ZetTimer    by Clair Barrass

ZetTimer is designed to help you to keep track of your "free" minutes, or "Zets", each month.

Copy the program file 'ZetTimer.exe' and its help file 'Readme.Txt' into a directory on your hard disk.

The first time the program runs it will warn you "Log File does not exist.  Creating new log file".  It will create a text file called Zetlog.txt in the same directory as you put the program.

Each time you start a "Free" connection, set the timer running by running the program and clicking the "Start" button.

Alternatively, you can add 'Start' as a runtime parameter by editing the properties of the Shortcut or by running ZetTimer from a batch file - this will cause the program to start timing immediately it starts running.  You still have to click the 'Stop' button once you disconnect and confirm the log entry.

You can minimise ZetTimer whilst using it - your "Zets remaining" is displayed on the Task Bar in Hours and Minutes.

Alternatively, you can add a second runtime parameter 'min' which will not only start the program timing automatically, but also minimise it i.e. your run command will read someithing like
     c:\program files\zettimer.exe start min

As soon as you disconnect, click the "Stop" button.  The program will ask you to confirm that the entry should be written to the log file.

The details of the last call remain displayed.  To clear the display click the "Reset" button.

The program will automatically count 1 zet per minute during evenings and weekends and 2 zets per minute at other times.  (Subject, of course, to your system clock being correct!).

It will NOT handle calls that straddle the change from one time period to the other correctly - it will charge at the rate in force at the START of the call - so if you start at 7.55am and connect for more than 5 minutes, the latter part of the call will have been rated at 1 zet per minute only.  You can correct for this manually by adding an unlogged call.

Add an unlogged call whenever you forgot to start the timer or need to make any other adjustment to your remaining minutes.  Click on "Add Unlogged Call".

The program will assume the call was made today and set the Date accordingly - adjust if required.  

Enter the call duration rounded UP to the nearest whole minute.  If the call lasts more than an hour, still enter the call in minutes e.g. an hour and a half would be entered as 90 mins.

Enter the start time of the call in the form "hh:mm" - if the call was made today (i.e. the Date is today's date) then the program will automatically calculate the start time as the present system time minus the call duration i.e. it assumes that you are adding a call which just finished.  You can alter the start time if necessary.  Enter times in 24 hour clock mode i.e. 3pm would be entered as 15:00.

Check that the charge rate is set correctly.  The program will automatically set the charge rate based on the day of the week and time of day but you can override this if neccessary.

Click OK - the program will ask you to confirm that the entry should be written to the log file.

You can view the log file at any time - click the "View Log" button.  Any changes made to this file are only saved if you click the "Exit - Save Changes" button.  You can freely edit the file from this screen to add extra unlogged calls or adjust calls timed incorrectly.  However, it is ESSENTIAL that you do not mess up the first column of figures i.e. the Zets column as this is read by the program to keep track of your total zets used.  You CAN add comments into the log - I suggest you do this to the right of each entry - very useful if you want to keep a track of what you were doing during the calls.

If you DO mess up the file somehow so that the program can no longer read it, then use Notepad to edit ZetLog.txt and correct the format again.  Only the Zets column is important - this should be a number followed by at least one space.

At the end of each month Zetnet resets your total available Zets to 600 - to reset the program click the "Reset Log" button.   The program will ask you to confirm that you really DO want to reset the log.  If you click OK then the current log file will be renamed as Zetlog.old and a new, empty, log file ZetLog.txt will be created.  If a previous ZetLog.old already exists it will be DELETED - if you want to keep a historical record then back up the ZetLog.old first.  If Zetlog.old does not exist (either because you have renamed it first or because this is your first time of resetting the log file) the program will warn you that "Old Log File Not Found" - this is nothing to worry about and the reset of the present file will proceed.

When you have less than 10 Zets left, the program will begin to make an audible warning - sounds a bit like a loudly ticking clock.  This is so that you have the chance to disconnect before going over your allocation if you wish (you can stay online but remember that Zetnet will charge you for the extra usage).  You can turn off the sound by clicking the "Hush" button which will appear at the same time the warning starts.  To turn off the warning for the rest of the month, click on "View Log File" and type the word "hush" at the end of the first line of titles - then click "Exit - Save Changes".  The audible warning will not sound again until you reset the log file (or delete the word "hush").

I hope the program is fairly easy to use and works reliably.

I would appreciate any feedback you can offer or suggestions for improvements you would find useful. (Or info on any bugs!)

Thanks.

Clair

clair.barrass@zetnet.co.uk

Home page: www.users.zetnet.co.uk/barrass/index.htm
Links to the download site for the current version of ZetTimer should be available on my home page.