Web OfficeView

Web OfficeView lets you use your web browser to run a virtual in-out board to improve communication in your office. The board displays standard or customized remarks, such as "in", "in but unavailable", "on vacation until X" , and so on. Because the location of your co-workers is constantly apparent, your office assistants can know your whereabouts and give informed responses to phone calls. The program also includes a messaging system (can be disabled) and a screen that displays employee information, such as the telephone, fax, and pager numbers. Until the program is registered, 500 names can be displayed for 8 hours after which only 5 names are displayed.

To install the program create a directory for Web OfficeView on the server and unzip WOV.zip into this directory. Run wov.exeto begin the installation. Usually you install the program into the Web OfficeView directory on the server. Although it can reside on the file server that holds the database files, this is not a requirement. Any Windows workstation that can access the Web OfficeView directory on the server is a suitable host.

When you enable the optional login feature, the main screen will automatically indicate "In" beside your name and allow you to read your messages. One click on the field beside your name opens a list of remarks. Another click selects your new remark.

The program is a small 32-bit Windows application that can run on practically any system using Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, NT or 2K. Although it can reside on the file server that holds the database files, this is not a requirement. Any Windows workstation that can connect to the Web OfficeView directory on the server is suitable. Thus, the program will work with NetWare or Unix based file servers that hold the Web OfficeView database. Web browsers on Macs, Unix and other platforms can participate.

If you share the database directory with OfficeView Pro, the two programs work cooperatively displaying the same information and sharing messages. his setup allows you to use a small Windows application at your own workstation or a web browser when you are away.

Web OfficeView puts everything you need to maintain the database on one screen. If you run the program from the Web OfficeView directory on the server, just click on the Database tab to display the Database page, add the names and you are up and running. If Web OfficeView is not running from the database directory, you need to select the Control and Information page and set the path to the Web OfficeView database.

You can use a web browser to adjust option settings and administer the database. On the server, use URL http://127.0.0.1/admin.htm. On a remote desktop, use the Web OfficeView URL instead of 127.0.0.1.

The program contains a small web server that uses the Hypertext protocol to communicate with web browsers. To try a web browser, select the Control and Information tab and click on the Launch Local Browser button. Your web browser should start up and display a login page or the list of names if login is disabled.

After logging in, click on a name to display the corresponding employee information on a new page. If the message system is enabled, click on the small envelope icon to display the OfficeView Message Composer page where you can prepare and send a message. If you are logged in and you click on the icon beside your name, the OfficeView Message Reader page appears to allow you to read your messages.

If the option is set to allow users to change remarks for other people, then you can do so from any page that displays the list of names. Click on the remark beside the name to bring up a new page with a list of remarks and click on a remark. If you prefer to customize the remark text, click on the edit area and type your own remark. Use the OK button to post the remark and return to the main page. You can use the Misc column in a similar way.

The main page has a quick way to view a single group. Click on a name in the Group column. For instance, select the word "Sales" beside one of the names and only the names that comprise the Sales group will appear. A second click on "Sales" brings all the names back into view.

To modify the list of available remarks, edit them on the Remarks page. Use a Select Color button to change the remarks background colors. Remarks can contain active fields that automatically insert information (e.g., date) or allow users to provide additional information.

Active fields that are enclosed by {} brackets insert the current day, time or date into a remark. For instance, "Left at {time}" might show as "Left at 4:22:20". You can include additional text inside the {} brackets for improved clarity. The {} brackets and all the text inside them are replaced. For example, "Left at {the current time}" and "Left at {time}" both produce the same remark.

A second type of active field prompts the user for information. These fields are enclosed by <> brackets which work in much the same way as the {} brackets, except that the user supplies the information. A remark containing <date> is replaced with a date button in the Remarks page. Click on the button to display a calendar and select a date. The date will appear instead of the date button.

To create a customized button, insert a prompt word or phrase within <> brackets. For example, <location> creates .  When selected, a new window will request you to enter a location. It may be used in a remark such as "Gone to <location>". Empty brackets <> insert a blank field (i.e. ) for the user to fill.

Closing the Web OfficeView screen shrinks the program to an icon in the taskbar tray near the clock. Placing your mouse on the icon identifies Web OfficeView. Click on the icon to make the main screen appear. Right clicking on the icon reveals menu items. Use the Open menu item to display the program screen. Click on Terminate to stop the program. Before shutting down, the program will ask you to confirm that you want to stop.

