Contents

LogTick 4.6 Online phone-costs calculator

What is LogTick ?

Copyright & Distribution

Getting the latest version

Software installation

Changes in this version

Starting LogTick

LogTick server

Configuring

Phone rates: Detailed information and examples

ISP settings: Detailed information and examples

LogTick requester

A quick test

How to get it working in your Trumpet Dial-script

Registering and more information

Reporting problems and Enhancement Requests


Copyright & Distribution
Copyright and distribution

Copyright

Copyright  © 1995/1996/1997 by Ton Martens.

LogTick has been developed and programmed by

Tomacom

(Ton Martens)

P.O.Box 123

1960 AC  Heemskerk

The Netherlands

E-mail: tmartens@tomacom.demon.nl

WWW: http://www.tomacom.demon.nl/

Distribution - General Information

The original form of the LogTick distribution file is a .ZIP file in which no files may be changed, deleted or added by others than the LogTick author.

A LogTick ZIP filename looks like

LOGTx_x.ZIP

in which x_x represents the version of LogTick, so, LogTick 4.6 would have a zipfile called LOGT4_6.ZIP.

Distribution on the Internet and non-profit Bulletin Board Systems

Using the Internet or BBSs, LogTick may be distributed freely in its original form. This means that the site where LogTick resides is not allowed to charge the accessing user for downloading LogTick.

Distribution on Floppy-disk, CD-ROM or others

Except from Internet or BBSs, LogTick may only be distributed on CD-Rom, Floppy-disk or others, with explicit permission from the author. Contact the author if you want to receive more information


Getting the latest information
Getting the latest version

LogTick is mainly distributed through the Internet by ftp (file transfer protocol). If youre not sure if youre running the latest version, or if you encounter problems while using the program, first check if theres a newer version around. You can do that by:

checking my home-page and follow the links (http://www.tomacom.demon.nl)

sending me a mail-message (tmartens@tomacom.demon.nl).

However, it could happen that I change Internet provider. In that case, two things can be done:

With a WWW-browser, check the WebCrawler (http://webcrawler.com) for logtick. That will return links to my (new) Provider.

Send me a regular mail to Tomacom, attn Ton Martens, P.O.Box 123, 1960 AC Heemskerk, The Netherlands

Problem-fix-versions can be released at any time, depending on the severity of the problems.

History of major LogTick releases:

LogTick 1.1	January 1995

LogTick 2.0	May 1995

LogTick 3.0	November 1995

LogTick 4.0	March 1996

LogTick 4.5  October 1996

LogTick 4.6  March 1996


Reporting problems and enhancement requests

If you encounter problems in the LogTick package, you can report the problems by Email. The following information is needed:

* Your name and registration number as used in the registration dialog of LogTick (provided by me to you by Email). If you are not a registered user, Ill recommend that you register. However, you can still submit the problem, you will receive a reply from me, but problems which are submitted by registered users will always have the highest priority

* Windows version

* LogTick version

* Complete step-by-step problem description

If youd like to see additional features or functionality in a new version of LogTick, submit the enhancement request along with your name and registration number as named in the registration dialog of LogTick. If you are not a registered user, Ill recommend that you register. However, you can still send the request, but requests which are sent by registered users will be considered more seriously.

The response time is very fast. For registered users, a response by Email will usually take no longer than 1 or 2 days.


What is LogTick ?

LogTick is a handy tool that allows the user to track phone-costs and Internet Service Provider-Costs (ISP) during modem-connections. If you connect to Internet providers or Bulletin Board Systems, LogTick may be useful for you.

LogTick does an online calculation of phone-costs and ISP-costs, allowing you to specify as many as different phone-rates and ISP's as you wish. So, while connected, you immediately can see the amount of money spent on calling.

LogTick can be triggered (to start and stop the timer) by several ways:

by the Requester (logtickR.exe)

by the user (pressing buttons at the server program)

by a communication's port carrier

by existance of another application (dialer for instance) : Rules

by starting the LogTick executable with parameters

Each time the LogTick timer has been started and stopped, an entry is written to the LogTick logfile, allowing you to calculate a (sub-)total of a specific period of time.

LogTick can be configured to alarm you when a specific amount of time or money has passed. Also, LogTick lets you know when your monthly free internet time has been used up. This way you can determine that you'll get a notification (by popup or sound) after a certain amount of time or money spent.


Changes
Changes in this release

Enhanced:

Costs can now be specified with larger accuracy. This was especially necessary for the new Dutch PTT rates

Some problems have been fixed:

Backup recovery procedure failed (modal form could not be displayed)

Exit on stop procedure failed (Server does not accept command)

Mini window layout has been fixed


Software Installation

Extract the .ZIP file into an empty temporarily subdirectory

Run the setup.exe program, and follow the directions.

If you have an older version of LogTick installed, dont try to install the new version on top of the old one. Use a different directory instead. However, dont delete the old (LogTick 3.x) before you converted the old files to the new format. The convert utility will be located in the new LogTick directory. After you have converted, its ok to delete the old LogTick directory

If your old LogTick version is 3.x, you will be able to convert all your configurations and settings to the new 4.0 files. If your old version is 2.x, you need to re-configure your settings. You will not be able to use version 2.0 files.

