The Software Time Lock free trial period
From the time you first run Software Time Lock, you have a 30-day trial period to evaluate it. During that time, Software Time Lock will be fully functional. (No functions are disabled.) If you decide you like Software Time Lock, you should register and pay for it ($30) before the end of the free trial period. At the end of the trial period, if you have not paid for Software Time Lock and input the registration code you receive, Software Time Lock will be deactivated. That is, it will no longer restrict use of the computer. It will be reactivated when you input the registration code, which you will receive when you pay for Software Time Lock.
There are several ways to pay for Software Time Lock. The easiest way to register a single copy is to go to the LeithauserResearch.com site. From there, you can go to the payment page (links are in the third paragraph on the home page). Scroll down the page to the place where Software Time Lock is listed. Input the serial number that appears on the registration screen for Software Time Lock (the screen that asks you to register and input your registration code) and then click on the "PayPal buy now" button. You will be sent the registration code by email. You will normally receive this code within a day, although it may take a little longer under unusual circumstances (Internet problems, etc.).
You can also pay for Software Time Lock by clicking on the Print button to print a form. You can then mail this form to the address given on the form or fax it to the fax number given on the form. You can pay by enclosing a check or by filling out the credit card information on the form. You can also pay by phone using your credit card. The number to call is 386-410-6769.
Volume discounts are available. Call 386-410-6769 or send an email to [email protected] with information on how many copies you want to license for a price quote.
What Software Time Lock Does
Software Time Lock is a software program for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/NT/Vista computers that allows you to control at what times the Internet, specific programs, and even Windows itself can be used on a particular computer. In addition, it can allow you to control how long these functions can be used in the course of a day. When you have multiple user accounts on the computer and you selected to install Software Time Lock on individual accounts (as opposed to the "All Users" option), you can create settings for all of these for each individual user. For example, you can give user 1 two hours on the Internet and user 2 one hour. Software Time Lock will keep track of each user's time on the Internet (or any other function) separately. You will have to lock onto each account separately to set up the limits for that account.
To clarify, with Software Time Lock you can:
1) Set blocks of time for each day of the week during which you cannot access the Internet on a computer. For example, you can set that you cannot access the Internet Monday through Friday from midnight to 6 PM and from 10 PM to midnight. You can set several blocks for each day, such as midnight to 8 AM and 6 PM to midnight, thus creating a limited time period during which the Internet can be accessed (in this case, 8 AM to 6 PM). During these times, you cannot view Web pages, download files, send or receive email, send or receive instant messages, or perform other Internet related functions. Note: On Windows 95/98/Me computers, Software Time Lock can only block Web browsing. It cannot fully block instant messaging, email, and some other Internet activities.
2) Select specific programs and set blocks of time for each day of the week during which you cannot use these programs. For example, you can set that you cannot use certain games from noon to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday. You can set several blocks for each day, such as midnight to 8 AM and 6 PM to midnight, thus creating a limited time period during which the programs can be used (in this case, 8 AM to 6 PM).
3) Set blocks of time for each day of the week during which you cannot use the computer at all. For example, you can set that you cannot have the computer on from 9 PM to midnight and from midnight to 8 AM on Saturday and Sunday. You can set several blocks for each day of the week, such as midnight to 8 AM and 6 PM to midnight, thus creating a limited time period during which the computer can be used (in this case, 8 AM to 6 PM).
4) Set that a user can only access the Internet for a specific length of time on each day of the week. For example, you could set that you can only access the Internet for one hour per day on Monday through Friday, and for three hours per day on Saturday and Sunday. Note: Although all Internet access is cut off once the time limit is reached, Software Time Lock might not recognize some programs as Internet access programs and count them as Internet time. If you find that some Internet program is not being limited, please contact Leithauser Research with as much information as possible about the program so that we can add it to the list of Internet programs monitored by Software Time Lock.
5) Select specific programs and set limits of how many hours and minutes you can access them each day of the week.
6) Set for each day of the week how many hours you can use the computer. If the number of hours is exceeded, a shutdown window will appear and Windows will shut down in ten seconds unless the password is entered.
