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Support Knowledge Base, Article 840

Product

ExcelWriter

Version

ExcelWriter for Windows, version 5 and higher

Title

Error: General license key exception: No valid license key found

Problem

When trying to create an instance of the ExcelApplication or ExcelTemplate objects, the following error is returned:

ASP

Template Object:

Error Type:
SoftArtisans.ExcelTemplate.1 (0x80020009)
General license key exception: No valid license key found.

Application Object:

Error Type:
SoftArtisans.ExcelWriter.1 (0x80020009)
General license key exception: No valid license key found.

ASP.NET

Template Object:

SoftArtisans.OfficeWriter.ExcelWriter.:
Cannot open template file [path to template file]
Message: General license key exception: 
Error retrieving product key: 
General license key exception: 
Product key not installed: 
(SoftArtisans.ExcelWriter [ General license key exception: 
Error retrieving product key: General license key exception: 
Product key not installed ] )

Application Object:

System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: 
General license key exception: 
No valid license key found.

ExcelWriter for Windows, version 5 and higher, requires a license key entry to be present in the registry at runtime. (Previous versions of ExcelWriter did not require a key, rather separate installations were provided for the all of the editions of both the evaluation and retail versions of ExcelWriter.) This key is inserted into the registry when ExcelWriter is installed via the auto-installation package. If you install ExcelWriter manually by only registering the COM dll and/or copying the.NET assembly, the necessary license key will not be found at runtime.

Solution

This error occurs when when a valid license key is not associated with the installation of ExcelWriter. The solution is to run the LicenseManager utility and add the license key to the registry. If you choose to install ExcelWriter manually, then you will need to copy the LicenseManager utility to the server as well. This utility is a file named "LicenseManager.exe" and during the auto-install, is typically unpacked to: "C:\Program Files\SoftArtisans\OfficeWriter\". Double-click on this file to run the utility and add your license key for your installation of ExcelWriter. After adding your license key, restart IIS so that the registry changes can take effect.

If you cannot locate your license key please contact Customer Service (see http://www.softartisans.com/contactus.html for contact information).