tracking...

[doran_doran]

Hello,

BACKGROUND:
I inherited a project from another worker. She has 60 frontends and 60 backends. Currently, i can't mess with frontend anymore b/c tons of people have them on their local pc.

However, I do have complete control over all the databank (backend), where we store all the data. Backend is hugh about 64 MB. and imagine copy the same backend 60 more times.

I don't think we have to this. Before, I propose sql server to my boss i need to get rid of some of this database.


MY QUESTIONS:
1. Is there any way I can track the usage of the backends. (remember I can't do the tracking on the frontend)
2. If yes, how exactly I do that.
3. I would like to capture the user id, date of usage.

Regards
Dianna

PS: BACKEND HAS NO FORM WHAT SO EVER, ONLY TABLES

 

[Oldsoftboss]

Just to clarify, when you say you have 60 back ends, where are they?
Do they sit on each users machine with there own set of data or are the on a server.

The idea of splitting a database is so you have one back end sitting on a server and each front end looking at the single back end database.

If there is only one back end then redevelopment should be reletivly easy as you can work on your own fe copy then distribute it and relink it to the back end.

Dave

 

[doran_doran]

Server...

Hi Dave,

I agree with you. My ex worker created so many frontends and i am sure they are sitting on individual pc. However, the backends are on one server.

I want to track the usage of the backends and delete the one that not in use in 30 days.

Thanks
Dianna

 

[ghudson]

Just check the modified date for each back end file. If it is over sixty days old then odds are nobody is using it.

You could also rename the backend file [or move it but do not delete it] and see if any complains about not being able to access the data from their front end. The front end will error when they try to open a form or report if it can not access the data [backend].

HTH

 

[doran_doran]

That would not work...

I am contineously updating the backends so no way track by modified date.

Also, I can't delete the backends b/c then our department will receive thousands of new request for the job backend handles.

I did think about your approach, but it simply will not work for my purpose.

Any other suggessions are welcomed.

Dianna

 

[ghudson]

You can not use a custom funciton as the default value of a new record [within the design of a table] so that rules out grabbing the users network name when they create a new record.

You could add a new field in each of the main tables and set the default value to Now(). That will give you a date and time stamp of when the record was created. At least you will know if and when any new records were created.

You are limited in what you can do since you are not able to use events within a form for that would allow you to grab the users network name and tag a record for when it was created and/or modified and by who.

 

[ghudson]

I take back what I just posted. You can use the =Environ() function and get all kinds of info about the user and their computer. Try the sample I posted and see how that grabs your computer name and newtwork ID when a new record is created. You will have to play with the different =Environ() option numbers to see what all you can get from the users computer. The different Environ option numbers might extract different results when used on different versions of Windows.

You can also use the environ text value to get the data instead of using the environ number since this could have a different result on different operating system versions. This also gives you the value as a result [without the prefix value name = value].

=Environ("ComputerName")
=Environ("UserName")

HTH

 

[doran_doran]

Good Approach, but....

hi ghudson,

good approach and it works, it does not insert new record. it keeps on overwriting the same record.

so, let say i try form my pc, it works, then i go to ashley's pc it overwrites my info and replaces with hers.

and so on.

Now i don't even know if that will work with connection. b/c backend are never opened by those users. Their frontend has a link to the tables only.

Thanks for all the help.

dianna

 

[ghudson]

good approach and it works, it does not insert new record. it keeps on overwriting the same record.

I am not sure that I follow you. In my sample, keying data into the Test1 field, moving to a new record and again keying data into the Test1 field of the new record... the other three fields auto populate with my computer name, user ID and date & time.

Adding those fields to your tables and setting the default values like my example should auto fill those fields with the users info each time they create a "new" record in that table.

 

[Oldsoftboss]

If this is the case then you are writing to the same back end. The problem maybe the record is not being saved rather than an overwrite fault.