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Inventories and Panda Invent

Before describing the interesting new features we have incorporated into Panda Invent, we shall start by defining some key concepts that may help you better understand the contents of these Help files:

•	Inventory: a detailed, itemized list of objects that belong to a person or organization; the document in which these objects are listed in written format. In our case, an inventory is a file in which Panda Invent stores information on assets and the components they are comprised of.

•	To Audit: to audit, or to take inventory, is defined as the action of including objects in an itemized list known as an inventory. In the case of Panda Invent, auditing consists of identifying and recording data on computers (both standalone – isolated – and networked machines), their components and other types of non-IT related devices.

These definitions tell us that all objects belonging to a person, group, company or any kind of organization can be classified and logged in such a way that it is always possible to know exactly what you have, where you have it and what it consists of.

These are the two fundamental ideas behind Panda Invent, and are therefore recurrent concepts throughout the application . Panda Invent has been designed to create and maintain inventories that allow network administrators to keep track of their organizations’ assets and related components, regardless of whether these are IT-related or not.

Panda Invent makes it possible to automate processes that gather and manage the data that identify networked and standalone computers, components and other items. IT-related items include workstations and servers, items of hardware such as hard drives, microprocessors, network, sound and video cards, and the software installed on computers. The data collection process is performed automatically in accordance with the specifications set out by the administrator. When auditing items or computers that are not connected to a network, the administrator must enter the data manually or using other media permitted by Panda Invent.

Panda Invent also makes it possible to take inventory of non-IT items such as photocopiers, faxes, telephones, etc. These devices cannot be audited automatically as they are not connected to a network and are therefore not detectable by means of this application.

Panda Invent therefore offers a whole range of inventory-related features which can be summarized in the following points:

•	Individual identification of computers.

•	Automatic collection of hardware and software data on all networked computers.

•	Creation of the media used to collect data on standalone computers (not connected to a network), floppy disks, CD-ROMs and other non-IT elements and non-technical features of computer systems.

•	Visualization and control of all inventory related data.

•	Consultation and filtering of data, label printing, follow-up of inventory elements, etc.


Who Uses Panda Invent (Panda Administrator) and How?

Panda Invent is an application designed to be used and managed by network administrators. The person in charge of an organization’s computer systems would therefore be the likely choice to control the inventory of computer and non-IT related elements.

Through Panda Invent, administrators have immediate and constant access to data concerning the status of their computer systems and other non-IT devices. Up-to-the-minute information will also be available on the hardware and software installed on computers. This way, administrators will know when their software should be updated, if items have been removed or replaced by others, exactly what software is installed at any given time, hardware and software characteristics, etc.

In order to carry out networked inventory operations, you will need a powerful management tool such as Panda Administrator. In the Panda Invent CD, Panda Administrator is included as an integral part of the product. Panda Invent needs it in order to run and interact with servers and workstations. In other words, as Panda Invent has been designed to work on networks, it needs to work hand in hand with the Panda Administrator network manager.

To make this easier for the user, Panda Administrator incorporates a Panda Invent button in its button bar. The first time you access Panda Administrator after installing Panda Invent, this button will be labeled Create Inv. Clicking on it allows you to create a new inventory. After creating your first inventory, you will then be able to access Panda Invent (you must create at least one inventory). Once an inventory has been made, an Invent button will appear in the Panda Administrator button bar. Clicking on it will open the Panda Invent interface. The inventory application then runs independently of the network manager, although on certain occasions it will need the help of Panda Administrator.

The gathering of inventory data can be carried out by the administrator from his/her own workstation, from a laptop computer, by physically going to each machine and server on the network or automatically through the network servers (workstation data collection module).


What Can Be Audited Using Panda Invent?

Panda Invent has been specially designed to carry out detailed inventories of IT-related items, although it can also be used to inventory other types of objects and devices. The following is a summary of the types of items and data you can audit of using Panda Invent:

IT-related items

•	Hardware:

Networked computers (workstations and/or servers): data is collected when computers log on to the network, although you can also input data using floppy disks or other media, or by entering it manually.

Standalone (isolated) computers: information on computers that are not connected to the network can be entered using alternative means or by inputting it manually.

Computer components: hard drives, network, video and sound cards, microprocessors, memory chips, etc. that form part of networked and standalone computers. The data pertaining to each component will be accessible once the corresponding computer logs on to the network or the information is keyed in manually.

•	Software

By analyzing hard drives (computer components), CD-ROMs or floppy disks, you can obtain information on the software applications installed on them, as well as license information and details of duplicated installations that are taking up unnecessary space.

•	Administrative Data

Administrative data may refer to both computer and non-IT related items and components, as this is non-technical information that cannot be captured by Panda Invent. This data is used to record additional information about the items that form part of your inventory and is entered manually by a user or the administrator. Panda Invent cannot automatically gather this type of data, as it is not an integral part of the items on the inventory. Information of this kind might include date of purchase, supplier and the start and expiry dates of warranties, etc.

Non-IT related items

Information of this type must be entered manually. The reason for this is that these items cannot be connected to a network, which means that Panda Invent is unable to collect the data automatically. Items of this kind include photocopiers, telephones, faxes, etc. The data entered for these items is exclusively administrative.

To summarize, the collection of data to be used by Panda Invent can be carried out automatically (when computers are connected to a server) or entered manually by the network administrator or user of the application. There are also optional items of data that cannot be detected by the program and must always be keyed in manually. This is known as administrative data and includes information referring to purchase dates, warranty periods, supplier details, repairs carried out on the item, etc.

As you might imagine, the volume of data that can be included in an inventory is enormous. Such data can be divided into the following categories:

•	Identification data. These are the codes that Panda Invent, the administrator or the user of the application assigns to each computer, component or other item included in an inventory. This code, which may be a serial number, is entered in the ID (identifier) field.

•	Hardware data. These are details of the technical properties and characteristics of each of the computers and components included in an inventory, including processors, hard disks, RAM memory, etc. When auditing a computer, information is gathered on the hardware manufacturer, Stores capacity, free space on hard drives, etc.

•	Software data. This is information on each of the software applications installed on audited hard drives, floppy disks and CD-ROMs. For each application installed, data is gathered on the manufacturer of the program, its status (principal or secondary), date of installation, its size and the name and description of the software.

•	Administrative data. This is additional information that even the most detailed analysis cannot detect. It must therefore be entered manually by the user or administrator and is entirely optional. Data of this kind includes date of purchase, invoice number, start and expiry dates of warranty periods, number and nature of repairs carried out, etc.


Platforms supported by Panda Invent

Panda Invent has been designed to collect data from computers (workstations and/or servers) running under any of the following operating systems:

Workstations:

•	MS/DOS.

•	OS/2 in MS/DOS sessions.

•	Windows 3.x.

•	Windows 95/98/2000/Me.

•	Windows NT.

Servers:

•	Windows NT.

•	Novell NetWare.

•	Windows 2000 Server.

•	Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

Note: Panda Invent is designed to run on 32-bit platforms, although it can also capture data on 16-bit systems.


Panda Invent Characteristics

Panda Invent is made up of a series of modules that make it possible to carry out the different actions needed to create, maintain and manage inventories. The main features these modules contribute to the functionality of Panda Invent are the following:

•	Creating a New Inventory. Through Panda Invent you can create as many inventories as you require, each of which may contain different hierarchical organization trees and may be stored in different locations. The first step is to create an outline of what you want the end result to look like. The servers are then prepared to gather data on the workstations that connect to the network. At this stage, you can prepare a medium, such as a floppy disk, of collecting data from isolated machines and other non-networked devices.

•	Maintenance of Organization trees. Organization trees offer a hierarchical representation of the organization chart of a company or organization. Administrators are free to customize these structures, although Panda Invent does require certain fields to be included in all cases.

•	Data Collection. By collecting data from networked and standalone machines and their components, information can be gathered on items of hardware and software that should be added to an inventory. Data collection can be carried out in a number of different ways.

•	Filters. Filters are used to carry out actions on certain items of an inventory rather than the inventory as a whole. Different types of filters can be put in place by the administrator depending on the kind of data he/she wishes to access.

Displays. Displays are the different modes in which Panda Invent can display inventory information. Data is presented on the right-hand side of the window and offers details of audited computers, components and other elements.

•	Reports and Graphs. The information gathered during the data collection process can be presented in either text or graphical format. If you have applied filters to your inventory data, only selected information will be included in the reports and graphs.

•	Settings. Configuration options allow you to choose exactly what actions you want Panda Invent to perform and how they should be carried out.

•	Incorporating data By importing the data gathered during the collection process, Panda Invent can interpret it and include it in the appropriate place in the inventory. Data is imported on a regular basis in organizations with large inventories and those that undergo frequent changes.

•	Exporting data. By exporting the data contained in an inventory you can convert it into other database formats, such as Microsoft Access. This means that those who do not have Panda Invent installed on their systems can also access inventory data.

•	Standard Workstation and Capacity Index. These are values the administrator can define in order to compare computers and components that form part of an inventory. They are reference values that are contrasted with actual figures and are used to determine the status of certain inventory items. The standard workstation value takes into account details such as the type of processor installed, amount of memory, etc. Capacity is a numeric value that Panda Invent calculates according to a series of predetermined specifications.

•	Database editor. This is used to facilitate the handling of the software data gathered by Panda Invent from the databases of the applications being audited.

•	Template editor. Panda Invent allows the administrator to design the presentation format of the fields and data that should appear in each of the windows that display the information gathered on machines and their components.


Differences Between Panda Invent 2.0 and Panda Invent 3.0

There is an earlier version of Panda Invent 3.0, known as Panda Invent 2.0. The differences between the two versions are considerable and can be summarized as follows:

•	Panda Invent 2.0 runs exclusively on MS/DOS systems, whereas Panda Invent 3.0 is designed to run under Windows 95/98/2000/MeNT, although it is also capable of capturing data in MS/DOS and Windows 3.x environments.

•	In Panda Invent 3.0 administrators can design their own forms for the administrative data template by specifying the fields and type of data they deem necessary.

•	With Panda Invent 3.0 users and administrators can create organisation trees to define the organization chart of their company or organization. Each tree corresponds to an inventory and the different sections of the tree contain the items that form part of the inventory.

•	Panda Invent 3.0 generates inventories that include both complete computers and their components (hard disks, cards, floppy disk drives, monitors, etc.). Each component is identified to determine which computer it forms part of at any given time and to provide detailed information on the history of the item.

•	Within the organization tree that represents the framework of an organization, Panda Invent 3.0 integrates special branches for items that have been scrapped from an inventory, those that are being repaired or for items in Stores, etc. It also provides information on the repair record of each item.

•	Panda Invent 3.0 does not require a database in order to identify applications, as it captures information directly form the data stored in EXE and COM files, etc.

•	Panda Invent 3.0 incorporates the possibility of using different filters and views on inventory information. Display options include Machines, Components and Software.

•	Panda Invent 3.0 features the possibility of generating reports and graphs, thereby facilitating the understanding of inventory information.

•	Panda Invent 3.0 detects Pentium III processors, indicating their serial numbers and whether they are active or not.


Installation Requirements

In order for Panda Invent to install and run correctly, the following installation requirements should be met:

•	Computer with Pentium or similar processor (Pentium II or higher recommended).

•	32 MB RAM (64 MB or higher recommended).

•	120 MB free hard disk space. It is estimated that for every 10 workstations included in the inventory, 1 MB of free hard disk space is needed.

•	In Microsoft networks, network administrators should have Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or Windows 2000 installed. For Novell NetWare networks, Windows 95 or higher is needed.

•	10 MB of free hard disk space on servers carrying out data collection processes.

•	Server connections must have administrator rights.


Installing Panda Invent

Remember that Panda Invent works hand in hand with the network manager, Panda Administrator. Therefore during the setup process Panda Administrator and Panda Invent are both installed automatically.

To install the product, proceed as follows:

1.	Insert the CD-ROM in the CD drive.

2.	The CD-ROM incorporates an AUTORUN feature, which initiates the setup process automatically. If your computer does not automatically run the setup program, execute the SETUP.EXE program on the CD-ROM.

3.	You will be guided through the installation process by a setup wizard, the first step being a welcome message. Click Next in each step to proceed.

4.	You will be prompted to read the User License. If you accept the terms of the agreement, the setup process will continue. If you reject the terms, setup will be canceled.

5.	Enter your user data. You can enter a Username and Company.

6.	Choose a setup folder for Panda Administrator (Local Networks). By default this is \PAVLN, although you can change it if you wish.

7.	Choose a setup folder for Panda Invent. A default folder will be suggested, which you can change.

8.	Select the program group where you want the Panda Invent – Panda Administrator icons to be placed.

9.	The Panda Invent files will be copied from the CD-ROM to the hard drive.

10.	Once the files have been copied, a dialog box is displayed informing you of the setup process status.

Note: if Panda Invent is already installed and you attempt to install again, the program will recognize this to be an update process. In other words, to update a version of Panda Invent, you do not have to uninstall the program first – just install the new version over the old one.


Uninstalling Panda Invent

To uninstall, never directly delete folders and/or files containing application data. Instead, follow these steps:

1.	Click on the Start button in the Windows task bar and then point to Settings – Control Panel.

2.	Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs… icon.

3.	From the list of programs in the Install/Uninstall tab, select INVENT 3 and then click on the Add/Remove… button (or double-click INVENT 3).

The uninstallation program will automatically remove all application files, folders and Windows Registry entries.

If you use Panda Global Virus Insurance (G.V.I.) for anti-virus protection, Panda Administrator will not be uninstalled. If, on the other hand, you require no network anti-virus management and only used Panda Administrator together with Panda Invent, then this tool will be uninstalled together with the inventory application.


Panda Invent Main Window

When Panda Invent is opened, the main window is displayed. This is where you can perform multiple operations on inventory information, as well as create new inventories and export data.

The application’s main window is divided into several areas. Data featured in the different sections includes the organization tree of your organization (servers and collection media) and a list of the different computers, components and other devices that form part of your inventories.

•	Title bar. This shows the name of the inventory you are currently viewing.

•	Options menu. This area gives you access to the different options that can be performed on audited items, branches of the organization tree or on the inventory itself. Options can be found in the following drop-down menus: File, Edit, View, Inventory, Reports and Tools.

•	Toolbar. The toolbar features a number of icons that give you fast access to the following Panda Invent options: New inventory, Open inventory, Save as…, Print, Send items to (Scrap, Stores, Repairs or Replace), Create disk, Go to, Find, Filter, Hardware, Software and Administrative data.

•	Organization tree Display and Physical Display (servers and other collection media). The left-hand side of the main window offers two types of information. The ORGANIZATION TREE DISPLAY shows the different sections or branches (areas, divisions, departments, etc.) that form part of the company or organization being audited. Secondly, the PHYSICAL DISPLAY offers information on the different means used to gather the data that will be subsequently incorporated in an inventory (servers, floppy disks and local disk drives and storage media). Data is represented in inverted tree format, similar to that of computer files and folders. You can easily move around the view using the scroll bar and access specific data by clicking on the appropriate branch.

•	Machine / Component Display. These displays appear in the right-hand side of the main window and show information on each of the items included in the branch selected in the corresponding Organization tree or Physical display. Elements featured here include computers, components, floppy disks, CD-ROMs and other non-IT-related devices. Data is set out in columns and its content depends on the item selected. Items are selected using the mouse pointer, which can be used in combination with the CTRL and SHIFT keys to select random objects or entire ranges of inventory entries.

•	Log bar. This is a bar situated at the bottom of the main window. Its function is informative, indicating the status of the different actions taking place.

Panda Invent also allows you to access certain options by means of pop-up menus. To access them, just right-click on the branch or element you are interested in. The pop-up menu displayed may be different depending on the number of elements selected and their characteristics.


Machine and Component Displays

The computer and component views are located in the right-hand side of the main window. Their function is to show detailed information on items that form part of an inventory (computers, components and non-IT related devices) and which are included in the currently selected section (Organization tree or Physical display). The information displayed depends on the type of item selected at the time. You can choose to view complete computers or specific components of these (disk drives, network cards, keyboards, etc.).

You can select the view you want through the Machine display and Component display options in the View menu of the Panda Invent interface. You can also do so by means of the drop-down Machine display menu. A third way of selecting the display you require is through the use of the pop-up menu. To do this, just right-click on the display you are in and select Change current display

Machine display

Component display

Furthermore, by means of the View menu, pop-up menu or toolbar, you can call up more specific information on each of the inventory items you have selected. This additional data belongs to one of the following types and is displayed in a new dialog box: hardware data, software data or administrative data.

The Panda Invent View menu features a number of other options that may not be available through the pop-up menu:

•	Machine display. Only computers, floppy disks, CD-ROMs and other devices are shown here.

•	Component display. Only components such as network and video cards, etc. are shown in this display.

•	Organization tree / Physical display. This option allows you to switch from one display to another. This can also be done through the pop-up menu.

•	Do not include elements from the sub-branches. By checking ( · ) this option, only those items in the currently selected display will be shown. Items located in sub-branches or lower branches will not be displayed.

•	Include elements in Sub-branches. By checking ( · ) this option, all items branching off from the currently selected section will be shown. This includes the current section and all lower-level branches (divisions, departments, etc.).

The View menu also offers the following additional options:

•	Totals/Averages. Depending on whether this option is checked or not ( · ), Panda Invent shows or hides one or more lines at the end of the inventory list that present a series of calculations performed on the numerical data in each column.

