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In our last article we described one way of using the report templates. From this article you will learn of one more way for that. But let us go on step by step…

All our programs (Internet Access Monitor, Mail Access Monitor and Printer Activity Monitor) operate in the two modes: regular and batch. Every time when you start one of the programs in the morning, you run the program in the regular mode. The batch mode is invisible to users; it is designed to run the programs automatically, along with Windows Scheduler. To start a program in the batch mode, add the additional «-task» key to the command line and append the name of the settings file for the task to be run. The file is generated by the program automatically and does not require manual editing.

All actions of adding a new task, deleting or editing an existing task can be carried out directly from the program, by accessing the special tool called Task scheduler.

The tasks that can be added to the task list depend on the monitoring program you are using. For Printer Activity Monitor those can include report generation and starting the command line, for Mail Access Monitor — data import, report generation and starting the command line, for Internet Access Monitor — data import, report generation, resolution of IP addresses, and starting the command line. Let’s take a closer look at each type of the tasks.

Import log files — this task lets you configure the program to import log files automatically at the appointed time.

Command line — this task lets you configure the program to launch an external program automatically at the appointed time.

Resolve IP address — Often, the log files may have IP addresses instead of web site names like www.google.com. The Resolve IP address function was designed to carry out such conversion. You can configure the program to run this function automatically. The best time to run it is when the server is not importing log files intensively; e.g. at night.

Generate report — this task lets you automate generation of reports and delivering those to the authorized personnel. Let’s take a closer look at this task.

Here is the working concept of this task:

First, select the templates to generate reports by (see the previous article). In each template’s settings, select the format to save report as, enter the recipients e-mail addresses and name of the file where the report must be stored.

At the specified time, the task will run and generate the required reports, and then deliver them according to the delivery settings.

Template settings

Path — path to the folder where the report file must be stored
Format — format of the report file
Recipients — e-mail addresses to deliver the report to

As you may see below, the following three delivery methods are available:

• Saving reports to disk
• Printing reports on paper
• Sending reports via e-mail

Depending on the selected delivery method, the corresponding template settings will be used.

Adding new task

To add a new task, click on the corresponding button on the Scheduler tab and select the Generate report task.

Next, on the list of available templates select the templates to generate the reports by. If no template names are available on the list, then first create new templates. For more information on this matter, refer to our previous article. As you are selecting templates, you can edit their settings. To edit template settings, click on the Settings button.

Next, select the delivery method for sending the reports to the recipients.

Next, select the time periods to generate reports for.

The time period’s start date can be one of the following:

• First day of the year, in which the task was started
• First day of the month, in which the task was started
• First day of the month before the month, in which the task was started
• First day of the week, in which the task was started
• First day of the week before the week, in which the task was started
• Date when the task was started
• Start date saved in template
• Specific date, which you can select below

The time period’s end date can be one of the following:

• Last day of the year, in which the task was started
• Last day of the month, in which the task was started
• Last day of the month before the month, in which the task was started
• Last day of the week, in which the task was started
• Last day of the week before the week, in which the task was started
• Date when the task was started
• End date saved in template
• Specific date, which you can select below

Now we have set all the properties required for proper functioning of the Generate reports task. Next, set up the properties common for all tasks:

• Task start date
• Time period for repeating the task
• Name and password of the account, under which the task will run
• Comments

Summary

We have described in details all steps to be followed in order to configure the program to generate reports automatically.

Troubleshooting

If you have done everything properly and still cannot see the results of a completed task:

• Make sure you have entered the proper username and password for the Windows account, on behalf of which the task must run
• Make sure you have selected at least one template
• Make sure you have entered template settings properly
• Check messages from the error.log file located in the program’s folder
• If you get an error message when adding a new task to the Scheduler, you are very likely to have problems with your MS Windows Scheduler service configuration. Make sure the service is installed and you have enough rights for running it. If your computer runs under Windows NT4 operating system, make sure you have the latest service pack and Internet Explorer installed.

In the next article you will learn how to make your experience with the program most efficient.

Author: Red Line Software