Keeping track of time...used by my computers

Try WinTimer & WinSleep from

http://www.wintimer.net/wintimer/products.aspx

and see if their software can suit your requirements.

Thank you. I will give it a look.

CA

In fact there are lots of such software you can find on the internet.

You can find the user's address and trace them, record their time and view their computer's content.

I dont recommend yuou use such software, its belong to Heck's action. if you feel it jsut funny, you can use ip searcher, scanner etc. most of them are free, can be download. easy to use with gui, as you hope.

If you want to chat or get some friends informaiotn on the net, you can use msn or yahooo chat etc, whenever your buddy surfing on the net, you know at once.

You cna also use you xp function of remote function to alow you control you buddyj;s computer, mean remote log on. it on your xp os. you can find it easily.

(if you ues such sottware frequently, you will be traced as well) so I advice you not to have such thought again.

(I may mistake your idea, if so, soorry)

Hi Power,

I think maybe you did...misinterpret. But that's okay. Maybe just drop in here from time to time and see the other responses. Maybe that will make clearer what I'm asking for. Maybe you have the real answer to the real question, but you do not know it just yet. But, I am not in a great hurry with this one. It could be you will come up with something later, no?

Thanks for your input.

CA

If the 1st thread is true, he can only show you a timer which can be done by your os itself.

I shall keep on watching from time to time to find new idea.

Do you ever use some command such as ping , traceer, etc.?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ping yahoo.com

Pinging yahoo.com [66.94.234.13] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 66.94.234.13: bytes=32 time=1165ms TTL=49

Reply from 66.94.234.13: bytes=32 time=1330ms TTL=50

Reply from 66.94.234.13: bytes=32 time=1126ms TTL=49

Reply from 66.94.234.13: bytes=32 time=1126ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 66.94.234.13:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 1126ms, Maximum = 1330ms, Average = 1186ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>traceer yahoo.com

'traceer' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>tracert yahoo.com

Tracing route to yahoo.com [66.94.234.13]

over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 2 ms <1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.1

2 2 ms 3 ms 1 ms yap-pm02-s46.telecom.fm [63.84.110.222]

3 434 ms 293 ms 422 ms 192.168.58.54

4 444 ms 409 ms 409 ms yap-cisco01.telecom.fm [63.84.110.1]

5 941 ms 921 ms 960 ms pohnpei-cisco01.telecom.fm [206.49.89.1]

6 881 ms 1081 ms 776 ms pohnpei-international.telecom.fm [206.49.89.

7 1204 ms 881 ms 1064 ms 202.161.128.49

8 1125 ms 1229 ms 1205 ms 202.161.130.14

9 1053 ms 1164 ms 1037 ms 202.161.130.49

10 1137 ms 1277 ms 1068 ms fe4-2.br01.sjo01.pccwbtn.net [63.218.7.201]

11 1080 ms 1171 ms 1228 ms yahoo.ge5-2.br02.sjo01.pccwbtn.net [63.218.7

]

12 1330 ms 921 ms 1125 ms ge-3-0-0-p270.msr2.scd.yahoo.com [216.115.10

9]

13 1232 ms 1126 ms 1023 ms ten-1-3-bas2.scd.yahoo.com [66.218.82.219]

14 1245 ms 1330 ms 1023 ms w2.rc.vip.scd.yahoo.com [66.94.234.13]

Trace complete.

Power and Willy,

Thanks guys. I'm not sure such a manually implemented approach (pinging) would suit my purpose; in fact, seems to me, it would only compound a problem that the software I seek would solve: by imposing yet another time-consuming task—and, one that would have to be repeated many, many times—the thing that the software in intended to eliminate or greatly reduce. And, it would not help in standalone/offline…. For highly repetitive tasks and logging, I would prefer to let the CPU and hard disc, not my fingers on keyboard and mouse, do the walking. I will post a new thread with a (I hope) clearer "picture" of what I'm looking for. Please give it a look

CA

Hi CowAnon,

Sorry! I don't intend to complicate the subject.

Simply I want to point out that my reply to cnpower's insinuation is irrelevant to the topic you want us input from.

I am also doing my search on a "time tracker" software as you call it to be, for my use. Hope that when we come upon it (CR4 whoever, you or I) maybe we can share. I will be watching this thread.

At present we are using the WinTimer but has limited capability (more on Internet usage monitoring).

Willy

It never was a problem! And I did fine the info to be informative and useful.

I did not see either or you inputs as irrelevant, only maybe a bit tangential, and a bit too pithy for my purposes

Anyway, whatever I learn from or give to this discussion will be here, for all to see.

