Messages

1

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: January 08, 2007, 07:29 AM »

Oops. Sorry for the confusion.

Ok, installed the new one. First of all got an error MySQLProv provider was not registered on the local machine. So I googled the error and was pointed to download the MyOLEDB driver. Which I did and installed, but now I'm getting up a MySQL Data Source Name Setup dialogue looking for the host name, db name, user name & password. Which I fill in using the same details as in the sqldb text file. Then I get the error
"Usage Monitor
No error information available: E_FAIL(0x80004005)"

2

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: January 08, 2007, 03:03 AM »

Just says "SQL Server does not exist or access denied"

I'm using the ODBC connector in win 2k and the test there says connected ok.

One thing, the db is MySQL, not SQL. Not sure if that makes a difference.

3

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: January 05, 2007, 09:34 AM »

Still struggling to get it to connect to the mysql server. I've installed the ODBC driver and I'm trying to get it to work through that.

4

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 21, 2006, 04:20 AM »

I'll try both. Cheers

5

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 20, 2006, 09:41 AM »

When it asks me for the database password when I start the app, do I use plain text or the md5 hash?

6

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 19, 2006, 05:17 AM »

I'll give it a go this afternoon and let you know.

Cheers

7

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 15, 2006, 06:24 AM »

Excellent. No rush. Like I say it's working away fine at the moment.

8

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 15, 2006, 05:30 AM »

Sorry about that!

I can set up the table however it needs to be set up. I have a mySQL server running some other software on the network and I can add the stuff that the usage monitor needs to that.

I suppose all it'd need would be a two field table for Computer Name and Usage Monitor State. Then the prog could write say a 1 for inactive, a 2 for active and a 3 for paused?

9

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: December 14, 2006, 10:33 AM »

Hey Ruffnekk.

That's working perfectly for me. I've had it on my client machines for just over a week now and it's making my life a lot simpler!

How're you coming with the mySQL connection?

10

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 30, 2006, 05:34 AM »

Thanks. I did have a little trouble

I have four pcs called feale1, feale2 etc as their computer names.

But if I can specify the table/field name in sql, can't I just point each system to a different field?

11

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 30, 2006, 04:59 AM »

That's excellent. My current db uses a username/pw. The external file would be ideal.

12

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 30, 2006, 04:40 AM »

Absolutely fantastic. Encrypted passwords? Formatted text? You've outdone both yourself and my expectations. Now all I need is for it to make my coffee in the morning

I mentioned back in my first post that I'd like to integrate it with a sql db on my network. I'm not asking for you to do this, but what would the best way to go about it? All I'd need to have it do is change a number in one table field eg 0 for stopped, 1 for paused, 2 for started

13

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 29, 2006, 07:54 AM »

No probs. Thought you'd lost interest!

14

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 28, 2006, 09:26 AM »

How we doin?

15

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 24, 2006, 07:05 AM »

Not Necessarily. Text would be fine.

One more thing.
I just left it running for a while there and the second count seems carry on after the first minute? ie 60 at first minute, then 120, then 180 etc

16

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 24, 2006, 06:59 AM »

Sorry, yes, windows key.

About the text display could you set it up to pull text from a text file? Be handy if I could change that myself rather than having it hardcoded. I'd mean I could use it for Usage instructions and rules, and also for stuff like latest promotions and network outages.

17

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 24, 2006, 06:37 AM »

Ruffnekk - Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.

I set up a test machine and installed your app. It's damn near perfect! That password prompt is an excellent idea.

Couple of changes and I'd be happy as larry:
- Hide the taskbar (Form1) entry - maybe in system tray?
- When I hit the keyboard start button on the START page, the start menu appears. Maybe someway to disable the start button til START is clicked
- Possible to display Last Session Time on START page once stop is clicked?
- Possible to configure either an image or text to display on the START page?

18

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 24, 2006, 05:59 AM »

I actually have something like this already. It's a manual system and it works fine, but it's only usable by me, not by the users.

19

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 23, 2006, 07:34 AM »

Thanks tinjaw, but I don't want to limit the time people are on the system, I am trying to make money out of them, after all!
All I need is something to let the user know how much time they are using.

I'll try that ruffnekk, thanks

20

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 23, 2006, 05:24 AM »

Sorry, didn't make it clear from the original post. I mean hiding them. Make the inital screen cover the whole of both dekstop and startmenu/taskbar/systemtray

21

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 23, 2006, 05:11 AM »

It's pretty much purely to let the user know how much time they've been on the machine, both during the session and a total time at the end.

Workstations are running win2k and I can lock them down pretty well. The app doesn't need any security other than to disallow access to the desktop/start menu.

22

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 23, 2006, 03:48 AM »

It would except that the info page has been taken over by a turkish hacker

As I've said, I've looked at tons of these programs and none do the job as simply as what I'm requesting.

I already have software for the counter sales and cash register. It's just the client machines I need this for.

23

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 20, 2006, 07:34 AM »

Believe me, I've looked, but none are this simple. They all require server administration and include stuff like counter sales and customer management.

24

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 18, 2006, 05:30 AM »

No takers?

25

Post New Requests Here / IDEA: Simple PC Usage Timer

« on: November 13, 2006, 07:55 AM »

Idea for a simple internet cafe user administation prog.

Starts from a full screen, always-on-top, non-resizeable, uncloseable (maybe with a password?) window (hides desktop & start menu) with a big button saying START. Maybe a configurable image displayed from a jpeg to show the company logo.

Clicking start resizes & moves the window to bottom right above the taskbar with Pause & Stop buttons (not always-on-top) and a timer counting up in minutes from when START is clicked.

Pause button re-maximises the window, pauses the timer and puts a CONTINUE button up.

Stop button re-maximises the window back to START again, and displays total session time.

Maybe with a view to integrating it with a SQL db on my network that will store computer names and session times.