If youre upgrading from LogTick 4.x, Install LogTick 4.6 in a new directory, start LogTick 4.6 and perform the conversion: This will copy and update your 4.0 datafiles to the new directory.

For registered users :

LogTick 4.6 uses another registration number calculation than the previous version. Therefore, its needed to enter the registration window, and to specify your name and new (35 digit) registration code

LogTick, Windows 3.1x and Windows 95

LogTick 4.6 is a 16-bit Windows 3.1x program, which means that it will run on both Windows 3.1x and Windows 95 operating systems.

The first time LogTick 4.6 is started, it will ask you if there is a LogTick 3.x version already on your system. If so, you will be enabled to point out which directory contains the 3.x files. After that, the conversion can take place. Since file formats have changed since 4.0, converting these files is necessary.


Starting LogTick

In the LogTick program group (or, in case of Windows 95, LogTick Folder), there are three executables:

LogTick	the main LogTick program (server)

Requester	the LogTick reguester program

Convertor	the 3.x to 4.x convertor utility program

LogTick

The first time LogTick is started, it will ask you if you want to convert old LogTick 3.x files to the new format. If you answer Yes, the Convertor program will be launched. If you answer No, youll have to configure rates first before the program can actually be used. If you want to use the Convertor after you answered No, exit LogTick, run the Convertor utility, and re-start LogTick.

Requester

The requester program is used to issue start and stop commands for the LogTick main program. You can insert commands into your Internet/BBS login script, which will run the LogTickR program with parameters, so you can start and stop the LogTick timer.

If you start the requester without parameters, the Requester Window will pop up, so you can manually test the working of the Requester - Server link.

Since version 4, LogTickR can be used to change the default phone rate and ISP.

In practice you will have the LogTick main program active, and it will be controlled (Timer start/stop) by the Requester from within a dial/login script.

The Requester is not needed if the Logtick timer gets automatically triggered by Modem Carrier Detect, Rules or LogTick parameters.

Convertor

The convertor utility enables you to convert and copy LogTick 3.x files to LogTick 4.x format. (see LogTick)


The LogTick server

The LogTick server is the part of the program that you will interact with. The LogTick server is the main program, and it allows you to configure LogTick, specify rates, read and manipulate the logfile, manually start and stop the timer, and so on.

When starting the LogTick server (logtick.exe), a window will come up like this: (If LogTick was configured to start-up as minimized, only an icon will come up at the desktop. double-click the icon to restore the window)

(This is a clickable image)

The Config button brings up the configuration window;

The Log button brings up the log window;

The Rules button brings up the Rules

The Costs button brings up the costs window;

The Mini button will pop up the configured mini window :

The Help button will bring up this Help file

The About button will show Program information

The Registration button will bring up the registration window


The Configuration Window
The Configuration window (General)

(This is a clickable image)

Alarm settings

Visual settings


The Configuration window (Alarm)

(This is a clickable image)

General settings

Visual settings


The Configuration Window (Visual)

(This is a clickable image)

General settings

Alarm settings


The Log Window

If you clicked the Log button at the LogTick window, the following window will come up:

(This image is clickable)

The ISP-costs are not directly in the Logfile. The ISP costs can only be calculated if LogTick knows of all other sessions during that month. This is because of the free hours that can be configured indepently for each ISP. Also, if one or more entries are deleted from the log, LogTick has to do a re-calculation of the ISP-costs, because the deletion could affect the amount of freetime you have used for an ISP. You should also be aware of the fact that changing values for an ISP in the costs windows will change the log too.

The total of ISP costs that LogTick displays in the summary window, is calculated on the rules of that ISP. If a total is made for a partly selection, the calculation is made on that part only.

Double-Clicking a row in the log will bring up detailed information about that entry:

Delete button

Every selected (high-lighted) row in the log will be deleted if you click this button. Deleting rows will affect the total of costs and online-time.

Calculate - Whole log

The totals will be based on the complete log.

Calculate - Only selected

The totals will be based on the selected (high-lighted) rows in the log.

ISP-overview

This box shows summary information about the ISPs. For each ISP, the total duration of online-time is shown, and also the total of ISP-costs for each ISP. The calculation is based on the setting of the Calculate (whole log/selection only) option.

Total-online-time

Reflects the total  amount of time online of all records (whole log or selected rows)

Total-phone-costs

Reflects the total amount of money spent on phone costs (whole log or selected rows)

Total-ISP-costs

Reflects then total amount of money spent on ISP costs (whole log or selected rows)


The Costs Window
The Costs Window (phone rates)

If you clicked the Costs button at the LogTick window, the following window will come up:

Phone-costs

To enable LogTick to calculate your phone-costs correctly, youll have to specify how your phone-company charges you for phone-calls.

Each rate that is configured, can contain one ore more subrates. With the subrates you can determine what the costs will be in a specific time-frame. Building all different time-frames with the subrates makes a valid rate.

