Monitor and log time in database

K

KCi

Hi, (First Time Poster) I am wondering if it is possible to monitor and log
the amount time users are in a particular database? The users currently log
their own time in and out of the database, and we are looking for something a
bit more concrete. Next would be is it possible to create a Weekly/Monthly
report from this log?

Thank you,

KCi
 
J

John Vinson

Hi, (First Time Poster) I am wondering if it is possible to monitor and log
the amount time users are in a particular database? The users currently log
their own time in and out of the database, and we are looking for something a
bit more concrete. Next would be is it possible to create a Weekly/Monthly
report from this log?

Thank you,

KCi
Click to expand...

You'll need some code and probably some database security to do this
reliably. You would need to have a Form opened as the automatic form;
this form would record the time (from the Now() builtin function) into
a variable, and in its Close event would use DateDiff() to calculate
the number of seconds or minutes that the form was open, and write
this into a table, along with the user's ID and starting time itself.

This form should probably be hidden, and you'll need to screw down
database security pretty tight to prevent users from closing the form
or changing their records in this table. Doable but not trivial!

John W. Vinson[MVP]
 
M

margaret bartley

KCi said:
Hi, (First Time Poster) I am wondering if it is possible to monitor and log
the amount time users are in a particular database? The users currently log
their own time in and out of the database, and we are looking for something a
bit more concrete. Next would be is it possible to create a Weekly/Monthly
report from this log?
Click to expand...

Like almost everything else in MS' programs, there are several ways to do
it,
with varying degrees of complexity.

One way you could try would be to create a Log table, that would have fields
for the informations you want to log.

When the database is opened, an AutoExec file could create a new record for
that
table. Get the close time might be a little trickier, depending upon how
your users
use the database. If they open to a main form, and close the mainform when
the
database is closed, you can put an OnClose event on the form that adds the
LogOut
time to the Log table.

It's not all that common for just one form to be opened only when the users
open the
db, and close only when, and always when, the users close the db. More
commonly,
you have to allow for more flexibility.

One way is to create a form that opens invisibly, and closes when the
database closes,
and you can add the LogOut information to the OnClose event of that hidden
form.

You may have to talk to the users and find out how they are using the
database, to
get the correct level of complexity in your program.
 
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