As well as the Totals/Averages option, there are a number of other options available only in the Machine display. The same options will not appear in the Component display and the data displayed will depend on the type of element selected.

•	Update. This function is used to update the current inventory list by instructing Panda Invent to reread all available data. This action can also be performed by pressing F5.

•	Hardware Data. The amount of data presented depends on the type of display selected. In the case of the Machine display, a file is displayed on each of the hardware components that form part of the computer in question. In the Components display, data is only offered on the element selected. This information is also available by pressing F6.

•	Software Data. Data is provided on each of the software applications installed on the selected item. You can also access this information by pressing F7.

•	Administrative Data. Administrative data is optional additional information entered manually by the administrator or user. Data of this kind includes invoice numbers, dates of purchase, etc.). It is also available by pressing F8.

•	Filters. Filter options can also be accessed through the toolbar or by pressing F9. Filters enable you to specify the exact technical data you want to obtain on computers or components. By checking the Filter enabled box, only data on those elements you have selected will be displayed.


New Inventory

An inventory is where Panda Invent stores the data it has gathered and the additional information entered by the user or network administrator. You can create as many inventories as you wish in order to record details of your computers, components, CD-ROMs, floppy disks and other non-IT devices. Each inventory is made up of a number of files and may have a different organization tree and other characteristics. After Panda Invent has been installed, Inventories can be created in two ways:

FIRST. Access Panda Administrator. To do this, click on Start in Windows and select Programs. In the Panda Administrator window, click on Create Inv. (first inventory). Then continue as set out in the points below (CREATE NEW INVENTORY WIZARD).

SECOND. Access Panda Invent. To do this, click on Start in Windows and select Programs. In the Panda Invent window you have the options, Open an existing inventory and create a new inventory. As no inventory exists in this case, select the second option and click on OK. After this, follow the steps set out below (CREATE NEW INVENTORY WIZARD).

If you have previously created an inventory you can create another through Panda Invent. To do this, select the option New from the File menu or click on the icon in the top left hand corner of the tool bar.

CREATE NEW INVENTORY WIZARD

After pressing the button Create Inv. or selecting the option New inventory in the toolbar, a wizard will begin to take you through the process step by step as set out below:

1.	In Panda Invent, select the New option in the File menu or click on the icon in the top left-hand corner of the toolbar. This will open a wizard that will guide you through the creation process and inform you of your progress.

2.	A welcome screen is displayed containing a brief description of how the wizard works. Click Continue to go on to the next step.

3.	Click Assign name to give your inventory a name (this will also be used as the name of the file and folder where the inventory data is stored).

A default path will be suggested in which to save the inventory file. This is the same path used to install Panda Invent 3, followed by a DATA directory and the name of the inventory folder:

C:\PANDA_INVENT3_FOLDER\DATA\INVENTORY_FOLDER

If Panda Invent was installed in the PADMIN folder and Company_1 was the name of the inventory file, the corresponding path would look like this:

C:\PADMIN\INVENT3\DATA\COMPANY_1\COMPANY_1.PI3.

4.	By means of the Create organization tree button you can access the Organization tree editor, which allows you to specify the different sections you want your organization tree to have. By default, a number of branches are included in all trees: Scrap, Stores, Repairs, Unlocated and Unidentified.

5.	By clicking on the Define administrative data button, you can design the templates that contain the data for each inventory item. Certain fields are included by default but you can add new ones or modify the properties of existing ones.

IMPORTANT: before settling on a final inventory format, you should have a very clear idea of the fields and data you will need and the function of each piece of information. Once an inventory has been created, you will not be able to modify the corresponding administrative data template.

Administrative data is entered manually by a user or administrator, as this information cannot be obtained automatically.

6.	Creating a collection disk (this step can be performed at a later stage): a collection disk is used to capture data from standalone computers that are not connected to the network. You can use this process to create as many disks as you wish, although only one is needed to gather data. A collection disk can also be created from Panda Invent at a later stage using the Create disk button. If you don’t want to create a collection disk at this stage, click Omit to go on to the next step.

7.	Click OK to finish the process and create a new inventory.


Special Branches of an Organisation Tree
Special Branches of an Organization Tree

Panda Invent includes a number of branches in all organization trees that cannot be deleted by the user. These branches have special functions and are explained below:

Scrap: items (computers, components or other devices) that are not in current use are removed from their current location and placed in this branch. Items placed here are not permanently removed from the inventory, and Panda Invent includes the possibility of replacing them in their original branch at a later stage. By means of the Replace in the previous branch option, these items are returned to the LAST branch they were located in before being placed in Scrap.

The Replace in the previous branch option is always available in three of the special branches: Scrap, Stores and Repairs, but not always in the Unlocated and Unidentified branches, depending on the type of display. Items can be replaced in their original branches in several ways:

•	Through the pop-up menu by selecting the Replace in the previous branch or Replace in the previous machine options.

•	Through the toolbar using the arrow icon that appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the second button.

•	Using the key combination ALT+P after selecting the item you want to replace.

If you remember the branch the item was originally located in, then you can simply drag the item and drop it in place.

Stores: this branch is used to store elements that are not currently being used but which may later be used in any of the existing branches or computers. To return an item of this kind to its original location, use the Replace in the previous branch or Replace in the previous machine options.

Repairs: this branch contains items (computers, components, floppy disks, CD-ROMs and other devices)  that are not in their normal location due to the fact that they are being repaired. These items are not removed from the inventory and once repaired should be replaced in their original locations, or new ones if necessary. To return an item of this type to its original location, use the Replace in the previous branch option.

Unlocated: this branch is managed by Panda Invent. The program uses it to place data on items (computers and components) it recognizes as being “missing” after gathering new inventory information. In other words, this branch contains data on items that existed before but which no longer exist due to the fact that they were not detected in the latest inventory check. They are items that were formerly identified and given a code number but which Panda Invent can no longer locate. It is NOT possible to return components in this branch to their original locations, although you can replace complete computers if you are in the Machine display, but not in the Component display.

Unidentified: this branch is also managed by Panda Invent and is used to place data on unknown items it detects during the gathering of new inventory information. This branch therefore contains items that previously did not form part of the inventory but which have now been detected. They are considered unidentified as they have not been assigned a code number. It is NOT possible to return components in this branch to their original locations, although you can replace complete computers if you are in the Machine display, but not in the Component display.


Organisation Tree Display
Organization Tree Display

The left-hand side of the Panda Invent window allows you to place inventory items in branches of an inverted organization tree. You can choose to work in one of two possible displays: the Organization tree display or the Physical display (servers and other collection media). Each display offers different options, although they work in much the same way.

To switch between displays, use the pop-up menu (right-click in the current view). This section of our Help file deals with the Organization tree display, which represents the hierarchical structure of the organization you wish to audit. Each section or branch of the organization tree can contain different elements, including machines and components as well as sub-branches or lower-level branches. The organization tree is shown in the left-hand part of the screen and the contents of the different sections are detailed on the right (display).

Organization trees may contain up to 20 levels of division, or branches. No two divisions or branches may be given the same name, regardless of the level they are in.

When making a new inventory, one of the main tasks you must carry out is the creation of the corresponding organization tree. By default, Panda Invent automatically includes four special branches.

Special Branches of an Organization Tree.

Creating / Modifying an Organization Tree.

Other Organization Tree Operations.


Machine Display

When you want Panda Invent to show only information on computers, floppy disks, CD-ROMs or non-IT related devices, choose the Machine display option from the View menu. You can also do this through the pop-up menu by right-clicking on the list. This display option allows you to indicate the type of elements that should be displayed in the inventory list.

Information is provided in column format for each item in the inventory, although depending on the element in question some columns may be left blank (e.g. no hard disk data will be available for telephones). The following is a summary of the data available for the different inventory elements:

Machine. The name that has been assigned to the computer or machine.

ID. This is an alphanumeric code entered by the user or administrator to identify the item.

Processor. Type of microprocessor installed in the computer. If an asterisk appears next to the data in this column, it means that the data on the computer in question has been entered manually rather than collected automatically, or that information has been modified manually.

MHz. This indicates the speed at which the processor works, measured in megahertz.

RAM (KB). Indicates the memory capacity of a computer, measured in kilobytes.

Disks (MB). Indicates the total data Stores capacity of a computer’s hard disks, measured in megabytes.

Free (MB). This figure indicates the amount of free space (in megabytes) on a computer’s hard disks.

CI. This is the “Capacity Index” calculated by Panda Invent on the basis of a series of previously entered parameters. This figure is used to estimate the capacity of audited computers.

Operating System. This indicates the operating system used on the audited computer. For computers with more than one operating system installed, Panda Invent logs the last one used to start up the machine prior to the data collection process.

BIOS Date. This is the date recorded in the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and indicates how old the computer is.

Capture. This is the date the data collection process was carried out.

Collection Medium. Indicates how the information being shown was collected. If the data was obtained from a server, the server name will appear.

Internal ID. This is an alphanumeric code that Panda Invent assigns to an item when it is audited for the first time.

At the end of the inventory list you have the choice of displaying a line indicating the average value of the numerical data columns. These calculations are performed on the following columns: MHz, RAM (KB), Disks (MB), Free (MB) and CI.

You can choose to show or hide information from the list using the options in the View menu. These options are non-exclusive and are checked ( · ) when being shown, thereby allowing you to show/hide any combination of the following item s of data: Totals/Averages, Capacity index (CI), Hard disk capacity, Free space in hard disks and Administrative data indicator not completed. To expand on the information made available, consult the Panda Invent Options Menu section.

Inventory items are selected by clicking on them. You can make multiple selections using the CTRL and SHIFT keys together with the mouse pointer. To select random elements from the list, click on each item while you hold down the CTRL key. To choose an inclusive range of items, hold down the SHIFT key.

Once you have selected an inventory item, this can be moved to different sections of the organization tree or between different servers and collection media. To do this, just click on the item you want to move and drag it to one of the branches of the tree. If you move a component while in the Machine display, this will be removed from the computer it was included in and the corresponding data column will be emptied.

Moving an item to one of the special branches (Scrap, Stores, Repairs, Unlocated or Unidentified) can be done by dragging and dropping, using the pop-up menu or by means of the keyboard. The pop-up menu appears by right-clicking on an element in the inventory, which presents you with the following options:

 Send to Scrap. This action can also be carried out by pressing the Delete key. The machine/component selected is not actually deleted from the inventory, but placed in the Scrap branch, from where it can be retrieved at a later stage. Selected elements can also be deleted directly (without being sent to Scrap) by pressing the keys SHIFT and DELETE.

 Send to Stores. Elements can also be sent to the Stores branch by pressing Alt+M.

 Send to Repairs. Pressing Alt+R will also send elements to the Repairs branch.

 Replace in the previous branch. Alt+P will also return elements placed here to their original branch location in the inventory.

Computer entries contain information of three types: Hardware data, Software data and Administrative data, although they should also have information on movements and repairs if they have been moved between branches of the organization tree. Panda Invent allows you to access this information using the toolbar, menu options, pop-up menus or key combinations.

To view Hardware data, just click on the Hardware button in the toolbar, select the Hardware option in the View menu or press F6.

Another feature of the Machine display is the possibility of changing the technical characteristics data of an audited machine, add new components to an existing machine or add a completely new computer to the inventory, even without Panda Invent having to capture data. All this can be done through the Machine operations feature incorporated into Panda Invent.


Reports

Reports allow you to present detailed, itemized information on the items (computers, components, floppy disks, CD-ROMs and other devices) that belong to a particular branch of an organization tree or on an entire inventory. Reports always refer to the data or inventory being viewed at that point in time. If filters have been applied prior to presenting the report, this will display only the data you have previously specified.

For this reason, most reports (except those that list movements/repairs and data breakdowns) offer you the possibility of indicating the Scope of the report. Two options are available:

•	The whole inventory: checking this box indicates that data should be shown on all audited items.

•	Only displayed elements: checking this option means that only previously selected items in the current branch will be included in the report.

Reports, depending on their type and content generally consist of a number of standard sections. The header appears at the top of the report and shows the name, type and date of the report, as well as the inventory or area it refers to. Field Names appear just above the report data and indicate what type of information is shown below. Data takes up the main part of the report. The Summary and Footnote are situated at the bottom of the report and provide additional information on the data listed. These sections may vary depending on the type of data and report being viewed.

Inventory reports present data in text and/or numerical format. In addition, graphs can be created in order to facilitate interpretation, and other options are also available depending on the type of report. Data is presented in window format featuring a toolbar which allows you to quickly and easily manage reports.

Inventory options are accessed through the Reports menu, although these may vary depending on the type of view being used and whether filters have been applied or not.

A special type of report is the License and software copies report. This report lists all the applications installed on audited computers, with details of their corresponding software licenses and the number of unlicensed programs detected in the organization’s computer systems.

Machine display reports

The following is a list of the different options available in the Panda Invent Reports menu when working in the Machine display:

Machine report

Global report

Movements report

Repairs report

Movements/repairs selection

Computer capacity report

Age report

Department report

Breakdown by processor

Breakdown by operating system

Breakdown by RAM

Breakdown by MHz

Breakdown by HD capacity

Breakdown by free space on disks

Breakdown by capture date

Breakdown by collection medium

Breakdown by administrative data

Component display report

Component reports that can be created in all displays are as follows:

Component report

Movement report

Repairs report

Movements/repairs selection

The following is a list of special reports available for certain types of components:

Breakdown by capacity. This report provides a breakdown of the capacity of audited hard disks and is only available in hard disk and Machine displays.

Breakdown by percentage use. Only available in hard disk views.

Breakdown by free space. Shows a breakdown of hard disks in the current view and details the amount of free space in MB or GB. Only available in hard disk and Machine displays.

Breakdown by RAM. Shows the amount of free RAM memory available in components such as printers and video cards.

Breakdown by resolution. Indicates the resolution of audited video cards available in the current view. Only available in the video card view.

Breakdown by capacity index. Shows the capacity index value of audited components. Only available in printer and video card views.

Breakdown by manufacturer. Shows the different network cards in the current view, classified according to their manufacturer. This type of report is only available for network cards.


Reports: Machine Report

These are useful for displaying all the machines of the current display, or of the whole inventory, grouped by branch. On selecting the option Machine report within the Reports menu, a dialog box is displayed in which it is possible to establish characteristics of the report.

•	Application field. Permits indicating if the report is to be of the whole inventory, or Only displayed elements (those of the current display and filter).

•	Options. It allows to indicate the type of information that should appear in the report on each computer: Show hardware components, Show principal software, Show secondary software, Show administrative data.

Clicking the OK button generates this type of report, which is displayed in a new window.

The machine data displayed depends on the selections made, but is generally the following: Machine, User, ID (the machine’s identification code), Processor, MHz (microprocessor speed), RAM (amount of RAM memory in Kbytes), Operating system (name and version of OS installed), Capture (date of the last data capture).

Depending on the selected options, additional data can be shown, such as:

•	When the hardware components are displayed: Component ID, Type, Component Description, Serial number.

•	When the secondary software is displayed: Applications, Manufacturer, File, Date and Size.

•	When the administrative data is displayed: Field name (fields that reflect the types of administrative information defined) and Value (data in each field).

For more information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Components Report

These reports are useful for detailing information on each existing component in the inventory. It is possible to generate simple reports only showing a certain type of specific component or reports showing the complete range of component types (depending on the type of current display). In either case, the components listed appear classified by the branches of the organization tree to which they belong.

These reports are created by going to any type of display of these elements (not machines) and selecting the Components report option from the Reports menu.

As with machine reports, these reports  do not include graphic presentations of information but do include the option of displaying administrative data (Show administrative data) and to indicate the section of the organization tree to which it is to be applied (The whole inventory or Only displayed elements).

The report shows a line for each component detected in a computer in which a range of information is included depending on the type of component. This information typically includes: Machine (the name of the computer in which the component is located), ID, Type (when ALL components are selected) and other information specific to the component type. Additionally, if administrative data is presented, it will appear under the line of each component.

For more information on handling the report, look up the section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Computer Capacity Report

The objective of these reports is to show the difference between the capacity of any computer forming a part of the audited infrastructure and the standard workstation. The latter is a fictitious computer whose technical characteristics are defined by default in Panda Invent, but which can be modified by the administrator. The aim is to establish a benchmark in order to be able to compare and contrast with the capacity or power of the audited computers.

To access the report, go to the computer display and select the option Computer Capacity Report corresponding to the Reports menu.

A dialog box appears to determine to what computers the report should be applied and what information should this report contain.

•	Application field . Permits indicating if the report is to be of the whole inventory, or Only displayed elements (those of the current display and filter).

•	Options. These indicate the type of information shown in the report: Show report (summary of data), Show bar graph, Show cumulative breakdown graph, Include detail of each machine. It is necessary to select at least one of them and it is possible to combine them.

After clicking the OK button, the program proceeds to generate this type of report that Panda Invent will present in a new window. The data shown is the following: Machines, User, ID, Capacity index (shows a numeric value calculated by Panda Invent regarding the technical characteristics of each computer), Difference with the standard workstation (displays a percentage that indicates how much better or worse the computer in question is in comparison to the standard workstations).

Positive values of percentages imply that the computer is superior to the benchmark computer. On the contrary, negative values imply less capacity than this benchmark. At the end of the list, a line is shown indicating the average values of the capacity index and the difference in percentage with the standard workstation calculated for all computers included in the report.