Adding a rate and its subrates

A rate contains at least one subrate to be able to use it. A rate must be seen as an overall costs situation, for example, Local calls or Long distance calls. In most countries, the Local calls are split into different time-frames (subrates). For example, it costs more when you call during peak-hours than if you call during off-peak-hours. Peak hours usually are during workdays, and outside the peak-hours, you usually call for less money. The Peak-hours settings and the off-peak-hours settings are put into the subrates. In this case you would have a rate called Local-calls with two subrates called peak and off-peak. Get the relevant costs information from your phone-company, and translate that to LogTick settings.

The rate is added by typing the name in the edit-field and clicking Add. This rate doesnt contain subrates yet. Before adding a subrate, LogTick needs to know for which rate the subrate applies. Therefore, click the rate-name in the list-box to highlight it, then type the subrates name in the edit-field for subrates. Now you start specifying for which days and after what time the subrates applies, and also the costs for each passed time-frame. When all is set, click the subrates add button, and it will show up in the list of subrates. Add more subrates if necessary.

The Default rate

The default rate is automatically used under the following circumstances:

The LogTick timer is triggered by a modem carrier;

The LogTick timer is started by the LogTick Start-button;

The LogTick timer is started by the Requester (start-command without rate-name).

If another rate than the default rate is used for starting the timer (only possible by using the Requester), stopping the timer will still show the last-used rate. The info field which represents the ratename will display the default rate again, if the timer gets triggered again and the default rate applies.

The default rate can be set in the configuration window, by clicking the desired default ratename, and then clicking the default check-box. A default rate is necessary if you want to be able to trigger the LogTick timer by carrier or by the LogTick start/stop buttons.

Note: The LogTick log itself contains the phone costs for each session, so changing the costs for a rate, when there are already entries in the log for that rate, does not affect the log.

Detailed information

Provider Costs


Phone rates: Detailed information and Examples
Phone rates (Detailed explanation and examples)

A phone rate specifies what your phone-company will charge you for calling from point A to point B. Usually, there are different phone rates for different types of calls. For instance, there can be a local rate for phone calls made in your area, and there can be another rate called distance rate for phone calls made outside your area. For LogTick this means you have to define 2 rates.

One rate can contain one or more subrates. A subrate specifies the costs in a specific time frame for that rate. For instance, you can specify that for local calls, different costs (subrates) apply for the time frames 08:00 am - 06:00 pm and 06:00 pm - 08:00 am. Using subrates, youre also allowed to specify one which days of week the subrates apply. Subrates always belong to rates.

Example (This in fact describes the Dutch situation):

For local calls, on working-days (mo, tu, we, th, fr) the following subrates applies:

Subrate1) After 08:00am, every 150 seconds costs 16.5 cents (f 0,165);

Subrate2) After 06:00pm, every 300 seconds costs 16.5 cents;

on weekends (sa, su), the following subrate applies:

Subrate3) After 00:00, every 300 seconds costs 16.5 cents.

So in this case, for defining the rate for local calls, you need 3 subrates. Defining this in LogTick looks like:

Ratename : local

Subrate : work-high

Subrate : work-low

Subrate : weekend

Add the rate

In the rate text box, type in local;

click the add button (left of the rate listbox) to add this new rate;

Add the first subrate

Make sure that, in the rate list box, the local rate has been activated (highlighted);

In the subrate text box, type in work-high;

uncheck initial charge applies (explained later)

now, put in the values as they apply for this work-high subrate:

after 08 00 every 150 seconds costs 0.165

now, check the days on which this subrate applies:

this subrate applies on mo tu we th fr

Click the add button (right of the subrate listbox) to add this new subrate;

Add the second subrate

Make sure that, in the rate list box, the local rate has been activated (highlighted);

In the subrate text box, type in work-low;

uncheck initial charge applies (explained later)

now, put in the values as they apply for this work-low subrate:

after 18 00 every 300 seconds costs 0.165

now, check the days on which this subrate applies:

this subrate applies on mo tu we th fr

Click the add button (right of the subrate listbox) to add this new subrate;

Add the third subrate

Make sure that, in the rate list box, the local rate has been activated (highlighted);

In the subrate text box, type in weekend;

uncheck initial charge applies (explained later)

now, put in the values as they apply for this weekend subrate:

after 00 00 every 300 seconds costs 0.165

now, check the days on which this subrate applies:

this subrate applies on sa, su.

Click the add button (right of the subrate listbox) to add this new subrate;

Now, your local rate is complete. For every day of week there is at least one subrate, which makes the rate valid to use.

What makes a rate valid ?

A rate is valid, if at least one subrate applies for each day of week. It doesnt matter what the after time setting is for that subrate: If theres only one subrate specified for one or more days, this subrate will be the one used for these whole days.

(Also, see the section below)

How does LogTick internally work with the rates and subrates ?

This section describes the mechanism used by LogTick to determine the correct subrate.

The current rate is determined by setting the default rate (see the [costs] window), or by specifying an different rate using the LogTick requester.

