[RetailEdge Moderator]

The simple answer is that RetailEdge is $450 (client/dataserver) for the first workstation in a location and $225 (client) for each additional workstation in a location. When you purchase RetailEdge you will receive a key that plugs into a USB port on your computer. This will "activate" the client and allow it to run and post data to the dataserver. Under the current licensing you can install RetailEdge client licenses on as many workstations as you want in a location.

However, if RetailEdge does not detect the USB software key (dongle) attached to the computer, it will run in Demo Mode. Demo mode will allow the program to run. However, if you have exceeded the preset limits on the number of customers, transactions, or inventory items, you will able to only view data and run reports. The ability to post new information will be disabled.

The current demo preset limits are:
1. 100 Sales.
2. 200 Inventory Items.
3. 100 Customers.

If you want to use a RetailEdge workstation for simply checking the daily sales or running reports you do not have to purchase an additional workstation license. Just install the program on a workstation and run it in demo mode. Some people run RetailEdge without paying for an additional workstation license and just move the dongle around when they want to post data on another computer.

The more technical answer is that RetailEdge is a client server application. That means that there are 2 pieces to the program, a client and a dataserver. For a simple single register operation, you will install the program with the client and server. The dataserver runs as a Windows service which is always running on your computer and waiting for requests from a client. The client (the exe that you run as the application) knows how to talk to the dataserver and when you perform an action in RetailEdge, the client is making requests and posting data to the dataserver. On a second computer you would typically install only the client (although there are reasons to install another server (see http://retailedge.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=938) When you first run RetailEdge on this computer, RetailEdge will fail to run because it will be looking for a dataserver on the local computer. RetailEdge will then display the server settings form asking for you to enter the IP address of the dataserver. You would then enter the IP address of the computer where the dataserver is listening for data requests from the client. As above, if RetailEdge does not see the USB key attached to the local computer where the client is running it will run in demo mode.