IDEA: software that asks all x minutes for an action

[wong]

hello,

does anyone know a software that asks all [xx] minutes for an special action, e.g. pressing strg+y.
sometimes the screensaver will not start, because a media player or other software prevents it from starting or the cat runs over the keyboard...

many thanks!

[skrommel]

I didn't understand that. Please say again, and louder.

Skrommel

[wong]

hello,

i will try again

1. it knocks on the door. you see special unit from three sides entering the house. you leave the workstation and forget to press [windows] + l, so the station is not locked.

2. if activated, the screensaver starts after x minutes of inactivity and locks the station, so you have to enter your password to login. the account is locked.

screensaver activation starts not if a media player is running (suppresses screensaver while playing video, and sometimes also in audio mode). there are many possible reasons which prevents screensaver from activation.

now i am searching for a piece of software, which is able to
start an action (e.g. lock station)
if an action of me is missing (e.g. pressing [ctrl] + x or a mouse gesture)

for example, every 5 minutes it sounds a wav, so i know i have to press [ctrl] + x, if not the software locks the station.

[jgpaiva]

I see what you mean, wong. But be careful, what you're looking for can be EXTREMELLY annoying, specially when watching movies.

[mouser]

This sounds to be a very good idea actually - could be quite useful.

[CodeTRUCKER]

Good thoughts!  It would be a very helpful function, especially if one wants to avoid having to go through the password dialog to keep working.  I sometimes get distracted researching in books, discussing with colleagues, etc. only to turn around and not see what I last saw on the screen.  This could really help with that bother. 

[jgpaiva]

Ok.. Here's LockWorkstation:

LockWorkstation v1.0 released 03-01-07:

Locks the Workstation after a predifined amount of time

[Forum Topic] [.ahk Version] [.exe version] [About Box]

It has several interesting features, just check the about box

[mouser]

locking the workstation is nice but does it do the main thing wong asked for?
i.e. give you a warning first and a few seconds to cancel the lock?

[jgpaiva]

locking the workstation is nice but does it do the main thing wong asked for?
i.e. give you a warning first and a few seconds to cancel the lock?

Oh.. I didn't understand correctly what he meant. Now adding that

[jgpaiva]

Updated:

LockWorkstation v1.01 updated 03-01-07:

Locks the Workstation after a predifined amount of time

[Forum Topic] [.ahk Version] [.exe version] [About Box]

Now features a noise before locking the workstation. If you touch something (mouse or keyboard) within 5 seconds, it won't lock. You can use whatever .wav you like, just remove the LockWorksation.wav and replace it with another sound.
(this feature can be disabled through the .ini file, just set Lock_Warning to 0)

[jgpaiva]

And... Updated again.

LockWorkstation v1.02 updated 03-01-07:

Locks the Workstation after a predifined amount of time

[Forum Topic] [.ahk Version] [.exe version] [About Box]

Added another icon (with an open lock), so that now the tray icon can change when the script is disabled.
Added explanations in the .ini file.
Added a traytip which comes up when the script is about to lock.