IDEA: DC InventoryPoster

[AbteriX]

For many support question and error reports
 it's always the same re-question: "What OS do you use", "Language settings", "Code page?", "Which graphic adapter?", "How many RAM?"

Well, there are many info tools who could answer that question.

My idea is to automate this behaviour:

i think about an little exe
that collect by double click (or hot key?)
all the answers and
paste it to the clip board. (Then user should be notified of the end of this action)
Then the user can simple paste the info's into an forum.

There should be a INI where user
can select what info should be collected
and how should the be formated (one long line with all items, on item each line, ....)


>?<
Maybe is a GUI for to select  ad-hoc witch info should be copied better?
[ ] Processor  [ ] IP-Address
[ ] RAM         [ ] Graphic
[ ] Swap
Prefix [ (Spoiler=InventoryInfo) ]
Suffix [ (/Spoiler) ]
...
[collect and copy now]
<?>


For formating it would be nice to have an prefix- and suffix line too
for to add forum format syntax like [.B][/.B] or

Spoiler

I want to mention this tool on other forums that this is here available, would be an advertisement, isn't it?
Even is there is an about or an text-link in the gui like "Go to DonationCoder.com for more nifty tools"

.

[jgpaiva]

I see what you mean, but i didn't understand one thing. Do you want the program to be dynamic, i.e., to be the program to get all the information? This could be done with editboxes, you type your data and save once, then, on the next time you run it, you select the checkbox next to the editbox and paste it.

[AbteriX]

I see what you mean, but i didn't understand one thing.
Do you want the program to be dynamic, i.e., to be the program to get all the information?

-jgpaiva (April 05, 2006, 04:55 AM)

Yes

This could be done with editboxes, you type your data and save once,
then, on the next time you run it, you select the checkbox next to the editbox and paste it.

-jgpaiva

> you type your data and save once,
??? I assume the  novice user didn't know his data.

So this InventoryPoster should  check this data himself.

Or maybe we could adopt the data collected from an already existed application
(allen mention a rcFTP tool, .. on this webside was an inventory command line tool too,
or was it on the side of the command line renamer....hmm?  should i test this?)

Much better would be a all-in-one tool for making its easy for users:
- collect data - format - copy to clip board - notify user.

[AbteriX]

No! This tool i have meantion above was not good.



I want here collect a few facts what should be used as standard info for InventoryPoster:


----------------------------------------------------------
InventoryPoster by DonationCoder.com, visit us, u r welcome
----------------------------------------------------------
Select: [None] [All]            [Paste] [Save...]
----------------------------------------------------------
(*) Betriebsystem:            Windows 2000, Professional, SP 4
( ) Local-ID                    German (Germany) 1031 407
( ) User-Language           English
(*) Internet Explorer:        Version 6.0.2800.1106 (SP1)
( ) Microsoft .NET:           Version 1.0.3705.0
(*) Prozessor:                Intel Corporation  Intel(R) Pentium(R) III Mobile CPU      1000MHz
( ) Memory Physical Total:    511 MB
( ) Page File Total:           861 MB
(*) Free Disc space           1.256.942 MB
( ) Running process            45
( ) Video Adapter:             MOBILITY RADEON
( ) Resolution:                1024 Pixel x 768 Pixel

(*) Name and Version of the Program you report to: [Dr.Windows 1.5.02    ]
----------------------------------------------------------
Info line:  IP-Address - Diskspace free - Memory free
----------------------------------------------------------
Start HijackThis   |   Start SIW   |   Start CW-Sysinfo
----------------------------------------------------------



What else ?

[mouser]

i think its a brilliant idea, but im sure it already exists.
support centers often have users run such a tool.

but i dont remember the names of any free ones that do this - looking forward to seeing people post them.

[Perry Mowbray]

At the last place I worked I wrote a script that compiled the inventory and added it to a Network Database; it was dreadful how it grew: started off with IT asking what our computers' Processors and RAM was (we had about 100 at that time)... but once I got into the swing of collecting information... I just collected it all and ended up with a large Inventory Database!

 

So it could be done with a script as well!

[skrommel]

How about Windows XP's msinfo32.exe?

Skrommel

[Carol Haynes]

Which can also be opened via Start\Accessories\System Tools\System Information (for those who don't like typing commands).

By the way it is useful to note that if you use msinfo32 to collect this data using File/Save stores an enormous amout of info in an XML formated file.

The easiest way to get what you want is to cut and paste to a text editor. For example high light "System Summary" and then click on an item in the right pane. Tyle CTRL A and CTRL C then open Notepad and hit CTRL V to get just the basic summary info.

[AbteriX]

Did you see my first post that this should work for an average user?
And that it should be simple. And as an advertisement in forums for DC.com?
Is msinfo32.exe available on all windows versions?
Can we automating the export of the info's from msinfo32 with one mouse click?
Can we select desired lines from that export?
What is with info's msinfo32 didn't provide?
Can we put this info's than to the clip board automatically?

Come on guys, isn't there more? 

[Carol Haynes]

Did you see my first post that this should work for an average user?
And that it should be simple. And as an advertisement in forums for DC.com?

-AbteriX (April 06, 2006, 05:41 AM)

I think it should work for the average user, and it is simple.

Is msinfo32.exe available on all windows versions?

Yes as far as I know it has been available since Windows 98 at least

Can we automating the export of the info's from msinfo32 with one mouse click?

Not directly (it takes two selections from the edit menu - select all, copy) but you can select an info category, hit CTRL A then CTRL C to get it to the clipboard.

Can we select desired lines from that export?

Yes - click on the line and hit Ctrl C

What is with info's msinfo32 didn't provide?

Sorry don't understand the question

Can we put this info's than to the clip board automatically?

Yes, select all/copy

Come on guys, isn't there more?  :)

Yes there is loads more info in msinfo32, pages and pages of it ....  give it a try

[jgpaiva]

I think AbteriX isn't being properly understood.
The thing is: he'd like a fast tool, that would put a bunch of information about his system to the clipboard, with a given format.
The problem with using the windows utility you mentioned is that it takes a few clicks every time.
How can this be solved?
A utility that the first time that is ran, opens msinfo32, gets all the information it needs, and the next time it is ran, it lets you select what information to copy, and how to copy.
Does this sum it up,  AbteriX?

[AbteriX]

..., and it is simple.

-Carol Haynes

No, it's not. One have to remember the file name msinfo32.exe and type this in the "Run..." dialog. (into what???)
Or one have to remember the way through the hole start menu. And there is no advertisement for DC.

I think AbteriX isn't being properly understood.
The thing is:
- he'd like a fast tool,
- that would put a bunch of information about his system to the clipboard,
- with a given format.

-jgpaiva

msInfo32 or not. I suggest an three-click solution.
1) start the K.I.S.S-InventoryPoster
2) choose the desired info, launch other tools for more detailed summary or visit DC.com
3) paste your info's into the forum

see here for more...
Since such info's are often needed we could give this tool as give-away to users in other forums and spread the word of mouser.