CA

I seem to comprehens a bitter, I seem misunderstand top thread's concept.

thats why I suggest use thises commands to get some client's information on the net.

Now it seems to manage a virtual net and monitor clients' action automatically.

But the router can do the job, infact, sever has all recorders of clients action. administrator can monitor all these recorders.

Nope. Just looking for simple ways to track and retrieve computer & application runtime and document file open time information…nothing punitive, devious, or malicious.

While hardware is comparatively cheap, the accumulating, hidden costs of machine operation is not, especially for the individual/small-office user—those typically not processing massive amounts of data, in large batches, for a large customer base—and not having great leeway for passing on overhead cost (for unproductive computer use) to customers or gov't.

I seek, in addition to a ready facility for allocating costs, a rational way to "get a lasso on" the inevitable, unrelenting growth of computer operating cost—of unproductive computer use. For example, something that might inform…that a certain task is, or should be, more cost-/time-effectively done by leaving the computer turned off; or that the "on-line" mail ordering of a certain class of product will not exceed the cost (in money, time, lost opportunity) of three trips to two stores to find, purchase, see & touch, and bring the item home—the latter example being similar in some respects to attempting to purchase special purpose software on the Internet, as I am now attempting to do.

Of course, I realize that all these objectives are beyond the reasonable purview of a single discussion forum. For this reason, my purpose here and now is, hopefully, to survey some of the available, off-the-shelf, time-tracking products (based on CR4 Software Forum recommendations) – that in addition to considering alternative approaches that members might suggest. I would be examining, in particular, a suggested "time sheet" package for how conformable it is, or might be made, to a basic "time recording" hierarchy and routine, the concept of which I already have in mind. I will provide that hierarchy and program flow in another thread. The initial purpose of my survey will be to compare the available software products based on few basic criteria, including:

• Is it reasonably priced? (i.e., the price does not include presumed pass-through charges; or does so to a minimal extent.)
• Is it properly "sized" in terms of features and functionality? So minimal never-used capability is not "left on the hard disc."

I have given more thought to my initial inquiry, trying to find a more organized way to describe the time-keeping concept I want the software to implement. Here is a simple, cursory concept that I came up with….

Overview— The time keeping program--let's call it TimeTracker--is one that could execute and run, either automatically or on command. Once running, TimeTracker would be "responsible" for performing just a few basic functions:

• Opening and maintaining (in data base or other form) a Time sheet (optionally, background or on-screen) for the OS and for each user/activity in a hierarchy of computer "users"/activities.
• Assigning start/stop/runtime date/day stamps in association with predetermined computer activities, to be recorded in the Time sheet. (Reader please note: for purpose of simplifying this discussion, the "time monitoring" function is intended to be based, in stand-alone mode, on computer's calendar/clock. This is not to say that a network based functionality could not be incorporated—but that would be something for consideration in separate, follow-on discussions threads. …unless, of course, a Web-based service providing all of the functionality described here already exists.
• Facilitating (via user interface) time sheet (even What If?) queries and generating, or facilitating operator generation of, printable reports.

The flow chart would have gone here but the CR4 throws out spaces. So I'll have to go back and rework/reformat to get it to display properly, then come back and re=post again. Please stand by, sorry for the delay. (Aside: drat!)

Okay, CR4 doesn't like tabs for formatting either. Guess it'll have to be a photo. Back later...

Okay, there it is just below by Guest--sorry, forgot to sign in.

It's a bit rough but here's what to look for. There are two columns indicated by the down arrows. (The horizontal dotted lines are just placeholders so the columns would remain intact when published; no particular significance other than correspondence between column row entries.) The column on the left shows the Org-like hierarchy mentioned before, and the relation between live users and software applications which stand in lieu of live operators when started. Corresponding to "user" activities, the cardinal flow of time keeping processes and recording actions by TimeKeeper are indicated.

The idea behind giving "user" status to application programs (like Word, or Excel, etc.) is that starting such an application is essentially no different than starting to type or move a mouse in terms of time utilization and specific purpose. Likewise, opening a document could be seen as being the same as starting a task for a person--so that the elapsed time the document was open would be the time value owed by that user/person/client...

In order for (proprietary) TimeKeeper (program) to "recognize" an application or document as a "person" (whether it be a client or worker within the computer-owning Org) a file naming protocol would be needed...i.e., so that TimeKeeper would accurately "file" time stamp data in its data base for arithmetic processing, report compilation, etc. TimeKeeper could also be responsible for enforcing/assisting with the protocol.

