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Spector Pro records information about every program that has been executed on the monitored computer, as well as every window for which there has been keystroke or mouse activity. Programs that run in the background, or those visible in the system tray, are NOT recorded unless they are opened by the user to reveal a window. In fact, you will see how much time the program was ACTIVELY used. Spector Pro can record all programs or just the ones you want to record. To limit which ones are recorded, see When to Record: Selecting Programs.
Click here to view a screenshot.
At home, your only concern is a certain video game that you don't want the youngest child to use. You can add this application to an "include" list, and monitor whether or not the rules are being followed.
At the office, determine how a certain user is spending his or her time. By viewing a summary for a particular day or sequence of days, you can get an overview of the programs that were used the most and how much time was actually spent on them. Or, if you do not want to take up valuable space recording activity on approved company programs, you can add these applications to an "exclude" list.
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By default, Spector Pro captures program activity. To change default settings affecting what you see within this event window, see Program Activity Settings. |
The Program Activity event window uses a Navigate, Detail, and Summary pane to display information. You may change the order in which columns are arranged or how information is sorted within a column.
Navigate Pane (top)
Each time a program is executed, it is considered one recorded event. Events are arranged in groups and sub groups and sub-sub groups, each of which is displayed like a branch on a tree. By default events are grouped first by date, although you may choose to group the events differently.
Click on the plus (+) sign, which then becomes a minus (-) sign, next to the Programs icon to expand the tree and view each date for which activity was recorded.
Click on the plus (+) sign next to a date to expand the tree and view each program executed.
Summary Pane (bottom)
Click the Summary tab to view this pane. The Summary pane displays totals for each recorded event(s) highlighted in the Navigate pane. By navigating up or down in the tree above, you display a wider or narrower view of events.
For example:
Select the icon at the top of the tree to display totals for all program activity that has been recorded.
Select a particular date, for example Tue, Aug 29, 2006, to display totals for each program executed on that date.
Select a particular program, for example AOL Instant Messenger, to display totals for that program.
Detail Pane (bottom)
Click the Details tab to view this pane. The Detail pane displays specific information about each recorded event(s) highlighted in the Navigate pane. By navigating up or down in the tree above, you display a wider or narrower view of events.
For example:
Select the icon at the top of the tree to display details for all program activity that has been recorded.
Select a particular date, for example Fri, Jul 21, 2006, to display details for each event recorded for that date.
Select a particular program, for example AOL Instant Messenger, to display details for that program.
The Summary pane displays the following columns:
Program Description – The name of the program (application) that was running when activity was generated.
Active - The total length of time, presented as HH:MM:SS, that there was keyboard or mouse activity for each program or instance. The Active amount equals the Total amount minus the Inactive amount. The collective length of time appears in the column heading.
Right-click the column headings and select any of these additional columns for display:
User - The user logged in to Windows.
Computer - The name of the computer on which activity was recorded.
Program - The name of the application (program) that was executed.
File Path - The location of the program that was executed.
Title - The name of the window in use when keystrokes and mouse activity was generated.
Instance - Displays information for each time the program was executed, using the format HH:MM:SS - program name.
Last Used - The last date and time there was activity for the program or program instance, using the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM.
Total - The total length of time that the program or instance was open, presented as HH:MM:SS, whether it was in focus, active, or inactive.
Focus - The total length of time, presented as HH:MM:SS, that the program or instance had the primary window focus.
Count – The total number of recorded events for each program or instance listed. Each recorded event displays in the Detail pane.
By default the following columns are displayed in the Detail pane:
Time – The date and time when activity started for the particular recorded event, using the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM.
Program Description – The name of the program (application) that was running when activity was generated.
Active - The total length of time, presented as HH:MM:SS, that the user was generating keystrokes or mouse activity during the particular recorded event. The Active amount equals the Total amount minus the Inactive amount. See Program Activity Settings.
Title - The name of the window in use when keystrokes and mouse activity was generated.
Right-click the column headings and select any of these additional columns for display:
User - The user logged in to Windows.
Computer - The name of the computer on which activity was recorded.
Program - The name of the application (program) that was executed.
Start - The date and time when activity started for the particular recorded event, using the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM.
End - The date and time when activity ended for the particular recorded event, using the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM.
Total – The total length of time that the event had the primary window focus, using the format HH:MM:SS.
Focus - The total length of time, presented as HH:MM:SS, that the program or instance had the primary window focus.
File Path - The location of the program that was executed.
Instance - Displays information for each time the program was executed, using the format HH:MM:SS - program.
The Program Activity event window contains the following shortcuts:
Group by - Use this to customize the display of recorded data in the Navigate pane tree. You may select how data is grouped, and the order in which the groups appear in the tree. You can also determine the direction in which information is sorted (ascending or descending).
Snapshot Context - Use this to open a floating window and view a snapshot that corresponds to a selected event. You can also navigate through the snapshots to get an idea of the context within which the activity occurred, without leaving the event window you are currently in.
Jump to - Click to select a specific recorded event in the lower Detail pane and then jump to Snapshots or Keystrokes.
Search Program Activity - Use Search to quickly locate a specific word or phrase. Search works like a filter displaying only the data that matches the search criteria.
Delete - Use Delete to remove one or more events.
The menu bar is specifically customized for Program Activity.
The status bar contains the standard items.
Next you will review User Activity.