Software Time Lock is useful for parents to regulate how much time or when their children can use the computer. For example, they can use it to make sure that their children only access the Internet while the parents are home, or to set how many hours per day they can access the Internet. Software Time Lock is also useful in a business setting as a security function to prevent people from using the computer during hours when nobody is supposed to be in the office. Likewise, it can be useful in schools, libraries, and other places where computers are make available to people freely at some times, but not others.
Main screen
The main screen has a pair of option buttons. Normally, the top option button is selected. This indicates that protection is on. If you click on the lower option button, Software Time Lock will ask for the password. If you input the correct password, the bottom option button will be selected and protection will be deactivated. This means all protection, including all blocks, time limits, and the clock protection (explained below). You can reactivate protection by clicking on the top option button again. No password is required to reactivate protection. Note: The password is case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to use the EXACT password you selected when you set up the password, including capitalization.
In addition to the option buttons on the main screen, there are menus at the top of the window. These are explained below.
Files Menu
There are two options under the Files menu.
Uninstall Software Time Lock. If you select this option, Software Time Lock will ask for the administrative password. If you provide the correct password, Software Time Lock will be totally removed from your computer. You should only use this option if you have decided that you do not want to use Software Time Lock ever again. You can also uninstall by going to the Windows Control Panel uninstall program, which is usually called Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features, but this is not the preferred method. However, on some computers, particularly Windows Vista computers, using the Files/Uninstall process seems t generate an error. Note: Please do not try to uninstall Software Time Lock by manually deleting files. Doing so will not only not uninstall Software Time Lock, it will make it very hard to actually uninstall.
The second option under the Files menu is to exit Software Time Lock. This closes down the Software Time Lock controller, but does not stop the protection provided by Software Time Lock. (Software Time Lock does not stop controlling he use of the computer.) In fact, any protection that has been turned off by the Software Time Lock control panel will be reactivated.
Configure Menu
Under the Configure menu, there are quite a few options to allow you to set up Software Time Lock. All of these options are password protected. This means that you must input your Administrator password to access these functions. Note: Note: The password is case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to use the EXACT password you selected when you set up the password, including capitalization.
Note: If your computer has multiple accounts and you have set up Software Time Lock to run on each account separately (as opposed to selecting the "All Users" option during the install process), you need to log onto each account to set up the limits for that account. For example, to set the limits for user 1, you must log onto the user 1 account and run the Software Time Lock control screen to set the limits for user 1. If, however, you selected the "All Users" option during installation, you need only log onto any account that has administrative rights and run the Software Time Lock control panel Configure menu to set the limits for all users.
The Configuration Menu functions are:
Add/Edit Windows Blocks - This allows you to set blocks of time during which Windows cannot be run. Once blocks of time are set, if Windows is run during these times, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down Windows. There is a password box and a button on this window, and a number appears counting down from 10 to 0. If the Software Time Lock administrative or supervisor password is not entered in the box and the button pressed before this number gets to 0, Windows will shut down. The purpose of this is to allow authorized personnel to use Windows in an emergency. Note that this box will appear either if you start Windows running during a blocked out time or if a blocked out time is reached while Windows is running. If you are running Windows and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Windows to give you a little time to close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Windows in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Windows Blocks option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Windows Blocks screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows blocks. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new block, edit an existing block, or delete an existing block.
To add a new Windows block, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Blocks window. Input the start time for the block in the Start Time box and the end time in the End Time box. For example, if you want to block access to Windows from 10 PM to midnight, you would put "10:00 PM" in the Start Time box and Midnight in the End Time box. You can do this either by actually typing these times in the boxes, or by clicking on the dropdown arrows at the right of each box and then selecting a time from the list. Once you have selected the start and end times, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time block to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the Start Time, End Time, and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this block to the list.
Note that you can create several blocks for the same days of the week. For example, suppose you want to only allow access to Windows from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can create a block from midnight to 8 AM and another from 6 PM to midnight on these days. This effectively restricts access to Windows from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also block access for an entire day simply by blocking access from midnight to midnight on those days.