After the average line, a distribution of computers is included grouped by ranges of difference with the standard workstation. This second part of the list consists of the following information: Difference (range of values in % that define the difference with the standard workstation), Number of machines (number of computers that fall in that range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative %.

If the graphic displays have been selected, these are shown after the lists. For more information on handling the report, look up the section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Age Report

The Age Reports gives the administrator an estimate of the general age of all the computers that are a part of the audited IT infrastructure. Panda Invent does this by analyzing the BIOS date of each computer. This date will be measured on each one of the workstations, calculating the average for all those making up the inventory at that instant. To display these reports select the option Age Report of the Reports menu.

It is possible to indicate to what computers it should be applied: The whole inventory or Only displayed elements, as well as the information that should appear: Show report (data), Show bar graph, Show cumulative breakdown graph. On clicking the OK button, the report is generated automatically.

The result is a list grouped by ranges of values measured in months. The number of computers corresponding to that age in each range is shown. The data displayed are the following: Period (range that specifies the months of antiquity), Number of computers (number of computers of the age corresponding to that row), % (percentage of computers that are of a specific age), Cumulative Number (accumulated value of all the computers of that age, from the lower limit up to that point), Cumulative % (accumulated percentage of all computers of that age, from the lower limit up to that point).

For more information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Breakdown Report by RAM

The Breakdown reports do not display any dialog box requiring information about what data to display or how to display it. There are several Breakdown reports for audited machines:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM memory

By MHz..

By HD Capacity.

By Free space in disks

By Date of capture

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

Accessing the option Breakdown by RAM in the Reports menu automatically generates this report, displaying a list with each capacity range for RAM memory (in MB) and the number of computers having that capacity of RAM memory. The information appearing in each line is as follows: RAM Memory, Number of machines  (indicates the number of computers in the inventory with that RAM capacity), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative %.

The RAM memory breakdown reports are generated from the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display selected at the time and always display a bar graph. If there are no items in the selected branch, the report will not be displayed. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Breakdown Report by MHz

The Breakdown reports do not display any dialog box requiring information about what data to display or how to display it. There are several Breakdown reports for audited machines:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM memory

By MHz..

By HD Capacity.

By Free space in disks

By Date of capture

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by MHz in the Reports menu, it is generated automatically, displaying a list with ranges of possible microprocessor speeds (measured in MHz) and the number of computers with speeds falling in each range. The information displayed in each line is as follows: MHz, Number of machines (indicates the number of computers belonging to the inventory with a speed within the range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative %.

The MHz breakdown reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display selected and they always show a bar graph. If there are no elements in the selected branch, or if these are not in the report, this won't be shown. For further information on handling the report, look up section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Movements (Machines/Components)

For both machines and components, there are similar movement reports. They present all the machine/components moved from a branch of the tree towards any other. That is to say, it will show all those items that have changed area, division or department, including the special branches of the organization tree.

Selecting the option Movements of computers / components within the Reports menu, a dialog box appears where it is possible to indicate the characteristics of the report.

•	Application field. Permits indicating if the report is to be of The whole inventory, or Only displayed elements (those of the current display and filter).

•	Date range. Makes it possible to indicate the period of time when the movements to be displayed took place. Date ranges are selected from drop-down lists. The checkbox All eliminates the range of dates (all the machines/components that have moved will appear).

•	Options. When the checkbox Include comments is enabled, the report shows the notes made by the administrator on moving these machines/components.

On clicking the OK button, the program generates this type of report, which Panda Invent will display in a new window. This will be divided into several sections.

The data that are displayed about each one of the computers that have moved among branches of the inventory are the following: Computers, ID, Internal ID, Type, Branch (in the one that it was originally) and the Date of the movement.

The data shown in this type of report when dealing with components is as follows: Type, ID, Description, Workstation (computer to which it belongs), Date, and Branch.

The only additional data that can be shown in these reports are comments that the administrator made (if applicable) when moving that particular machine/component. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with reports of this Help.


Reports: Repairs (Machines / Components)

The repair reports are similar for  both machines and components, and are dealt with jointly here. The only difference between them is that in the reports referring to machines, graphs are not shown.

The purpose of these is to monitor repairs made to the components or audited machines. Depending on the display selected, you will be able to generate reports relating to the machines or to each component type.

By selecting the option Repair reports of the Reports menu, a dialog box is displayed where the report can be defined.

•	Application field. Permits indicating if the report is to be of The whole inventory, or Only displayed elements (those of the current display and filter).

•	Date range. Makes it possible to indicate the period of time when the repairs to be displayed took place. Date ranges are selected from drop-down lists. The checkbox All eliminates the range of dates (all the machines/components that have moved will appear).

•	Arranged by. Permits indicating whether the list generated by Panda Invent should be ordered by Number of repairs or by Number of days in repairs.

•	Options. This section will only be enabled in the reports for components. It allows to indicate what should appear in the report: Show report (displays the data), Show bar Graph (displays a bar graph corresponding to the data of the report), Show pie chart. It is possible to select several options as they are not mutually exclusive.

The result is a list where the machines or components are in shown in descending order according to the number of repairs or for the number of days in repair (within the dates entered). The graphics appear at the end of the list, if they have been selected.

The Repairs report for the components shows the following data: Type (component type), ID (code that identifies the component), First (date it was first repaired), Last (date it was last repaired), Number of repairs (number of occasions that it has been repaired), Number of days (number of days that it has remained unused due to repairs).

A summary of repairs also appears for components showing the Type, the Number of repairs, the percentage of repaired components of each class, in Number of days, the Average number of days. At the end of the report a bar graph and/or pie chart can be displayed (if selected when generating the report).

The Repairs report for computers shows similar data to that of the components, with the difference that no graphics of any type are displayed and in addition the Machine column is also displayed.

For further information on report handling, look up the section on Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Department Reports

These reports are useful for carrying out a quick evaluation of each one of the departments or sections of the organization tree. The report is centered on the main sections and/or their dependent branches.

When the option Department reports  is selected in the Reports menu, Panda Invent allows you to select criteria on which the report will be based:

Application field

There are two possibilities:

•	The whole organization tree: the report is based on all the information contained in the tree (all branches of the tree, including the sub-branches).

•	Sub-branch of the selected branch: the report will only be based on the information contained in the branch (sub-branch below it) selected at that moment.

Arranged by

It is possible to indicate the field by which the report should be ordered. The possibilities are: Number of computers, Average capacity index or Average capacity index X number of machines, or According to organization tree.

Method

Allows selecting one of the following four possibilities:

•	All branches excluding their sub-branches: only those computers located in the selected branch will appear, not those that are in the sub branches of this (those of the subdivisions or sub departments do not appear).

•	All branches including their sub-branches: besides displaying those computers located in the selected branch in the report, those that are in the sub branches of these will also be displayed (those of the subdivisions or sub departments are also shown).

•	Level 1 branches, including sub-branches: besides displaying all the computers located in branches that hang directly from the main trunk (first level of division or the divisions that group others and/or departments), it also displays the machines that are in each one of the divisions or sub-branches that depend on those of the first level.

•	Level 2 branches, including sub-branches:  all the machines located in branches that hang directly from those of first level are shown (sub-divisions or sub-departments), as well as those that are in each one of the sub-divisions or sub-branches that depend on those of the second level.

Options

As in most of the reports, it is possible to determine the format of the information. Show report, Show bar graph, Show pie chart.

The Key explains the abbreviations used in the report headings:

ACI: Average Capacity Index.

Av.RAM: quantity of RAM memory, measured in MBs.

Av.GB; Average Hard Disk space, measured in GBs.

No. of CDs: number of existing CD-ROM's.

Prnt's: number of printers connected.

For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with reports of this help.


Data Collection Module in Servers

By means of the data collection module, the servers identify all the workstations (computers) and collect data from them whenever these connect to the server. For this to happen, it is necessary to install the data collection module on the servers. This installation should be carried out from Panda Administrator. When computers connect to the to the server, it recognizes the identifier of the workstation and carries out an analysis to obtain information on the hardware and software of each computer.

It is logical to think that it is only possible to carry out this data collection in workstations that connect to the network through the insertion of a command in the login script files, and this is true. Nevertheless, this doesn't exclude the possibility of gathering data in workstations or stand-alone computers (isolated from the network). In this case the data is collected using some alternative method (for example, a collection disk, or local collection).

Installing the Collection Module

Configuration of the Collection Module

Updating the Collection Module

Uninstalling the Collection Module


Panda Invent Options Menu

The Panda Invent toolbar allows you to carry out the following tasks:

File

These options are also accessible through the first button of the toolbar and are as follows:

•	New: it allows you to create a new inventory, a new file that will contain the information to be audited. This opens a wizard that will guide you step by step through the creation of a new inventory.

•	Open: it loads an existing inventory. It is also possible to do so by pressing the F3 function key. In either case, the file containing the inventory should be selected (extension .PI3).

•	Save as...: any modifications made to the inventory are saved. Select a disk drive, a directory and a specific name. It is also possible to save it as another inventory (under a different name) and/or in a different file.

•	Export: this option makes it possible to convert the data contained in the current inventory  to other types of databases. More specifically, it will be possible to export the information to Access or Paradox databases.

•	Print: gives a preliminary presentation or report corresponding to the data that is being viewed at that moment. It is possible to carry out some additional operations and to print the result.

•	Print labels: it is possible to print labels with the codes that identify each audited item.

•	Exit: closes the Panda Invent windows and closes the program.

The Files menu will also show a list of the latest inventories that have been used. To open any one of them, simply click on the one you want.

Edit

The options grouped in the Edit menu allow different actions to be carried out on each item selected in the organization tree or in the machines/components display.

•	Cut: having selected an item of the display, it allows this to disappear from a section in order to subsequently move it to another one (on doing so, its data in the display appears highlighted). If an element is to move from one branch to another, proceed as follows:

1.	Go to the branch where the items to move are located and select them.

2.	Select the Cut option from the Edit menu. The selected element(s) will appear in gray (their data).

3.	Go to the branch to which you want to move the element(s).

4.	Select the option Paste from the Edit menu. With this last action, the element(s) are moved to the branch desired. They disappear from the original branch and they appear in this one.

There are two alternative ways of carrying out the same operation. Instead of selecting the Cut and Paste options, you can use the key combinations CTRL+X (to cut) and CTRL+V (to paste). Likewise, the same result is achieved by selecting the items, clicking on them with the mouse button and dragging them to the target branch.

•	Paste: having previously carried out the cutting operation, the Paste option concludes the movement operation of the selected element(s). It is the final step of the movement and the CTRL+X can also be used.

•	Find: it lets you locate existing items in the organization tree, to discover the exact branch in which they are located. It displays a dialog box where it is possible to specify more definitions for the search. You can also access this search through the CTRL+B key combination.

•	Go to: it allows to find and 'go to' a specific branch within the organization tree. Alternative access is via CTRL+I.

•	Find files: locates specific software (a file) installed in the existing computers or in some types of components that may be either a part of these or isolated (floppy disks and CDs). This possibility can also be accessed from the Find button of the toolbar. This has the button Find files.

•	Select all: this lets you select all elements in the current display. This option is also possible by pressing CTRL + E.

•	Invert selection: this option changes the selected elements from those that are selected to those that are not, therefore 'deselecting' any items currently selected.

View

It lets you choose the two types of general displays that Panda Invent has available (with their variants): listed by machines or components. Likewise, it makes it possible to update the information that is shown on screen (refresh), to present certain data (calculations) at the end of each display, to present the data tabs of a certain element (hardware, software and administrative data), and also to apply filters.

•	The Machine display: shows the list (to the right of the screen – display)  of computers and non-IT elements belonging to the branch in question.

•	The Component display: makes it possible to select the types of components that should be shown in the display section corresponding to the current branch of the tree. When this option is selected,  a menu appears with all the different types of components (hard disks, disk drives, monitors, …etc.).

•	Totals/Averages: if this is enabled, an additional line appears at the end of the list where the sum totals and/or averages for each of the numerical data are displayed.

•	Capacity Index (CI): if this is enabled, the column CI appears (capacity index). It is only available in the machine display.

•	Hard disk capacity: if this is enabled, the column Disks (MB) is displayed showing the capacity of the hard disks. It is only available in the machine display.

•	Free space in computers' hard disks: if this is enabled, the Free space column (MB) is displayed with the free space available in each hard disk. It is only available in the machine display.

•	Administrative data indicator not completed: if this is enabled a yellow icon with an exclamation appears to the left of the computer, indicating that for that machine administrative data has not been included. It is only available in the machine display.

•	Include elements in sub-branches: if this is enabled, elements of the area selected (branch or section) as well as the sub-areas (sub-branches or sub-sections) are shown in the display. This option is also accessible through the pop-up menu that appears when clicking the right mouse button on the tree. After selecting it, in the View menu, it becomes Do not include elements from the sub-branches.

•	Do not include elements from the sub-branches:  on marking this option, only items of the area or selected branch are displayed, but not the sub-branches below it. This option is also accessible through the pop-up menu that appears when clicking the right mouse button in the tree. After selecting it in the View menu, it becomes Include elements in the sub-branches.

•	Physical display (Servers): on selecting this option, the organization tree showing department sections will not be displayed. Instead a tree is displayed where each item is organized and classified in accordance with the media used to gather data (servers, remote inventory, collection disks,... etc.). After selecting it in the View menu, it becomes Organization tree display. It is also possible to show the Physical display through the corresponding option in the pop-up menu.

•	Organization tree display: on selecting this option, the organization of each of the audited elements will depend on the location (department, division, etc.) of each element (machines and/or component). After selecting it in the View menu, it becomes Physical display (Servers). It is also possible to show the Physical display through the corresponding option in the pop-up menu.

•	Refresh: this can also be done by pressing the F5 key, in which case Panda Invent updates the information of the section displayed.

•	Hardware: displays the hardware data of the selected element, if applicable. It is also possible to display this through the pop-up menu, by pressing the F6 key or the Hardware button of the toolbar.

•	Software: displays the software data (principal and/or secondary) of the selected element, if applicable. It is also possible to display this through the pop-up menu, the F7 key or the Software button of the toolbar.

•	Administrative Data: displays the administrative data corresponding to the selected element, if applicable. It is also possible to display this via the pop-up menu, the F8 key or the Admin. Data button of the toolbar.

•	Filter: This is used to display certain items depending on specific criteria which the items comply with. Filters can also be applied through the F9 function key or the Find button of the toolbar.

Inventory

With the options that appear in this menu it is possible to include data that has been obtained in previous collections (Incorporate), to the inventory that is open or to add (Audit) new items that are not included in the current inventory.

Reports

These aim to show, in hard copy format, information of particular use to the administrator. Each one of these reports is visualized through a preliminary presentation and can then also be printed if necessary. There are several different types of reports.

Tools

Within the tools section, it is possible to apply special options of Panda Invent, such as the definition of a standard workstation, modification of the organization tree, creation of disks to gather data in stand-alone machines and others relating to the configuration settings, creation and modification of templates, as well as general options of Panda Invent. From here it is also possible to change the interface language.


Panda Invent Toolbar

Panda Invent also incorporates a toolbar within which there are buttons that allow some of the operations accessible through the menu to be carried out. The buttons, from left to right, are as follows:

First Button. It includes four icons, one in each corner. Each one of them represents an option: New inventory (create an inventory), Open inventory (load an inventory already created, opening the corresponding file), Save as... (saves the changes to the current inventory with the most recent modifications) and Print (makes a printed copy of the inventory).

Second Button. This has four icons, one in each corner, representing possible operations to be carried out on the items relating to special branches of Panda Invent: Send selected elements to scrap (every item selected will be sent from its current location to the special branch Scrap), Send selected elements to stores (every element selected will be sent from its current location to the special branch Stores), Send selected elements to Repairs (every element selected will be sent from its current location to the special branch Repairs), Replace selected machines in their previous machine/branch (every item selected that is not in its usual location will be moved to it).

Create disk: Clicking on this calls up a wizard that provides a step-by-step guide in creating a disk, which allows data to be gathered from computers not connected to the network.

Go to: allows indicating what branch of the organization tree you want to move to, without the need to search for it. It is possible to indicate if the branch is dependent (below) on the current branch or, if unknown, to indicate The whole tree.

Find: makes it possible to search for items (machines or different types of components) in the entire organization tree or in the branch (and their sub-branches) where you are currently located.

Filter: permits determining certain criteria that each computer or type of component should fulfill, in order to be shown in the displays. After applying the filter, if a component or a computer does not comply with them, they are not displayed.

Hardware: it displays the hardware data corresponding to the computers. Double-clicking on a machine displays the same type of data that was last displayed for another machine, component or non-IT element (Hardware, Software and Administrative data). However, clicking on the Hardware button when a computer has been selected, displays the tab containing all its hardware data. This is only enabled for machines.

Software: this option displays the software data corresponding to computers, CD-ROM's and floppy disks. It details the software installed in each of these items. It is possible that there is no software data either because this has been omitted when data was entered manually or because there really is no software present.

Admin. Data: this displays the administrative data that corresponds to any of the possible items (computers, CD-ROM's, floppy disks or non-IT elements), belonging to the inventory. If this data has not been entered by the user or the administrator, the tab will be blank.


