Q: I don’t use Microsoft Visual Studio, can I use the NumXL SDK and still get support?
A: Yes, we will definitely do our best to answer your questions that is not tool-specific.
Q: I wish to use NumXL with XYZ language, but I don’t see a wrapper library for it. Are you going to build one?
A: The SDK is a collaboration between our engineers and users. Once we establish the demand for new languages, we will create a project repository on GitHub and invite you and others who expressed interest in this SDK to join. We hope and encourage you and everyone interested will help us with development and testing.
Q: Where do I find examples for using the different functions in NumXL?
A: The installation package for the SDK includes several examples (found here) and the project on GitHub includes more examples to download (see here)
Q: I have a technical issue/question with the SDK, who do I contact?
A: Whether you’re looking for answers, would like to solve a problem, or just want to let us know how we did, you’ll find many ways to contact us right here:
Phone: | +1 312.257.3777 |
E-Mail: | suppo.nosp@m.rt@n.nosp@m.umxl..nosp@m.com |
Please view our FAQ to find answers to your questions or send us an email for general questions!
We’ll help you resolve your issues quickly and easily, getting you back to more important things, like relaxing on your Lazy chair.
Q: I have a problem with a particular NumXL function. How can I contact engineering at Spider Financial?
A: You can raise your issue with our support at suppo.nosp@m.rt@n.nosp@m.umxl..nosp@m.com. We will try to answer your question or escalate it to engineering if needed. In all cases, we will help try to help you in the most efficient way possible.
Q: Can the wrapper DLL or the extension libraries trigger an exception in my application?
A: If you are using the official release or branch for the SDK, then the answer is no. If you build your own from the latest development, we can’t guarantee it won’t trigger an exception. The wrapper and extension libraries are developed in collaboration with users outside our company. Before we cut an official branch, the source code is peer-reviewed and guidelines (e.g. no-exception) are enforced. The same can’t be said on the development branch.
Q: Does any of NumXL functions raise an exception?
A: No. NumXL functions report the status of function via the return value. All exceptions (C++ or Win32 structured) are trapped (caught) and processed early on inside the function. In sum, you don’t have to trap any exception while calling NumXL functions.
Q: My application is multithreaded. Are NumXL functions thread-safe?
A: Yes. All NumXL function are thread-safe. You may invoke multiple NumXL functions from different threads, or have multiple threads concurrently invoke one function. To avoid log messages of the different threads getting mixed up, the thread unique identifier is stored alongside with the log message.
Q: My customer has question about a value computed in NumXL, can they contact NumXL Support directly?
A: Yes. Our NumXL support requires the vendor or developer to initiate the support request because we may require additional information about the implementation of that particular function in the custom solution.
Kindly request our vendors and developers to do the following:
Q: Are all NumXL runtime executables digitally signed and secure? Should I sign my application too?
A: Yes. All our DLL are securely digitally and signed with our code-signing certificate. Also, all 3rd Party libraries are code-signed by their vendors.
You don’t have to digitally sign your custom application, but we highly recommend it. Customers will not receive pop-up windows warning about unknown publishers.
Q: Do I need a NumXL license to develop with the NumXL SDK? Can I request a free trial?
A: Yes, you’ll need a valid NumXL license for each developer. For evaluation purposes, you can request a free 14-day trial license from our support staff at suppo.nosp@m.rt@n.nosp@m.umxl..nosp@m.com.
We recommend installing the NumXL add-in on the developer station. So that the developer can share the license key and have the ability to test the NumXL functions from Excel for comparison.
Q: Who should purchase the NumXL license? The customer or the developer?
A: The customer or the vendor can acquire a NumXL license.
Q: Can someone tamper with the licensing system in NumXL? Why not?
A: We have applied the best practices (cryptography) to make it very difficult to break, but not impossible for a determined mind with infinite time and resources.
Q: Can I use the NumXL licensing for my application(s) licensing needs as well?
A: Yes. We made the License API available to you, so you can query the system as you see fit. With NumXL licensing, you can restrict who can use it and how many machines (i.e. activations) it can run on. For the time being, NumXL licensing does not monitor or enforce concurrent usage of the software.
