Activating Flex Automation Libraries

Question

To "turn on" or "activate" the automation libraries for a SWF, a valid Flash Builder Pro license key needs to be compiled into the SWF. If you don't compile your SWF with a valid FB Pro license, you'll end up seeing a "License not present. With the trial version only limited records are allowed" error:

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Background: I have a licensed version of Flash Builder 4.5 and I'm using Flex SDK 4.1. Watch what happens in the following examples:

Example #1 - Building my project using a licensed version of Flash Builder 4.5 with 4.1 SDK (http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/flexsdk/Download+Flex+4) FAILS to "turn on" the automation libraries. See Test41 project.

Test41 project found here (view source enabled): http://www.flexdevelopers.com/examples/license/41/Test.html

Example #2 - Building my project using a licensed version of Flash Builder 4.5 with 4.5 SDK (comes preinstalled with Flash Builder 4.5) SUCCEEDS to "turn on" the automation libraries. See Test45 project.

Test45 project found here (view source enabled): http://www.flexdevelopers.com/examples/license/45/Test45.html

Two different results. Hmmm, maybe that has something to do with my REAL problem:

My REAL problem: My SWF is not being compiled directly by Flash Builder but rather by ANT using the MXMLC and COMPC compilers found in the 4.1 SDK. These compilers "read" the flex-config.xml file.

So, inside flex-config.xml I've added this:

    <licenses>
        <license>
            <product>flashbuilder45</product>
            <serial-number>xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx</serial-number> <!-- this is my 4.5 license key -->
        </license>
    </licenses>

That didn't work. So I tried the "derived" serial number as discussed here (search for the word "derived"): How to properly define the Flashbuilder 4.5 Premium license for a maven flexmojo based build?

    <licenses>
        <license>
            <product>flashbuilder45</product>
            <serial-number>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</serial-number> <!-- "Derived" sn number found in license.properties file -->
        </license>
    </licenses>

That didn't work either.... My guess is that I'm using a 4.5 serial number against a 4.1 SDK...and that's no good.

Besides upgrading my SDK to 4.5, anyone have any ideas what I can do to "activate" my SWF to handle automation using a Flash Builder 4.5 license, ANT, the 4.1 SDK compilers and flex-config.xml?

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 05 '11 at 23:26

Here's the answer:

I eluded to this in my question.

If you're using the Flex 4.1 SDK and you want to "activate" your SWF for automation, charting, etc. Then you have to do this:

Compile your SWF using a licensed version of Flash Builder 4 WITH a Flash Builder 4 license key

OR

Compile your SWF using ANT, MXMLC, COMPC, flex-config and add this to flex-config:

<licenses>
<license>
<product>flashbuilder4</product>
<serial-number>xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx</serial-number> 
</license>
</licenses>

If you only have a FB 4.5 license key and you're using SDK 4.1, I guess you have no choice but to upgrade to SDK 4.5+.

I also wrote a little more on the subject here: http://blog.flexdevelopers.com/2012/01/testing-for-flash-builder-pro-license.html — Jeremy Mitchell, Jan 16 '12 at 18:06

Activating Flex Automation Libraries

1 Answers1