Preliminary View of Trees

A preliminary view of an organisation tree can be accessed from the tree Editor, by clicking on the button Print preview in the dialog box accessible through the menu File–Print.

Here the organisation tree is displayed in hard copy (print) format. This window contains a toolbar through which operations in this view can be carried out. These are, from left to right, as follows:

View one page. Permits viewing a single page in each window. It is only possible to apply it in the Complete page or Complete width modes, but not in the Maximum zoom mode.

View two pages. Permits viewing two pages in each window. It is only possible to apply it in the Full page or Complete width modes, but not in the Maximum zoom mode.

Previous page. If the printed copy of the tree occupies more than one page, it will go to the page immediately previous to the current one.

Next page. If the printed copy of the tree occupies more than a page, it will go to the page immediately after the current one.

Complete page. Displays the entire current page or two pages (depending on the mode you are in).

Complete width. Displays the entire current page or two pages (depending on the mode you are in) in such a way that it/ they are always occupy the width of the window.

Maximum zoom. Enlarges the current pages to the maximum possible size.

Configure printer. It allows the access to the printing properties.

Print. Sends the display or preliminary view to the printer.


Creating / Editing the Organisation Tree
Creating / Editing the Organization tree

The organization tree can be defined during the creation of a new inventory. This can also be subsequently edited in order to modify it. If in the creation of an inventory an organization tree is not defined, it will only have the special branches (Scrap, Stores, Repairs, Unlocated and Unidentified). The remaining branches can be defined at any other time.

In order to modify the tree of an inventory that already exists, it is necessary to go to the the Organization tree display and to select the option Modify organization tree in the pop-up menu. This option is also accessible through the Tools menu. Before carrying out the modifications you will be asked to confirm that you want to do this. In this case, Panda Invent will open a window with the Organization tree editor. The special branches that were created automatically can be modified but not eliminated (it is possible to change their name).

Modification of the organization tree works in much the same way as any other directory/folder structure. In other words, it allows the creation of branches, moving, renaming and deleting them, expanding and contracting (via the signs “+” and “-”), etc. To go to anyone of these branches, simply select it with the mouse.

Multiple actions can be taken from within a organization tree. These are accessible through the toolbar, the options of the menu itself, key combinations or the pop-up menu:

 Add branches. New branches can be created in existing sections or branches of the organization tree. There are several ways of doing this: select the branch or section you want to add a branch to and then select Add branch... in the Tree menu or from the toolbar, or  the pop-up menu (clicking on a branch and selecting the option Add branch).

 Modify branch. To assign a new name to a branch, select it and click on F2. Other possibilities are: select the option Modify branch of the pop-up menu, from the Tree menu, click on the name of a branch when this is selected, or use the toolbar.

 Delete Branch. The branches can only be deleted if they don't contain any items (machines or components). On the other hand, if they don't contain elements and/or they also contain empty branches, it is possible to delete them. It is possible to eliminate them using the option Delete branch of the Tree menu, from the pop-up menu, or from the toolbar.

 Add icon. An icon can be associated, from among a series of possibilities, to any of the branches. To do so, select the branch and later the option Add icon in the Tree menu. It is also possible to do this from the toolbar. This displays a window with all the possible icons. To associate one of them to one of the branches, simply click and drag it to the desired branch. To associate other icons, different from those displayed, indicate the name of a file (extension ICO). To open this file use the Add.... button. To eliminate the icon of a branch (but not the branch) go to the pop-up menu and select the option Delete icon.

Insert Novell tree: This option lets you add a Novell tree to an existing branch (normally the root node) which can be selected from a list of available NDS's. It is advisable to do this on creating the inventory, before capturing data. In this way, on collecting machine data (provided they have the Novell client installed, they will automatically be permanently collocated in the NDS branch. This means that every time that this information is collected and incorporated, it will be checked to make sure they are still in the same place, if not the machine will be placed in the new branch and the movement will be recorded. This information can be seen in the movements report.

 Move down / Move up (moving branches). It is also possible to move or to change the location of the existing branches. Use the buttons of the toolbar to move them up or down, always within their section (that is to say, not outside of the parent branch from which it hangs). It can also be dragged until it is located above the branch to which it is to be moved. Lastly, you can use the options Cut and Paste accessed via the Edit menu, through the toolbar, via the pop-up menu, or through the key combinations CRTL+X and CTRL+V respectively. The steps to follow are the same in each case:

1.	Select the branch to be moved in the tree.

2.	Select the option Cut in any of the possible ways.

3.	Select the destination branch to which should move.

4.	Select the Paste option.

Delete icon. This action is only available through the pop-up menu and it lets you eliminate the icon associated to a branch (the branch won't be eliminated).

Besides the actions that are carried out on branches, it is also possible to carry out operations on the entire tree. These are accessible through the File menu or from the first three buttons of the toolbar.

 New: it lets you create a different organization tree (in a new inventory). The current tree display and its contents, disappear from the window and everything is ready for the creation of a new tree (from scratch).

 Save: all the modifications made to the organization tree will be saved in the corresponding .AR3 file. This file has the same name that was assigned to the inventory when created.

Configure Page: it allows working with the configuration options for the printer installed.

 Print: it prints a copy of the current tree. To do so, it displays a window with several options:

•	The whole tree. The whole organization tree is printed.

•	From the selected branch. Only the branch selected in the tree is printed along with those that are below (hanging from) it.

•	Print button. Sends the selected information directly from the tree to the printer.

•	Print preview button. Panda Invent displays a page showing the aspect of the printed copy depending on the  characteristics selected.

•	Close. cancels the print job, closing the dialog box.

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Component Display

The component display shows computer components; both those installed in machines and components that for whatever reason are not actually installed in computers. This could be the case with parts that are being repaired, that are in stores or that have been audited manually as separate parts. (in the same way as computers can be audited manually).

To display components from a selected branch (or collection media in the Physical display), it is necessary to select the option Component display in the View menu. You can also select the component type to display through the option Change current display in the pop-up menu (clicking with the right mouse button on the list, not on the tree). This option lets you choose the type of components that should appear in the list from the following options:

Hard disk display. In the view only the audited hard disks will be shown. The data displayed about each one of them in each column is: Component ID, Name of the computer on which it is installed, Capacity (in Mb), Free Space available (in Mb), Usage Percentage, Model, No. of partitions and Internal ID. At the end of the list the totals and the averages can be displayed.

Disk drive display. In this view only the audited floppy disk drives will be shown. The data that is displayed about these in each column is: component ID, name of the computer in which it is installed, model of the floppy disk drive and the internal ID.

Monitor display. This view only displays audited monitors. The information that is shown in each column is: Component ID, name of the computer in which is installed and the model.

Video card display. Only the audited video cards are displayed. The information in each column is: component ID, name of the computer on which is installed, models, amount of RAM memory of the card, its BIOS Date, BPP, resolution in points per inch, capacity index and internal ID. At the end of the list a summary showing the averages for each numerical column can be displayed.

Sound card display. In this display the audited sound cards will be shown. The information that is shown for each one of them in each column is: component ID, name of the computer in which is installed, models, and internal ID.

Network card display. In this view only the audited network cards are shown. The information in each column is: component ID, name of the computer in which it is installed, models and internal ID.

Printer display. Only the audited printers are displayed. The information in each column is: Component ID, Name of the computer on which it is installed, name of the printer, its Make and Model, Amount of RAM in Kb available, Page Size (in millimeters), Resolution in points per inch, BPP, Capacity Index, and Internal ID. The last line of the list can show the averages for each numeric column, or not.

Keyboard display. Only the audited keyboards are displayed. The information that is shown about them is as follows: component ID, name of the computer on which it is installed, no. of function keys, and internal ID.

Mouse display. Only the audited mouses are displayed. For each one of them the following information is shown: component ID, name of the computer on which it is installed, no. of buttons, switched buttons, wheel mouses, and internal ID.

Other device display. In the component display, devices that do not come under any of the above component groups are displayed, CD-ROM's for instance. The information that is shown on each one of them in each column is: component ID, device type, makes and models and internal ID.

ALL components display. This display shows absolutely all the types of components that Panda Invent has audited. The information that is shown when all the possible types of components are displayed is: component ID, name of the computer on which it is installed, component type, description, and internal ID.

To hide to the final line containing the data summary (totals and averages), go to View menu, where it is possible to mark the option Totals/Averages. On checking it ( · ), this line will be displayed. To expand the information displayed, go to the section Menu Options of Panda Invent of this Help.

Each one of the components can be selected individually or in groups. In the latter case, it is possible to select adjacent items in the list through the mouse and the SHIFT key, while to carry out selections of alternating components use the mouse and CTRL key.

Panda Invent stores data in more detail than shown in the displays. You can look this up by double-clicking on the item of the list or selecting it and accessing the menu View. It is also possible to use the toolbar. The data regarding the components can never be of either hardware or software. However, it is possible to show Hardware Data or Administrative Data. Other data of interest could be the one showing the different movements of the item in question to different parts of the organization tree.


Hardware Data

 The Hardware data records are only available for the machines or workstations (computers) or their components. In any case, the data stored is much greater than that displayed.

Hardware tabs

To access the data that makes up the hardware of a machine it is necessary to select it in the list and to later on use the toolbar (Hardware button), the Hardware option of the View menu, the pop-up menu (through the option View hardware), or to press the F6 function key.

The information will be displayed organized in several tabs that show the characteristics of each one of the components detected in the computer. A summary of data is also shown on the selected computer: Machine name, User name, Password, Internal Id and Collection dates of the data. To access each tab, just click on its title.

•	Machine tab. Shows the data of the technical characteristics of the CPU (microprocessor type, make, RAM memory, Extensions and Family), Operating System installed (Name and version, installation date, the person in whose name it was registered), Ports (number of serial and parallel ports existent) and BIOS (Date and type of BIOS).

•	Hard Disk tab. Displays the data of the hard disks that is installed on the computer: its make and model, capacity, free space, usage percentage, serial number, name of the volume or label and number of partitions established.

•	Video Card tab. It indicates the technical characteristics of the video card, such as the model, amount of memory, dates, number of bits per pixel, resolution at which is working at that moment, refresh frequency and the capacity index.

•	Monitor tab. Data about the model of the monitor.

•	Mouse tab. The data about the mouse with which the computer is working is the following: number of buttons, make and model, in addition to showing if the buttons are switched (left/right) or if it has a wheel.

•	Keyboard tab. The data about the keyboard with which the computer is working is the following: type and number of function keys.

•	Floppy disk drive tab. Regarding the data of each one of the possible disk drives, it is easy to know the type of floppy disks that can be used, their capacity and the number of bytes per sector.

•	Network card tab. Data about the make and model of the network card.

•	Printer tab. The record corresponding to the printer data will only appear in case the audited computer had, when it carried out the data capture, a physical connection to some of these components. If this was the case, the data displayed would be the following: name (if it is connected to the network the address of capture port appears), its make and model, page sizes that it can print, printing area, resolution (ppp), printing type (BW/Color), number of fonts that it supports (printer fonts), number of bits per pixel (BPP) and capacity index.

It is possible that on carrying out a data collection a printer connected to a specific computer is detected. Subsequently, during another collection, this printer could be connected to a different computer (locally, since in network it will always be considered as part of the printer server). This is not a problem for Panda Invent as once detected it will recognize that a similar definition of that printer already exists that has simply to be correctly placed. The special branches (Unlocated) are used to do this.

•	Other devices tab. This record is reserved for other types of devices such as some drives both internal and external: Zip, Jazz,... etc.

•	Unidentified tab. This tab contains detected components that have not been identified. They will be situated in the special branch 'Unidentified'. From there, their identity must be solved.

Hardware tabs of components (not machines).

To access the complete information on of each one of the components that appear in the list, it is necessary to select this item and later on to use the toolbar (Hardware button), the option Hardware of the View, the pop-up menu (through its option View hardware) or to press the F6 function key. Each one of these possibilities will be displayed in the same way that the presentation options of hardware data, corresponding to the machines.

As this is a component, instead of several tabs being displayed, only one will be shown. Although they will all have the common summary that is shown indicating name of the computer, username, password, internal ID, date of collection and collection medium, a tab simply showing the technical characteristics of the component is displayed.

Each one of these templates or data records can be modified through the Template editor that Panda Invent incorporates during the creation of an inventory.


Software Data

 The Software data display is only shown for the computers (CD-ROM's and floppy disks) where they are available.

Software display (only for some computers and  extractable drives).

To access the data about software installed on disk drives or computers, it is necessary to select it in the list and later on to use the toolbar (Software button), the option Software of the View menu, the pop-up menu (via its option View Software) or to press the F7 function key.

NOTE: this list is only to illustrate the utility of the product. The names, products and other brand names that appear in it are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

The information is displayed in a window, organized into several columns. It shows the characteristics of the software (principal and secondary) that has been detected. As a summary, like in the hardware data, the data corresponding to the machine name, username, password, internal Id, collection date of the information and collection medium is displayed in the right section of the window. In it several columns are shown, with specific information on each one of the software products detected. These columns are as follows:

•	Application. It indicates the name of the installed application detected, as well as the version number.

•	Manufacturer. The name of the company that manufactures that software.

•	File. It indicates the complete path where the software product is installed, the executable file that launches the application, as well as its name.

•	Date. It shows the date in which that product software was created.

•	Size. It shows the size, in bytes, of the executable file.

•	1st capture. It shows the date in which the first capture of information on that software was carried out.

•	Last capture. It shows the date in which the last capture of information on that software was carried out.

•	Application ID. It is the code to which the software product shown in the list is associated. By means of this code the software is identified.

The information of the list can put in ascending or descending order for any one of the data columns. Just click on the buttons that head each column. If you want to return to the original order select the option  view in initial order in the View menu. If all the information in a column cannot be seen, place the mouse pointer between the titles of two columns and when the pointer appears as a double arrow, click and drag it to make it as wide as possible. If you double-click on that same section, the left column will get wider until it displays all the data.

Each one of the lines relating to software data of a computer contains a record of properties. This consists of a summary of the characteristics that appear in columns. Simply click on this line with the right mouse button (pop-up menu) and select the option View tab. Another possibility is to click on the button with the same name in the toolbar.

It is possible to add any software shown in the list to the Applications Database. To do so, just click the right mouse button on a line and select the option Add to the database. Another possibility is to select this same option from the Applications menu.

Regarding the software type that Panda Invent detects when carrying out the captures, it is necessary to distinguish two types: the software considered as principal and the software considered as secondary. To display only one of them or both at the same time, the window incorporates a toolbar with the following buttons:

•	Principal software. When selecting this button only the main, or more important software is shown. This operation can also be carried out through the View menu. The configuration menu allows the modification of the criteria used to classify the software as principal or as secondary.

•	Secondary software. When selecting this button only the software considered secondary is displayed. Also available from the View menu.

•	All Software. It shows both the principal software as well as secondary within the list. The View menu has the same function.

•	Filter. It lets you introduce criteria (file name, application, manufacturer, date, number of bytes and the checkbox filter enabled) that the detected software products should comply with in order to be shown in the list. This can also be accessed through the View menu, or the F7 function key.

•	View tab. Having selected one of the software items in the list and clicking on this button, a dialog box with all its characteristics appears.

•	Print. Prepares the printing of the software list being viewed in that instant. If only the principal software is displayed, only this would be printed. From the File menu of this window you can also Print and access the Print preview.

Panda Invent makes it possible that from this record, an item of software from the list can be included in the Applications database. This is maintained by Panda Invent to control all possible software programs and to know each of their characteristics. That operation is carried out by means of the option to Add to the database, of the menu Application. It will only be included if the software is selected in the list. Nevertheless, the software included in the database will be treated as principal software, regardless of criteria.


Administrative Data

 This type of data cannot be captured by Panda Invent as it doesn't exist in any place from which it can be captured. For this reason, it must be entered manually, if considered necessary, for each one of the computers and components specified.

Having selected some of the elements that figure in the list, Panda Invent will show a record with additional data. To do this, it uses the corresponding button in the toolbar (Data admin.), the option Administrative data display of the pop-up menu, the View menu by selecting the option Administrative Data, or the F8 function key.

If it is a machine, a dialog box made up of two records Machine and Components will be displayed. When it is a component, just the record that corresponds to its data will appear.

Each one of the records contains the button Modify, with which is possible to access to any one of the fields and to change their data, to delete it or to write new information.

Each one of these records of administrative data can be defined by the administrator. For example, the following data fields could be displayed:

•	Password. The code that identifies the component or computer.

•	Machine name. The name of the computer or, if it is a component, the name of the machine to which it belongs.

•	User name. Indicates the name of someone that uses that particular machine or component.

•	Machine supervisor. It shows the name of the person responsible for the machine or component.

•	Make. The name of the manufacturer.

•	Model. The code or name corresponding to the series of that computer or component.

•	Supplier. The name of the company that supplied the computer or component.

•	Purchase date. It shows the date in which the computer or component was acquired.

•	Guarantee expires. It indicates the date in which the supplier will stop guaranteeing any repair or replacement of the computer or component, in the event of malfunction.

•	Maintenance. Allows to know the maintenance conditions.

•	Observations. This field will contain the information that the person in charge of introducing the administrative information, believes to be necessary.

Additionally, when it is possible to show the record of Components (only in the case of computers), the fields will be:

•	Component. A dropdown list, through which is possible to select any one of the items that form a part of the computer to see their administrative information.

