Activation and Deactivation of pdfToolbox

Main application window

To use any callas product on a computer, you need to activate it first. This is true if you have bought a license key but also if you want to run the trial software. This article explains how the normal activation procedure for pdfToolbox Desktop works and which steps you have to go through.

Launch the application. You will see the main window with a blue bar at the top (If you do not see a blue bar, go to Help > Activate callas pdfToolbox).

Alternatively, activation with the Acrobat Plugin

1. Activate the full version

If you have bought a license for callas pdfToolbox Desktop, click on the "Activate License" button. The Activation Window appears. Here you have to fill out your Name, Company, Email address and a valid License key. It is important to enter a valid email because the Activation PDF will be sent to that email address. You can enter the License Key by dragging and dropping your License PDF onto the lighter gray area. 

Afterwards click the "Next" button and continue with step 3.

2. Request a trial version

If you simply want to try the product, click on "Activate Trial License". The Activation Window appears. Here you have to fill out your Name, Company and Email address. You can select which version of the software you want to activate a trial for. It is important to enter a valid email because the Activation PDF for your trial will be sent to that email address.

3. The activation server will send you a reply to your e-mail address

After submitting your details, it will typically take only a few seconds to receive an email from callas software containing an attachment called "Activation.pdf". 

NOTE:  The Activation.pdf is only valid for 48 hours after being requested. After this timeframe, a new Activation.pdf has to be requested from the activation server.

4. Enter activation PDF

You can drag and drop that file onto the lighter gray area or copy paste the information from the email into the input field below. It is generally safer to drag and drop the file rather than copy-pasting the information. Dropping the file will result in the information being inputted into the field.

Click "Next" and your callas pdfToolbox Desktop will be activated. You can click "Close" and start using the software.

Activate pdfToolbox without internet connection

You can also install and activate callas software on a system that doesn't have an Internet connection. In order to make this work, you can do an off-line activation. Follow to normal activation procedure until the point where you have entered your details:


  1. Click on this "Details" button to get the activation information. 
  2. Click on the "Send via E-Mail" button to reveal the full email text that needs to be sent to the activation server. 
  3. Copy and paste this text into a text document and take it to a system where you have email access. Create a new email with the subject, content and "To" address as described.
  4. Once you receive the response email with the attached “Activation.pdf”, take this file back to the system without Internet access and use it to go through the rest of the procedure.

4. Use License Server

More information here.

5. Free tools

Deactivation

As the activation (and the resulting license file) is bound to the hardware, it is necessary to deactivate a license on one machine before an activation takes place on a new machine. 

  1. Launch the application.
  2. Go to "Help > About callas pdfToolbox".
  3. Click "Deactivate".
  4. Choose the product "callas pdfToolbox (Desktop)".
  5. Fill out your email address.
  6. Click "Next".
  7. Click "Yes".

After the procedure, your callas pdfToolbox Desktop license will be deactivated.

NOTE: The deactivation procedure is the same for DeviceLink Add-on Desktop (in step 3 you have to select the product "callas DeviceLink Add-on (Desktop)").