I posted a message a couple of weeks ago asking for suggestions for user log
software to track user time on the FACSCalibur. I received several excellent
responses and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to answer. I
have summarized the results below. All of the comments came from the
responses, none of the assessments are my own. Thanks again for all of your
suggestions.
Abby
Summary of Flow Results:
Fileguard Pro from ADS Software, Inc.
Seems to be the most popular program for user tracking.
It received 6 votes to 1 vote for each of the remaining programs.
Advantages:
Requires useres to log on, generates a user’s log, allows restriction of
folders and application.
Easy to maintain by intermediate computer people.
Disadvantages:
No way to distinguish between computer use of either acquisition or analysis.
Version 2.9.3 works well on the Quadra 650 (operating system 7.1) -- log sheet
imports easily into Excel, however, version 3.0.1 (necessary for Mac operating
system 7.5.3) log sheet is not in the form of a spreadsheet and requires heavy
editing.
One person reported a “stupid menu” which allow the users to lock the Mac.
This is a powerful security program, apparently more than what people really
need.
One person reported “It is not great, but it will do the job”
Mac Administrator from Hi-Resolution Software
Advantages:
Program acts to protect, login-logout, records whio is running which program
for how long and how many pages are printed. Files are imported directly into
Filemaker Pro for further analysis
Disadvantages:
This program is a network administrator. You must have network connections and
one Mac designated as a server while all other Macs are set up as clients.
Apparently there is a new version of this which can verify users over a Unix
system. The person who recommended this program has not tried this new
version, so ......
Norton Disklock from Symantec:
Advantages: Cheap (approx. @25.00). Causes no conflicts with B-D software
Disadvantages: None reported.
Desk Tracy from ???:
Advantages: Apparently does all I need, and also records numbers of printouts,
etc.
Disadvantages: None reported.
At Ease from ????
Advantages: Cheap, used on a FACScan
Disadvantages: None reported.
UltraShield 2.5 from UsrEZ
Advantages: None noted.
Disadvantages: None noted.
I am also told that Carlton Stewart has such a system at Buffalo. I have been
unable to contact him, so I do not know what the system entails.