Evaluation and Licensing

GemBox.Spreadsheet works in four different modes:

• Free mode - free of charge, limited to 5 worksheets and 150 rows per worksheet.
• Trial mode - free of charge, randomly selected cells will have their value replaced with string TRIAL.
• Time Limited mode - free of charge, limited to 30 days.
• Professional mode - requires purchasing a license key, no limitations.

All modes use the same GemBox.Spreadsheet DLL so there is no need to reinstall the component when switching modes.

The first thing to do when coding with GemBox.Spreadsheet is to instruct the component in which mode it will be used. This is accomplished by calling SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense(String) method with the specific license key parameter:

• FREE-LIMITED-KEY, to use the component in Free mode.
• The temporary license key that you receive after sending us a request for Time Limited mode.
• The professional license key that you receive after purchasing GemBox.Spreadsheet, to use the component in Professional mode.

Important

SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense method must be called before using any other class from GemBox.Spreadsheet component.

Tip

SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense method can be called multiple times. What is important is that it is called with the same license key. Ideally, it should be called at the start-up of your application. For example, it can be called in a Main method, an application start-up event or a static constructor of your main class.

Evaluation

You can evaluate GemBox.Spreadsheet free of charge and for an unlimited time period, just download the component, install it and use it in Free mode.

Free mode delivers the same performance and set of features as Professional mode, with the following limitations:

• FreeLimitReachedException will be thrown when loading or saving a spreadsheet, if it has more than 5 worksheets and any of them has more than 150 rows.
• Spreadsheet content will be trimmed to first 5 worksheets and 150 rows per worksheet when loading or saving a spreadsheet, if you handle SpreadsheetInfo.FreeLimitReached event and set the FreeLimitEventArgs.FreeLimitReachedAction to FreeLimitReachedAction.Stop.

If you want to evaluate GemBox.Spreadsheet performance beyond the first 5 worksheets and 150 rows, then handle SpreadsheetInfo.FreeLimitReached event and set the FreeLimitEventArgs.FreeLimitReachedAction to FreeLimitReachedAction.ContinueAsTrial, as in this following code snippet:

• C#
• VB.NET

// Set license key to use GemBox.Spreadsheet in a Free mode.
SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

// Continue to use the component in a Trial mode when free limit is reached.
SpreadsheetInfo.FreeLimitReached += (sender, e) => e.FreeLimitReachedAction = FreeLimitReachedAction.ContinueAsTrial;

// Here goes your application specific code.

This option will enable you to read / write entire spreadsheet content, with the following limitation imposed on all cells after the first 5 worksheets or 150 rows per worksheet, whichever comes first:

• When loading / saving a spreadsheet - approximately 5% of (randomly selected) cells will have their value replaced with string TRIAL.

Licensing

If you have evaluated the component and are satisfied with it, you can purchase the license key to use the component in the Professional mode - without any limitations.

After purchase, the only thing you need to do is to replace FREE-LIMITED-KEY with your purchased license key in SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense(String) method call.

Note

There is no other installer or DLL for the Professional mode. You should continue to use the reference to existing GemBox.Spreadsheet DLL in your project when switching to Professional mode.

Professional mode also includes technical support with prompt bug fixes. For more information, see Technical Support.