Help Index

Welcome to COUNT! Administration Help.  Help is available on the following topics:

Installing COUNT! on a Server

Setting up Applications to Run under COUNT!

Creating/Modifying a COUNT!.ini File

Viewing Log and User Files


Installing COUNT! on a Server

Installing COUNT! on a Server is a two step process.

Copying the COUNT! Program to the Server

Transferring a serial number

In order to complete any of these steps, you will need Read/Write/Create access to a file service which can be read by all users.


Copying the COUNT! Program to the Server

Connect to file service you wish to install COUNT! to.  Be sure you have Read, Write and Create access privileges.

From CountAdm's Main Menu, Select the Install-Copy to Server option.  Type in the Drive/Directory you want to install COUNT! to and press OK.  All files necessary to run COUNT! are copied.  Optionally, a Program Manager group will be created for COUNT! Administration utilities.


Transfering a serial number
Transferring a serial number to COUNT!

Transferring a serial number (Supplied when you register) is accomplished by selecting the Install-Transfer License option from CountAdm's Main Menu.  Type in your company and server name as well as the serial number provided in your registration letter and press OK.

This information will appear in place of the "30 Day Evaluation Copy" message in COUNT!'s license window as applications are being launched.


Setting up Applications to Run Under COUNT!

The simplest method of setting up applications to run under COUNT! is to use Stub Files.  A Stub file replaces the original application .exe file with one which uses COUNT! to control access.  The original application file is renamed.  The Stub file executes the main COUNT! program which in turn executes the original application.  This may sound a bit "round about", but it is very efficient, and greatly simplifies application installation.

Other methods of setting up applications are covered in the COUNT! Network Administrator's Guide.

To Install an application Stub File, select Install-Add Application Stub File from CountAdm's Main Menu.  Specify the Application exe file you want to create a stub file for (i.e. EXCEL.exe) and press OK.

CountAdm will create an entry for the Application in COUNT!.ini using the name of the exe file (i.e. EXCEL) and will rename the original exe file by placing an "!" at the end (i.e. EXCEL!.exe)  You can modify these by pressing the Advanced button and editing the defaults.  The Name of an application can be any name you chose to associate with it.  For instance, "MS_Excel_v50" may be preferable to to EXCEL.

Once the Stub File has been created, you will probably want to modify some of the applications Settings in the COUNT!.ini file.

Should you need to reverse the stub file installation process, you can select Remove-Stub-File from CountAdm's Install Menu.


Creating/Modifing a Count!.ini File
Creating/Modifying a COUNT!.ini File

The COUNT!.ini file controls the launching of applications.

When you install an application stub file, a default entry is made in the COUNT!.ini file specifying the Command line of the renamed application file.  You may want to modify other application specific information in the COUNT!.ini file.

Selecting Setup-Applications in CountAdm's Main Menu will being up a dialog allowing you to modify the Command Line, Starting Directory, License Message, Recommended Maximum Use Time, License and Log File Setup, and Network Connection Options for any application.

The Setup-Applications dialog also enables you to Create, Delete, and Test applications launched under COUNT!.

You may also want to modify defaults used by COUNT!.  Selecting Setup-Defaults in COUNT!.ini will enable you to modify the NAME Environment variable used to identify users of Aplications.


Application Stub Files

Stub Files simplify the installation of applications running under COUNT!  They replace the original Application's .Exe file in order to launch the application under COUNT!


Command Line

The command line is simply the name of the program's executable file, which should include the Path to improve performance.  i.e. E:\Excel\Excel.exe.


Starting Directory

Some programs require that the starting directory be set to the location of the programs executable or user data files.  This is optional.


License Message

COUNT!'s initial license message may be skipped over by selecting the Yes Radio Button.


Recommended Maximum Use Time

If a value (in minutes) is specified, the user will be reminded when that time has lapsed to exit the program when finished to free up the license for others.


NAME Environment variable

If you use License Files a DOS environment variable must exist which provides a user name.  The UserName must be unique to each network node.  The default variable is NAME=.  You can change this by selecting Setup-Defaults in COUNT!.ini


Count and Log File Setup
License and Log File Setup

License and Log Files can be specified by selecting the License/Log-Files button in the Setup Applications dialog.

A License file is one means of controlling access to applications.  If you specify a Maximum number of users, COUNT! keeps track of them in a Shared "License" file on the network.  If more users attempt to use the application then are allowed by the Maximum users entry, they will be given a list of current users and denied access.

The License File must be located in a shared Read/Write user area on the network.

In addition to the maximum number of users, you can specify the time interval to update the License File, and also the license Scrub time interval.

If a Log File is specified, COUNT! will track various License use statistics that you can later view with the View-Activity-Log selection in CountAdm's Main menu.  The Log File must also be located in a shared Read/Write user area on the network.


Scrubing License Files
Scrubbing License Files

Scrubbing License files is occasionally necessary to remove inactive licenses held by users who have exited programs abnormally (Rebooted or hung).

The Scrub program does this automatically when users are denied access.  It can also be run from CountAdm (Under View-Current-Users.)

The Scrub time interval is the number of minutes to wait for "no change" in the License log entry before removing an inactive user.  Refer to the Count! Administrator's guide for more information.


Network Connection Options

If you want COUNT! to establish a network connection before launching an application, press the Network Connections button in the Setup Applications dialog.

If your users are all running Windows 3.1+, and your Network is  supported by Windows, you should fill in the appropriate information in the upper section Network Connection Setup dialog.  This includes the Network Drive (DOS Drive letter assigned to the Network connection), Network Path (i.e. \\Server\Service for LANmanager or Server:Drive\Path for Netware) and optionally a Password (or * to prompt the user).

If you are running Windows 3.0, or your network is not supported by Windows, you can specify the DOS Network connection/disconnection commands in the lower section of the Network Connection Setup dialog.


Viewing Log and User Files

Selecting View from CountAdm's main menu will allow you to view the current users of all applications on the network launched under COUNT!  In addition, statistics of how each application is being used on the network can be examined.

The Current Users View lists the users currently using each application, along with the current and maximum use counts.

The Activity Log View shows the Maximum users of an application, How many times access was denied, the total number of login attempts, the average use time, an analysis of use by user, and a use profile.

The usage profile is particularly helpfull in maintaining the proper number of application licenses on the server.  It provides a graphical representation of % of use by number of users.  If the distribution approaches the maximum licensed user count, you should consider getting more licenses for the particular application.