Once the LogTick executable has started, it checks if there is a default rate. If not, the LogTick timer can not be started using the carrier detect mechanism or the Start button, since these mechanisms require a default rate. However, the timer could be started by the requester, if the requester specifies a rate which is available to LogTick. Obviously, the rates needs to be valid.

If there is a default, valid rate, or a valid rate is specified at the requester start command, LogTick will do the following:

At first, LogTick loads all the subrates for that current rate into memory;

Then, every second (which is the smallest time-interval used by LogTick), LogTick checks which subrates applies for the current day-of-week. This could be more than one subrate, since you can define more than one time-frame per day.

If just one subrate applies for the current day-of-week, this subrate automatically becomes the current subrate, regardless of the subrates start-time (A subrates start-time is the time after which the subrate becomes active. This is specified in the [costs] window at the subrate level).

If more than one subrate applies for the current day-of-week, LogTick checks which subrate is closest to the current time, counter-clock-wise.

Example1:

for a day, subrate1 starts after 10:00am, and is the only subrate.

In this case, you could say:

subrate1 is active from 10:00am until the next subrate starts. Since there is no next subrate, subrate1 is acive whole day

First, LogTick checks which subrate applies for the current day of week. If more than one subrate applies, LogTick checks which subrate (after time) is closest to the current time.

subrate1 will apply for the whole day

Example 2:

for a day, subrate1 starts after 10:00am and subrate2 starts after 11:00am.

In this case, you could say:

subrate1 is active from 10:00am until the next subrate, and subrate2 is active from 11:00am until the next subrate

First, LogTick checks which subrates applies for the current day of week. If more than one subrate applies, LogTick checks which subrate (after time) is closest to the current time.

current time: 10:30am, active subrate is subrate1 (closest subrate before 10:30am);

current time: 11:30am, active subrate is subrate2 (closest subrate before 11:30am);

current time: 09:30am, active subrate is subrate2 (closest subrate before 09:30am);

Be Aware of the following:

One rate contains 3 subrates:

subrate1 starts after 08:00 (mo,tu,we,th,fr)

subrate2 starts after 18:00 (mo,tu,we,th,fr)

subrate3 starts after 00:00 (sa,su)

According to these subrates, if its Friday after 18:00, subrate2 applies. If its getting passed midnight (00:00), subrate1 and subrate2 no longer apply ! You might think that subrate2 is still active after 00:00, because subrate1 would become active at 08:00. This is not true, because after 00:00 its Saturday, and on sa,su, subrate3 applies.

Initial charges (version 4)

In some countries, the phone company charges the caller an initial amount of money which is different than the costs for additional time frames. For instance:

The first 5 minutes costs 10 cents, after that, each 1 minute costs 8 cents.

This can be accomplished by the new (logtick 4) Initial Charge feature. If initial charge applies for your subrates, click the Initial Charge applies checkbox in the subrate definitions, and specify the settings according to your phone-company specifications. Addional costs can be specified using the normal method.

Handshake correction time (version 4)

Usually, the LogTick timer starts when a data carrier is detected, or when the requester sends the start command to LogTick. Normally, there are a couple of seconds between phone-pickup and carrier detect. In pré version 4 releases, this time gap wasnt recorded, so there could be a miscalculation.

With version 4 of LogTick, youre now able to correct this difference, by adding a certain amount of time at timer-start. Notice that you can only add time to the timer.

All this is done at subrate level. The start time in the logfile will still reflect the time without the correction. The duration time will reflect the correction.

Note: If the correction time is so long that it would mean going back over a subrate-border, LogTick does not calculate according to the previous subrate. Example:

Subrate1 starts 06:00 pm;

Subrate2 starts 00:00 am;

The correction time is 20 seconds;

Assume the timer gets started at 00:00:05 am. Because adding 20 seconds would mean that the phone actually got picked up at 11:59:45 pm. So the first 15 seconds of the correction time are in subrate1, the next 5 seconds are in subrate2. All seconds however will be calculated as if they were in subrate2.


Costs window (provider)
The Costs Window (Provider costs)

Detailed information


ISP Settings : Detailed information and examples
Internet Provider settings (Detailed explanation and Examples)

If your Internet provider charges you a variable amount of money per month, depending on the time youre logged in, then the ISP settings apply to you.

Using these settings, youre able to keep track of the time that you are logged in at the provider. You can configure it, so that you know online what the costs are. If you get a certain amount of free hours per month, LogTick shows you how much time is left before getting charged. If the amount of free time has been used up, an alarm will sound (registered version only).

How to set up

From the main window, get to the ISP costs, by clicking the [costs] button. Clicking the [Provider] tab page will show the providers settings page.

Adding an ISP

An ISP-setting needs the following settings:

ISP-Name

the name of the internet provider, since you could have more than one...

Correction-time

since there are usually a couple of seconds between the DataCarrierDetect moment, and the moment youre actually logged in. The correction-time is subtracted from the LogTick session time. Please be aware that the start-time is always the moment at which the LogTick timer got started (by carrier, start-button, or requester). You should take that into account when also specifying a handshake-correction at subrate level.

