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Spector Pro takes full-screen snapshots of each monitored PC, very much like a surveillance camera. Use standard playback controls to review a detailed visual history of exactly what was on the screen when the snapshots were taken. See Viewing Snapshots.
Use screen snapshot settings to:
Turn snapshot recording on and off.
Determine which actions will trigger a snapshot (for example: web site loaded, window title changes, mouse button is clicked, a specific key is pressed).
Decide whether snapshots are saved in color, grayscale or black and white.
Specify the amount of inactive time after which snapshot recording stops.
Elect to include a secondary monitor if two monitors are connected to the PC.
Indicate how long snapshots should be stored, and how much "room" you are designating for this storage.
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SpectorSoft recommends 500 MB of available hard disk space for a typical day of recording. If the person you are monitoring actively uses the computer more than 4 hours a day, or if you adjust the settings so that more snapshots are taken, you may require more disk space. |
To access the Screen Snapshots pane:
Locate Screen Snapshots under Recording in the Navigate pane at left.
Click to open the Screen Snapshots pane. This pane contains:
Options: select various recording options.
Configure Triggers: click this button to open the Snapshot Triggers window, where you select which events will trigger a snapshot.
Data Files: select data file settings which will affect how much disk storage space you set aside and how many days of recording you can keep before backing up.
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Review the settings in each section to be sure they reflect how you want to manage Screen Snapshots. |
Close all applications that are running and log off all users to ensure that new settings affect these applications and users.
Check or clear the Options provided, or change the selections.
Capture Screen Snapshots - By default, this box is checked to enable the recording of screen snapshots. Click to disable the recording of screen snapshots, and the checkmark is removed.
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Check Capture Screen Snapshots to activate other options on this panel. Be aware that all options - Include Secondary Monitors, Take Snapshots Every, Snapshot Format, Delete Data After settings, and the number of Snapshot Triggers selected - affect the data storage requirements for snapshot files. |
Include Secondary Monitors - When this box is checked and the computer is connected to two monitors, Spector Pro records activity on both of them. The default is to record the activity on all monitors.
Capture entire screen contents at once - Check this option IF your snapshots are displaying screens in transition. The default is not set to capture entire screen contents at once, as this is usually not necessary and it may potentially slow down some computers.
Take snapshots every . . . Seconds - The frequency with which Spector Pro takes a snapshot is determined by the interval specified (as well as by triggers selected). Spector Pro takes a snapshot according to this setting IF the screen has changed. This setting contributes to how much disk space is used on a daily basis, along with the triggers selected. Click the up or down arrow, or type a number, to change how often a snapshot is taken. The available range is 1 to 600 seconds. The default interval is 30 seconds.
Snapshot Format - Spector Pro can take snapshots in grays, black and white, or color. This setting affects what the captured screen snapshots look like, as well as how much disk space is used on a daily basis. 1 bit monochrome (black and white) uses the least amount of disk space (approximately 50% of what is required by 4 bit grayscale) while a better quality snapshot (more colors at a higher resolution) uses the most disk space. Use the dropdown list to select a format. The default is 4 Bit GrayScale.
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Format |
Maximum Number of Colors Displayed |
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1 Bit Monochrome |
black and white |
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4 Bit GrayScale |
16 shades of gray |
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4 Bit Color |
16 |
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8 Bit Color |
256 |
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16 Bit Color |
65,536 |
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24 Bit Color |
16,777,216 |
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32 Bit Color |
16,777,216 32-bit color is 24-bit color with an additional 8 bits added either as empty padding space or to represent an alpha channel. The reason for this is that most modern computers process data in units of 32 bits. So using this amount for each pixel allows for optimizations but it also takes up more storage space on your hard drive.
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If your video card is set to a particular bit depth, the snapshot cannot display at a higher resolution. |
Inactivity Timeout . . . Minutes - One of the ways Spector Pro limits the amount of disk space required is to stop taking snapshots once all activity has ceased for a specified period of time. The Inactivity Timeout is the interval that must elapse without any activity before Spector Pro stops taking snapshots and goes into inactive mode. As soon as a new trigger occurs, recording resumes. Click the up or down arrow or type a number to change the interval. The available range is 0 to 999 minutes. The default interval is 3 minutes.
Click OK to save the changes you have made, or Cancel to discard them. The Settings window closes.
To configure snapshot triggers:
In addition to the Take snapshot every . . . Seconds setting, you can configure Spector Pro to take a snapshot whenever certain events occur.
Click Configure Triggers. The Snapshot Triggers window opens.
Determine which events should trigger a snapshot. The default is to take a snapshot as a result of all the events listed.
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Heavy computer usage with all the triggers activated could result in large amounts of recorded data. |
If desired, add a specific key which, when pressed, triggers a snapshot:
Click Add. The following message appears:
Click any key on your keyboard. The key appears in the Key Name column and the message window closes.
Repeat step 3 for each key you want to add. To remove a key from the list, click to highlight it and then click Delete.
Click OK to accept the changes you have made, or Cancel to reject them. The Snapshot Triggers window closes.
Click OK to save the changes you have made, or Cancel to discard them. The Settings window closes.
To select snapshot data file options:
Make selections in the following fields, which also appear in the Data File Settings window. These settings affect ONLY snapshot data files.
Delete Data After . . . Days - Spector Pro automatically starts deleting snapshots after a specified number of days, or when the Maximum Data Size is reached, whichever occurs first. Spector Pro always deletes the oldest recordings first. Use the arrows or type a number to indicate how many days must elapse prior to deletion. The available range is 0 to 999 days. The default interval is 30 days.
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If you want to delete snapshots ONLY after the maximum disk storage space is exceeded without regard to number of days, enter 0 (zero) days. Spector Pro will start deleting snapshots as the stored files reach the Maximum Data Size. |
Maximum Data Size . . . Megabytes - Spector Pro automatically starts deleting snapshots after the specified disk storage space has been exceeded, (or when the specified number of days is reached, whichever occurs first). Click the up or down arrow or type a number to change the Maximum Data Size available for snapshots. The available range is 0 to 4000 megabytes. The default maximum size is 500 megabytes.
Calculate Avg usage - Also available in Data File Settings. Click this button to open a box that calculates in megabytes how much disk space daily snapshots will use on this computer. Use the Estimated Daily Usage in making decisions on your snapshot settings.
To save your changes and close the Settings window:
Click OK at the bottom of the panel to save your changes, or Cancel to remove them. The Settings window closes.
Next you will review Chat
/ IM Activity Settings.
