THE TIME LOGGER vers 2.1 COPYRIGHT (c) 1991 - MICHAEL W. STERN CIS #: 75026,1366 INCLUDED FILES: logger21.exe (Program File) logger21.txt (This File) PURPOSE: The Time Logger was created to help keep track of time sspent using online services such as CompuServe. For many, the ccharge on their VISA bill always give them a shock. By running this pprogram immediately after completing an online session, and entering iin the time spent, it is easy to keep track of, and manage, the mmoney being put towards these services. FREEWARE NOTICE: This program is FreeWare. No registration is required. In addition, this program may be copied and distributed freely as long as the two included files mentioned above are distributed together and left unaltered. INSTRUCTIONS: Here is what I suggest: create a batch file for your teleccommunications program that will run that program and then LOGGER20. For instance, for CompuServe, I use CIM and my batch file looks like this: @echo off cls echo Loading CompuServe Information Manager... CIM.EXE cls echo Loading The Time Logger... LOGGER20.EXE Then whenever I logon to CompuServe, I just run the batch file. Just bbefore quiting CIM, I glance up at the Online Clock; then when The Time LLogger loads, I simply enter in that time (without the seconds). The Time Logger program itself is very straight forward and easy to uuse. Because it would be used after every online session, I designed it to bbe quick and simple. For an ordinary session, when The Time Logger screen comes up, you would just enter the time you were online in the form HH:MM (you don't need to type the colon). Hitting will save the iinformation to the file, and hitting again will exit the program. AAnd that's it! The Time Logger will show your current month's total cost on the main screen. This lets you see a quick total for the month without having to actually go through your records. (The exception to this is if there is no LOGGER.DAT file created or if the monthly total is zero). To view your records, after you enter your session time (or iimmediately if you ran The Time Logger directly and do not want to eenter a time), press . This will bring up the stored data. You can then scroll through your records using Page Up, Page Down, and the Up/Down Arrow Keys. The data file stores the Time, Date, Time Online, Hourly Charge, and Standard Surcharge for each session. When viewing the your records, the cost for each session is automatically calculated based on the charge settings for each individual session. This allows different costs for different speeds and different connection techniques (i.e.: Tymnet or Telenet). To change the charge settings, select from the main screen. The default settings store the Hourly Charge Rate (default = $12.50) and the Standard Surcharge Rate (default = $0.30). These settings will effect all FUTURE time entries. To find out how much you have spent for any particular period of time, you must select a particular range of entries. To do this, position the first entry in the target line (third down, indicated by the pips at the side of the window); then press the space bar to turn the calculator on. Moving the arrow keys and page up/down will increase or decrease the selected range. The total cost of the selected range is displayed in the lower window. This method (as opposed to just giving a monthly total) is useful because credit card charges do not always work out to be segregated monthly. This enables you to more easily compare your credit card statement to your own records. Note, however, The Time Logger will have some discrepencies if you used a service such as OAG on CompuServe which adds an additional surcharge. Also be aware of any monthly service charges. If you have a printer hooked up to LPT1 you can print all of the entries or just the selected range. If there is no range selected, you will not be prompted for whether or not you want to print all of the entries. To print, press P while viewing your records. The data file (LOGGER.DAT) can store about 300 records; which, if you go on once a day, should last you about 10 months. At any time, you can (and eventually should) delete a selected range of entries. I personally keep about three months worth of data on hand before I start deleting entries. To delete a range of records, first select them, then press the letter D. Three notes on the data file: (1) I have decided to have it in the fform of a text file. This will enable you to edit it, however, if you do, mmake sure that you keep it in the exact same format. (2) You will need to execute Logger from within the same directory as the data file. So if you are using a batch file like the one mentioned above and Logger is not in the same directory as your comm program, make sure you insert a change directory command in there to take you to the proper directory where Logger (and the data file) is stored. (3) If you have an older version of The Time Logger, and you're handy with a text editor, feel free to splice the separate month files into one file called LOGGER.DAT. Again, make sure you don't add any extra spaces or line feeds; and try to keep them in reverse order by date (earlier at the top of the list). QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS: If you have any of these, you may send EMail to CIS: 75026,1366. I will try to fix any programming bugs as fast as possible. 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