Example:

In the subrate you specify a handshake correction time of 12 seconds;

In the ISP you specify a login correction of 7 seconds.

assume that the timer gets started at 11:10:30 (by carrier, start-button or requester)

the start-time is 11:10:30 (the actual trigger time)

the actual phone-pick-up-time is 11:10:18 (11:10:30 minus 12 seconds). This time is used to calculate the phone costs

the actual logged-in-at-provider-time 11:10:37 (11:10:30 plus 7 seconds). This time is used to calculate the ISP costs

Free hour count starts at day...

Here, you specify what day of month resets your amount of free hours. Usually this is day 1 (first day of the month), which means that at each first day of month, you start with the amount of free hours

Free hours

Specify how many free hours per month you get

Every additional minute costs ...

Specify what additional minutes costs. These are the minutes when the free hours are used up.

Replacing (changing) ISP settings

The only ISP-information recorded in the logfile is the name of the used ISP (if any), and the logged-in time. The connected-time doesnt necesarily have to be the same as the logged-in time, because of the correction values.

The ISP-costs of a session are not recorded per session in the log, because of the following:

The costs may depend on the free hours per month. So, the whole log has to be re-calculated when for instance one or more records (which were recorded accidently) are deleted. Therefore, the costs of the session are not recorded in the log. LogTick calculates these costs by looking at the settings for that ISP-name. This means that if you change values of an ISP, the changes will affect the logfile ! The only setting which will not affect the log, is the correction time setting. Thats because the correction time is immediately integrated in the logged-in-time, which is recorded in the logfile.


rules
Rules Window

Rules make it possible to stop or start the timer, depending on the existence of another application. This is most usable when you are using a dialing tool which gets a specific title when a connection has been established. For instance, the Microsoft  Dialup tool (Windows 95) gets a specific title at connect time, namely, Connected to <provider>. Once this window get Minimized (Iconized), it gets the title <provider>.

You can add rules which direct the starting and stopping of the LogTick timer depending on the existence of windows with those titles

The Task List can help you looking for the right application name. You can doubleclick on a existing task, and it will be copied into the text box, where you can make it a rule.

Other rule settings are:

Rate : The phone rate that has to be used for the rule

ISP : The ISP that has to be used for the rule

Active : Determins if the rule is currently active or not.

Using Rules - step by step

It depends on each users situation, if they can effectively use the Rules Engine. Basically, you want to use rules if you want to start and stop the LogTick timer, depending on the existence of another application. With the Microsoft  Dialup tool (Windows 95), once the Internet connection has been established, the dialup tools get the title  Connected to <provider> . So you want to start the timer as soon as this title exists in one of the running applications. Note that this title changes when the window gets minimized. The title will become whatever you named the connected (<provider>). So in this case you need to specify 2 rules for the same purpose:

First, be sure that phone rates, and opitionally, ISP rates have been defined (costs window).

Then at the main window, click the Rules button;

In the Title textbox, type Connected to Provider  (Provider is the name of the connection);

In the Rate list, select the phonerate that applies for this connection;

In the ISP list, select the ISP rate that applies for this connection (or none);

Click the Add button

This covers the window title if its not minimized. You need to add another rule with the same settings except for the title setting. This time, the title gets the i-provider (title of the minimized dialup tool).

At the main LogTick window, the Rules should be set Enabled:

Now there are 2 rules which both activate the LogTick timer when one or both of them exists !

Once started, LogTick timer keeps on running, until none of the titles exist anymore !

Note: You might want to disable the carrier detect feature, because this could interfere with the rules mechanism.

Note: The Dialup tool gets the correct title (Connected to I-provider) when a Internet connection exists. However, long before (usually between 30 and 60 seconds), the providers modem has picked up the phone. That would mean that LogTick is about 30 - 60 seconds behind the real phone-connected time. You can adjust this at the Costs specifications for phone rates (start-time correction)


The LogTick Requester

The LogTick Requester (logtickR.exe)

LogTick Requester is needed when you want to start and stop the LogTick timer by a dialling script, or if you want to specify another rate then the default rate when starting the LogTick timer.

The LogTick Requester program can be started in two ways:

Without parameters, just click the Icon, or use the Run logtickR command

With parameters, use the Run logtickR [<command> [<rate>]] command

If logtickR is started without any parameters, a window will come up like this:

(This image is clickable)

This application allows you to test the DDE link between the Requester and the Server. Before clicking the Start or Stop button, be sure that the LogTick Server (LogTick.exe) is already running.

If logtickR is started with command parameters, no window will come up, and logtickR will end immediately after sending the command to the LogTick server. This mechanism is used if you want to start, pause or stop the timer by a dialling- or logoff script.

Syntax

*Run <path>logtickR.exe <command>,<rate>,<isp>

*Run is just an example. From a script it could very well be an Exec or Shell command. See your script language documentation for more information.

<path> specifies the location of the logtickR.exe executable file;

<command> can be Start,Stop or Default.