•	Identification. The code that identifies the component or computer.

•	Serial number. A code that the user associates to the component to identify it.

•	Make. The name of the manufacturer.

•	Model. The code or name corresponding to the series of that component.

•	Supplier. The name of the company that supplied the component.

•	Date of Purchase. The date in which the component was acquired.

•	Guarantee expires. Indicates the date when the supplier will stop guaranteeing any repair or replacement of the component, in the event of malfunction.

•	Maintenance. The maintenance conditions.

•	Characteristics. It specifies another type of characteristic of interest about the component.

•	Observations. This field will contain the information that the person in charge of introducing the administrative information believes to be necessary.


Machine and Component Operations

Both in the machine and component displays it is possible to know which elements have been audited manually and which have been automatically audited by Panda Invent. To know which data displayed in the list has not been audited by Panda Invent, but entered manually, you only need to observe if it is marked with an asterisk (*).

For all components and machines displayed it is possible to modify their properties.

Modify characteristics. To do this, select the computer or the component and then the pop-up menu (right mouse button on the selected element),  then select the option Modify characteristics. Another form of doing the same thing is to use the key combination Alt+C. At that moment a dialog box appears summarizing all the characteristics of the computer or of the selected component. Each one of them can modified  manually. From that instant, the machine or the selected component will appear with an (*) sign in the list, indicating that it contains data that have been introduced or modified manually (without Panda Invent having to gather that data).

The machine data that can be modified is the following: Machine name, User, Computer, Number of processors, Processor type and speed in MHz., Manufacturer, Family, Amount of RAM memory in KB., processor Id, Number of serial ports, Number of parallel ports, Version of the BIOS, Dates of the BIOS, Operating system, Date of installation of the operating system, Registration, Product ID.

As for the component data shown that can be modified, this depends on the selected type. That is to say, the same options don't appear for a hard disk and a video card. In each case the typical data or characteristics of that component type are displayed.

In the case of machines, there is a button with the title to Modify components, through which it is possible to modify each one of the characteristics typical of some of the components that a are part of the machine. On clicking it, a list  appears with all the components that are a part of the machine, together with some of their characteristics. Selecting one of them and clicking OK, you access their properties record. Here it is possible to carry out all modifications through the fields shown (depending on the component type).

To add components. Like the modification of components, this possibility will only be available for machines, since the components are not considered to be made up of other components. This option, accessible from the pop-up menu, lets you include or add new components to the computer selected in the list. This operation is different to the one commented in the previous paragraph (to modify components), since in this case they don't change the properties of the components already existing in the computer, but instead new components are added.

On starting this operation, Panda Invent asks for confirmation from the user. On answering Yes, a list appears with the possible types of components to be added. Selecting one of them and clicking on OK enters a tab where their properties should be introduced. Once accepted the component(s) become another element that makes up the computer. As with modifications to characteristics, a computer to which a new component has been added will appear marked (*) in the list, indicating that it contains data that Panda Invent has not captured, but rather that has been introduced manually.

Other types of operations that can be carried out both with the computers as well as with the audited components (automatic or manually) are those of moving among branches. While the options to Cut and to Copy can be used to carry out moves, it is more comfortable and simpler to select the item to move within the list and to drag it towards the desired branch. This will reflect the real movements among departments, divisions, or areas of the organization.

Panda Invent stores the information that indicates in what branch an item was last situated (machines or components). In this way, it will be possible to return them to their previous branch just by indicating so to Panda Invent. However, if an item was firstly in one branch, later on in a second and finally placed in a third, Panda Invent will only remember the last one and when selecting the option Replace in previous branch, this will pass from the third to the second.

On the other hand, Panda Invent contains special branches that have specific functions, not related to any particular department or division within the organization. Here the items (computers and components) under repair, in stores, that do not have any branch assigned to them or the ones that appear as new, are stored.


Filters

 On occasions, the quantity of information that is presented is very large. It is possible to work with a limited series of components or machines (not with all) that have characteristics in common. This is why information should be filtered, only showing the items (machines or components) that fulfill certain criteria.

In the first place, go to the type of display (machine or components) to filter and select the option Filter in the View menu. You can also click on the Filter button of the toolbar or the function key F9. This opens a dialog box where it is possible to indicate the characteristics that the machines/components to filter should fulfill.

If defined filters already exist (only for  the machine display), it is not necessary to fill in each one of the fields. It is possible to open an existing filter defined previously Once in the filter window (View– Filter, Filter button, or F9) open the File menu, select the option Open filter (or press F3). Select the file that contains the filter you want to apply.

In the same way, having defined a filter, it is possible to save it for later use. This is possible through the option Save Filter, in the File menu. The filters tab contains different depending on the type of view in which you are.

In the case of the machines, they will be the following: Processor, FPU, MMX, SIMD, 3D Now, Serial number, MHz, RAM, Disk capacity, Free space on disks, Operating system, BIOS dates, Capture dates, Machines, CD's and FD's, NCI's, Combine with Software filter, Combine with Administrative Data Filter, Filter enabled.

To enable/disable a filter, just check the box Filter enabled.

As mentioned, the filters can vary depending on the type of elements shown at the time in the display. It is not the same thing to apply a filter to the computers as to components. The different data filters are the following:

Computers, Non-IT elements, CDs and FDs Filter

Hard Disk Filter

Video Card Filter

Printer Filter

Components Filter


Software Filter

To all those audited elements that contain software information, it is possible to apply either individual filters or combine with other filters. You can create a filter by clicking on the Filter button. If in addition, you want to combine it with a software filter, mark the checkbox Combine with software filter and click on the Edit filter button.

This shows the corresponding dialog box with the following fields: File name, Application, Manufacturer, Date and  Size in bytes. When making and accepting selections, the specifications are combined with those of the computer filters and in the display, only computers that comply with both will be shown.


Administrative Data Filter

It is possible to apply filters either individually or in combination with others to all those audited elements that contain administrative information. We already know that to create a filter click on the Filter button. If, in addition, you also want to combine it with a filter of administrative data, enable the checkbox Combine with administrative data filter and click on the button Edit filter.

This calls up the corresponding dialog box. In it, the administrative data that will form part of the filter and the filter condition should be selected. It is possible to select several fields to filter with certain conditions, while the final filter fulfills either some or all of them at the same time. To link or to unite each one of the possible conditions, use the dropdown lists with the operations “OR” and “AND.”

'OR'. When several conditions set in the filter are linked with OR, it means that the filter will be applied when at least one of the conditions is fulfilled (possible for all to be fulfilled). Either the 1st or the 2nd or both at the same time could be fulfilled, but at least one of them.

'AND'. When several conditions set down in the filter are linked with AND, it means that the filter will be applied when all the established conditions are met at the same time. If there are four conditions to apply the filter, when applying it only the items fulfilling each and every one of the established conditions at the same time are displayed.

When accepting the specifications, these will combine with those of the machine filter, and in the display only the items that fulfill both will be shown.


Other Operations in the Tree Structureorganisation tree

In the Component display, it is possible to carry out operations in the organization tree that are not accessible in the Machine display. In the pop-up menu that appears on right-clicking  one of the branches of the tree, there is the option Display machines in the branch. On selecting it, each one of the machines corresponding to the branch will appear in the organization tree itself, while in the Component display these will continue to appear. On selecting any one of them in the tree, all their components will be shown to the right. You can also enable this type of display with the key combination CTRL+M.

To return to the initial presentation, enable the pop-up menu again and select the option Hide machines in the branch (CTRL+N) or Hide all machines displayed. With the second option the user is asked to confirm not to show machines in the branches of the tree.

Two other possible actions on the tree are to Go to one of the branches of the tree or Find branches. The first one is possible through the pop-up menu (option Go to) or the toolbar. To carry out a search, click on the Find button of the toolbar.

 Go to. Lets you move to a branch without necessity of clicking on it with the mouse pointer. As organization trees can sometime be large and complex, this option will make it much easier and more comfortable to move to branches in the tree. The search has the following possibilities:

•	Find branch. Enter the name of the branch you want (or a section of it).

•	Search field. It sets parameters on where to search. Two exclusive possibilities exist: The whole tree or Only current branch.

•	Options. It contains other possibilities. Case sensitive (the text entered in the section Find branch is searched for regardless of the use of capital or lower case letters), Accent sensitive (the search ignores written accents in the text), Complete words (looks for the text as if it were a complete word) and Complete text (if the text to look for is a sentence, only the exact match will be searched for).

 Find. Lets you find in any section of the inventory an element (component or machine) by entering some  information. To carry out a search, click the Find button in the Panda Invent toolbar, when a dialog box with a series of options appears.

•	Find text. Write the text that should be contained in some of the fields defined within the hardware or administrative data both for computers as well as for components. The drop-down list allows the selection of some of the texts used in previous searches.

•	Find in. It lets you choose the fields where the text written in the section Find text should be looked for. The possibilities that are shown in this list will depend on the type of display in which you are in (machines or components) and of the type of components that are being viewed.

•	By means of the checkboxes The whole inventory and Elements currently displayed, it is possible to indicate that the search is carried out in all the sections of the inventory or to limit it to the selected branch (also taking into account the possible filter that is applied at that moment).

•	Options. Are available if in the list to Find in,  the option ID or Internal ID has not been selected. The let you refine the search. Case sensitive (the text is searched for regardless of the use of capital or lower case letters), Accent sensitive (the search ignores written accents in the text), Complete words (looks for the text as if it were a complete word) and Complete text (if the text to look for is a sentence, only the exact match will be searched for).

The fields that can be filled in are the following: Name of file to search for (does not have to be an executable file and it should be just the name without extension), Date (range of dates among which the one of file creation could fall), Size (lower and upper limit that determines the range of bytes within which is that of the file to locate), the whole inventory (it will be searched among all the existent data in any one of the branches), Only elements in current display (it will only be looked for within the existing data in the branch and current display), Case sensitive, Complete words, Accent sensitive, Complete text, Software type (indicate how Panda Invent classes the software to locate: Principal software or Secondary software), Element type (to limit the search, it is possible to indicate to what elements it should be applied: in Machines or in CD-ROMs and floppy disks: CDs/FDs).

•	Find next button. Once Panda Invent has found the first one the search can continue.

•	New search button. It clears the search, and allows new search criteria to be entered.


Working with reports

All the reports that Panda Invent generates are shown in a window that contains a toolbar. With this it is possible to move around, to print it, to save it, etc. The possibilities appear as buttons in this toolbar.

 The whole page. It shows the full page within the window corresponding to the report.

 Page width. The presentation of each page will be adjusted to the width of the window.

 Zoom 100%. It enlarges the page to a presentation of 100%.

 Zoom in. It applies a zoom that enlarges the page.

 Zoom out. It applies a zoom that reduces the page to a smaller size.

 First page. Goes to the initial page of the report.

 Previous page. Goes to the page immediately previous to the current one.

 Next page. Goes to the page immediately following the current one.

 Last page. Goes to the final page of the report.

 Print. On clicking it the report it is printed.

 Set up printer. It lets you specify the characteristics with which the report should be printed.

 Open. It lets you load any one of the reports that  were generated and saved previously. The file that contains it will have the extension QRP (Quick Report File).

 Save. Lets you keep the report as a file. It is possible to indicate the name of the file, but its extension will always be assigned automatically by Panda Invent: PIR (Panda Invent Report). To obtain more information on how to show the information kept in a report again, consult the section The Report Viewer, of this help.

 Export report (only those not saved). The content of the current report will be included in a Microsoft Word text document (in RTF format), or in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (XLS).

Note: the reports that have been saved before pressing this button cannot be exported. Also, the export applies only to the data, not to the graphics contained within it (these are not exported).

To export, it is necessary to indicate the directory where the file will be stored, as well as the name that this should have. It also decides the file type to which it should be exported through the drop-down list Save as file type. Selecting Format RTF (* .RTF), the report will be exported as a Microsoft Word document. Selecting MS Excel (* .XLS), the report will be exported to a spreadsheet of Microsoft Excel.

 Close button. The window of the report disappears and returns to the Panda Invent window.


Reports: Movement/Repairs Selection (Machines and Components)

For both machines as for components these reports are similar. They present the movements between branches and the repairs undergone by all of the components/machines selected in the display.

After marking the elements for which to generate a report, the option Movement/Repairs selection should be selected from the Reports menu.  No more boxes appear and the report will appear immediately in a new window.

The data shown about each one of the computers is the following: Computers, ID, Internal ID, Type, Branch (previous) and Date of the movement.

When the report has been generated for a component, the following data is shown: Type, ID, Description, Workstation to which it belongs and Date.

For further information on handling reports, look up the Working with reports section of this help.


The Standard Workstation and Capacity Index

Panda Invent includes a 'standard workstation' defined by default. The administrator can also define and modify the characteristics of this. This is used is to compare characteristics with all audited computers. In this way, it is possible to have a benchmark through which to judge the capacity or power of each one of the computers available in the IT infrastructure.

To define the standard workstation, various properties should be indicated: processor type, memory type, hard disk, etc. Depending on these, Panda Invent carries out the calculation of a numerical value that will be the benchmark for comparison. On reporting on computer capacity, Panda Invent will carry out the same calculations with regard to each one of the workstations. The numerical value obtained for each one of them will be compared to that of the standard workstation, and depending on their proximity to the values of the 'standard', the administrator can determine how much better or worse each one of the compared computers or components is.

To modify the specifications of the standard workstation, as well as the capacity index, go to the option Define standard workstation in the Tools menu. The data that can be modified includes: Processor (through the drop-down list it is possible to select this), MHz (speed of this in Megahertz), RAM (capacity of the RAM memory, measured in MB or KB), Hard disk and CD-ROM (Speed). As these values change, the CI (Capacity Index) varies. By means of the CI = 100 button, it is possible to assign the value 100 to the CI. This leads to the program automatically calculating parameters according to the Capacity index.

To determine the properties of the Capacity index, click on the button Configure computer capacity index. This opens a new dialog box. This displays a formula through which the CI is calculated. It is possible to assign a value to each one of the possible processors. Whenever any data is modified and you want to recover its original value, click on the Restore button.

To sum up, the CI value is calculated through the following formula, in which V1 is the value of the processor to the power of A, V2 is the value of the MHz to the power of A, V3 is the value of the RAM memory to the power of A, V4 is the value of the hard disk to the power A and V5 is the value of the CD-ROM to the power of A. B and C are numerical values that can be modified.


Reports: Breakdown by Processor Reports

The Breakdown reports do not display any dialog box in which information is required. For audited machines, several breakdown reports exist:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM Memory

By MHz..

By HD Capacity.

By Free space on disks

By Capture date

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by processor in the Reports menu, these are generated automatically. A list is shown with the number of computers that have a certain processor. This report is arranged by the type of processor in ascending order, in such a way that the less powerful microprocessors are shown first. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Processor, Number of computers (indicates the number of computers in the inventory that have that processor type), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative %.

The Breakdown by processor reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a pie chart. If any item doesn't exist in the selected branch, or if these are not subject to the report, these won't be shown. For further information on handling reports, look up the section Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown by Operating System Report

The Breakdown reports do not display any dialog box in which information is required about the data to show or how to show them. For the computers belonging to the inventory, several Breakdown Reports exist:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM memory

By MHz..

By HD Capacity.

By Free space in disks.

By Date of capture

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by operating systems in the Reports menu, you are asked the following: Do you want to group the different “releases” of each operating system? With this you can indicate that, besides showing the different installed operating systems, also highlight the different versions of each of them.

The information appearing in each line is as follows: Operating system, Number of machines (indicates the number of computers, in the inventory that have that operating system installed), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative.

The Breakdown by operating system reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a pie chart. If any item doesn't exist in the selected branch, or if these are not subject to the report, this won't be shown. To obtain more information on the handling reports, consult the section Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown Reports by Capacity (Computers and Hard Disks)

The reports that show a breakdown of components by capacity are only are only available for hard disks, as are the breakdown reports By percentage use.

On accessing the option Breakdown by HD capacity, in the Reports menu, a list appears in which ranges of possible capacities are indicated (measured in GB) and the number of hard disks that have that capacity. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Capacity, Number of elements (indicates the number of  audited hard disks that fall within that capacity range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The capacity breakdown reports are applied to the selected branch of the organization tree or of the physical display and they always show a bar graph.

To obtain more information on handling reports, go to the section on Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown Reports by Percentage Use (Components - Hard Disks)

The reports that break down components by percentage use can only be applied to the hard disks, as is the case with Breakdown by capacity reports.

On selecting the option Breakdown by percentage use in the Reports menu, a list indicates ranges of possible use percentages and the number of hard disks that fall within that range. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Usage (%), Number of hard disks (indicates the number of hard disks belonging to the inventory that have the percentage of usage corresponding to that range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The percentage use breakdown reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree, or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section Working with reports of this help.


Reports: RAM Memory Breakdown Report (Components - Video cards / Printers)

The reports on components that show the distribution for the RAM memory can only be generated for video cards and printers, as is the case for Breakdown by capacity index Reports.

On accessing the option RAM Memory Distribution in the Reports menu, a list appears in which ranges of possible capacities are indicated for the RAM memory of video cards / printers. The information appearing in each line is as follows: RAM memory, Number of elements ( depending on the current display, video cards or printers, this section will display the number of these that have the quantity of memory in that range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The breakdown reports for RAM are applied to the branch of the organization tree, or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section Working with reports of this help.