A supplementary, or alternative, approach (respecting manner of data base) might be a capability by TimeKeeper to "fill in" the Properties Summary with appropriate file description, including punch clock/time sheet information in the Comments space. That would minimally allow computer user to manually compile labor hours spent, say, on behalf of a "client" &or for a particular project.

TimeTracker records Date/time Start/Stop stamps & ET's to work sheet file┐

....................................................... ......................................................↓

Administrator (or proxy) ↔ TimeTracker (start/auto start, running) .... [tracker start = sys start time]

....................................↓............................................................... [user logon =

................... Live Users ↓ .Application Programs (Un-Live Users) ..... live User start time]

............... Blue (Admin) ↓ .Excel.............................................................. ↓

............Red (input-ing) ↔ ..Word (executing) .................................. [Appl'n (Job) start time]

.......................... Green ↓ ..Browser......................................................... ↓

.......................... Violet ↓ ..Photoshop...................................................... ↓

...........................Other ↓ . .Power Point................................................... ↓

............... ................... ↓ .. Etc................................................................ ↓

................................... ↓ ....................................................................... ↓

.......................... (Red) ↔ ...Document start/open/save-continue .. [Specific task start time]

................................... ↓ ....................................................................... ↓

.......................... (Red) ↔ ...Document Save/Close ........................ [Task stop time]

................................... ↓ . (Compute & write) ……………… ............... [Task E.T‡.]

............................ Red ↔ ...Word Appl'n Stop ............................... [Appl'n (Job) stop time]

.................................. ↓ .. (Compute & write) ………….................... [Appl'n-run/Job on-clock time]

............................. Red logoff .................................................... [User stop time]

...................................↓ . (Compute & write) ………….................... [User ∑Use time]

........ Timetracker Stop or Auto-stop (or clock stop?) ................... [Sys Stop & Run time†]

____________________________________________

†Sys Runtime calculated/written prior to shut-down, or at next Sys. Start

‡Option to autorecord document-open time stats to Properties summary/comments

If this seems to resemble an org chart (where applications have been personified as "workers" receiving assignments) that is what was intended…

It sounds like what you are looking for is similar to what I have been search for for quite a while. But what I am interested in is the background processes that I have no control over. I have noticed that, as time goes by, and sorftware is upgraded, even simple processes like writing a letter seem to take a lot longer. I would like to be able to figure out what is going on while I am not looking. I would like also some sort of software that would track how often various processes are run, if at all. Years ago, there used to be software that could do this, but that has been a while. I am especially bothered that it takes me ten minutes to write a letter that used to take five minutes to write. It's not me- if I revert to a text editor like Notepad, I am just as fast as I once was...

To monitor and control web use, and site usage stats etc, you should use a web proxy. Its a simple program that lives on your server. All outbound traffic is directed through this program and it logs all traffic. You can even blacklist sites and search keywords to restrict usage to valid work related sites.

As for monitoring local pc usage:

http://www.track4win.com/

Track4Win can monitor all computer activity and Internet use. It can automatically
track visited website addresses, and log work time on each application.
Track4Win customers range from Fortune 500 companies to small business start-ups,
and from system administrators to parents.

Product Name License Qty. Cost per User

Track4Win Professional

1-9 users USD $39

10-24 users USD $35

25-49 users USD $30

50-99 users USD $25

100-199 users USD $20

200 users or more USD $14

Product Name License Qty. Cost per User

Track4Win Enterprise

1-9 users USD $59

10-24 users USD $53

25-49 users USD $45

50-99 users USD $38

100-199 users USD $30

200 users or more USD $21

Its pretty cheap.

Cheers

John

Thank you, John. That looks like it might put me in the right direction--so many of what I've seen thus far seem geared more for parents and children--and so many are poorly described both textually and graphically. One thing I will be looking for at the site you provided is whether and how the "database" and interactivity functions operate. You will understand when you see the chart I posted above.

Anyway, it looks as if it will take more than a few minutes to review your information, before I can get back... In the mean time, thanks again.

CA

Oh, another thing: looking at part of the price list you gave...

"Track4Win Professional

"1-9 users USD $39

"10-24 users USD $35

"25-49 users USD $30

"50-99 users USD $25

"100-199 users USD $20

"200 users or more USD $14"

...it prospectively occurs to me that, if (when running Track4Win) I could somehow "assign" an application (one of many I know will be running whenever a User's registered/login name is time-tracked) as a (virtually live) User, then that might give me the functionality I envisioned, as described in my concept chart above. It would also help me decide which $price to select! Just thought you'd be interested.