To edit an existing Windows time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Blocks list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Windows block, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the block you wish to delete from the Current Blocks list. Then click on the Delete button. That block will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many blocks as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Windows Blocks window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Program Blocks - This allows you to set blocks of time during which individual programs cannot be run. Once blocks of time are set, if the selected programs are run during these times, Software Time Lock will shut them down and display a window explaining that it has shut down the program. If you are running a blocked program and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down the program to give you a little time to save files and otherwise properly close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down the program in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Program Blocks option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Program Blocks screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows blocks. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new block, edit an existing block, or delete an existing block.
To add a new Windows block, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Blocks window. Input the program name as it appears on the program's title bar (the blue bar at the top of most programs) in the Program text box. For example, to set a block for the game FreeCell, input "FreeCell" in the Program text box. If the name stays the same on the title bar, input the exact name. If the contents of the title bar change as the program runs, input only that part that is consistently displayed on the title bar. For example, when Internet Explorer is displaying a page, it displays the page name as well as the phrase "Windows Internet Explorer." You can input phrase "Windows Internet Explorer" or even just "Internet Explorer" as the program title.
Once you have input the name of the program, input the start time for the block in the Start Time box and the end time in the End Time box. For example, if you want to block access to the program from 10 PM to midnight, you would put "10:00 PM" in the Start Time box and Midnight in the End Time box. You can do this either by actually typing these times in the boxes, or by clicking on the dropdown arrows at the right of each box and then selecting a time from the list. Once you have selected the start and end times, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time block to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the Start Time, End Time, and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this block to the list.
Note that you can create several blocks for the same days of the week. For example, suppose you want to only allow access to a program from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can create a block from midnight to 8 AM and another from 6 PM to midnight on these days. This effectively restricts access to that program from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also block access for an entire day simply by blocking access from midnight to midnight on those days.
To edit an existing program time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Blocks list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing program block, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the block you wish to delete from the Current Blocks list. Then click on the Delete button. That block will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many blocks as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Program Blocks window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Internet Blocks - This allows you to set blocks of time during which the Internet cannot be accessed. Once blocks of time are set, if any Internet browser is run during these times, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down the browser and Software Time Lock will shut down the browser. Also, you will not be able to access any other Internet functions, such as sending or receiving email, Instant Messaging and so on. A warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Internet access to give you a little time to close your sign of any instant messaging you are doing, or otherwise properly close out your activity. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Internet activity in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Internet Blocks option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Internet Blocks screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows blocks. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new block, edit an existing block, or delete an existing block.
To add a new Internet block, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Blocks window. Input the start time for the block in the Start Time box and the end time in the End Time box. For example, if you want to block access to the Internet from 10 PM to midnight, you would put "10:00 PM" in the Start Time box and Midnight in the End Time box. You can do this either by actually typing these times in the boxes, or by clicking on the dropdown arrows at the right of each box and then selecting a time from the list. Once you have selected the start and end times, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time block to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the Start Time, End Time, and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this block to the list.
Note that you can create several blocks for the same days of the week. For example, suppose you want to only allow access to the Internet from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can create a block from midnight to 8 AM and another from 6 PM to midnight on these days. This effectively restricts access to the Internet from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also block access for an entire day simply by blocking access from midnight to midnight on those days.
To edit an existing Internet time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Blocks list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Internet block, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the block you wish to delete from the Current Blocks list. Then click on the Delete button. That block will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many blocks as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Internet Blocks window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Windows Time Limits - This allows you to set limits on how long each day of the week Windows can be run on the computer. Once the time limit is reached, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down Windows and Software Time Lock will shut down the computer. This shutdown can be aborted by inputting the Administrator or Supervisor password. If you are running Windows and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Windows to give you a little time to close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Windows in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new limit, edit an existing limit, or delete an existing limit.
To add a new Windows limit, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits window. Input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the Windows to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply by inputting zero time for those days.
To edit an existing Windows time limit setting, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing setting you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this setting will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Windows Limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Program Time Limits - This allows you to set blocks of time during which individual programs cannot be run. Once blocks of time are set, if the selected programs are run during these times, Software Time Lock will shut them down and display a window explaining that it has shut down the program. If you are running a blocked program and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down the program to give you a little time to save your files and otherwise properly close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down the program in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Program Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Program Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the program time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new time limit setting, edit an existing limit setting, or delete an existing limit setting.
