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                                          LogOut/AutoLogOut
                                              Version  1.5
                    Copyright 1993, Jeff Miles. All rights reserved.
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Do you bill clients for computer time and need a convenient way of tracking the amount of time you spend on each job or account? Do you need to account for the time you spend on your computerÑmaybe for tax purposes? Are you looking for a time tracking program that will allow you to perform work on any combination of applications and accumulate the time toward a single job or account? Have you been looking for a time tracking program that works with all of your applications? Have you been looking for a time tracking program that provides the kind of information that is really important for billing purposes, and nothing more? Do you work in an environment where you have to share a computer with several other people, and need to track the time each person uses the computer? If you answered ÒyesÓ to any of these questions, then these programs are for you.

LogOut and AutoLogOut are a pair of applications, designed and intended to be used together, for tracking usage time on a Macintosh computer. AutoLogOut is the background ÒmasterÓ program. LogOut is the foreground ÒslaveÓ program. Working together, they provide a simple, straightforward, and reliable means for keeping track of computer usage time.


-------------HOW LOGOUT AND AUTOLOGOUT WORK----------------------

To track time, you merely ÒlogÓ into the computer through the program LogOut. Once you are logged into the system, you are free to use any combination of programs etc. to accomplish your work. When you are finished working on a job, log out of the system by running LogOut. After logging out, you can either enter the information for the next job to be worked on or leave the computer for someone else to use.

LogOut simply accumulates time between successive Òlog insÓ and stores the information in a data file for later retrieval. Time is accumulated regardless of what you are doing on the computer, including the use of any combination of applications and desk accessories, and even the Finder.

The system described above would work very well if humans had perfect memories. However, most of us are prone to forget to do things, like log out of the computer system. This is where AutoLogOut comes in. AutoLogOut runs in the background, monitoring user activity, similar to a screen saver. When no user activity (mouse movement, mouse clicks, keyboard presses, disk insertions, etc.) has occurred within a specified time, AutoLogOut launches LogOut for you. This automatically logs you out of the system and sets the system up for the next user or project. AutoLogOut also logs you out of the system whenever the computer is shutdown or restarted.


--------------------------NEW FEATURES-----------------------------

This is the first significant update to LogOut and AutoLogOut (from version 1.1 to version 1.5) since their initial release. I have received a number of letters back from users who have offered suggestions on how to improve the software. Many of these suggestions have been incorporated into this release. I want to say, ÒThank you!Ó to all of the people who took time to write me.

Most of the changes have been made to LogOut. Changes made to AutoLogOut were merely to accommodate the changes made to LogOut and are invisible to the user. The following is a brief summary of the improvements made to LogOut:

     1.  A ÒLast EntryÓ button has been added to the Log In dialog box which, if chosen, will enter into the log in data fields the information from the previous log in. This is particularly handy when AutoLogOut has logged you out of the system, and you want to log back in using the same information as before.

     2.  A ÒPreferencesÓ button has been added to the Log In dialog box which, if chosen, allows you to customize LogOut for your specific use. You can specify if data must be entered into either one or both of the two log in fields before a log in is accepted. You can disable the ÒLast EntryÓ button. You can change the labels used to identify the two log in fields. You can require that a password be entered before access to the Preferences dialog box is allowed.


--------------------UPDATING TO VERSION 1.5-------------------------

(If you are installing LogOut and AutoLogOut for the first time on your computer, you can skip this section.)

If you are updating to version 1.5 from a previous version, it is recommended that you move the file ÒTime Log,Ó found in the System Folder, out of the System Folder BEFORE YOU EXECUTE the new versions of LogOut and AutoLogOut on your computer. This will force LogOut to create a new ÒTime LogÓ file in the System Folder. The structure of this file has changed slightly from previous versions of LogOut. Specifically, in previous versions the two log in fields (ÒYour NameÓ and ÒJob NumberÓ) were written to the Time Log file in reverse order from the order they appeared in the Log In dialog box. This has been changed so that the fields are written in the same order they appear in the Log In dialog box. (I apologize for any inconvenience this may create for you during updating, but the file structure change allows LogOut to be customized now.)


--------------------------INSTALLATION-----------------------------

To install LogOut and AutoLogOut on a computer system, do the following:

     1.  Copy LogOut and AutoLogOut to your startup disk (hard disk) and place them together in the same folder. LogOut and AutoLogOut must be in the same folder to operate properly.