<rate> can only be specified if the Start-command was used. <rate> must be one of the available rates that was configured in the LogTick server Costs Window. If rate is omitted, the default rate will be used as configured in the in the LogTick server Costs Window.

<isp> Only valid with the start-command. <isp> must be one of the available isp names that was configured in the LogTick server Costs Window. If isp is omitted, the default isp or no isp will be used. (See examples below)

Examples (note that the Server LogTick.exe should already be running !)

The run command can be executed from within the Windows Program Manager

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe START

starts the logtick timer using the default rate and default isp (if any)

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe START,,

starts the logtick timer using the default rate, and no ISP !

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe START,,MY-ISP

starts the logtick timer using the default rate, and the ISP called MY-ISP

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe START,local

starts the logtick timer using the rate named 'local' and the default isp (if any)

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe START,local,

starts the logtick timer using the rate named 'local' and no ISP !

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe STOP

stops the logtick timer

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe DEFAULT,local

Sets the LogTick default rate to the local rate (this rate must exist, and the timer must be in the idle state). The default ISP is not affected

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe DEFAULT,,myisp

Sets the LogTick default ISP to myisp (this isp must exist, and the timer must be in the idle state)

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe DEFAULT,local,myisp

Sets the LogTick default rate to local and the default ISP to myisp (the rate and isp must exist, and the timer must be in the idle state)

run c:\logtick\logtickR.exe DEFAULT,local,

Sets the LogTick default rate to local and the default ISP to none (the rate must exist, and the timer must be in the idle state)

Obviously, you can use this method from within your dialling script.


Quick Test
A Quick Test

To check if LogTick server and requester work, do the following:

Perform the Installation of LogTick;

Start the Windows Filemanager;

Go to the directory where you installed LogTick;

Start logtick.exe (double click) and add a rate in the costs window;

Start logtickR.exe (double click);

At the requester program (logtickR.exe) click Start;

The server program should now be in the Running state;

At the requester program (logtickR.exe) click Stop;

The server program should now be in the Idle state.

If something different happens than described, please see the Installation procedure. If this doesn't help you any further, please get in contact with the Author.


Registering and other information

LogTick has been developed by:

Tomacom

Ton Martens

P.O.Box 123

1960 AC  Heemskerk

the Netherlands

email : tmartens@tomacom.demon.nl

www : http://www.tomacom.demon.nl/

Please report any problems found with this product to the author. If you'd like to see enhancements in a future release of LogTick, please notify the author. Your request will be seriously considered.

Registering LogTick 4.6

LogTick 4.6 is a Shareware software package. This means that you're allowed to use LogTick 4.6 for an evaluation period of 30 days without paying. After the 30 day period, if you still want to use LogTick 4.6, you're obliged to register LogTick 4.6.

Why Registering ?

Because it's Shareware. Programming takes a lot of time. By purchasing Shareware

software, you enable the author to provide new versions of shareware. So it helps you too. On

top of that, extra functionality will become available, which is not available in the non-registered

version.

How to register or upgrade ?

See the register.txt  or upgrade.txt document for detailed information.

What will happen after registering ?

You will receive a 10-digit registration number. With you first-name last-name this number is a valid combination which should be entered in the LogTick server program:

(This image is clickable)


Get it working in a Trumpet Script

To take advantage of LogTick's  DDE capabilities, your dialling and logoff script should contain commands to start and stop LogTick by the DDE Link.

If you start the Requester (logtickR.exe) with a plain "start" command (exec "c:\logtick\logtickR.exe start"), this will start the LogTick timer using the default rate.

If you start the Requester with a "start <ratename>" command (exec "c:\log4_0\logtickR.exe start local"), this will start the LogTick timer using the rate with the name "local". That rate name should exist!

Here is a small example of the Login.cmd script that can be executed by Trumpet:

===================================

exec "C:\logt4_6\logtick.exe"

%connection = 0

repeat

 	output ATDT  012 3456789\r

if [input 15 BUSY]

         	display \nThe number is busy....\n

Else

         	if [input 40 CONNECT]

             	%connection = 1

         	Else

             	display \nProvider doesn't answser!\n

         	End

     	End

     	sleep 1

until %connection = 1

display \7

exec "c:\logt5_0\logtickr.exe START,LOCAL"

===================================

The first EXEC will start the server, and let it be standby. The second EXEC will start LogTickR.exe (the Requester) with the START command, and start the timer for the LogTick server.

The following script can be used as Bye.cmd.

===================================

output +++

input 10 OK\n

output ath0\r

input 10 OK\n

exec "c:\logt4_6\logtickr.exe STOP"

===================================

The exec will start the LogTickR.exe requester and fires of a STOP command to the LogTick server. Subsequently, the server will stop running.


Reflects the status of the LogTick timer, Running or Idle


Shows the name of the currently or last used Internet Service Provider (ISP). In IDLE state, another ISP can be selected by the drop down list


Shows the current system time


Shows the name of the currently or last used rate. In IDLE state, another rate can be selected by the drop down list


Shows the name of the currently active subrate


Clicking this button will activate the LogTick timer. Normally, the timer will be started by Carrier or Requester


Reflects the time at which the LogTick timer was started (triggered)


Clicking this button will stop the LogTick timer. Normally, the timer will be stopped by Carrier or Requester


Reflects the time at which the LogTick timer was stopped


The top field displays the connection-time of the current or last call.

