Logfile

This document describes the entries made into Logfile each time a user signs on and off of Escape, or receives a warning message, and how they can be helpful if there are problems when working.

The Logfile can be found in the \Escape\Common directory. Each time an entry is made it appends (writes) to the bottom of the file. It will record the date and time, the user ID, the module of Escape they are running, along with the version date. In addition, it will show any warning messages a user might be receiving. This information can be very useful in being proactive in preventing problems.

Reviewing Logfile

On a weekly basis, or if a user is experiencing problems while in Escape, review the Logfile information. From a DOS prompt, change to the \ESCAPE\COMMON directory and enter:

EDIT LOGFILE

You will now be in the logfile in an "edit' mode. Be careful while using the edit function as you will be able to change information. In order to exit and not save your changes select the File menu, then Exit, and it will ask if you would like to save changes, answer NO. You will then be returned to your DOS prompt.

The following are some items to be looking for when reviewing your logfile:

In the above sample you will see the date, time, the module of Escape the user signed into, the User ID, and then any messages they received. When a user signs in you will see SIGNED ON and in parenthesis the version of the software they are running.

NOTE: If you have had a recent update to the software please review that the version of software the users are running is the most current. If they are not running the most current software, information in a requisition could become corrupted.

What Logfile Reports to You

The Escape system stores messages about unusual system events in the logfile, as well as users signing in and out of the system. Taking several sample logfile information lines, we will describe what to look for and what the logfile information is telling you.

Signed On

In this example, different users are signing into Escape. Logfile is showing you the module of Escape being signed into, the user ID, and as you read across the line to the right, the version of software (v3.8), along with the date that version was changed.

Review that the users signing into the same module of Escape, for example, REQ, have the same version and "Changed On" date. In the sample above the user TTHOMPSON is signing into the REQ module, but the date of their software is 11/10/2000 as opposed to DKENNELLY'S changed date for the REQ module is 1/04/2001.

Some questions to ask here are:

• Is the icon on the desktop of the user TTHOMPSON set up to see the newest version of software?
• Has the new release of software been downloaded to all site location servers?
• Is this user running the software from their hard drive, or are they running the executables from the network?

Signed Off

In the above example you see the user information shown twice exactly the same way, showing that they are signing off. When you see a double sign off like this, it indicates that they exited Escape logically, meaning they used the ESC button until they received the "Are you sure you want to Exit Purchasing II Module Y" prompt.

If you see only one Signed Off message for the user then they may have just closed their window by clicking the X in the upper right corner, or they were "kicked off" the system due to network problems or a program halt in Escape.

Date and Time

As you look at the logfile information above, notice the date and time for the users. The date is recorded in the logfile in this order, yy/mm/dd. For example, 010329 is translated as 03/29/2001. The time is recorded in 24-hour spans, or military time. For instance, the time of 13:34 would be 1:34 p.m.

In checking the time of user EPOWELL you will see the time of 15:34, and the user before EPOWELL, TTHOMPSON, shows 13:34. The user following EPOWELL, RFISKE, shows a time of 13:50. This indicates that TTHOMPSON's workstation time is 1:34 p.m., RFISKE's workstation time is 1:50 p.m., while EPOWELLS's workstation time is 3:34 p.m., two hours later than TTHOMPSON's and RFISKE's workstations. So the user before and after EPOWELL are running with the correct time.

NOTE: One possible reason for this is that the user is not logging off their computer each night and re-logging in the next day. If they log in the next day properly they will get the proper time from the server. This is called time synchronizing. Escape's requisitions are time sensitive. So if it was approved by EPOWELL at 15:34, but TTHOMPSON was adding items to the same requisition, it could corrupt the information.

Symptoms of Incorrect System Time

• Requisitions not going to COMPLETE status
• PO's that print twice for no reason (i.e., won't stay in the PRINTED status)
• Journal entries that look posted but allow you to edit them

Warning Messages

The first warning message, "You need to add a CHANGE NOTICE for this requisition first," is telling the user that they were trying to make a change to a requisition prior to adding a Change Notice to indicate a change was being made.

In the second warning message, "Invalid user name or password. Try again!," the user was trying to sign in with the incorrect user name or password. This could be an indication that another user was trying to use someone else's user name or they have forgotten their password. If you see this message numerous times it would be beneficial to contact the user to see if they have forgotten their sign in information.

In the third warning message, "User Id: FUSERAP password has been changed.," the user FISCAL changed the password of the user FUSERAP. Since passwords should be confidential and not just anyone should be changing them, you may want to investigate this message.

Error Messages

Shown above are some examples of error messages that Logfile will report. As with any error message it is important to follow up to see if the errors are being reported repeatedly, which could indicate that something has caused the data to become corrupt.

The first error message, "Warning, could not open file:\Escape\Help\RLNWHS.HLP, Error:2," is telling the user that the file is not found. It could indicate that the file does not exist or that they do not have rights to it.

The last two error messages beginning with "Could not read ACCTNDX.DFF file (Link #8610). Error #51 Please tell system manager about this error M:\Escape\2001," indicate that the file is already open and cannot be accessed by a user. These errors pertain to accounts in the Fiscal Year 2001 and specifically the account index file. If these errors persist, a Clarion utility may be necessary to clear the errors.

NOTE: Before proceeding with fixing these errors, please contact your Support Representative.