Have you ever wished for some way to log your Internet usage? PPPReport was designed to do just that. It's not that you don't trust your Internet providers, just that it's nice to know that you are getting what you pay for. Until now, there has been no easy way for Macintosh users to keep track of their on-line time.
System Requirements
System 7, MacTCP, MacPPP and of course, Internet access. Note that PPPReport will not work with a slip connection.
Installation
Drag the file named "PPPReport" onto your System Folder. PPPReport must be placed in the Control Panels folder to work correctly. You must restart your Macintosh to activate PPPReport.
Configuration
"Log duration": Default is not checked. If checked, PPPReport will generate the total time on each port. An example is shown below, the first line of data has the "Log duration" unchecked, the second line has the "Log duration" checked.
0 12/16/1994 15:18:38 12/16/1994 15:18:48
0 12/16/1994 15:11:28 12/16/1994 15:16:24 0:04:56
As you can see in the second line of data, PPPReport has figured out how long the connection was open for. Your probably thinking to yourself, what is the "Log duration" option for? Well, I'll tell you. For those of you who run your Mac with the clock in the 12 hour mode, if you check the "Log duration" checkbox, PPPReport will add a 12 to the hour part of your total time. See below.
0 12/15/1994 1:27:33 PM 12/15/1994 1:28:33 PM 12:01:00 AM
I tried to code around this but it is difficult to do (maybe someday). You may find it easier to run your Mac with the 24 hour clock, and have PPPReport tally each connection than to go with the 12 hour clock and work with the data in a spreadsheet or database. It is up to you.
"Don't duplicate ports": Default is checked. If multiple connections are open simultaneously on the same port, PPPReport saves only the total time on that port instead of an itemized list of each individual connection.
"Log all ports": Default is checked. If checked PPPReport will log all open ports. If this is not checked, you can enter the ports to log (only numbers are accepted in the list and must be separated by non-numeric characters, a space works just fine). Port "0" is always logged by PPPReport (port "0" is not used on the Internet and is used to save the total time of your connection). If you simply want to log your total time on the Internet, uncheck the "Log all ports". Additionally, port 255 is reserved by PPPReport for logging connections on "all other ports". I'll give you an example; if you type "119 255" in the list, PPPReport will log connections on port 119 and connections on all other ports will be logged on 255. You might want to play around with this to see just what it does, and check the data that PPPReport generates to set this to your liking. This could be useful if your provider has different charges for various connections. Say that your provider charges for all connections but news, you could keep track of that with this feature. If you just pay a flat hourly or monthly fee, don't even bother or worry about this feature.
Where... button: You can set where PPPReport will save your connection data. Clicking on it gives you the standard Macintosh dialog box asking where you want your PPPReport data saved. The default is in your Preferences folder inside the active System Folder. The default name of the saved file is PPPReport data but you can change this as well if you so desire.
Creator... button: You can select the application that you wish to view your PPPReport data with. The same Macintosh dialog box comes up here as well, but you can select your favorite program. The default is BBEdit.
PPPReport in Action
As soon as a connection is established with your provider, PPPReport will write in a text file, "PPPReport data" in your Preferences folder (or where or what you set this to).
- Port number (see Appendix A for a list of these ports).
- Date and time when the port is open.
- Date and time when the port is closed (or connection closed).
- Time of connection with each port (if you check the "Log duration").
Each field is separated with a tab and each record with a return character. You can import or paste this data to a database or spreadsheet program for your use. It can be tricky to get some spreadsheets to generate usable totals from this data, but I've found that Excel works quite well with the data that PPPReport generates.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo
Although PPPReport is freeware, it is not "public domain". It is copyrighted, and the copyright will be enforced whenever appropriate; therefore:
•PPPReport can only be distributed in its entirety: the control panel PPPReport and this read me.
• PPPReport cannot be sold, either by itself or in combination with any other product, without my express written permission.
• If you're a user group which is publishing a CD-ROM or floppy collection, you may include PPPReport without restriction, save that the original package is included. Contact me for up-to-date versions and information.
• If you’re a hard disk company which distributes PD, shareware, and freeware on your disk drives, you’re welcome to distribute PPPReport. Contact me for up-to-date versions and information.
• Commercial publishers and distributors of CD-ROM software collections may not distribute PPPReport on CD-ROM without my express written permission.
• PPPReport may be posted on an information service which charges its users for general connection time and downloading, but it may NOT be posted to an information service which will charge for the specific right to download PPPReport, without my express written permission.
• PPPReport may be given away as a support utility for a package which is itself to be given away. People who need to distribute PPPReport as a support utility should contact me for up-to-date versions and information.
Eric de la Musse makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the software or documentation including (but not limited to) implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Eric de la Musse be liable for loss of profits or goodwill or other indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the software or documentation, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