To add a new program time limit setting, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Program Time Limits window. Input the program name as it appears on the program's title bar (the blue bar at the top of most programs) in the Program text box. For example, to set a block for the game FreeCell, input "FreeCell" in the Program text box. For example, to set a block for the game FreeCell, input "FreeCell" in the Program text box. If the name stays the same on the title bar, input the exact name. If the contents of the title bar change as the program runs, input only that part that is consistently displayed on the title bar. For example, when Internet Explorer is displaying a page, it displays the page name as well as the phrase "Windows Internet Explorer." You can input phrase "Windows Internet Explorer" or even just "Internet Explorer" as the program title.
Once you have input the program name, input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the program to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply inputting zero time on those days.
To edit an existing program time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the time limit settings you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing program time limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the limit setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That limit setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many limit settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Program Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Internet Time Limits - This allows you to set limits on how long each day a person can access the Internet on the computer. Once limits of time are set, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down the Internet browser and Software Time Lock will shut down the browser. A warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Internet access to give you a little time to sign off. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Internet access in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new time limit, edit an existing time limit, or delete an existing time limit.
To add a new Internet time limit, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits window. Input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the Internet to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one Internet access time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply by inputting zero time for those days.
To edit an existing Internet time limit setting, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing setting you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this setting will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Internet Time Limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Internet Blocks - This allows you to set blocks of time during which the Internet cannot be accessed. Once blocks of time are set, if any Internet browser is run during these times, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down the browser and Software Time Lock will shut down the browser. Also, you will not be able to access any other Internet functions, such as sending or receiving email, Instant Messaging and so on. A warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Internet access to give you a little time to close your sign of any instant messaging you are doing, or otherwise properly close out your activity. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Internet activity in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Internet Blocks option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Internet Blocks screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows blocks. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new block, edit an existing block, or delete an existing block.
To add a new Internet block, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Blocks window. Input the start time for the block in the Start Time box and the end time in the End Time box. For example, if you want to block access to the Internet from 10 PM to midnight, you would put "10:00 PM" in the Start Time box and Midnight in the End Time box. You can do this either by actually typing these times in the boxes, or by clicking on the dropdown arrows at the right of each box and then selecting a time from the list. Once you have selected the start and end times, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time block to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the Start Time, End Time, and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this block to the list.
Note that you can create several blocks for the same days of the week. For example, suppose you want to only allow access to the Internet from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can create a block from midnight to 8 AM and another from 6 PM to midnight on these days. This effectively restricts access to the Internet from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also block access for an entire day simply by blocking access from midnight to midnight on those days.
To edit an existing Internet time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Blocks list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Internet block, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the block you wish to delete from the Current Blocks list. Then click on the Delete button. That block will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many blocks as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Internet Blocks window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Windows Time Limits - This allows you to set limits on how long each day of the week Windows can be run on the computer. Once the time limit is reached, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down Windows and Software Time Lock will shut down the computer. This shutdown can be aborted by inputting the Administrator or Supervisor password. If you are running Windows and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Windows to give you a little time to close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Windows in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new limit, edit an existing limit, or delete an existing limit.
To add a new Windows limit, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits window. Input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the Windows to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply by inputting zero time for those days.
To edit an existing Windows time limit setting, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing setting you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this setting will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Windows Limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Windows Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Program Time Limits - This allows you to set blocks of time during which individual programs cannot be run. Once blocks of time are set, if the selected programs are run during these times, Software Time Lock will shut them down and display a window explaining that it has shut down the program. If you are running a blocked program and the time of a shutdown is approaching, a warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down the program to give you a little time to save your files and otherwise properly close your applications. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down the program in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Program Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Program Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the program time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new time limit setting, edit an existing limit setting, or delete an existing limit setting.