Q: Does the machine need to be connected to the internet to activate the license key?
A: No. The machine does not need to be connected to the internet. You may activate the software using the online web form from a different computer.
Q: How do I (re) activate the license key programmatically?
A: use the sflmgr.exe utility in the sdk
Q: How do I query the license key, activation code, and/or expiration date programmatically?
A: In the licensing system, there are several functions that does just that: SFLUC_LICENSE_KEY, SFLUC_LICENSE_EXPIRY, etc.
For more details and/or examples, please refer to the Licensing section in the reference manual.
Q: My customer’s license is about to expire. How do I get it renewed?
A: After the license key is renewed, you will need to generate a new activation code for each machine and copy it in the NumXL.lic file.
As a vendor, you may generate the activation codes for your customers using the online webform and send them a new NumXL.lic file to copy into your application folder.
Q: What is the additional deployment cost for my application?
A: In general, each machine running your custom application needs a NumXL license, and you many run multiple applications on that machine using the same license key.
To acquire a NumXL license, you or your customer should go to our website (www.spiderfinancial.com) and place an order for a number of NumXL licenses that match your deployment environment (i.e. machines). Spider Financial offers different subsciption terms and discount programs. For more details, please visit our pricing page online .
For server applications with more than 20 concurrent users, please contact us for pricing.
Q: How can I get an additional discount?
A: We offer volume, non-profit/academic/government discount programs which can bring down the cost significantly.
Furthermore, you may join our agent/affiliate program and earn commission on every NumXL license you or your customer purchase. To learn more about the affiliate/agent commission rates, contact us.
Q: How much does NumXL SDK cost?
A: $0; there is no additional cost for NumXL SDK.
Q: My customer is a government/academic or non-profit organization, do they qualify for any discount on NumXL license?
A: Yes. Your customer qualifies for 25% discount. To receive the discount, either you or your customer needs to contact us at suppo.nosp@m.rt@n.nosp@m.umxl..nosp@m.com for discount coupon code.
Q: Do I need a separate NumXL license for each developer? Is there a discount for multiple licenses?
A: Yes. Each developer needs a separate NumXL license key. Spider Financial offers a variety of discount programs and a volume discount can be used when multiple licenses are bought together.
For more information on volume discount, please refer to our pricing page on Spider Financial website.
Q: Can I use NumXL and my custom application at the same time?
A: Yes, NumXL license is issued on per user basis, so you may run NumXL and any number of custom applications developed using NumXL SDK on the same machine using only one license key.
Q: Where can I get more information? How do I start?
A: First, read through our online "getting started" guide and "reference manual". Next, try the sample programs included with the Download "SDK packages" and/or in the GitHub project repository. Finally, you can contact our support staff with any question or issue you may have.
Q: Can I use the NumXL function in my application for Mac?
A: NumXL runtime environment (NRE) runs only on a Microsoft Windows operating system. It won’t run on Mac OS X.
Nevertheless, NumXL and NRE run perfectly in a Windows Virtual Machine (VM) on top of Mac or Linux.
Q: I don’t wish to disclose to my customers that I use NumXL for analytics, how can I go about it?
A: If you don’t wish to disclose to your customer that you are using NumXL for analytics, you (the vendor) will need to purchase and activate the license key.
Furthermore, you may wish to rename the license file to something else. See this article for renaming the license file
Q: How often does Spider Financial update the NRE and the SDK?
A: The NRE is officially released in sync with our NumXL add-in product. The SDK is reviewed and branched using the same timeline. Nevertheless, the latest development (trunk) on the SDK continues after that.
Q: Can my custom application be an Excel add-in? Are there any restrictions to the type of application I can use the NumXL SDK with?
A: Yes; there is no restriction on the type of the application you are using NumXL SDK with be it utility, server, add-in or specialized SDK/API.
Q: Who else is using NumXL SDK?
A: We can’t disclose the list of vendors without their explicit permission. If you wish to contact few of them, let us know and we’ll request their permission to share their information.