Reports: Capacity Index Breakdown Report (Components - Video Cards / Printers)

The reports on components that show the breakdown for capacities indexes can only be generated for video cards and printers, as is the case with Breakdown by RAM reports.

On accessing the option Breakdown by capacity index in the Reports menu, a list appears with the possible values of the capacity index  corresponding to the video cards /. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Capacity index, Number of items (depending on the current display, video cards or printers, this section displays the number of elements in each capacity index range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The breakdown reports by Capacity index are applied to the branch of the organization tree, or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section Working with reports of this help.


Applications Database

This is accessed through the option Show application database in the Tools menu. It lets you specify each application to be specially monitored by Panda Invent. The applications included in this database WILL ALWAYS be considered as PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE, even if they have been classified as secondary (before being included in the database). Each program or application included in this database will appear in the License report.

This is in fact an editor used to maintain a series of records, editing, deleting, moving among and modifying them within the dialog box that comes up for the purpose. This displays the fields that have to be filled in to create or include each new type of application.

Application ID. Code identifying the application.

Application. Name of the application.

Executable. Name and extension of the executable file that launches and starts application.

Manufacturer. Name of the company creating the application.

File size (from) and File size up to (to). Space occupied by the application in bytes.

File date (from) and Date Until (until). Date when the manufacturer created the application.

Number of licenses. The number of user licenses acquired for this software.

Add icon button. This makes it possible to assign an icon to the application being incorporated into the database.

Delete icon button. This makes it possible to eliminate an icon associated to an application included in the database.

All applications can be incorporated manually but there is also possible to include them via add to database from the software display that is displayed on accessing software data of an item (option Add to the database in the  Applications menu).

The toolbar consists of a series of buttons that allow you to work with the database records. These are, from left to right, as follows:

Add record button: goes to the end position, and it is possible to add a new entry (a new application). This operation can also be done via the Applications menu.

Modify record button: makes it possible to modify any data entry when located in it. This modification can also be done via the Applications menu.

Delete record button: the current entry is deleted, if reconfirmed. Another option is to use the Applications menu. Besides, there is another menu option: Delete all. This deletes all existing entries.

Find record button: makes it possible to find a specific entry within the database. It can also be accessed via this option in the Edit option of the menu. The search can be done with the ID, or by name. To repeat a previous search, use the F3 key or the option Find next in the Edit menu.

First record button. Goes to the beginning of the database i.e. the first record.

Previous record button. Permits going back to the previous record to the record you are currently in.

Next record button.  allows to move forward to the following entry, from the entry you are in.

Final record button. Goes to the last entry of the database. All these options can be accessed via the option Go to..., of the Edit menu.

Print button. Creates a printed copy of the entire database.

Two other characteristics included by Panda Invent in the Applications database editor are Import Data (I File– Import Data, or CTRL+I) and to generate the software copies report (Report - License and software copies report). To leave the editor, click on the Exit button of the toolbar or select the Exit option of the File menu.


Data Collection Disk

The majority of the data incorporated to the inventory is captured (periodically) for every computer connected to the network. When the server detects them, at the moment of connection, it gathers and stores the information of hardware and/or software of the computer. It can also force the user to introduce administrative data.

It could occur that computers to be audited, without needing to connect them to the network. The way to do this is to use a medium that can be moved from one place to another, such as a floppy disk. The information will be gathered from the audited computer  and stored in the data collection disk (or others should the capacity exceed one disk). This will be used later on to incorporate this data to the inventory.

The collection disk will be different depending on the computer whose data is being collected: computers with MS/DOS / Windows 3.x or computers with Windows 9x / Windows 2000 / Windows NT.

Creation of a data collection floppy disk

Data collection using a data collection disk


Database Maintenance

When selecting the option Carrying out maintenance of the database within the Tools menu, it begins the revision and repair (should the need arise) of the files that make up the inventory database.

It is advisable to carry out maintenance of the databases every so often. Nevertheless, when some type of problem is detected on opening an inventory, Panda Invent is capable of carrying out this function automatically. It will analyze the current state of the files and it will repair any possible error detected.

The files that make up the databases are Paradox tables. In them Panda Invent verifies the key index, at the same time that it checks for possible errors. These errors or corruptions in the data could be originated by closing tables incorrectly or that some registrations were left open at a certain moment, due to an unexpected operation

Check another inventory's database

This option can be used when an inventory can't be opened because it is damaged or corrupted. Open another inventory and use this option, indicating the path of the inventory that needs to be checked.


Printing Labels

For each one of the audited items, printed labels can be generated with the codes that identify them. Selecting the option Print labels, in the Tools menu, it will be possible to indicate for which of the items these labels should be printed.

All elements in the current display. Labels are created for each one of the items that are visualized within the list or type of view selected at that moment.

Only selected elements. Labels are created for each one of the items that are selected within the current display (one or several).

Use label. If you click on the Examine button you can determine the format that the label will have. The file that stores the label type has extension PLB (Panda Labels).

Show print preview. A preview of the final aspect will be shown. If it is not enabled, the labels will be printed directly.

Note: the labels generated by Panda Invent correspond to the format APLI 1283.


Configuration Options

Panda Invent lets you configure the presentation of sub-branch data, the control of the components that are exchanged among computers and machines that move among departments, alerts in certain situations and other types of options.

The access to these configuration options is through the menu Tools–Configuration options. Then a dialog box appears, made up of several tabs. These are as follows:

General Tab

File Extensions Tab

Component tracking Tab

System alerts Tab

Scheduled alerts Tab

Data collection Tab


Defining Templates (Administrative Data)

 IMPORTANT NOTE: when an inventory is created and associated to an administrative data template it is advisable to be very clear about the fields or data that you will need additionally and what characteristics they should have (as well as in those that already exist). Once an inventory and the corresponding administrative data has been created, it won't be possible to modify that data later on.

Through the templates incorporated into Panda Invent it is possible to define the desired aspect of the data records corresponding to the administrative information, both for machines and for components. Panda Invent incorporates a default format for them (applied when generating a new inventory), but if you want to modify it, it is possible do so during the process of creating the new inventory. With it, the template editor window is displayed (similar to any form of Access or Delphi).

This window has several sections. In the upper part there is a menu of options and the toolbar with which operations on the different fields (objects) that should appear in the administrative data dialog box can be carried out. In the work area (or center of the window) the boxes corresponding to each one of the windows that will contain the data of computers and of components appear. To the left of these is the dialog box that will present the properties of each one of the fields (objects) selected (it will be different depending on the field marked).

To work with the fields (objects) that appear in each section (machines and components) it is necessary to know how it works. To modify the properties of each one of the objects that appear (or of those that are inserted) you have to have selected them previously. Simply click on them with the mouse and the object will be selected. Any of the properties that are modified in that instant will affect only the selected object. To select several objects at the same time, you have to “to frame them.” This means you have to click with the mouse outside of the objects (in the background) and without releasing the button, drag until the margin line that is drawn (rectangle) includes them all. Then release the mouse button and they will all be marked.

To displace or to move an object click and drag it to the desired position. If you want to change their size (to enlarge it or to reduce it), the mouse pointer should be placed in those “connectors” that define it (the black squares that are shown in the borders when the object is selected). When they appear, the mouse pointer is placed in one of them. At that moment a double arrow will appear. Then simply click and drag it in any direction. If you want to eliminate or to erase objects that are part of the template, just select them and press the DEL key. or to click on the Delete button of the toolbar. At that moment, confirmation of the operation will be requested.

Depending on the type of marked object, the properties dialog box (located to the left) will show certain characteristics. The most important and frequent characteristics, relating to the different types of objects, are summarized in the section Template object properties and data types of this help.

The template editor toolbar has buttons that let you carry out operations on the current template and insert objects in it. Each one of them is discussed in the section Menu and Toolbar in the Templates  of this help.


Reports: Licenses and Software Copies Reports
Reports: License and Software Copies Reports

These types of reports are accessible through the Reports option of Panda Invent main menu, and also from the Application Database Editor. From the Editor, the Reports–License and Software Copies Reports option should be selected. When generating it, it is possible to determine the software type that should be shown in the report:

Include registered software in the application database. The report will only show, by default, the software that Panda Invent has included in its applications database. The information contained in it will have been included previously in this database, by the user or the administrator. This database allows classifying the applications as principal software or secondary software.

Include all  principal software audited. Besides taking into account each one of the applications in the database, it will reflect the entire software existing in the inventory. This operation can last several minutes, depending on the number of elements audited at the time.

If you enable the checkbox Include all principal software audited, the following possibilities are enabled:

Details of the different versions of the program

•	Do not break down. The report won't include versions corresponding to all audited software.

•	Break down. The report will give all the versions corresponding to all audited software.

•	Only break down programs with more than “X” copies. The report will only detail the software with more than X copies in the inventory.

Sort

•	By number of copies and description. The report is ordered according to the number of copies of each software program. Within this, it is classified by the descriptions.

•	By number of copies and executable file. The report is ordered according to the number of copies of each software. Within this, it is classified by the executable file corresponding to each software.

•	By description only. The report appears ordered by the description field of each software.

•	By executable only. The report appears ordered by the field in which the executable file is indicated, corresponding to certain software.

After marking your preferences, the report is generated automatically. If you have selected the corresponding option, the software data of applications database appear first. Next the list shows the principal software, not included in the applications database. The information is distributed in several columns (depending on the options selected when generating it): name of all the applications detected, the number of licenses that exists for each of them, number of copies (legal and illegal) and the difference in number with regard to the number of original licenses. All the applications that are shown in this type of reports are those that were included in the Application Database Editor.

To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section on Working with reports, of this help.


Data Types and Objects in a Template

When working on a template that contains different items, it is possible to define the characteristics or properties of these. Some of them will be accessible for some, but not others.

Horizontal position. It indicates the horizontal coordinate in which the object should be placed, within the dialog box or window.

Vertical position. It indicates the vertical coordinate in which the object should be placed, within the dialog box or window.

Height. It indicates the vertical size the object should have.

Width. It indicates the horizontal size the object should have.

Order number. The numerical value that appears for this property indicates when the corresponding data will be introduced with regard to the other fields that exist. By default, when you access one of these dialog boxes to revise or to modify the data (not the design) that appear in them, several fields are shown. Generally the one that is presented first is entered in the first place, the second in second place, etc. When you press the Tab key, the cursor passes automatically to the following field in the order of introduction of data. In short, the property Order number, makes it possible to determine the sequence that should be followed when data is introduced.

Date. This property will be available in the fields corresponding to data of dates, in such a way that you can indicate the date that should appear in them by default.

Image. When a graphic object is inserted within the dialog box it is also possible to determine an image that this will have by default. Thanks to this property you can indicate this image (location and name of the file with extension BMP).

Text. By means of this property one can write the text that should appear by default in one of the fields of the dialog box (whenever this is also of text type).

Font. It lets you indicate the letter type that will be shown in the selected text field.

Horizontal alignment. It allows to indicate the alignment that the data should present with respect to the limits of the field, window or box that contains it. The possibilities are: Left, Right, Center.

Vertical alignment. It allows to indicate the alignment type that the data should present with respect to limits of the field, window or box that contains it. The possibilities are: Up, Center, Down.

Enabled. When the objects are verification checkboxes, through this property you can indicate if by default they should be enabled (marked), or not.

Case. This list displays three possibilities: Normal, Uppercase, and Lowercase. Selecting any of them will show the data in the suitable format.

3D Effect. When selecting a YES the object will appear with relief.

Mandatory field. Selecting YES, it will be obligatory to enter the data corresponding to that object.

Transparent. It is available in the case of figures and when indicating YES, these will be transparent, allowing to see the background of the tab.

Background color. A palette of colors is displayed within which one should be selected that will be the background of the object marked.

Help. In this section the type of corresponding data or function of the object should be entered; this appears when the user brings the mouse pointer near the object.

Name. It is the identification or name associated to the object.

Maximum size. Maximum number of characters that can be written within the selected text box.

Type. It indicates the data type that will be stored in the selected object. The possibilities are: Alphanumeric (text and figures: characters, numbers, punctuation signs, ...etc), Whole (numeric data without decimals), Real (numeric data with decimals) or Date (date type data).

Line color. When a figure has been drawn it is possible to select it to assign a color.

Line thickness. When a figure has been drawn it is possible to select it to assign a thickness.

Style. When a figure has been drawn that will appear in the data window, it is possible to select it to indicate how it should be (vertical left, vertical right, horizontal, parallel, diagonal, ... etc).

Curve. It indicates the shape of the selected object.

Shape. It indicates the figure (or form) of the selected object.

Action. In the case of buttons added as objects to the template, it is possible to indicate the operation Panda Invent should carry out when it is clicked.

Options. If an “drop-down list” object has been selected in the template, this property indicates what options should be displayed in the introduction of data when the user displays it. A list is shown within which the possible values should be introduced in the order you wish.


Menu and Toolbar in the Templates

Both from the toolbar and the menu displayed by the Template editor window it is possible to carry out operations with regard to each one of the objects, as well as actions that will affect the entire Template.

To create a new template, the first of the buttons displayed in the toolbar to the left should be clicked or to select the New option of the File menu. If changes have been carried out on the current template, Panda Invent will show a message asking the user whether to save the modifications. On answering this question (or simply when indicating if you want to create a new template, if the data of the current one is already saved), a new dialog box will automatically appear both for machines and for components. This has some default fields: ID and serial number for the computers; as well as ID, Machine name and User name for the components.

It is also possible to load or to open templates already existent. A template is just a file with the extension .PA3 that will be stored in a directory or folder. Therefore, the file should be selected in its location and opened. This will load a template defined previously. It is possible to open templates through the second available button on the left of the toolbar or from the option Open, of the File menu.

In the same way that you can open up or create a new template, it is also possible to save the changes that have been made in it, through the option Save in the File menu, or from the third button of the toolbar (which has a floppy disk icon).

It is also possible to create a new window or dialog box for the current template. To do so select the option New window, in the File menu or the corresponding button in the toolbar (second from the right).

When several windows or dialog boxes exist in the Template editor, it is possible to remove them, except for those corresponding to “Component data” and “Machine data” To eliminate, just select it (clicking on their title or background) and delete it through the corresponding button (last from the right) of the toolbar, or the option Delete window in the File menu. This option shows a list of the windows that can be eliminated (those that don't correspond to machines or components).

When working on a administrative data template, it is normal to work with two windows (machines and components). Nevertheless, and as we have seen, it is possible to have more than two. In this case, their manageability is indispensable and Panda Invent makes this possible thanks to the option Windows. On selecting the option Arrange it will show them in an established order in such a way that all of them can be visualized at the same time (cascade). The remaining options of the menu Windows allow the user to go to the desired window, although this is also possible by simply clicking on it.

The buttons of the toolbar that allow you to add new objects to the windows of the template work in such a way that first they should be clicked and later on (with the pointer in the background of the corresponding window), just dragged. That is to say, after pressing it, click on the corresponding window (machine data, component data, or any other one that has been created).

 Modify button. This is the button that should be clicked to select an object and assign properties.

 Labels button. It lets you create text that will appear in the template (field names, text comments that we want to include within the template,...).

 Editable text button. It lets you create a new field in which one will be able to introduce data.

 Drop-down button. On clicking this a list of possible values is created for a certain data type. This way the user, on introducing the data, does not have to write anything but just selects one of the possible options.

 Dates button. It lets you create a date type data. A calendar will be shown.

 Selection button. It allows to create a verification checkbox, for the introduction of data.

  Exclusive selection button. It allows to create a “radio button”, for the introduction of data.

  Image button. It lets you create an object which can contain an image (in BMP file format).

 Shapes button. It allows you to insert a figure, within the template. This can be modified later on to determine the type (square, ellipse or line) and its properties (line width, line color, background color, round,... etc).

 Button.  Lets you add a button to the template. To this button an action can be associated in such a way that if the user clicks on it (when accessing the display or modification of the administrative data) a certain operation is carried out.

  Window button. On clicking it a new dialog box or window is created in which to insert new fields, additional to those already existent (Machine data and Component data).

 Delete button. On clicking it any of the objects selected in the window or the window itself is eliminated (unless it is for machines, or components). If no object is selected (but a window is), it would mean that on clicking the Delete button the current window with all its content is eliminated.


Incorporating Data

Through the Inventory menu, it is possible to incorporate the data that has been collected through the servers, or data collection floppy disks. Likewise, it is possible to audit special items: CD-ROMs, floppy disks, independent components, non-IT elements, remote Microsoft servers, or machines manually (without a connection to the server that can carry out the collection).

The options that are accessible through this menu are the following:

Incorporate data collected in servers

Incorporate data files

Audit Windows NT / 2000 servers remotely

Audit a computer manually

Audit a non-IT element

Audit a CD

Audit a floppy disk

Audit an independent component


Data Transport (Inventory)

Panda Invent works with files that are part of the inventory and of the information captured. These files are tables compatible with Paradox, Microsoft Access and other common databases.

The administrator could show information from the inventory (complete or of some certain section) to another person through any of the Reports. However, this information cannot be altered and it is possible that this might be necessary.

In short, what is sought is that the receiver of all this information (the inventory) is able to work with it. Although this could lead to problems if  there are two versions different of the same inventory, it is possible to do it. To do so, the administrator should give the receiver the necessary files. This can be done in two ways depending on certain conditions:

•	If the person that receives them has Panda Invent installed. In this case access the option Save as..., in the File menu and store the inventory in a certain disk drive, with a name. After doing so, this is the file that should be given to the receiver.