The Control and Information page on the server program displays the URL address to use at other workstations. Try to connect to the program from another workstation using the given URL. If the machine hosting Web OfficeView has an Internet connection, you should be able to use the numeric URL (i.e. http://202.101.30.21) to connect from any workstation via the web. If you are using a modem to connect to the Internet, the connection to the web must be established before the Web OfficeView program is run so that it can obtain the external TCP/IP address. Otherwise, only clients on your local network will be able to connect and use the program.

The Control and Information page allows the server port to be changed to 800 or 888 instead of the standard port (80). This feature allows the program to share the same IP address with another web server. A frame set can be used to transparently merge Web OfficeView with your existing web site. The preference section has options to permit users to log in, to allow users to change others' remarks, to add a time stamp when changes are made, to enable the message system and to display your company name on the main page and to display additional links.

To shut down Web OfficeView, right click on the tray icon by the taskbar clock and select Terminate. After you confirm the shutdown request, the program stops. To stop Web OfficeView from running as a service use net.exe Stop "Web OfficeView".

The following options can be enabled:

Allow changes in column 4 - To allow users to change text in the fourth column.

Can change remarks of others - To allow users to change anyone’s remark without restriction. Otherwise, you can only change your own remark after you have logged in. Users in the "Frontdesk" or "Executive" groups can always change any remark.

Display activity log link - To include a link on the main page that allows users to view the Web OfficeView activity log. The log entries record server actions.

Display Administration link - To include a link on the main page that allows users to view the option settings. You can make changes to any setting if you provide a blank name and the Change Option password (initially the password is abc) when prompted. Click on the Database Maintenance button to make changes to the database.

Display a time stamp column - To display a column with the time stamp indicating when the remark was changed.

Display download program link - To include a link on the main page that allows users to download and run a tiny HTML application. It can be used to automatically start up a Web OfficeView client when you power up your workstation.

Display Help Tips - To display a summary of tips at the bottom of the main and options page.

Display guest link on login page - To have a link on the login page for guests to view the names and remarks without having to log in.

Display new message flag - To display a red * symbol near the tiny envelope beside names that have unread messages.

Display registration name - To substitute your registration name in place of Web OfficeView in the title at top of the main screen.

Enable employee information link - To view the employee's information page when you click on a person's name.

Enable messaging system - To activate the messaging system.

Enable new message sound - To sound an alert if a new message is available.

Enable subgroup view - Allows you to view only the names in a subgroup. Subgroup names are appended to group names following a ":" separator. Two examples are "Sales : Used Cars" and "Sales : New Cars".

Launch browser on startup - To automatically start a web browser when Web OfficeView starts.

Log changes to "LG102007.dbf" - This option to record remark changes to monthly log files. For example, the log file is called LG082003.dbf (for August 2003) and is located in the Web OfficeView database directory (see Control and Information page for the directory location). Each record will contain the following fields: identification number, employee name, column title, text entered in the column, and the date and time changes were made. This file can be imported into most spreadsheets and database programs for further processing and review.

Refresh rate - The refresh rate sets the time interval between remark updates. You can set the rate from 0 to 9999 seconds. Setting the refresh rate to zero will disable automatic updates. You can manually update the screen by clicking on the browser refresh button or pressing F5.

Require user login - To display the standard login screen on startup. A successful login lasts all day which allows you to stop and restart your browser without changing your remark or time stamp. You must log in to read your messages.

Set "In" remarks to "Out" at 3AM - To set "In" or "In but unavailable" remarks to "Out" at 3AM.

Set remark to "In" on login - To set remark to "In" when you login for the first time on any day.

Time stamp using browser time - To set the time stamp using the time zone of the web browser instead of the web server time zone. This option allows you to sign in at 8AM (local time) from anywhere in the world and have the Web OfficeView time stamp show as 8AM. To work properly, the browser must have Javascript enabled and the time zone must be set correctly on all operating systems.

View own group only - To restrict users to view only names in their own group. This option does not apply to users belonging to the "Frontdesk" or "Executive" groups.

Copyright © 2007 OfficeView Software Inc.