     2.  Make an alias of LogOut and AutoLogOut and place the aliases in the Startup Items folder inside the System Folder on the startup disk. This will launch AutoLogOut and LogOut automatically every time the computer is turned on or restarted. (Alternate installation: Rather than placing aliases of LogOut and AutoLogOut in the Startup Items folder, you could simply place both applications in the Startup Items folder.)

     3.  Make an alias of LogOut and place it in the ÒApple Menu ItemsÓ folder inside the System Folder. Then LogOut will always be easily available to you under the Apple menu.

     4.  Optional: Make an alias of LogOut and place it on the Òdesktop,Ó located in a convenient placeÑjust above the Trash Can for example. This will make LogOut available on the desktop in plain view.

     5.  Restart your Macintosh. AutoLogOut will startup and move itself into the background. LogOut will then startup and present the Log In dialog box, waiting for you to Òlog in.Ó


------------------------USING LOGOUT-------------------------------

Assuming that LogOut and AutoLogOut have been installed as described above, you will be confronted with the Log In dialog box. Enter the appropriate data into the two log in fields and press the ÒLog InÓ button. (The log in fields are initially labeled ÒYour NameÓ and ÒJob Number.Ó However, these labels can be changed to anything else through the Preferences dialog box, which is discussed later.) After you press the ÒLog InÓ button, LogOut records the time of Òlog inÓ in a file called ÒLogin InfoÓ and then quits.

When finished using the computer for a specific work session, launch the LogOut application by selecting LogOut from the Apple menu or double-clicking the LogOut icon. LogOut will stop accumulating usage time, record the usage data in a file called ÒTime Log,Ó and then bring up the Log In dialog box for the next work session.

LogOut creates and maintains three files. They are:

     1.  ÒTime Log,Ó located in the System Folder of the startup disk. This is the file in which all computer usage is recorded. It is a standard ÒTEXTÓ file with tabs separating each field of information within a record. Each record is separated by a carriage return. The first record of the file is a header that describes each field in subsequent records.

     The ÒTime LogÓ file can be easily imported into any text editing, word processing, or spreadsheet program, making it a relatively simple process to generate a report of computer usage. (I, personally, use a spreadsheet program to generate my reports. I can sort the file by project name, job number, date, or whatever and get a nice print out for filing.)

     2.  ÒLogOut Prefs,Ó located in the Preferences Folder in the System Folder of the startup disk. This file contains the preference settings for LogOut. You do not need to worry about this file. It does not contain any Òuser serviceable parts.Ó However, if you have specified a password to access the preferences for LogOut and you forgot your password, just throw this file in the Trash Can. LogOut will automatically create a new file with no password requirement.

     3.  ÒLogin Info,Ó located in the Preferences Folder in the System Folder of the startup disk. This file contains the log in information for the current work session. The file is updated every time a new log in occurs. You do not have to worry about this file. It does not contain any Òuser serviceable parts.Ó

There are three other buttons, besides ÒLog In,Ó on the Log In dialog box that perform special functions. These are discussed below.

--ÒLast EntryÓ Button--

The ÒLast EntryÓ button will enter into the log in fields the same information that was used for the previous Òlog in.Ó This is particularly useful when AutoLogOut has logged you out of the system, and you want to log back in using the same information as the last work session. The keyboard equivalent ÒCommand-LÓ can be used in place of pressing this button with the mouse.

--ÒPreferences...Ó Button--

The ÒPreferences...Ó button brings up the Preferences dialog box, allowing you to customize several of the features of LogOut. The items in the Preferences dialog box are:

     1.  ÒRequire first field to be entered before Ôlog inÕ acceptedÓ check box: If this box is checked, then data must be entered into the first log in field of the Log In dialog box before the Òlog inÓ is accepted.

     2.  ÒRequire second field to be entered before Ôlog inÕ acceptedÓ check box: If this box is checked, then data must be entered into the second log in field of the Log In dialog box before the Òlog inÓ is accepted.

     3.  ÒDisable ÔLast EntryÕ buttonÓ check box: If this box is checked, then the ÒLast EntryÓ button on the Log In dialog box will be disabled. In other words, the button will be grayed out and the user will be unable to access it.