•	If the person that receives them doesn't have Panda Invent installed. This time the files given are the ones generated by Panda Invent directly and the receiver can look them up and handle them through any database application that supports Paradox tables (such as Access).

In either of the two cases, the information contained in the inventory could be exported.This way the recipient will be able to have part of the information (or all of it) directly in Access or Paradox format.

 Note: it is important to keep in mind that if the recipient of the information has Panda Invent installed and carries out modifications in the inventory, the files change and are no longer the same as the originals saved by the administrator.


Incorporate Data From Servers

Two prerequisites exist for the incorporation of data from the servers to be carried out:

•	To have the collection program installed in the server from which the information will be incorporated.

•	To have carried out at least one data collection. That is to say, the server should have gathered the information of at least one workstation and on at least one occasion.

It is possible to establish a collection schedule. They will generally be carried out on certain occasions (once a week,... etc.), rather than whenever the workstation connects to the server. If you want to incorporate data from a server, it is necessary to have access to it, through a username and a password. The username will be that corresponding to the administrator or somebody authorized by him. If another user is using the administrator's computer, but with a different work session and user profile, Panda Invent would not have problems incorporating information.

Let us suppose that the administrator has carried out a data collection through the server “Server1.” If later on a user, from the same computer of the administrator but with a different user profile (and even a connection to another server) wants to carry out a new collection in the “Server1”, there would not be any problems. In principle one can think that the collection should generate a different file in “Server1,” because of being another different user. Panda Invent takes this into account and controls these possible situations. The way to do it is to identify the computer that makes the collection request, not the user.

When the server carries out the capture, it creates a file in its hard disk, where it includes the information gathered. This file remains there until, from Panda Invent, this data is incorporated to the inventory. This is the utility of the option Include data collected in servers of the Inventory menu. A dialog box is shown with all the servers (those that have the collection module for the current inventory). In each one of them it is indicated if data is available or not, as well as the number of files that can be incorporated. To carry out the process, the procedure to follow is:

1.	The server from which you want to incorporate the data it has captured is marked.

2.	Start the incorporation process by clicking on the Incorporate button or double clicking on the server.

3.	If there is not a server connection open, enter Username and Password that the user has in that server.

4.	On accepting, the data incorporation begins.

It is possible to select several servers at the same time to incorporate data files from them. This multi-selection function saves time, as it is not necessary for the data to be incorporated consecutively. To incorporate a large number of files the option, uninterrupted incorporation is useful.


Incorporate Data Files

When collection is carried out (through any one of the possible media), Panda Invent generates certain files that contain the data gathered. If it was carried out from a server, it is possible to incorporate this information through the option Configuration of the Data Collection Module in Servers in the Inventory menu.

On other occasions (data captured through a floppy disk, in isolated computers), the information is stored in the floppy disk itself, or in a drive and directory of a certain computer. To include the collected data in the inventory, it is necessary to incorporate them from those files. Through the options Incorporate one data file and Include all data files from a directory in the Inventory menu, it is possible to indicate the location of the file that contains the data to incorporate.

The difference between both possibilities is that while the former lets you select a data file that contains the information, the latter simply allows you to select a directory in which Panda Invent automatically detects the files that it should incorporate and it does so.

If you want to incorporate more than twenty files to the inventory, there is an option called uninterrupted incorporation. This incorporates without pausing to ask for user confirmation etc. If user intervention is necessary for the incorporation of a particular file, the file's incorporation will be postponed.

If you want to incorporate to the inventory the data collected in a floppy disk, choose the option Incorporate a single data file. Then, Panda Invent will show all the files of a certain directory. It is also possible to select an alternative path where the file desired is located. Select the file that is in the floppy disk and its data will be incorporated into the inventory.

Other means of collection exist for stand-alone computers. For instance, via another computer (a laptop, for example) or from the same floppy disk for each one of the computers. If you wish to incorporate the information corresponding to each one of these captured computers, it is possible to carry out the incorporation independently for each one of them, through the option Incorporate a single data file. This however, would mean carrying out an incorporation for each and every file. The best way of doing it will be to use the option Incorporate all the data files of a directory.

If the collection was carried out via a floppy disk, all the files will be in the directory \DATOS of that disk (by default). In the event of having been carried out from a laptop, it would have been convenient to select a directory of its hard disk to store the files. Anyway, it would be necessary to indicate the disk drive and directory where the information is and to incorporate it from there.


Auditing a Non-IT Element

To add items whose information cannot be collected to an inventory, it is necessary to use the option Inventory a non-IT element of the Inventory menu. These types of elements only have administrative information. The procedure is as follows:

1.	Enter the name that will be assigned to the element.

2.	Enter the username to which that element will be associated.

3.	Enter the administrative data of the element to inventory and the location of this in one of the branches of the organization tree. The data to enter depends on the template that has been defined initially (administrative data): External ID, Machine name, Username, Supervisor, Make, Model, Supplier, Date of purchase, Guarantee expiry, Maintenance and Observations.

On clicking OK, the incorporation of data concludes and this item is located in the branch indicated.


Auditing Disks (CD-ROMs and Floppy Disks)

To collect the software data contained in a CD-ROM / floppy disk and to add them to an inventory it is necessary to follow these steps:

1.	Introduce the CD-ROM in the CD read drive or the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.

2.	Select the option Audit a CD or Audit a floppy disk in the menu Inventory.

3.	Confirmation is required for the operation to take place, to which you answer affirmatively.

4.	The collection of the data corresponding to the existing software begins.

5.	Finally, it is possible to include the CD-ROM / floppy disk in a branch of the tree and to enter their administrative data. This will depend on the template that has been defined at the time: External ID, Machine name, User name, Supervisor, Make, Model, Supplier, Date of purchase, Guarantee expiry, Maintenance and Observations.

This window incorporates the organization tree corresponding to the inventory. Within it, it is possible to house or to locate the non-IT element that is being created by simply clicking on one of its branches. On clicking OK, the collection of the CD-ROM / floppy disk concludes and it is located in the desired branch.

These operations will have to be carried out with each CD-ROM or diskette that you wish to add to the inventory. It is possible to visualize their properties by selecting it and clicking on the Administrative data button in the toolbar, as well as the software that it contains through the Software button.


Auditing a Computer Manually

This possibility can be used instead of the collections through servers or floppy disks when these cannot be carried out. Go to the Inventory menu and select the option Audit a computer manually. You are asked to confirm the task to be carried out, and then click on the button Yes.

Then introduce the information necessary (administrative data): Name of the machine, User, Computer, Number of processors, Processor, MHz (speed of the processor), Manufacturer, Family, FPU, FXSR, MMX, 3D, SIMD, ID, RAM, KB (capacity of the RAM memory), Number of Serial Ports, Number of Parallel Ports, BIOS Version, BIOS Date, Operating system, OS. Version, Registration, Product ID.

On accepting the data, Panda Invent requests the name of a Server that should be associated to the computer that is being audited manually. The objective is that this server is the one that carries out the next data collection in that computer, when it connects to it. It is also possible to select No server, if automatic captures won't be carried out in the computer. Lastly it requests User name and Password for this server.

In the displays, machines and/or components can appear marked with an asterisk. Panda Invent attaches these asterisks in the following cases:

•	When the characteristics of the hardware corresponding to the computer or component are modified manually.

•	When elements are incorporated manually to the inventory.

Thanks to this, Panda Invent differentiates the hardware data that has been gathered or modified manually, to that gathered automatically.


Auditing Windows NT / 2000 Servers Remotely

Panda Invent can audit remotely Windows NT or Windows 2000 servers. To do so, select the option Audit Windows NT / 2000 servers remotely, accessible through the Inventory menu.

Then, a dialog box requiring the name of the Server, User name and the access Password, appears. It is also possible to indicate what you wish to inventory: Audit hardware or Audit software.

On clicking the Inventory button, the process of data collection in the Windows NT / 2000 server begins. When the process concludes, it allows the user to incorporate the captured data, at that moment, or to do so later. To incorporate these data at that moment, the user should click on the Yes button.

If the data is not incorporated at the time of the capture, Panda Invent understands that this information will be incorporated subsequently will display the directory in which it is saved. The data can be incorporated later, through the Incorporation of the File that contains it (this is by default in C:\INVENT\DATOS).


Creation of a Data Collection Floppy Disk

To create a data collection disk, access the option Create data collection floppy disk, of the Tools menu. The creation of this disk involves a series of steps guided by a wizard:

1.	Introduce the floppy disk in the disk drive and select the option Tools–Create data collection floppy disk. The content that the disk could have will get lost.

2.	Welcome screen. It describes the use of the data collection disk.

3.	Select the Language in which the data collection window will be shown.

4.	Select Installation folder. The disk drive should be selected and directory or folder in where the Data collection module will be saved. This lets you collect the information from a disk or from another folder of a computer (for example, a laptop or the computer in which the collection is carried out).

5.	Select the Operating system. It is possible to indicate what operating system is installed on the computer where the data collection will be carried out. The possibilities are: Windows 9x / Windows 2000 / Windows NT or MS/DOS / Windows 3.x.

6.	Determine the Characteristics with which   the data collection will be carried out. Several possibilities are offered:

•	Collect hardware data: the hardware data corresponding to that computer will be captured or gathered automatically.

•	Collect software data: the software data corresponding to that computer will be captured or gathered automatically.

•	The user enters the administrative data: the data that cannot be collected will be introduced by the user when the collection is carried out.

•	Collect data of user's choice:  the user will be asked to confirm on the possible data collection, in the moment that it has been selected.

If in the previous step you selected the MS/DOS / Windows 3.x operating system, the last two options would not be accessible.

7.	On clicking the Start button, the files necessary are copied to the floppy disk so that this can carry out the collections. All the information contained in the disk will be lost. The DATA directory is created in it and it will contain the captured information.

8.	When finishing, the wizard lets you create another collection disk. Take the disk from the disk drive and label it as INVENT – COLLECTION DISK MS/DOS or INVENT– COLLECTION DISK WINDOWS 9x/2000/NT depending on the type created.


Data Collection From a Floppy Disk

By means of the collection disk, it is possible to capture the information of stand-alone computers that have MS/DOS or Windows 3.x, or Windows 95/98/2000/NT installed. There are differences for each case:

Collection in MS/DOS or Windows 3.x computers.

During the process of creation of this disk, it will have been established that these kinds of computers should be captured.

If contains the CAPTDOS.EXE program. The disk should be inserted in the disk drive of the computer to be captured and execute this program from the command line. This begins the capture of information. Although the process is automatic, it admits some parameters such as the following:

•	CAPTDOS /H or CAPTDOS /?:  shows the list of possible parameters.

•	CAPTDOS /CHW:  the hardware collection will be carried out.

•	CAPTDOS /CSW:  the software collection will be carried out.

•	CAPTDOS /CFS: the collection will be carried out in silent mode.

•	CAPTDOS /SEF:  previous data files will be replaced.

•	CAPTDOS /LZS: the capture program will always run.

On finalizing the collection, in the collection floppy disk itself, a file  is created that will take the name of the code of the captured computer and the extension .IK3.

Collecting in Windows 9x, Windows 2000 or Windows NT computers.

During the process of creation of this disk, it will have been determined what this type of workstations should capture.

Insert the disk in the disk drive of the computer from which  you want to collect data and run the program CAPTURA.EXE. This file can be executed from a Windows window or from the command line. In the latter case, it accepts several parameters:

•	CAPTURA /H o CAPTURA /?: it shows the list of the possible parameters.

•	CAPTURA /CHW:  the hardware capture will be carried out.

•	CAPTURA /CSW:  the software capture will be carried out.

•	CAPTURA /EDA: it lets you edit the administrative data.

•	CAPTURA /CFS: the collection will be carried out silently.

•	CAPTURA /SEF: previous data files will be replaced.

•	CAPTURA /LZS: the collection program will always run.

•	CAPTURA /FED: the collection program obliges editing the administrative data.

•	CAPTURA /NPD: when the collection program starts it doesn't ask for the target directory in which the information should be saved.

•	CAPTURA /NT0: the collection is carried out without tracking level. The tracking level implies the degree of definition in each one of the “notes” that the program keeps in its events log.

•	CAPTURA /NT1: the capture is carried out with tracking level 1.

•	CAPTURA /NT2: the capture is carried out with tracking level 2.

•	CAPTURA /NT3: the capture is carried out with tracking level 3.

If it is necessary, it will ask for the insertion of other disks, as the information cannot be contained in a single disk. On finishing, one of the floppy disks will contain a file with the name corresponding to the code of the captured computer and the extension .IC3.

Note: CAPTURA  is the one passing these parameters to CAPT32 and the latter runs them (both from floppy disk and server).


Quick Operation Guide

This section aims to give a brief summary of the steps to carry out to begin working with Panda Invent. After having carried out a correct installation, execute Panda Administrator (Start button, corresponding to the Windows Task Bar, and select the following options Programs–Panda Administrator). After the opening of Panda Administrator window and the appearance of all the available servers, you can begin to work as follows.

1.	Select of one of the servers.

2.	Creation of an Inventory. You will not be able to access Panda Invent until a first inventory has been created. To create one, click on the Create Inv button in the Panda Administrator toolbar.

3.	From Panda Administrator, install the Collection Program or Data Collection Module  in one, or more, servers.

4.	After the first collection of information of any server in any workstation, you will be able to begin to work with the data gathered. That is to say, when some workstation whose data is to be captured connects to a certain server (after installing the collection module in it).

5.	After the first capture is carried out, proceed to the Incorporation of data collected in the servers (it is also possible to incorporate data gathered by other collection media).This operation is carried out from Panda Invent.

6.	Finally you will be able to work with the inventory, being able to repeat the steps 3, 4 and 5 as many times as you wish.


Exporting Data

By exporting data, Panda Invent allows the information of the current inventory to be transported to other database formats (Microsoft Access or Paradox). Open an inventory and select the option Export, in the File menu. This will show a dialog box with the following possibilities:

Data source

You can indicate what section of the inventory should be exported, or export the complete inventory. The three possibilities are:

•	The whole inventory. All the information in the inventory will be exported to an Access or Paradox database.

•	Only displayed items. Only the information which, at that moment, exists in the current display will be exported. This will depend on the type of display and the filters applied.

•	Only selected items. The only information that will be exported is that which corresponds to each one of the items that are selected in the current display.

Export the following tables

It lets you determine which data tables should be exported to the database: Machines, Organization tree, Components per workstation, Principal software, Secondary software, User applications, Alerts history and Movement history.

Components

This section lets you select the components to be subject to data export. The option Group administrative data of all components in a common table, means that during the export process a new table is created grouping all administrative type data relating to components. It is also possible to select which component information should be exported: CPUs, Monitors, Video cards, Hard disks, Keyboards, Sound cards, Printers, Mouses, Network cards, Floppy disk drives, and Other components.

Data destination

The objective of this final section is to determine the file in which the exported data should be kept, as well as its format:

•	New database: in this case the program understands that the database to which the information of the inventory will be exported, does not yet exist. Panda Invent generates it automatically during the export process.

•	Existing database: if you know the database to which you want to export the information and this exists, it will be necessary to enable this checkbox.

The format that this database will have should be indicated. To do so, the Format list exists. When deploying it, the two possibilities are shown: Access and Paradox. Additionally, it will be necessary to indicate the location (route or path) and the name of the file corresponding to the database, target of the export. To start the process, click on the OK button.


Physical Display (Servers)

Concerning the possible displays in form of an inverted tree that Panda Invent shows in the left section of the window, two possibilities exist: the Organization tree display and the Physical display (servers and other collection media). Each one involves a different way of working , although they both follow similar processes. In order to go from one view to the other, use the pop-up menu (click using the right mouse button on the current display). In this section, we shall look at the display corresponding to Servers and Other collection media.

This display (or tree) represents or shows each one of the servers that are currently available, along with other data collection media. The Servers section of the tree will contain these in two categories:

•	Srv. with collection installed: this branch of the tree or of the view shows those servers in which the capture program is currently installed.

•	Srv. with collection uninstalled: this branch of the tree or of the view shows servers where the capture program has been eliminated (although they had it installed previously). Therefore, none of them can carry out the request for information to the workstations that are connected to them.

The workstation information  is gathered when each one of them connects to the server (if this has the capture program installed). Nevertheless, other systems exist through which it is possible to capture this data. In order for each one of these media to appear in the display (together with the information that has been captured), Panda Invent incorporates the section Other Collection Media. The means of collection can also be grouped in the following branches: Collection Disks, Local Collections and Incorporate from Local Disk.

Each one of the sections corresponding to this view can have items that are grouped in it. When selecting any one of these sections or an item that is shown in it, the left part of the window (View) will show their data.


Reports: Global Report

These reports are only available when in the machine display. It is possible to select a single machine or several, to generate a report on it/them. They present all possible information on each one of the workstations (computers), in tab format. It aims to gather all the information (the one indicated) on a machine. To generate this report, you should keep in mind the following thing:

•	It is necessary to be in the machine display.

•	At least one computer should be selected, it being possible to select several (the report will show the information for each one of them).

•	To generate it the option Global reports should be selected in the Reports menu.

Then Panda Invent will display a dialog box, through which it is possible to set the characteristics of the report:

Machines or Disks

•	Include computer hardware data. It will show the information on the hardware characteristics of the selected item.

