Issue with 404 when trying to activate workbook

You cannot access the activation URL directly in a web browser for security reasons. Only a POST method is allowed and this is done by your XLS Padlocked EXE app. Then, please also run a test to verify that the .htaccess rewrite rule works. If you are on NGINX, you have to configure rewrite rules yourself (see our guide about that).

I'm not trying to access from a web browser. I'm getting the error inside Excel when trying to activate. Here's the page not found error inside of excel when trying to activate.



Here's the rewrite config in my Nqinx I have setup.


Also I have set debug to true, however it doesn't generate any logs. I've created the log DIR and given permissions. Do I need to create the app.log file itself?

It's normal that nothing is written because the Page not Found (404 error) is due to an incorrect NGINX rewrite rule.

From the guide:

NGINX, be sure to convert the rewrite rules available in .htaccess to import them into your NGINX configuration.
See https://www.nginx.com/blog/converting-apache-to-nginx-rewrite-rules/
This involves editing the server configuration file, typically located at `/etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain` or
`/etc/nginx/nginx.conf`. Inside this file, you'll need to include `try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;` within the server
block to handle the rewriting. Ensure that you restart the NGINX server after making changes for them to take effect.

Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I've amended teh nginx configuration to include location. Now I'm getting a 405 error.

Now i'm getting a corrupted data error. What could this be from?

This means that one of your setting in workbooks.json is incorrect and it does not match the setting in your XLS Padlock project file. For instance, Application GUID.

Thanks for the response. There is no guid in workbooks.json there’s on master key and private secret key and product id

Hi, there is no direction anywhere to put a GUID in the worksbooks.json file.
This is from the docs, there's no mention whatsoever of GUID????

{
"products": {
"13": {
"title": "My workbook title",
"xlspadlockprivatekey": "{6363CDED-3E14-465A-9E96-5B52C356F6CD}",
"xlspadlockmasterkey": "Pupil Markbook Sub Secret 112",
"variations": {
21: {
"usehardwarelocking": 1,
"maxactivperorder": 2,
"keymaxdays": 180,
"shownagscreen": 0
},
22: {
"usehardwarelocking": 1,
"maxactivperorder": 4,
"shownagscreen": 0
},
}

Thanks for the help. All working now

I'm having issues with Bitdefender blocking the connection when a user tries to activate the workbook. Do you have any workarounds or known issues with anti-virus software, and how to whitelist a workbook without having to do it in the aniutvirus software itself.

Bitdefender can block EXE files due to its firewall or advanced threat defense features. Unfortunately, there’s no way to whitelist an app without interacting with the antivirus software itself. However, here are a few workarounds and best practices that might help. For instance, you can code sign your EXE file or switch to the EXE+XLPAPP bundle format in XLS Padlock.