Todd

I just read your posting on Statler Sisters -"The Matter of Encryption --The Controller Number is the Wrong Number" but found it adding more confusion to the topic. Is it a Wrong Number or is your proposal an Alternative Better Number?

First, I totally agree with your points in your item one about the need and purpose for encryption.

However in your item 2) I think you needed to preface your remarks by being more specific about there being a choice of encrypting to the controller # versus what you describe as encrypting to the red/black key. For the "normal" case, a new statler user will encrypt using the controller number and no interaction with the pattern author is needed. Your proposal using the red/black key approach sounds like you have to go back to the pattern author for encryption for each pattern you purchase. How many authors would agree or like to do that? Sounds like extra steps.

I also found your statement "Just keep your key and pass on the new one with the old system" to be unclear. Are you saying if you upgrade your system discard your new key and just use the old key with your new system.

Please advise.

Thank you

@Kathie,

Using the controller number does work (as we have all experienced) but the 'red-key' number is the one that needs to be used. I've worked with many customers personally over the years on this issue. I strongly recommend that all users - new or old - use the red-key for reasons I stated in the blog post. There is no advantage for any Statler user to make use of the controller number. When working with a pattern author, you simply give them the key number instead of the controller number. They don't even need know which you are giving them, the encryption process is identical for the them either way. The only real issue comes to existing Statler owners. They will need to weight the advantage of risking to continue to use the controller number and deal with the headaches of re-encryption if the needed v.s. dealing with re-encryption now and switching to using the key number. I can't say to all pattern authors, but I (we) have no problem doing this for customers.

As far as the a new system, the new key is not discarded. It will go with the original system. But essentially you have the right idea. In this case (because you use the key number instead) you can forgo messing with the patterns. One note, if you agree to sell the pattern library you have built up with the old system, then that key would need to go with that system instead.

It can seem confusing. I have watched the confusion grow over the years as the misconception has been perpetuated that you need to only use the controller number. Here's the history behind it all. The key is what we call a 'dongle' in the software world. I used them as a Drafter with AutoCAD. Embroidery software uses them. It is there to restrict you from installing and using the software on many computers. One dongle... one instance of the program can run at any time. So the primary purpose of the key number is to protect CreativeStudio from being used to run other non-statler systems. The controller number is simply the serial number of the CnC controller card found inside that large white or black box on the floor. (the MOD E or F or G etc..) Ok.. now rewind to oh.. maybe 2003-ish. Paul Statler contacted many authors of pantograph patterns and wanted us to make patterns for the Statler. Many of us resisted the idea since in digital format anyone could share the pattern (just as they did with music and Napster). So Statler when to work creating an encryption system for patterns. The software guys at Statler realized that there are at least two unique numbers on every system. The software dongle and the controller card. When you load a .pat, .csqx, or .projx - CreativeStudio checks the decrypt against either number. If one works you are good to go. So you see... either number will 'work', but the red/black dongle key thing is more stable and is more convenient for the end user. There is no difference for the pattern author. The one snag is the older Statlers with the 'parallel' dongle. Users with that dongle who want to use the key number will need to contact Statler to upgrade the dongle to USB. I think it ends up being $100.