     4.  ÒRequire password to access and change preferencesÓ check box: If this box is checked, then a password must be entered to access and change the preferences of LogOut. This is useful if you want to prevent others from changing the settings you establish for LogOut.

     5.  ÒLabel for first fieldÓ text edit box: You can change the label used to identify the first log in field by entering the new label here.

     6.  ÒLabel for second fieldÓ text edit box: You can change the label used to identify the second field by entering the new label here.

--ÒAbout...Ó Button--

The ÒAbout...Ó button brings up the About dialog box for LogOut.


-------------------------USING AUTOLOGOUT-------------------------

AutoLogOut normally runs in the background monitoring system activity and then automatically launches LogOut after a specified period of inactivity. AutoLogOut also writes the last Òlog inÓ session data to the ÒTime LogÓ file when the computer is shutdown or restarted.

LogOut can be used without AutoLogOut running in the background, but it is not recommended. AutoLogOut performs some important Òhouse cleaningÓ chores for LogOut, the most important being correctly updating the ÒTime LogÓ file whenever a shutdown or restart occur. Also, as pointed out previously, AutoLogOut prevents you from inadvertently forgetting to Òlog outÓ at the end of a work session, by logging out for you after the computer has sat idle for a specified length of time.

AutoLogOut creates and maintains one file, called, ÒAutoLogOut Prefs,Ó located in the Preferences Folder in the System Folder of the startup disk. This file contains the preference settings for AutoLogOut. You do not need to worry about this file. It contains no Òuser serviceable parts.Ó However, if you have forgotten the password for quitting AutoLogOut, just throw this file in the Trash Can. AutoLogOut will automatically create a new file with no password requirement.

If AutoLogOut is brought to the foreground by selecting it from the application menu in the far right corner of the screen, the AutoLogOut menu bar becomes active. This menu is described below.


--File Ð Preferences...--

Selecting ÒPreferences...Ó from the ÒFileÓ menu brings up the Preferences dialog box, allowing you to customize some of the features of AutoLogOut. The items in the Preferences dialog box are:

     1.  ÒLog user out after ___ minutes of inactivityÓ: You can specify the amount of inactive time, in minutes, before AutoLogOut will launch LogOut. As a special feature, if you enter Ò0Ó AutoLogOut will never launch LogOut.

     2.  ÒNever Log Out CornerÓ: Select a corner of the screen to place the cursor when you do not want AutoLogOut to launch LogOut. AutoLogOut will not launch LogOut whenever the cursor is in the specified corner, similar to the Ònever sleep cornerÓ of many screen savers. (Be careful to not inadvertently leave your mouse cursor in the Never Log Out Corner. It will prevent AutoLogOut from automatically logging you out.)

     3.  ÒRequire password to Quit...Ó check box: If this box is checked, AutoLogOut cannot be ÒquitÓ by the user without entering the correct password first. This is useful if you want to prevent users from quitting AutoLogOut, either accidently or purposely. (Even if a password is required from the user to quit AutoLogOut, the computer can be shutdown and restarted without a password.)

--File Ð Quit--

Selecting ÒQuitÓ from the ÒFileÓ menu quits the AutoLogOut application. However, if ÒRequire password to Quit...Ó is checked in the Preferences dialog box, you will be asked to enter the correct password before AutoLogOut actually quits.

--Apple Ð About AutoLogOut...--

Selecting ÒAbout AutoLogOut...Ó from the Apple menu brings up the About dialog box for AutoLogOut.


--------------------------COMPATIBILITY----------------------------

LogOut and AutoLogOut require System 7 or higher to run. LogOut and AutoLogOut are both Òapplications.Ó They do not patch System traps or do anything unusual to the computerÕs operating system. As a result, they should be completely compatible with and friendly towards all other software you may use.



--------------------------SHAREWARE NOTICE------------------------

LogOut and AutoLogOut are sharewareÑnot freeware. That means if you use these programs and find them of value, please register them by sending me $10.00. I have not plastered the software with Òshareware threats,Ó or disabled any features, so please be a good sport and send me the registration fee, at the following address:

	Jeff Miles
	5604 Stanmore Way
	Elk Grove, California 95758

Thank you for your support of the shareware system! Please write me if you have any comments or suggestions about the software. I would love to hear from you. Thanks again to those who have written me in the past!

P.S. I will send you a decent copy of the documentation if and when you register the software.