INSTALLATION:

Install this program by executing the setup.exe file in a temporary directory with the other packaged files.

Students perform one task with CompuTracker:

They click on the Student Center button from the CompuTracker menu, select their name in the drop down box, then select a program to run.  AFTER they exit the program, they click on the Quit button, logging their activity in the CompuTracker Parent Center.

Parents perform five tasks with CompuTracker:

1.  After clicking on Parent Center from the CompuTracker menu, Parents log in using the password "parenting", then click on "Student Tracking" to review computer activity.  The log page gives name of user, program used, date, start time, stop time, and total time of the particular program's use.  By clicking on PREV and NEXT a parent can view all records.

2.  By clicking on Export Data from the Parent Center, a parent can export all records into a text-delimited file for import into any popular spreadsheet.  The exclamation point (!) is used to delimit text.  Fields include the record number, user name, date, start time, stop time, total time in HH:MM:SS format, program name, start time in Microsoft seconds format, stop time in Microsoft seconds format, and total seconds.  The file is ALWAYS called COMPUTRK.TXT and is placed in the default directory.  EVERY TIME YOU EXPORT, THIS FILE IS OVERWRITTEN.  The best way to ensure preservation of your data is to import the text file each time and save it to a spreadsheet.

3.  By clicking on Delete Data, you can increase application performance once it grows substantially over several hundred records.  However, be sure to archive the data with the export function first.  You have the option to delete all data, or just records with less that 60 seconds duration.  (Assuming the child either accidentally clicked on the button or was not in the program long enough to gain substantial benefit.)

4.  By clicking Setup Programs, a parent can program student buttons to execute programs.  Filling in the boxes requires some knowledge of your computer.  If you don't understand the instructions, find a computer friend who does.  He/she will easily be able to show you how to set the programs up for yourself.  The button names you provide will be used to record program names in the archive.

5.  By clicking on Setup Students, a parent can put the first names of children who will be using programs.  These names are copied exactly as spelled to the dropdown box in the Student Center.  To delete names, simply redo the list, and Update.  These names will be used to record student names in the archive.

Use this program in an encouraging way with your children.  Praise them for spending time on educational games.  With the right approach, they will come to you wanting to show off what they've done.

For upgrade information, click on Help (file menubar), then About.

REGARDING STUDENT CENTER BUTTONS THAT DON'T WORK:  If your student center program button doesn't run at all, you have likely not entered correct information in the Program Setup boxes.  Double check path and program name in the Program Setup area of the Parent Center.  You MUST include the three letter extension in the program name for it to work properly.  Finally, if some of the buttons refer to CD programs, that's OK.  But if the correct CD is not in the drive, nothing will happen when the button is clicked.

OBTAINING A LICENSE:  This program is shareware.  It can be freely distributed, but fees paid for it's "purchase" only cover medium (diskettes) and shipping and/or handling.  Obtain a license by clicking on Help, then About from the file menubar. Then click on the button which says "Click here to generate personal license application number."  If you use this program extensively without a registered license, it will disable itself after a period of use and request that a license number be purchased.

The author can be contacted at davidboyer@yahoo.com

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