AppsTraka - Help File
| To learn
more about using AppsTraka, please click on any of the
following topics. Installing AppsTraka |
If you have downloaded the file appstraka???.zip, you need to extract the files to any temporary directory, then run the setup program setup.exe from that directory. Setup will automatically install AppsTraka onto your computer (the default location is in C:\Program Files\AppsTraka but you may install it wherever suits you) and create the Start Menu icons. The first time you run AppsTraka, you will be asked for a passward (make sure to remember it .. write it down on paper and keep it in a safe place) as this will be needed every time you wish to check the database.
NB: After installing AppsTraka, you should run it as soon as possible, to set up your passwords, etc. Once this has been done, DO NOT change the directory where AppsTraka has been installed. AppsTraka will, by default, start automatically when Windows starts after the first time you run it. To change this, read on to the next section, Running AppsTraka everytime Windows starts
Running AppsTraka everytime Windows starts
The entire benefit of AppsTraka is that it monitors and controls access to your computer when you are not there. So, naturally, it needs to be started automatically everytime Windows starts. Remember, that AppsTraka loads invisibly so that the user doesn't know he is being monitored. Follow the table for more information about enabling/disabling this option
To enable AppsTraka everytime Windows starts |
1. Run
AppsTraka, and enter your password 2. Click on the 'Options' button on the screen or in the menu 3. Enable the check box 'Start AppsTraka everytime Windows starts' 4. Click 'Save &Close' 5. You may restart Windows now and AppsTraka will invisibly load and start monitoring |
To disable AppsTraka |
1. Run
AppsTraka, and enter your password 2. Click on the 'Options' button on the screen or in the menu 3. Disable the check box 'Start AppsTraka everytime Windows starts' 4. Click 'Save & Close' 5. AppsTraka will no longer load or start monitoring automatically |
Please remember that AppsTraka starts invisibly, so you won't see it loading. However, you can check if it has loaded. To do so, please go to the section titled Checking if AppsTraka is running
Starting AppsTraka manually from Windows
If AppsTraka has not been loaded, and you wish to load it without restarting Windows, you can manually load AppsTraka. To do this, get into the AppsTraka main screen (start AppsTraka and enter you password), then click on the 'Continue Invisible Recording' button on the toolbar. AppsTraka will disappear but it is still working in the background.
Checking if AppsTraka is running
Since AppsTraka works invisibly, it is hard to tell if it has actually loaded or not since you can't see it. You should note that when AppsTraka is not running, everything will resume back to normal (no restrictions apply to any programs/files). There are two tricks to detecting this however.
N.B. Please remember that if you have selected the Do not show AppsTraka when user presses Ctrl-Alt-Del option, the first method does not work.
The AppsTraka database includes all the programs that have been used in you computer. As well as showing the applications name, it also includes the time and duration the program was used for. There are two ways you can view the database:
To view the database
If AppsTraka is already running in the background ... |
1) Click 'Start'
then 'Run' 2) In the 'Open' text box, type in your AppsTraka password 3) Click 'Ok' and the database should appear NB. If you get an error message 'Cannot find the file..' it means that either AppsTraka is not running, or the password you entered was incorrect. |
If AppsTraka is not currently running... |
1) Locate the
AppsTraka.exe file. (By default, it should be
under C:\Program Files\AppsTraka), and run it. 2) Type in your AppsTraka password, and click 'Ok' 3) The database should appear |
Load AppsTraka and get into the database screen (see above to learn how to do that). Then press F4 or click on the 'Options' button on the toolbar and the options box should appear. To learn more about these options, please follow the table.
