Licensing and evaluation

This guide explains the different licensing options available for GroupDocs.Total for .NET and how to properly set up licensing in your applications.

Overview

GroupDocs.Total for .NET offers multiple licensing options to suit your needs:

  • Free Trial for evaluation
  • 30-day Temporary License
  • Purchased License
  • Metered License (pay-as-you-go)
Note
For detailed information about our licensing policies and frequently asked questions, please visit the Purchase Policies and FAQ section.

Evaluation Options

Free Trial

The evaluation version is identical to the purchased version and becomes fully licensed once you set the license. However, it includes the following limitations:

  • Evaluation watermark on output documents
  • Page processing limits (varies by product)
  • Other product-specific limitations

Temporary License

For testing without trial limitations, you can request a 30-day Temporary License:

  1. Visit the Get a Temporary License page
  2. Follow the instructions to request your temporary license
  3. Apply the license using one of the methods described below

License Application

Important Notes

  • Set the license only once per application domain
  • Set the license before using any GroupDocs.Total classes
  • Multiple calls to SetLicense are safe but unnecessary
  • Multiple calls to SetMeteredKey should be avoided to prevent improper consumption tracking

License File Locations

You can apply licenses from various locations:

  • Explicit file path
  • Same folder as GroupDocs.Total.dll
  • Same folder as the calling assembly
  • Same folder as the entry assembly (.exe)
  • As an embedded resource

License Application Methods

1. From a File

string licensePath = "GroupDocs.Total.lic";

// Set license for all products
GroupDocs.Total.License.SetLicense(licensePath);

// Or set license for specific products
GroupDocs.Viewer.License licenseViewer = new GroupDocs.Viewer.License();
licenseViewer.SetLicense(licensePath);

GroupDocs.Conversion.License licenseConversion = new GroupDocs.Conversion.License();
licenseConversion.SetLicense(licensePath);

2. From a Stream

string licensePath = "GroupDocs.Total.lic";
using (FileStream licenseStream = File.OpenRead(licensePath))
{
    // Set license for all products
    GroupDocs.Total.License.SetLicense(licenseStream);

    // Or set license for specific products
    GroupDocs.Viewer.License licenseViewer = new GroupDocs.Viewer.License();
    licenseViewer.SetLicense(licenseStream);

    GroupDocs.Conversion.License licenseConversion = new GroupDocs.Conversion.License();
    licenseConversion.SetLicense(licenseStream);
}

3. As an Embedded Resource

To use an embedded license:

  1. Add the license file to your project
  2. Set its Build Action property to “Embedded Resource”
  3. Ensure the license name matches the parameter in SetLicense
// Set license for all products
GroupDocs.Total.License.SetLicense("GroupDocs.Total.lic");

// Or set license for specific products
GroupDocs.Viewer.License licenseViewer = new GroupDocs.Viewer.License();
licenseViewer.SetLicense("GroupDocs.Total.lic");

GroupDocs.Conversion.License licenseConversion = new GroupDocs.Conversion.License();
licenseConversion.SetLicense("GroupDocs.Total.lic");

4. Metered License

For pay-as-you-go licensing, use the Metered License option. For more details, see the Metered Licensing FAQ.

string publicKey = ""; // Your public license key
string privateKey = ""; // Your private license key

// Set metered keys for GroupDocs.Viewer
GroupDocs.Viewer.Metered meteredViewer = new GroupDocs.Viewer.Metered();
meteredViewer.SetMeteredKey(publicKey, privateKey);

// Get consumption metrics
decimal amountConsumed = GroupDocs.Viewer.Metered.GetConsumptionQuantity();
decimal creditsConsumed = GroupDocs.Viewer.Metered.GetConsumptionCredit();

// Set metered keys for GroupDocs.Conversion
GroupDocs.Conversion.Metered meteredConversion = new GroupDocs.Conversion.Metered();
meteredConversion.SetMeteredKey(publicKey, privateKey);

Troubleshooting

License File Naming

  • You can rename the license file as needed
  • Ensure the filename in your code matches the actual file name

Common Issues

Can’t find a license file

If you’re setting a license file using a relative path and encountering issues, try using the absolute file path instead.

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