Who's on First?

[Keith Hubert]

Is there a function I can use to return a list of all the users currently logged on to the application?

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Who's on First?

I don't think it is possible unless you create and constantly update your own table of currently logged on users. A5_GET_USERS("your master password") would get a list of all defined users in A5's security system, but that is not what you want. Also, the trouble with using your own table is that it is not fool proof, e.g. if one exits A5 via Ctrl+Alt+Del, etc. the user would be listed as logged on when he/she is not.

Raymond Lyons

Edit: BTW, Who is on first!

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Who's on First?

Hi Raymond,

Thanks for reply. I needed to add some extra fields to an app remotely but somebody on the network using TS did not log out and the boss wanted to know who it was. Any suggestions as to how best to code that?

Who's on First.

[Garry Flanigan]

Re: Who's on First?

Keith,
See A5_REGISTRATION_LICENSE_INUSE().

Also, if you want to keep track of users it can be done in xbasic with a table and much closer control control of the logon and logoff process.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Who's on First?

A5_REGISTRATION_LICENSE_INUSE() is not going to tell you who is still logged on, just that someone is. As I said (and Garry said again) you can create a table of when each user logs on and delete them when they log off, but as I said it is not foolproof due to creative (!) ways of exiting an application.

If you have access to the network file server, you can use administrative tools to go to "open files" and see who still has the files open (I do not remember the exact way to do this but it is fairly obvious). While there you can also close that person down (close the open files, presuming they are not actually working at the time) and then add your extra fields or whatever. I have had to do this in the middle of the night (remotely) many times in order to do things such as add fields. So far closing those files has never caused any problems.

Raymond Lyons

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Who's on First?

Thanks for your suggestions but I need to see who is logged on now. If the answer is that I cant until I build a routine first then I have a problem.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Who's on First?

Like I said, you can do it by creating a table in your application of users logged on. When they open the application (autoexec or part of your logon screen) put their name in the table. When they exit the app, delete their name. Or you could have a field for each user, such as On/OFF, date and time etc.--whatever you need/want. Most of the time this would be just what you want--unless there is a crash or someone exits the app in an unanticipated way.

Now, I have to guess that some windows guru could develop a function that would query the network file server for open files, which lists who has them open--or some such thing. In any case, that would be well beyond my skill set. Possibly it is something for the wish list?

Finally I seem to remember that in Learnalpha.com (or maybe in the code archive) there was an article years ago on how one might force users to shut down after a certain amount of time went by. For your purposes this might do just as well--assuming it works!

Raymond Lyons

[martinwcole]

Re: Who's on First?

I developed a system like that for a hospital in Version 5, and have been using it ever since.

I use a table that shows the computer name, location, department, username, and time on initialized from the autoexec when they log on - via their password.

Then I have a global variable called "lastuse" that is refreshed from the onkey event in forms, and another global variable for how long a workstation may remain open without any activity. When the time limit is reached, a floating xdialog appears and sends a wav advising them of same and a reverse counter showing them that unless they use the keboard (or fetch with the mouse, etc.,) the system will auto shutdown in so many seconds. At that point a function does a safe, methodical closing of all screens and closes Alpha.

The practical reason for developing this was/is that they have the program installed on 250 workstations, but have a 10 user runtime. And emergencies and such often call a tech/nurse away from a keyboard to attend to something.

The Master Menu has a button "Users on the Network" that sends out a request to all workstations, displaying a screen of logged on users, and after about 30 seconds all currently on will light up in green, and all those not, (who had an abnormal-end-or-session) will remain in red.

It is foolproof to this extent - it will always show all current users, and when they logged on, as well as the machinename, etc. And what I have found to be very valuable is to watch/track for certain machines and/or users where they have frequent abnormal-end-of-sessions, as this points to either a problem user or problem machine.

I use it on almost all my apps for all clients. For all LANS and T/S it helps maintain the least number of necessary users with the app open.

If the Rangers beat the Yankees again tonight, I'll put a smaple app in the code archive.

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Who's on First?

With a little different approach, we have developed a couple of routines that when used together will knock users out of the system. One of our utility tables has a field that we can set which is tested for, and will initiate an emergency close of Alpha, wherever the user is. Steve Andrews set up a self-scheduling script that tests this field, and if it is found, commits the form and closes alpha.

