Cafe Keeper v1

New Cafe Keeper V1(Win XP version)

A simple inexpensive Computer Stations monitoring software. Major changes were made on the code and the appearance of the old program based on peoples comments and suggestions. The results is a very different program. hehe.

Server Features:

User friendly design/layout

The server program's appearance and the arrangement of controls is simplified so the user can have much more control over the clients. With 4 view types, the user can select Icon View, small icon, list, or the default report view with information on the status of the client(s). The user can also filter the computer units based on their status (Filters are as follows Connected, Offline, Available, Active, Active Timed, Active Open Timed units).

Controls

Common client controls are found on the toolbar below the main menu and on the right-click mouse function when one or more client is selected on the list. These controls include the following: Activate Client (for 30 mins[F6], 1 hr[F7], 2 hrs[F8], or others[F9]), Add hour, Open Time[F3], Disable[F4], Settings, Messages, etc. with their corresponding shortcut keys.

Icons/Graphics

Icons and graphics representation of client status. Client status can be recognized by the icon left of their client name(report view) or their icon on the other views.

Tabs

General tab - contains general information about the client - status, cost, credits, start time, end time, and per hour charge.

Messages tab - lists a summary of the cost and usage of client PCs when their credits expire or they log-out. It also list messages between the server app and client. Clients may only send messages when the server sends them 1 first.

Server Controls - contains the client activation controls and an advanced section. in advanced, user can issue request not limited to PC log-off, shutdown, shutdown and restart, etc.

Usage Charts*

Usage of each PC are updated everytime the PC is disabled or its credit expires WHEN THERE IS A CONNECTION between server and client. Clicking Usage charts on the toolbar opens an application for viewing the usage in ms charts with 12 view types (e.g. bar graph, line graph, pie, etc.) The type of data to view is flexible enough to allow the user to customize the graph to display usage, per weekdays, per day, month, year, etc. Application can only read and export semicolon ";" delimited text files. see footnote

Client Features:

A customizable** lock-out screen

When a a client PC is an idle state, the client application disables the keyboard and the mouse functions. It also runs a customizable full screen flash movie. Internet cafe's may create their own lock-out screen in flash.

Ready Client PC*

This feature, if activated, automatically closes all applications in the client PC that are opened by the previous user. In the settings under the tools menu of the server, the server app user may determine how many seconds after the client is deactivated before the app closes the processes.

Messages

A message forms appears on top of other windows for some time to display the server's message(s).

Screenshots:

Recommendations

Softwares that looks after net cafe can't run on a PC without power. It is advisable to install an Uninterrupted Power Supply to the PC running the server app. This way, the individual costs of usage before the outage can be determined.

Connection performance depends on the PC the applications are installed in.

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* usage graph is provided as a tool to "approximate" usage. ACTUAL usage may be different due to several factors as (power outage, network problems, etc.)

** a customizable lockscreen is only available to a registered server application. see installation, registration notes.