The bottom field displays the costs of the current or last call.


The top field displays the online-time for the current or last used ISP for the current month

The bottom field displays the costs for the current or last used ISP for the current month


Clicking this button pops up the configuration window, in which you can configure LogTick to fit your needs


Clicking this button pops up the costs window, in which you can define the costs for your phone rates and ISP charges


Clicking this button pops up the RULES window, in which you can manage rules.


Shows if the rule engine is Active or not.


Click this checkbox to enable or disable the Rules Engine


Clicking this button pops up the log window, in which you can check the sessions which have been recorded by LogTick. Optionally, you can export the log.


Clicking this button pops up the Mini window. The mini window is configured in the [Config] window, and allows you to have a small window on screen with the fields you think are important to view. The Mini window can be closed by clicking it with the Right mouse button


Clicking this button brings up the Help file.


The LED reflects the state of the modem carrier (if configured and enabled)


If enabled, the LogTick timer will be triggered by the modem carrier


Information about the program


Pops up the Register window, in which can supply your name and registration number


Shows the name of the user who registered the program


Clicking this TAB will activate the configuration screen for General settings


Clicking this TAB will activate the configuration screen for Alarm settings


Clicking this TAB will activate the configuration screen for Visual settings


Enables or disables the alarm feature


When enabled, pops up an Alarm window when an alarm is triggered


When enabled, will automatically close the Alarm popup window, 5 seconds after it had been opened


When enabled, a sound will be played when an alarm is triggered.


A normal PC Beep sound will be used as alarm sound


A wav file will be used for the alarm sound


Clicking this box will allow you to select a .WAV file that will sound if an alarm is triggered.


When enabled, an alarm will be triggered at each charge pulse, and depends on the used rate


When enabled, an alarm will be triggered at each specified time interval


When enabled, you can specify the notify-ahead time of the alarm. This setting only works for every phone-tick and every time-interval. You will be notified before the alarm is actually triggered. This allows you hang-up before you will be charged for a new time-frame.


When enabled, an alarm will be triggered once youre out of free ISP hours. From that point, you will be charged for login time. Obviously, this setting is only relevant if your session uses a ISP setting


When enabled, an alarm will be triggered the moment that the specified amount of money has been spent (for phone only, so depends on the phone-rate-settings)


When enabled, an alarm will be triggered the moment that the specified amount of money has been spent (for ISP only, so depends on the Provider-settings)


Allows you to specify and enable a .WAV file that will sound when the timer gets started. The LogTick package contains several WAV files for that purpose


Allows you to specify and enable a .WAV file that will sound when the timer gets stopped. The LogTick package contains several WAV files for that purpose


Brings up this help file


Cancels all  settings which have been done in either the General, Alarm, or Visual screen.


Saves all  settings which have been done in either the General, Alarm, or Visual screen.


When enabled, a LogTick requester command will be confirmed by the main program by pop up of a message window


When enabled, LogTick will automatically minimize after it has been started


When enabled, the LogTick timer will be triggered by the selected comm ports carrier


Select your modem comm-port, if you want to use the carrier detect mechanism


Backup facility on or off. When enabled, LogTick writes to a backup logfile, which can be used to recover session data in case of a system crash


When enabled, the Rules engine is in effect


When enabled, LogTick will be terminated as soon as the timer gets from the start to stop state


With this setting, you determin that the default rate and ISP (config window) will be used as soon as a carrier appears at the comm-port.


With this setting, you determin that the currently selected rate and ISP will be used as soon as a carrier appears at the comm-port.


When enabled, the LogTick window will be always on top of every other application window


When enabled, the position of the LogTick window will be saved once the program is ended


These are the available fields for the Mini Window Each field can be dragged and dropped into the container below. This way you can decide which fields you want to see in the Mini Window. Once a field has been dropped into the container, it can be removed by dragging it back to the holder, or just by clicking the right-mouse-button.


This container reflects your own configured Mini Window. By dragging and dropping the fields which are in the box above, in here, you define which fields will be shown in the Mini window and which are not.


Determins the orientation of the mini window: Horizontal or vertical


Determins when the Mini window will be shown


When enabled, the Mini window will always be on top of other application windows


When enabled, the position of the Mini window will be saved once LogTick is ended


Clicking this button refreshes the list of currently active tasks on your system. This may help you finding the window title of the application you want to use for a rule


This list contains the currently active tasks on your system. This may help you finding the window title of the application you want to use for a rule. DoubleClicking a row copies the title to the textbox below, in which you can modify it, or leave it as is, to use in a rule


This editable textbox can be used to fill in a window title for a rule. DoubleClicking a row in the task list above copies the title to this textbox, in which you can modify it, or leave it as is, to use in a rule. Clicking on a rule copies the rules window title to this textbox to enable you to change it.