Script: scpCheck_Closeit

dim global cTime_Chck as C
dim global nTime_Slot as N
nTime_Slot = 1

closeit()
'fuction varinit() is an internal function of ours that establishes a whole bunch of global and addin variables
'varinit()
cTime_Chck = totime(toseconds(time("0h:0m",now()))+120,1,0)
script_schedule("scpCheck_Closeit",cTime_Chck,nTime_Slot)

Function: closeit()

FUNCTION closeit AS V ( )
dim aa as P
aa = addin.variables()

'Closeit is a function used to determine if we need to close out a user.  We test a flag in the 
' indicator table, and if set, end the session.  We should also check to see if the user has a change
' or enter in progress and save the data if so.    This function should be attached to every form's "on_timer" event

dim closeit as C
closeit = upper(lookupc("F",1,"closeit",aa.bcbss.path+"\bcbss\indicato.dbf","recno"))

if UT(closeit) = "X"
	'system problems,  get out now
	closemsg(.T.)
	sleep(3)
	closemsg(.F.)
'check for open tables and commit form if in change or enter mode
		tbl1 = table.current()
		if tbl1.mode_get()>0
			parentform.Commit()
		end if
'*******  This code checks and updates our internal security table
		'clear user lock flag
		access = aa.bcbss.access
		level = aa.bcbss.level

		TBL_SECURE = table.open(aa.bcbss.path+chr(92)+"secure2.dbf")
		TBL_SECURE.index_primary_put("ACCESS")
		recno=TBL_SECURE.fetch_find(ACCESS)
		TBL_SECURE.change_begin()
			tbl_secure.active=""
			tbl_secure.activetime=""	
		TBL_SECURE.change_end(.T.)
		
'now close it		
		:a5.close()
	end if
end if

end
END FUNCTION

Function: CLOSEMSG

FUNCTION CLOSEMSG AS C (Show = .F.,what = "" )
'DESCRIPTION: This function displays a 'Please Wait' dialog for use while processing.	
'What is an optional parameter that will be displayed along with the words "Please Wait"
PleaseWait = ""

if show = .F.
	if ui_modeless_dlg_exist("BCBSS Shutdown")
		ui_modeless_dlg_close("BCBSS Shutdown")
	end if 
	exit function
end if

text1 = "Social Services Must Shut Down Now!"
 	len = len(text1)*2
textbox="{text="+alltrim(str(len))+"text1}"

box_code = <<%dlg%
	{background=Pale Yellow}
	{font=arial,12,bi}
	{include=textbox}     
%dlg%

box_event = <<%code%
1=1
%code%

ui_modeless_dlg_box("BCBSS Shutdown",box_code,box_event)
ui_dlg_move("BCBSS Shutdown", 2, 2.5)

ui_modeless_dlg_setfocus("BCBSS Shutdown")
ui_modeless_dlg_refresh("BCBSS Shutdown")

END FUNCTION

This may not give you the culprit, but it will get them out!:)

Tom

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Who's on First?

Hi Tom,

Thanks for this script.

I have already something like this from Peter Wayne but it does not knock people off from TS.

Would this script accomplish that?

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Who's on First?

Hi Keith,

We don't use Terminal Server, but I know it knocks them out of Alpha. How does Terminal Server view an Alpha Session? If it behaves like a runtime session, the script would go in the autoexec and the functions are in the database. We have people who come in in the morning, bring up the application, load the customer information form and leave it there all day. Of course, they are never at their desk when we need them to be. With ~200 users, we needed something to knock people out of the system if we ever need to do some emergency maintenance. I've just recently put together an "idle_check" function to see if someone is just sitting on a screen for more than 20 minutes. If so, bye-bye.

Tom

[jkukuda]

Re: Who's on First?

If you log on with TS you can hit Cntrl Alt, End and restart the server, that will close or not open their session when it restarts. I do it all the time.

[martinwcole]

Re: Who's on First?

if a5_is_runtime() .and. a5.Get_Master_Path()="" 'T/S
sys_shell("shutdown /L")
a5.close()
end
else
a5.close()
end
end if

[martinwcole]

Re: Who's on First?

here's a network management app, for consideration:

the password is martin3333
its first use will require you add your machine to the system

the opening screen explains its use