To add a new program time limit setting, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Program Time Limits window. Input the program name as it appears on the program's title bar (the blue bar at the top of most programs) in the Program text box. For example, to set a block for the game FreeCell, input "FreeCell" in the Program text box. For example, to set a block for the game FreeCell, input "FreeCell" in the Program text box. If the name stays the same on the title bar, input the exact name. If the contents of the title bar change as the program runs, input only that part that is consistently displayed on the title bar. For example, when Internet Explorer is displaying a page, it displays the page name as well as the phrase "Windows Internet Explorer." You can input phrase "Windows Internet Explorer" or even just "Internet Explorer" as the program title.
Once you have input the program name, input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the program to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply inputting zero time on those days.
To edit an existing program time block, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing block you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this block will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the time limit settings you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing program time limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the limit setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That limit setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many limit settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Program Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Add/Edit Internet Time Limits - This allows you to set limits on how long each day a person can access the Internet on the computer. Once limits of time are set, a window will appear saying that Software Time Lock is shutting down the Internet browser and Software Time Lock will shut down the browser. A warning screen will appear approximately one minute before Software Time Lock shuts down Internet access to give you a little time to sign off. When this screen appears, you can get rid of it by clicking on the Close button. This will cause the screen to disappear, but not stop Software Time Lock from shutting down Internet access in about one minute.
When you select the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits option under the Configure Menu, the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits screen will appear. This screen has a variety of buttons and boxes for you to input selections in setting the Windows time limits. At the top of the window is a frame labeled Operation. This frame contains option buttons that let you select whether you want to add a new time limit, edit an existing time limit, or delete an existing time limit.
To add a new Internet time limit, select (click on) the Add option button in the Operations frame. This option is already set when you open the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits window. Input the number of hours and the number of minutes in the Hours and Minutes text boxes. For example, if you want to limit access to the Internet to one and a half hours, input 1 in the Hours box and 30 in the Minutes box. Of course, you could just input 90 in the Minutes box if you prefer. Once you have selected the amount of time, click on the check boxes in the Days frame to select which days you want this time limit to apply to. For example, if you want the time limits to apply on Saturday and Sunday, check those boxes. Once you have filled in the time amount and Days boxes, click on the Add button to add this limit to the list.
Note that you can only create one Internet access time limit for the each day of the week, unlike the time blocks where you are blocking access at certain times. If you were to input two limits for the same day of the week, the shorter limit would be in effect. You can also block access for an entire day simply by inputting zero time for those days.
To edit an existing Internet time limit setting, select the Edit option button in the Operations frame. Then click on the existing setting you want to edit in the Current Limits list. The existing information from this setting will appear in the input boxes. Change these boxes as you want, then click on the Change button. The data for the block you selected will then be changed.
To delete an existing Internet Time Limit setting, select the Delete option button from the Operations frame. Then select the setting you wish to delete from the Current Limits list. Then click on the Delete button. That setting will then be deleted.
You can add, edit, or delete as many settings as you like. When you are finished, click on the Close button to close the Add/Edit Internet Time Limits window and return to the main screen.
Set Windows Shutdown Time Delay - If you have set either a Windows time limit or a Windows block, Software Time Lock will display a window when it is about to shut down Windows. This window gives you a set period of time to input a password to abort shutdown. The Set Windows Shutdown Time Delay function under the Configuration menu allows you to set the number of seconds for Software Time Lock to delay before shutting down Windows. The form displayed when you select this menu option has a text/dropdown menu box. You can either type a number of seconds in the text box, or select a number from the dropdown menu. When you have selected a number, click on the Set button or press Enter on your keyboard. You can click on the Cancel button (or press Esc on your keyboard) to abort changing the time delay.
System Clock Protection - Since the time block functions of Software Time Lock rely on knowing the time, Software Time Lock must access the system clock. Some people might get the bright idea of simply changing the computer's clock. For example, if the person were blocked from accessing the Internet from 10 PM to midnight, they might try to change the computer's clock to read 6 PM. To prevent this, Software Time Lock has a built-in routine that prevents you from changing the computer's clock if there are any time blocks in effect. You would normally want this active. However, there are some situations in which you might not want this clock protection. Because of this, there are several levels of clock protection to suit your needs. Levels of protection are:
Protection off - Protect is turned off. You might use this is you are doing some maintenance work on the computer that involves changing the clock, or otherwise need to turn off Clock Guard for a period of time.
