Abstract: A process of creating software key files, the software key files being adapted to bind a plurality of software programs to a hardware key without the programmers of the software programs knowing in advance the responses of said hardware key. The process includes an instruction file for a software program containing instructions on what codes will be transmitted to the hardware key by the software program and describing where the software program will look in a file for responses transmitted back by the hardware key. A description file contains formula descriptions of the responses of the hardware key, and a software key creation program reads in the instruction file and following its instructions, creates a software key file containing hardware key responses, responses to codes listed in the instruction file and calculated according to the formula descriptions in the description file.