CA

John, Gentlemen:

I have completed looking over Track4Win. It holds promise…many benefits/opportunities…but also risks in terms of what need for the present time. Here's what I came up with.

Looking again at my starting requirements (Post #8 in thread #5), here are some initial trades that I came up with [Note: The prices listed on Track4Win (#20, this thread) are incremental; e.g., a license for 50 users (as defined), costs $129 (with about $24 left on the table for seller)]:

• Is it reasonably priced? (i.e., the price does not include presumed pass-through charges; or does so to a minimal extent.)

While a $59 Enterprise-version start price (not $39 because Professional version is not applicable to XP) is not exorbitant (a benefit) for given its capability (even over-capability for a user of my size and needs), there is risk involving hidden/unspoken costs:

1. At minimum, $229list/$109.95upgrade list for MS Access 2007—is required for Track4Win data base entry…on MS Office2007. For my Office 2000, the aftermarket minimum is about $100 (with optional future upgrade the cost would total about $210). Total bare minimum, presently, for Track4Win: $159.
2. If and when upgrades to Office or to the operating system would be required—neither Track4Win nor Microsoft Online makes this clear—those changes could increase costs significantly.
3. Storage increases or reallocation that might be required—say, for Track4Win screen shots (one for each monitored event), or for rapidly increasing data base size—represent a non-trivial overhead cost risk.

• Is it properly "sized" in terms of features and functionality? So minimal never-used capability is not "left on the hard disc."

At 10M free-disc-space requirement for itself, T4W provides lots of processing for very little "disk rental." As suggested above about pricing, however, the present and ultimate computer use overhead could be substantial when the MS Office database and hard disc resources needed to support T4W are taken into account:

1. If, and to what degree, I might be able to remove (or not use/disable) some of T4W's functionality that I don't presently need or want—that could be one way of both, reducing system overhead risk and attaining a "logging" capability more in line with the concept outline previously posted. Among the capabilities that I see as presently superfluous for my purposes:
1. The ability to monitor and/or record every keystroke or mouse; or every Web site access.
2. The data base recording of anything other than those things specified in the post #17 concept outline; namely, anything other than:
1. System starts/stops and/or user log-ons/log-offs.
2. Administrator-pre-specified application executions/stops.
3. Document open's and close's.
2. Given the previously stated expectation that the "logging" application should reduce/minimize, not increase or compound, administrator/user time & effort overhead, T4W's manpower overhead could be a "feature" risk that is unavoidable, or difficult to mitigate.
1. (This could be part of what cwarner7_11 was concerned about it post #13—although, ironically, the post seemed to be looking for more work for its author—possibly a software developer?—to do.)
2. Unlike larger orgs (for which T4W seems primarily to have been written), this small enterprise does not have the extra managerial/supervisory/or security labor & time resources for the kinds of comprehensive policing activity which T4W makes available.

As to all these risks, as time permits I will be attempting to make voice contact with T4W in order to learn of ways, if any, in which applying or altering the program features to be more in line with the "concept," can be done. I will also seek to know other data base (or spread sheet) applications which might be compatible with T4W in place of MS Access. I will post those results if and as they become available to me.

My review of the Track4Win site led to other observations as well, including a list of major Access competitors, and in-depth details about how T4W functions in the MS office environment. These I will reserve for a separate thread or threads.

Back later...

CA

A good site to look at for this:

http://www.monitoringadvisor.com/

Cannt access it from china.

what is it?

John,

Ditto #19. Back later.

CA

Its a review all a few monitoring programs, listing features.

Unfortunately the formatting doesnt allow for it to be pasted into these conversations.

Cheers

John

John,

Thanks, I checked it. Pretty good comparative info among the 4 products surveyed. It gave good ideas about what to look for and what not, as relates to what I need. I looked at the Track4 site as well; it seems a much more business oriented product and lots more to chew on besides just marketing stuff. Am preparing post related to that site. Please stand by.

CA

Here's a text view. (See footnote.)

...RANK.............1st place.......2nd Place ...3rd Place ..4th Place ..5th Place
Features.............Spector Pro..eBlaster.......SpyAgent..SpyBuddy..IamBigBrother
Overall Features.....A.................B..................B...............C..................D
Overall Quality.......A..................A-.................B...............C.................C
Value for money....A..................A-.................C...............C..................C+

Overall Evaluation:
1st place: Comprehensive recording features, rock solid stealth technology, and excellent customer support. No better value for your money.