Here, the rate is determined for the rule


Here, the ISP is determined for the rule


Indicates the state of the rule: Active or not


Adds the rule to the list


Replaces the currently selected rule with the settings above


Deletes the currently selected rule from the rulelist.


This column indicates the state of the rules : Active or not


This column indicates the window titles of the rules


This column indicates the rates for the rules


This column indicates the ISP for the rules


Brings up the Help file


Closes the Rule window


When clicking this TAB, the phone costs screen will pop up


When clicking this TAB, the provider costs screen will pop up


Clicking this button will bring up the Help file


Clicking this button will close this window. The default Phone-Rate and default ISP will be saved at this point.


Click this button if you want to check if the currently selected rate is a valid one


Click this button if you want to add a new rate. First you should enter a unique ratename in the ratename-edit-box


Click this button if you want to rename a rate. First you should select an existing rate, then you rename is using the ratename-edit-box, then you click this button


Click this button if you want to delete a rate. First you should select an existing rate, then click this button to delete it. Obviously, all related subrates will also be deleted


Use this edit box to name or rename the rate


This box shows the list of available rates. Once a new rate is added, it shows up in the list


Use this edit box to name or rename the subrate


This box shows the list of available subrates of the selected rate. Subrates are only visible if a rate is selected


Click this button to add a subrate to the selected rate. First you should select a rate, then you fill in the fields for the new subrate, then you click this button. A subrate is always related to the rate that was selected in the rate list box.


Click this button to replace the value of the currently selected rate, with the values on screen. First you should select a subrate, then you change the values you want to change, then you click this button


Click this button to delete a subrate from a rate. First a subrate should be selected, after which this button is clicked to delete it.


Click this check box to specify the default phone rate. First you should select the rate that you want to be the default, then you click this check box. The setting is saved when you exit the configuration window.


Enter the time at which this subrate becomes active. For example, if you fill in 18:00, this subrate will be used after 18:00 (see also Detailed information about rates)


Enter the correction time (usually the time between phone-pickup and carrier detect). This time is added to the connection duration, (and thus substracted from the trigger-time)


When enabled, this subrate will use the minimium charge feature. Minimum charge applies if the phone-company charges you differently for the initial call, than for the addition rate after the minimum charge time-frame


Here you define the initial charge time-frame. This is the time-frame for the initial costs (when applicable)


Here you define the costs for the initial time-frame.


This defines the time between two phone-pulses.


Here you define the costs for every phone-pulse (except the initial costs)


Here you define on which days of week this subrate applies. So you can define different subrates for working- and weekend-days


Use this edit box to name or rename a Providers name


This list box displays the already entered ISPs


Check this box to make a default ISP (if desired). A default ISP will be used upon carrier detection


Click this button to add an ISP to the list. First you should enter a unique name in the edit box above, then you enter all values that apply for that ISP, then you click this button to add the ISP


Click this button to replace ISP settings. First you should select an existing ISP from the list, then you can change the settings, then you click this button to save them.

If you change ISP settings of ISPs which have entries in the log, then the changes will affect the log ! See the section Provider - Detailed information and examples


Click this button to delete a complete ISP. First you should select an existing ISP from the list, the you click this button. You can only delete ISPs if there are no related records in the logfile.


In here, you specify the correction time. If set to 0, the logged-in-time will be the time between timer-start (carrier/requester) and timer-stop. However, there usually is a delay between timer-start and actually being logged in (the time it takes to login to your provider). So usually, the actual logged-in time is a couple of seconds shorter than the time between modem carrier on and modem carrier off. The amount of seconds entered here will be substracted from the time between timer-start and timer-stop


In here you specify what day of month will reset your  monthly free hours. Most likely, this will be the first day of the month (1), but it may very well be a different day of the month. Ask your provider.


In here you specify how many free hours you get in 1 month.


In here you specify the costs per minute in case your free hours are used up


This list box shows you all LogTick sessions which have been recorded so far. Since LogTick sometimes has to go through the whole log (for calculating ISP totals), its wise to sometimes deleted unneeded records from the log. This will speed up calculations.


Clicking this radio button will do calculations based on the complete log instead of just the selected records


Click this radio button will do calculations based on the selected records, instead of the comlete log.


Here, the log order can be specified.


Clicking this button brings up the Help file


Clicking this button brings up the Export Dialog, from where you can export the whole log (or just a selection) to CSV file.


Clicking this button deletes the selected records from the log-file


Summary of costs and durations


Specify the field separator. Usually, a comma will do, but you can specify any character you want


Specify the delimiter character. This character will be put around the fields


Here you specify when the delimiter character is used


When enabled, exports the complete logfile


When enabled, exports just the selected records of the logfile


This will start the export


This will save the current export settings


This will exit the Export dialog


Information about registering


If you received a registration number, put down your name here


If you received a registration number, put down your number here


If you entered your name and number, click this button to complete the procedure


If you dont register, click this button to exit the window


Click this button to start the LogTick timer. LogTick needs to be running


Click this button to stop the LogTick timer. LogTick needs to be running