License Keys
DocOrigin is a licensed product. In order to have full use of the product you require a license.
Evaluation Spoiler Stripe
The primary usage of DocOrigin is to do document generation. If you have a copy of DocOrigin, but do not have a valid license then the generated documents will all have a rather large "E v a l u a t i o n" stripe across them. Once you have a license, that spoiler is not generated.
License Key File
The license is embodied in a key file (.xkey or .key) that you receive from the seller. It is placed next to the Merge executable, i.e. in the .../DO/Bin folder of wherever you chose to install DocOrigin. Starting with version 3.0.003.29 (early 2015) the key file formats changed somewhat and newer .key files began to be used. The older .xkey files continue to work, but will gradually be phased out. There is no requirement to switch to the newer format.
Time-Limited Evaluation License
It may be that you have requested and received an "Evaluation License" which means that it is time-limited and that the Evaluation spoiler stripe will return after a certain amount of time.
Permanent License
If you have purchased a license, then your key file is 'forever'. You can run the version of the software that you have installed forever. The spoiler stripe will never come back.
Maintenance and Support
However, Maintenance and Support (M&S) privileges are not forever. They must be paid for according to your negotiated purchase agreement. M&S means that you can not only get support but that you can get product version updates with fixes and new features. If you let your M&S expire then you no longer have any entitlement to new product releases. The one you have will continue working but new releases would show a spoiler stripe.
Product Release Issue Date
Product releases each have an 'issue date' embedded within them. You can download and install new product versions whenever you wish. As long as the issue date of that product version precedes the expiry date of your M&S agreement, you will be able to use that new software version and not encounter a spoiler stripe. However, if you let your M&S agreement lapse but install a product release with a later issue date, then you will get the spoiler stripe again, since you would not be entitled to product updates at that point — having let your M&S agreement lapse.
A product release that is running in your shop today will continue to run without need of a new key file. That is regardless of whether you let your M&S agreement lapse. If you do let it lapse then you won't be able to use any new product versions (versions issued after the date that your M&S lapsed.)
No Need for New Keys Unless Upgrading
There is no requirement for you to get a new license key file every time (annually) you renew your M&S agreement. You may need a new key file when you want to upgrade to a new product version. Whether you need one or not depends on whether the issue date of the new product release is later than the M&S expiry date encrypted in your current license key file. Assuming that your M&S is paid up-to-date there is no further charge for getting an updated key file. In fact with versions since 3.0.003.22, if you have internet connectivity, then you can get a key that reflects your latest M&S agreement expiry date simply by running: DO Merge -renew
Of course, the M&S has had to have been paid, received, and recorded.
Temporary Emergency Keys
Facilities exist for you / your distributor to get temporary keys to tide one over across some emergency situation. If your system does not have (is not permitted) internet access then contact your distributor for keys (temporary and permanent).
Keep M&S Up-to-Date
DocOrigin is under constant development. New features come into being frequently. Fixes, as required, are quite prompt. However, it is your choice as to when you wish to upgrade to a new release. That could be frequently or very infrequently, it's your choice. Note that recovering from a lapsed M&S state, so as to gain access to new features, is something you need to negotiate with your distributor. It could easily require that a whole new license be purchased.