2nd place: eBlaster is the best remote monitoring software we examined. It sends you detailed reports of everything they do on the PC and Internet.

3d place: We were impressed with the information that Spy Agent captured, but disappointed when it came time for viewing the log files due to the difficult user interface.

4th place: We found SpyBuddy to be full of outdated features and lacking in recording of complete and useful information.

5th place: Not a good value for an inadequate product with a questionable future and poor support.

RECORDING & LOGGING:
.............................................Spector Pro........eBlaster........SpyAgent..........SpyBuddy.........IamBigBrother
Screen Snapshots...................EXCELLENT......NO................LIMITED............POOR..............LIMITED
Chat / Instant Messages .........EXCELLENT.....EXCELLENT....GOOD..............POOR..............LIMITED
Keystrokes.............................EXCELLENT......GOOD...........LIMITED.............POOR..............LIMITED
Online Searches......................EXCELLENT......NO..................NO.....................NO..................NO
Web Sites Visited...................EXCELLENT.....EXCELLENT....LIMITED...........LIMITED............LIMITED
Email- sent & received.............EXCELLENT.....EXCELLENT.....POOR..............POOR.............LIMITED
Programs Launched................EXCELLENT......EXCELLENT....GOOD..............POOR.............LIMITED
Keywords Detected ................EXCELLENT.........NO...............GOOD.............LIMITED...........LIMITED
Files Transferred.....................EXCELLENT.........NO................NO..................POOR................NO
User Activity Chart..................EXCELLENT.........NO................NO..................POOR................NO
Document Tracking.................EXCELLENT.........NO...............GOOD..............LIMITED.............NO
Network Activity .....................EXCELLENT.........NO...............GOOD................NO..................NO

Advanced Features ................Spector Pro...........eBlaster........SpyAgent.........SpyBuddy.......IamBigBrother
MySpace Activity...................EXCELLENT..........LIMITED........LIMITED.............NO..................NO
Internet Blocking ...................EXCELLENT..........NO................NO....................NO..................NO
Block Chat/IMs
by Contact Name...................EXCELLENT..........NO................NO....................NO..................NO
Specific Web Sites by Name..EXCELLENT..........NO................NO.....................NO.................NO
Internet Access ona Schedule.EXCELLENT.........NO................NO.....................NO.................NO
Review on the
Monitored Computer...............EXCELLENT.........NO................GOOD..............GOOD............GOOD
Review From Remote PC........EXCELLENT......EXCELLENT....LIMITED............LIMITED.............NO
Keyword Alerts via Email .......EXCELLENT......EXCELLENT.....GOOD................NO..................NO
Top 10 Summary Reports.......EXCELLENT........NO................LIMITED..............NO..................NO
Email Attachments................EXCELLENT......EXCELLENT.......NO...................NO..................NO

Program Settings...................Spector Pro.........eBlaster.........SpyAgent.........SpyBuddy........IamBigBrother
Web Site Blocking................EXCELLENT..........NO..................NO.................GOOD..............NO
Stealth Mode / Hot Keys.......EXCELLENT.......EXCELLENT.....GOOD..............GOOD.............POOR
Keyword Detection...............EXCELLENT........EXCELLENT.....GOOD...............NO................POOR
Scheduled Monitoring...........EXCELLENT..........NO.................LIMITED...........LIMITED............NO
Automatic Log Deletion.........EXCELLENT.......EXCELLENT.....EXCELLENT....EXCELLENT......NO

Technical Support.................Spector Pro.........eBlaster..........SpyAgent.........SpyBuddy........IamBigBrother
Telephone............................EXCELLENT.......EXCELLENT.......NO.................LIMITED............NO
Online Chat..........................EXCELLENT.......EXCELLENT......NO..................LIMITED............NO
Email/Forms/ Knowledge
Base / FAQs.........................YES..................YES...............YES..................YES...............YES

Computers Supported..........Spector Pro...........eBlaster.........SpyAgent..........SpyBuddy.......IamBigBrother
Windows Vista......................YES.....................YES...............YES...................NO..................NO
Windows XP, Windows 2000
Windows Me, Windows 98.....YES......................YES..............YES...................YES................YES
Mac Version.........................YES......................NO................NO.....................NO.................NO

NOTE: But one wonders how objective "reviews" like this are; ...how much the final judgment was determined, if at all, by was hoped for to begin with. Or how much the ranking only serves to preserve a popularly-held status quo. It looks like the winner might have also "commissioned" the "study."

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