General Options |
This tab
controls the general options of AppsTraka's behaviour. Start AppsTraka everytime Windows starts - this is self explanatory. Check this box and AppsTraka will load everytime automatically. Enable Start Up Warnings - you can have the option of alerting your user that he is being monitored. Checking this box will display the warning message Warning Message - this is the message that you want displayed. You can choose from the drop-down list, or you can even type your own. Limit Log File - You can set a limit to the size of the log file. The default is 2000 entries and the maximum is 5000 entries. The bigger the log file, the longer AppsTraka takes to load. Unchecking the check box sets the maximum log file size to 5000. Behaviour - this specifies wether you want AppsTraka to load invisibly to the user or if you would like a little icon in the System Tray to indicate to the user that they are being monitored. |
Program Protection Options |
This tab controls TrakMode. This is the
feature that controls access to certain programs and f
iles. Enable Program Protection- Check/uncheck to enabled/disable Program Protection Mode. Protect These Windows- here is the list of the titles of the programs that you want to be blocked. For example, clicking Add and then typing My Computer would prevent the user from clicking the My Computer icon on the desktop. You don't have to type in the full name of the program (eg. you could just type my comp). Make sure that Program Protection checkbx is enabled, otherwise this would have no effect. Auto Program Detection - this allows you to easily add the name of any program to the list. Just check the box, then switch to the program you want blocked. Then switch back and the name of the program you want blocked should be there. If it is correct, click Ok otherwise type it yourself. |
Protection Options |
This tab
allows you to choose the actions you want performed
against blocked programs. Protect from all users - the program will be banned from all users while AppsTraka is running. Protect from some users - the program will only be protected from the users that have been selected (click the Change.. button) Close the program immediately - as soon as the program is detected to be running (which can take about 0.2 seconds) it will be closed straight away. This can give the impression to the user that the program is not working, and the user will have no idea what is going on. Display messaage to user - when the program is detected to be running, it will be frozen (unusable) and an error box will appear. Click 'Message' to choose or type your own message. This gives the impression to the user that the program is not loading correctly. e.g. 'Runtime error at address FFFF: 03F8 in USER32.DLL. Execution halted'. Remeber, the message is entirely fake, and does not mean a real error is occuring. Be creative !! N.B. AppsTraka used to be able to also shutdown the computer, disable the blocked window or go into sleep mode, but I took these features out ... if you would like these to be included again, please let me know! :) |
NB. - you must click 'Save' if you want the settings to be saved for future use.
* Please note that there have been several new functions included in AppsTraka that have not been documented yet. For information on how to use these please email appstraka@hotmail.com
AppsTraka does come with an uninstallation program. To uninstall the program fully from your computer, you should go to Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs and then click on AppsTraka. For a better uninstallation, you should disable AppsTraka from starting automatically with Windows before uninstalling it.
We provide AppsTraka for you to TRIAL FOR 30 DAYS from the day you first install it onto your computer. After this trial period, you must either delete the program from your computer or pay the registeration fee (US$20). To register over the Internet, visit our web page or click 'Online Registeration' in the AppsTraka menu. This will take you to our web page where you can enter your details. An email will be sent to you with your UserID/Password within a few days. If you encounter problems using this method then arrange for alternative payment method (Cheque, Mail Order, Phone). To arrange alternative payment methods, please email us at appstraka@hotmail.com. If you choose not to register after the 30 days, the program will automatically disable some of its features. It is recommended that you do register as soon as possible. Using AppsTraka after the 30-day trial is considered to be illegal software piracy.
Registeration allows you rightfully to use the program without any annoying messages or disabled features. It also entitles you to free upgrades to all the new version FOR LIFE!!! After registeration, you can also get details about contacting our technical support team and we strongly consider your suggestions for program development (to make the program suit your needs). You also get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when you register, because you did the right thing!
Downloading the latest version of AppsTraka
The latest version is available at http://members.tripod.com/~aptraka. Alternatively, you can try searching www.download.com for AppsTraka. To check what version you have, click About in the Help menu.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, problems or comments.
Email: appstraka@hotmail.com
WWW: http://members.tripod.com/~aptraka
Alternatively search for AppsTraka at www.yahoo.com or www.download.com
(C) 1999 OdiSoft Solutions