.NET - General Parameters

The parameters described in this section relate to class constructors and methods displayed in the list of Methods available for protection.

Using the General tab, you can:

>Select specific class constructors or methods to protect (using the check box).

>Assign method properties to specific class constructors or methods. (When assigning these properties, click a row to select it. To select multiple rows, hold down the Ctrl key while you click each row.)

The fields and panes that are displayed on this page are described below.

Protection type

The type of protection to be applied to the .NET assembly.

Sentinel LDK Envelope supports the following protection types:

>Method-Level: Selected by default. This type applies high-performance protection at the method level using new technology.

>Only .NET Shell: This type provides assembly-level protection and encrypts the entire assembly.

>Method-Level & .NET Shell: Combines both Method-Level and .NET Shell protection.

NOTE

>The "Only .NET Shell" protection type only supports .NET Core versions later than or equal to 3.0. (For .NET Core Main assemblies, Linux support is also available.)

>In mixed-mode assemblies, Method-Level protection can only protect managed code. To additionally protect the native code, Method-Level & .NET Shell must be used.

>If the protection type selected includes .NET Shell, the .NET Shell Settings tab becomes accessible in the screen.

Methods available for protection

The pane displays a list of classes and methods that are available for protection.

This topic describes how to use this pane to select the specific class constructors or methods that you want to protect.

NOTE Certain limitations apply to methods in protected .NET applications.

You can click to refresh the list of displayed methods. This option is useful when the method list has changed while the project is open in Sentinel LDK Envelope.

You can filter the list of classes and methods to restrict the entries displayed. To filter the list, enter a value in the search list box above the list. Only methods with short names that include the specified string are displayed. You can also use the /private and /public keywords to display all the private or all the public items in the .NET assembly.

If no entries in the list are selected, executables are only protected with the global Feature ID.

NOTE A DLL cannot be protected when the check boxes for all items in the list are clear.

Actions that affect individual constructors or methods

To view the fully-qualified name for a method, hover the mouse pointer over the method.

Select an item's check box to protect it. Each item in the list has a corresponding icon to make its type easily identifiable.

NOTE You can only protect instance methods and entry points.

Actions that affect multiple constructors or methods or that affect the entire list

You can select or clear the check boxes for all items in a class or in the binary by selecting or clearing the check box in the appropriate entry within the hierarchy. Methods that you have locked (as described below) are not affected by this action.

Sentinel LDK Envelope selects all eligible methods in the assembly by default because the new protection engine eliminates previous runtime performance overhead. If you change or upgrade the program, Sentinel LDK Envelope automatically refreshes the method list. Locked methods are not affected by this action.

Locking elements

You can lock or unlock individual methods or entry points. You can also lock or unlock an entire classes or the entire binary. (The icon is displayed for locked items.)

Selecting or clearing a class or the entire binary does not change the selected or clear status for lower-level items that are locked.

To lock or unlock an item, right-click the row and then click Lock method.

To lock or unlock a class or the entire binary, right-click the appropriate row and then click Lock class.

Method properties

Highlight one or more of the protected items in the list to apply the properties described below. When you click an individual protected item, these fields display the values that were assigned for that item.