Block Date and Time Properties Window - The most common way to change the computer time is to right click on the time displayed in the lower right corner of the screen, then click on "Adjust Time and Date". (The wording may vary slightly with different operating systems.) This will display the Windows program that allows you to set the time and date, as well as change the time zone and possibly a few other time related functions. Clock Guard can block this program from running. In some cases, like a time clock where employees have very limited access to the computer, blocking this program is enough to prevent tampering with the computer clock. In other cases, where users may have the opportunity to install some third party software to change the time, blocking the Windows time setting program is not enough.
Block Date/Time Properties Window and Lock Clock - This level of protection not only blocks the Windows program for changing the clock time, it also monitors the clock for any sudden changes. If such a change occurs, Clock Guard then resets the clock to its original time. This effectively prevents almost any attempt to change the clock setting. It may, however, conflict with other programs, like programs that periodically set the computer clock over the Internet. If you can set Clock Guard to use this setting without problems, it is the recommended setting. If, however, you find that the clock appears to be behaving erratically after you installed Clock Guard, this may indicate some conflict with other software on your computer, and you may want to lower the setting to simply blocking the Date and Time Properties window.
Set the level of protection you want, and then click on the Ok button. This level of protection will remain in effect until you change it. This is not like the Clock Guard Protection On/Off switch on the main control screen, which resets to On as soon as you exit the program or turn off the computer.
Note: Regardless of the level of protection you select, clock protection is not active unless you have set at least one time block (program, Internet, or computer), because only these require an accurate time.
Change Administrator Password
This option allows you to change the Administrator password. The Administrator password is used to make lasting changes in the program settings, such as adding or removing blocks or limits, or uninstalling Software Time Lock. It can also be used to abort a Windows shutdown by Software Time Lock. You would change this password if you suspect that unauthorized persons have learned it. When you select this option, Software Time Lock will ask you for the current Administrator password. When you input the current password, it will ask you to select a new password. Type the new password and click on the OK button. You can cancel changing the password by clicking on the Cancel button.
Change Supervisor Password
This option allows you to change the Supervisor password. This password can be used to temporarily turn off the Software Time Lock protection from the main screen. It can also be used to abort a Windows shutdown by Software Time Lock. You would change this password if you suspect that unauthorized persons have learned it. When you select this option, Software Time Lock will ask you for the current Supervisor password. (The Administrator password can be used in place of the Supervisor password here.) When you input the current password, it will ask you to select a new password. Type the new password and click on the OK button. You can cancel changing the password by clicking on the Cancel button.
Register Menu
If you have not yet registered Software Time Lock, this option will appear on the top of the window. Clicking on it will display the registration screen, which also appears when you first run Software Time Lock until it is registered.
Uninstalling Software Time Lock
If you decide that you do not like this program and want to remove it from your computer, click on the Files menu and then on Uninstall Software Time Lock. If you select this option, Software Time Lock will ask for the Administrator password. If you provide the correct password, Software Time Lock will be totally removed from your computer. You should only use this option if you have decided that you do not want to use Software Time Lock ever again.
On some computer configurations, this method generates an error. This is particularly true of some configurations of Windows Vista. If this happens to you, you can use the Windows Uninstall process of selecting the Windows Control Panel and then selecting Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features.
This is the ONLY way to uninstall Software Time Lock. Please do not try to uninstall Software Time Lock by manually deleting files. Doing so will not only not uninstall Software Time Lock, it will make it very hard to actually uninstall.
Bug reports, help requests, suggestions
If you need help with this program, have found a bug, or have a request for additional feature, please contact Leithauser Research. The best way is to send an email to [email protected]. You can also call Leithauser Research at 386-410-6769 .
If you are suggesting an additional feature or other improvement, we will make these changes and release a new version soon if we believe these improvements would have broad appeal. You will be notified when the new version is released. If we feel that the changes you suggest are not commercially viable, we can still create a custom version of Software Time Lock for you for a fee. Contact Leithauser Research if you are interested in this.
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