caché - Free Webinar
 Please
join Global Caché and Stardraw.com for a training session on how to integrate and use our products together. After a
presentation and product demonstration, participants will be able to submit questions for discussion.
Stardraw Control 2007 is the multi-award-winning, open-architecture, universal control platform that allows you to
control any hardware over any protocol. Customized User Interfaces can be created and programmed without writing
any code, and your control systems can be deployed using off-the-shelf core components to maximize flexibility and
minimize cost. Stardraw Control fully supports and is optimized for use with the Global Caché GC-100 series.
Global Caché manufactures products that enable technology in homes and businesses. The award-winning GC-100 Network
Adapter provides the means for network-based automation and management software to access, control, and deliver
services in a networked environment to diverse and previously unconnected devices and appliances.
We hope you'll join us and see how products from both of these innovators can make your life easier!
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Title: |
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Training: Integrate
Global Caché and Stardraw |
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Date: |
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 |
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Time: |
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8:30 AM -
9:30 AM PDT |
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Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now by clicking below:
Product Training Available at InfoComm
Stardraw.com is again proud to be an exhibitor at InfoComm. Training classes
for Stardraw products are taking place in conjunction with the show - act now
to reserve your place. Courses available are as follows:
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Stardraw Audio 2007/Stardraw AV 2007 - All Levels |
Topics: |
Creating schematics, rack layouts & sales presentations
Modifiers, Fastkeys and Shortcuts Tips and Tricks for Power
Users Creating and managing Symbols Libraries Data Sources
and Reporting |
Date: |
June 17th 2008 |
Time: |
9am - 1pm (Doors open 8am, Breakfast & Lunch
included) |
Cost: |
$299 per person |
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Stardraw Control 2007 - Intermediate Class |
Topics: |
Creating powerful user interfaces Controlling products by IR, Ethernet, RS232
Creating and editing infrared drivers Variables and Conditions |
Date: |
June 17th 2008 |
Time: |
2pm - 6pm (Lunch provided at 1pm) |
Cost: |
$299 per person |
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To reserve your seat please
email info@stardraw.com, or call Scott Messler on 1 800-982-7709
(toll-free)
Or, to register for any Stardraw training event please follow the link below:
Stardraw Control Advanced Training at Computerlinks
We are delighted to announce that an Advanced training
course will be held on July 2nd. This course is ideal
for those Stardraw Control users who want to exploit the full power
of the multi-award-winning universal control platform, and is a
required element in becoming a Certified Stardraw Control Programmer.
Topics: |
Creating Drivers for Devices using RS232, Ethernet, DMX etc
Scripting
Events
Gateway devices
Bi-directional communications & asynchronous I/O
C# programming concepts including the following:
Datatypes, iterations, conditional execution, classes,
external references
Calculating checksums, CRCs, hex, ASCII, binary
Calling legacy code & existing drivers
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Date: |
July 2nd 2008 |
Time: |
10am - 4pm (Lunch included) |
Venue: |
COMPUTERLINKS UK
Suffolk House,
Fordham Road, Newmarket
Suffolk CB8 7AA
t: +44 (0)1638 569 600
Map and Directions |
Cost: |
£349 per person + VAT |
To reserve your seat please register
online. Note that attendees should have previously attended both
Introductory and Intermediate classes. For these and other Stardraw training events please follow the link below:
Upcoming Events
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Show: |
InfoComm |
Venue: |
LVCC, Las Vegas, NV, USA |
Dates: |
June 18-20 |
Booth: |
3809 |
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Show: |
CEDIA UK |
Venue: |
Excel, London, UK |
Dates: |
June 24-26 |
Booth: |
J10 |
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Show: |
CEDIA |
Venue: |
Denver, CO, USA |
Dates: |
September 4-7 |
Booth: |
121 |
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Show: |
InfoComm Asia |
Venue: |
HKCC, Hong Kong |
Dates: |
November 19-21 |
Booth: |
5M2-01 |
Symbols Updates
In May the following libraries were updated
in one or more of Stardraw's design/documentation
applications (Stardraw Audio 2007, Stardraw AV 2007 and Stardraw AV Lite 2007). Click
on a manufacturer name to see full details of that library, or click on a
link at the bottom of the page to update your application
with the latest symbols.
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