WordPerfect^® Document Logger
Version 0.24

The WordPerfect Document Logger prepares a log of file activity in WordPerfect 8 and later. The macro makes use of a little-known feature of WordPerfect, the FileActivityLog, which is enabled in the Windows Registry.

Once enabled, WordPerfect automatically records basic file information, such as the name of files that are opened, saved, and closed. The WordPerfect Document Logger macro processes the FileActivityLog, and tallies up the time each named document is open in WordPerfect. The result is printed within a table in a WordPerfect document.

Note that the WordPerfect Document Logger uses a functionality of WordPerfect that Corel describes as "for testing purposes only." While the FileActivityLog feature of WordPerfect is not intended to be used to track how long documents are open in WordPerfect, it serves as a good near substitute for this important task.

The WordPerfect Document Logger macro is distributed as logger.wcm.

Supported WordPerfect Version

The WordPerfect Document Logger works with WordPerfect for Windows, version 8 and later . The macro has been tested under Windows 9x.

Under certain circumstances, macros that work in the Windows 9x environment do not function properly under the Windows NT environment.

Using the Document Logger Macro

1. Copy the logger.wcm macro to any directory. A good choice is the directory used to contain your other WordPerfect macros.

2. Play the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Play. Locate the logger.wcm macro file, select it, and choose Play.

3. At the main Document Logger dialog box, choose one of the following command options:

• Enable (or Disable) Logging -- Turns on (or off) file activity logging. You must restart WordPerfect after enabling or disabling logging.
• Process Log File -- Process a previously generated file activity log file. You will want to process the file activity log on a regular basis, perhaps once a day or once a week.
• Delete Log File -- Delete a previously generated file activity log. Do this after you have processed the log file. (Once deleted, WordPerfect will generated a new file activity log, as needed.)
• About Logger -- Copyright and license information.
• Cancel -- Exit the macro.

Notes

1. After enabling or disabling file activity logging you must restart WordPerfect.

2. When starting a new document, open a new file, then name it immediately. Time tracking CANNOT be started on unnamed files. Let's make this clear by putting it another way: if you work an hour on an unnamed document, save and name the file, then spend another five minutes editing it, the log will only show you worked on the document for five minutes.

3. Close all open documents before processing the log file. The WordPerfect Document Logger macro cannot accurately determine the activity of files that are still open.

4. If at all possible, avoid using the File, Save As command to resave an already opened document under a new name. The file activity log will not accurately represent the change in file names. If you wish to work on a copy of a file, close the original file (if it's not closed already). Use Windows Explorer to make a copy of the file. You may now open the copied file in WordPerfect.

5. After processing files, it's a good idea to delete the file activity log. Otherwise it can grow to be too large for the macro to adequately handle. WordPerfect will re-create the file activity log as needed.

6. The finished analyzed log is inserted into a table, which, if desired, can be used as a merge data file. Time logging for each file is shown in minutes. You may use table formulas or merge commands to convert the time log values to other formats, such as 1/4, 1/6, or 1/10 of an hour increments.

7. This should go without saying, but it should be said anyway: file activity logging records the date and time files are opened, saved, and closed; this date and time information is provided by your computer's clock. Be sure your computer's clock is properly set before activating the file logging feature of WordPerfect. Otherwise the logs may contain erroneous data. And never, ever change the computer's clock in the middle of working in WordPerfect, as this can cause drastically inaccurate results.

8. The WordPerfect Document Logger macro assumes the file activity log is properly formatted. If the format of the log file becomes corrupted, the macro may not run, may prematurely terminate because of an error, or may produce erroneous logging data. Processing and deleting old log files is your best assurance of properly formatted file activity logs.

9. PLEASE NOTE: The WordPerfect Document Logger macro DOES NOT create the file activity log. WordPerfect generates this log file; the macro merely processes the file so that its data is tabulated in a meaningful way.

10. The Document Logger macro does not crash WordPerfect, and contains no commands that would make it do so. If you experience freeze-ups, GPFs, IPFs, or BSODs (Blue Screen of Death) when running the WordPerfect Document Logger, the cause is WordPerfect and its associated system files, not the macro.

Small Print Stuff

Copyright 1999, by Gordon McComb. All Rights Reserved.
http://gmccomb.com/

You are free to use, copy, distribute, and make derivative works of this software, as long as you agree to the terms below.

YOU AGREE TO USE THIS SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

This software is offered to you "AS-IS" and no support is provided. No warranty as to the fitness or merchantability of this software is provided, express or implied. The time-tracking functionality of this software HAS NOT been thoroughly tested. It is YOUR ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY to determine the accuracy and usability of this software.

You further agree that if you copy, distribute, or make derivative works of this software that you offer your version under the same copyright terms stated here. The copyright notice above must remain on all copies of this software. You may copyright your derivative works and/or contributions, but the original copyright notice must remain.

WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation.