Hi,

We are trying to architect a Occassionally connected smart client solution for following business scenario:

1. The product would be sold to medium sized companies, which have there own network.

2. The product would published/installed to the server.

3. The end users should always get the latest updates of the software.

4. There should be control on the number of the clients/end users the product can be installed to.

Can Clickonce be used for (#3 & #4)? Specifically how do we control the no of insatllations / licensing part?

In case there are any updates to the product, how do we ship it to the individual companies (#2) ? Can we automate the clickonce publishing in an MSI? (similar to the VS 2005 publish wizard)

Thanks in advance,

YT

I don't know if this answers your question but here is my solution to a similar problem:

The software that the users download is a 'trial' version (that expires in x days) of the software with an "Unlock" menu item.  Upon entering a serial number (a guid) the software checks with a web-service and authorises the application.  I then know how many people have registered the software and also if i send some form of GUID for the system then I know the number of pc's and can therefore restrict the installations.  You can store the registration stuff in the registry (or an xml file inside the System directory) so if the software is updated then the information to use it still exists so should never again enter trial mode.

Enjoy,

-james