•	Include SMBIOS data. In case the computer that is selected in the list contain information SMBIOS, this will be presented.

•	Include administrative data for the machine or disk. Besides showing other information, administrative information appears (not captured, but entered manually) corresponding to each machine, or to each selected disk.

•	Include principal software. It will show all principal software that is installed in the computer or selected computers. The quantity of information displayed will increase considerably.

•	Include secondary software. It will show all secondary software that is installed on the computer or selected computers. The quantity of information displayed will increase considerably.

•	Include machine or disk movement. The movements that the computer, or disk, selected has undergone between the different sections of the tree or the physical display will be shown. When some movement of elements is carried out, Panda Invent lets you include a comment associated to this action. This type of report also lets you display comments. To do so, the checkbox to Include comments should be marked.

•	Include data collections history. The report will include a summary with information on each occasion in which information has been gathered in that machine or disk. The following will be indicated: the date on which the last collection was carried out, the date when the data was incorporated, the medium, and the type of information that was captured (hardware, software and administrative data).

Components

•	Include component data. The report will show the data corresponding to each one of the elements that form part of the computer or selected computers.

•	Include administrative data for components. The administrative data (introduced manually) corresponding to each one of the components that make up the computer appears.

•	Include component movement. The movements carried out with each one of the components that are part of the selected computer will be shown. The comments that were added can also be included, when each one of these movements was carried out (in case these exist). To show these notes, the checkbox to include comments should be marked.

•	Report on the previously installed components. The report will show a summary with information on the components or items that had been installed previously in a computer. The information appears in columns: ID (code assigned manually by the administrator), Internal ID (code that Panda Invent associates automatically to each component and computer), Type(component type), Description (model of the component), Date, Current machine (computer to which it belongs at the moment).

After pressing the OK button, it proceeds to generate these types of reports, which Panda Invent will present in a new window.


Auditing an Independent Component

This type of inventory is used to include new items or to capture the data corresponding to items or components that were not previously installed in a computer.

Selecting the option Audit an independent component from the Inventory menu, confirmation will be requested on the action to carry out. On answering affirmatively, a dialog box appears with the list of possible types of components to add. Just select one of them and click on the Add button. Then, the name to be given to that component should be entered.

On clicking OK, a dialog box appears to indicate the characteristics of the component that we are adding. These fields are different in function of the component type.


Reports: Breakdown by HD Capacity

The Breakdown reports are generated immediately and do not require parameters to be set in a dialog box beforehand. Regarding the audited machines, several Breakdown reports exist:

Breakdown by processor

Breakdown by operating system

Breakdown by RAM

Breakdown by MHz

Breakdown by HD capacity

Breakdown by free space on disks

Breakdown by capture date

Breakdown by collection medium

Breakdown by administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown HD capacity in the Reports menu, a list is generated with computers arranged in accordance with their capacity (MB or GB) and the number of disks with capacities in the given range. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Capacity, Number of elements (indicates the number of disks, belonging to the inventory, which have a capacity within that range), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The hard disk capacity breakdown reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. If items don't exist in the selected branch, or if these are not object of the report, this won't be shown. To obtain more information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown by Free Space on Disks (Computers and Hard Disks)

The Breakdown reports are generated immediately and do not require parameters to be set in a dialog box beforehand. Regarding the audited machines, several Breakdown reports exist:

Breakdown by processor

Breakdown by operating system

Breakdown by RAM

Breakdown by MHz

Breakdown by HD capacity

Breakdown by free space on disks

Breakdown by capture date

Breakdown by collection medium

Breakdown by administrative data

From the machine display and after accessing the option Breakdown by free space on disks of the Reports menu, a list appears showing free space (MB or GB) and the number of disks that have the free spaces within certain ranges. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Free space, Number of elements (indicates the number disks, which have a capacity within this interval, %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The breakdown reports for free space on disks are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. If there are no elements in the selected branch, or if these are not subject to the report, this won't be shown. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help.

In the hard disk display, you can access the Breakdown by free space report in the Reports menu. It is generated automatically, a list appears showing free space (MB or GB) and the number of disks that have the free spaces within certain ranges. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Free space, Number of elements (indicates the number disks, which have a capacity within this interval, %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.


Reports: Breakdown by Collection Medium Report

The Breakdown reports are generated immediately and do not require parameters to be set in a dialog box beforehand. Regarding the audited machines, several Breakdown reports exist:

Breakdown by processor

Breakdown by operating system

Breakdown by RAM

Breakdown by MHz

Breakdown by HD capacity

Breakdown by free space on disks

Breakdown by capture date

Breakdown by collection medium

Breakdown by administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by collection medium in the Reports menu, this is automatically generated, a list being shown where each one of the collection media used to obtain the data from each computer is indicated. In each line the number of computers whose information has been gathered through that media is included. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Collection media, Number of elements (indicates the number of elements whose data has been gathered with the respective collection medium), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The breakdown reports by collection medium are applied to the branch of the organization tree, or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section Working with Reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown Report - Resolution (Components - Graphics Cards)
Reports: Distribution Report - Resolution (Components - Graphics Cards)

The Breakdown by resolution reports can only be generated for video cards.

On accessing the option Breakdown by resolution of the Reports menu, a list is displayed in which ranges of possible resolutions (640x480, 720x400,... etc.) of the graphics cards shown in the list are indicated. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Resolution, Number of cards, %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The breakdown reports by resolution are applied to the branch of the organization tree, or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph. To obtain more information on handling reports, consult the section Working with Reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown Report - Manufacturers (Components - Network Cards)

The Breakdown by manufacturers reports can only be generated for network cards.

On accessing the option Breakdown by manufacturers in the Reports menu, this is generated automatically, a list is shown in which the manufacturers of network cards are indicated together with the following data, in each one of the lines: Manufacturer, Number of cards, %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The Breakdown Reports for Manufacturers are applied to the branch of the organization tree or that of the physical displays that it is selected and they always show a pie chart. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with Reports, of this help.


Reports - The Reports Viewer

This utility is accessible through the menu Reports - Report viewer. It is not necessary to be in a specific type of display to use this viewer.

With each report it is possible to carry out certain operations (for a more detailed explanation, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help). One of these operations allow us to save the report shown on screen in a file (drive and folder or directory). This file has the name given by the user, but its extension will always be .PIR (Panda Invent Report).

The reports viewer is the Panda Invent tool used to open up the reports that have previously been generated and stored. On doing so, a dialog box is displayed where you can indicate the location where the report was stored at the time (drive and directory). Once this is done, just click on the OK button and the report appears on screen.


Computers, Non-IT Elements, CD and FD Filter

From the machine display and clicking on the Filter button, the characteristics that the items (machines, non-IT elements, CD-ROMs and Floppy disks) should comply with that you wish to show in this display can be indicated. The same operation is carried out  by pressing F9, or selecting the Filter option of the View menu.

A dialog box will appear where you should enter the corresponding data, so that only the elements that comply with the filter criteria are shown in the display.

The different fields to fill in this form are:

Processor. It lets you select, or write, the name of the processor that the computers should have. Also (in the second list) it is possible to indicate if the text entered should coincide completely or it can be a part of  the actual text.

FPU. It filters the computers that have a numeric processor. Selecting the option All, will display both those that have it, as well as those that don't.

MMX. It filters the computers whose processor has the MMX extension. Selecting the option All, will display both those that have it, as well as those that don't.

SIMD. It filters the computers whose processor has the extension SIMD. Selecting the option All, will display both those that have it, as well as those that don't.

3D Now. It filters the computers whose processor has the extension 3D Now. Selecting the option All, will display both those that have it, as well as those that don't.

Serial Number. It filters the Pentium III computers whose processor has a serial number. Selecting the option All, will display both those that have it, as well as all those that don’t.

MHz. It lets you indicate the range of speeds (measured in MHz) among which the processors of the computers that are to be displayed in the view should fall. There are two drop-down lists to do this, From (minimum speed) and To (maximum speed).

RAM. It lets you indicate the range of capacities (measured in MB or KB) among which the RAM memory of the computers that are to be included in the view should fall. There are two drop-down lists to do this, From (minimum capacity) and To (maximum capacity).

Disk capacity. It allows you to indicate the range of capacities (measured in MB or GB) which the hard disks of the computers that are to be included in the display should have. There are two drop-down lists to do this, From (minimum capacity) and To (maximum capacity).

Free Space. It lets you indicate the ranges of free space (measured in MB or in GB) which the hard disks of the computers that to be included in the display should have. There are two drop-down lists to do this, From (minimum free space in the hard disk that each one of the computers to display should have) and To (maximum free space).

BIOS date. It lets you indicate the range of dates among which the BIOS date of each one of the computers that are to be included in the display should be found, after applying the filter.

Capture Date. It allows you to indicate the range of dates among which the dates of the computers to be included in the display should fall.

Operating System. It lets you indicate the operating system that each one of the items that will appear in the display should have installed.

Filter. It lets you indicate which elements are to be filtered, in accordance with the data introduced in the form: Computers, CDs and FDs (CD-ROMs, Floppy Disks), or NIEs (Non IT elements).

Combine with principal software filter. It allows access to a software filter. The items that are displayed after applying the filter, will fulfill the conditions of the computers

 and software filters at the same time.

Combine with administrative data filter. It allows the access to an administrative data filter. The elements that are displayed after applying the filter, will fulfill the conditions of the computers and administrative data filters at the same time

.

Filter enabled. Marking this checkbox, the filter will be immediately applied on clicking the OK button.

The filter also lets you carry out other actions. It is possible to store the characteristics of a filter to apply it later on, without having to define it again. To do so select the option Save Filter, of the File menu. It should indicate a disk drive and a directory, as well as a file name. This will store the file that contains the data of the filter.

To apply a filter whose specifications have been stored, use the option Open filter, of the File menu (or the F3 key).


Hard Disk Filter

From the hard disks display, click on the Filter button to indicate the characteristics that the elements (machines or hard disks) to be included in this display should fulfill. Another possibility is to press the F9 function key, or to select the option Filter of the View menu.

A dialog box will appear in which you can enter the corresponding data. Only the hard disks that comply with the criteria established will be displayed.

The different fields to fill in this form, are:

Capacity. It lets you indicate the range of capacities within which the hard disks to be shown in the display should fall. The sections are From and To (measured in MB or GB).

Free Space. It allows you to indicate the free space range which the hard disks to be shown in the display should have. The columns are From and To (measured in MB or GB).

Percentage use. It allows you to indicate the usage range (measured in%) with which the hard disks to be shown in the display should have. To do so, enter the % limits in the columns From and To.

Combine with administrative data filter. It allows you to access an administrative data filter.

The hard disks that are displayed after applying the filter comply with both the hard disk and administrative data filter conditions at the same time.

Filter enabled. On marking this checkbox, the filter will be applied immediately upon clicking on the OK button.

Contrary to the filters of computers, CDs and Floppy Disks and Non-IT elements, the filters of hard disks cannot be stored for subsequent application.


Video Card Filter

If you are in the video card display, and you click on the Filter button, the characteristics that the video cards that we want to appear in this display should have can be indicated. Another possibility is to press the F9 key, or to select the option Filter of the View menu.

In any case, a dialog box will appear where you should enter the corresponding data, so that only the video cards that comply with them are shown in the display.

The different fields to fill in this form are:

Model. It lets you indicate the model or manufacturer all the video cards to include in the display should have.

RAM. It allows you to indicate the RAM memory which the video cards to be included in the display should have. There are two sections, From and To (measured in MB or KB).

BIOS Date. It allows you to indicate a range of dates with which the BIOS date of the cards should coincide.

Capacity index. It allows you to indicate the range of values (from 0 to 10) among which lie the capacities (comparative values) of each one of the cards that should appear in the display.

Combine with administrative data filter. It allows access to the definition of an administrative data filter. The graphics cards that are displayed after applying the filter comply with both the graphics card and administrative data filters at the same time.

Filter enabled. Marking this checkbox, the filter will be applied immediately upon clicking on the OK button.

Unlike the filters of computers, CDs and Floppy Disks and Non-IT elements, the filters of video card cannot be stored for subsequent use.


Printer Filter

If you are in the printer display, and you click on the Filter button, the characteristics that the printers to be included this view should have can be indicated. Another possibility is to press the F9 key, or to select the option Filter of the View menu.

The different fields to fill in this form, are:

Name.  It allows you to write the name of the printer, or that of its manufacturer.

Model. It allows you to write the printer type, within the make indicated in the previous section.

Page dimensions. It allows you to indicate what page dimensions (in millimeters) they should be allowed to print.

Bits per pixel. It allows you to indicate the bits range that the printer can print for each one of the pixel resolutions. These are the columns From and To.

RAM. It allows you to indicate the RAM memory which the printers to be included in the view should have. These are the columns From and To (measured in MB, or KB).

Resolution (ppi). It lets you indicate the resolution range (number of points per inch, ppi) which the printers to be included in the view should have. These are the columns From and To (measured in ppi, points per inch).

Capacity index. It allows you to indicate the range of values (from 0 to 10) among which lie the capacities (comparative values) of each one of the printers that should appear in the display.

Combine with administrative data filter. It allows access to the definition of an administrative data filter. The printers that are displayed after applying the filter comply with both the printer and administrative data filters at the same time.

Filter enabled. Marking this checkbox, the filter will be applied immediately on clicking on the OK button.

Unlike the filters of computers, CDs and FDs and Non-IT elements Items, the filters of hard disks cannot be stored for subsequent use.


Components Filter

The component displays on which these filters can be applied, are the following: Drives, Monitors, Sound Cards, Network Cards, Keyboards, Mousse, Other Devices, or ALL Components. If you are in any of these just click on the Filter button. Then indicate the characteristics of the filter. Another possibility is to press the F9 key, or to select the Filter option of the View menu.

In one case, there is a difference in these types of filters. If you are in the ALL Components, it is possible to indicate the Component Type, along with the model. In the other types of displays mentioned, it is not so.

The different fields to fill in this form are:

Component type.  Only appears if we are in the View ALL components.  Allows to write the component type to filter.

Model / Description.  Allows you to write the component type or its description. If you are in the ALL Components, the Model field will appear. In the remaining displays the field will take the title Description.

Combine with administrative data filter. It allows access to the definition of an administrative data filter. The components that are displayed after applying the filter comply with both the components and administrative data filters at the same time.

Filter enabled. Marking this checkbox, the filter will be applied immediately upon clicking on the OK button.

Unlike the filters of computers, CDs and Floppy Disks and Non-IT elements, the component filters cannot be stored for subsequent use.


Configuration of the Data Collection Module in Servers

Although it is evident, it is convenient to remember that to carry out the configuration of the collection module in a server, this should be installed at that time. If this is so, the steps to follow are:

1.	From Panda Administrator window the server to configure should be selected, once the Collection Module is installed..

2.	Click on the Configure button in the Panda Administrator toolbar. This will show a dialog box with the possibilities organized in two tabs:

a.	Users to Capture tab. As with the installation process, it is possible to carry out the configuration of the users on which the collection is carried out and the method of doing it in each one of them.

Advanced button.  Lets you carry out specific selections on each one of the users.

All button. On clicking it the data collection will be carried out on all the users, when they connect the server.

None button. On clicking it data is not gathered for any of the users, when they connect to the server.

Collect hardware. When carrying out the data collection, the information on the hardware of each one of its computers will be obtained. It is possible to indicate when this collection should be carried out, pressing the Schedule button.

Collect software. When carrying out the collection of the users indicated, the software information installed on each computer will be obtained. To indicate when it should take place, click on the Schedule button. It is possible that the quantity of information is very large. For this reason, the collection can take several minutes (depending on the workstation).

Collect data of user's choice. When the user is connected to the server and the collection should be carried out, the user will be able to decide if this takes place, or not. That is to say, the user has capacity to prevent this information from being gathered (hardware and software).

Collect in silent mode. The user is not aware that information is being captured.

The user edits administrative data.  Only active if it is the first capture that is carried out for that user. In this case the user will be able to introduce the administrative data manually.

b.	General configuration tab. If you want the configuration file (CONFIG.CFG) that is in the computer to be copied to the server, click on the Copy button. If you want to access to the content of the configuration file, click on the Edit button. Also, the computer where the inventory is and the directory where this is located are shown.


Update the Data Collection Module in Servers

To update the collection module in a server, this should firstly be installed in the server. To carry out this operation, proceed as follows:

1.	From the Panda Administrator window open the branch corresponding to the server (whether NT or Novell) to update. Panda Administrator will show one branch corresponding to the antivirus and another one to corresponding to INVENT.

2.	Select the INVENT branch, corresponding to that server.

3.	Click on the Update button in the toolbar. If this button is not enabled, this would indicate that the server doesn't have the data collection module installed, or that this is already updated.


Uninstalling the Data Collection Module in Servers

It is convenient to remember that, in order to uninstall the collection module in a server, this should first be installed. Proceed as follows:

1.	From the Panda Administrator window open the branch corresponding to the server (whether NT or Novell) from where you want to uninstall the data collection module. Panda Administrator will show one branch corresponding to the antivirus and another one corresponding to INVENT.

2.	Select the INVENT branch, corresponding to that server.

3.	Click on the Uninstall button of the toolbar. If this button is not enabled, it would indicate that the server selected doesn't have the data collection module installed.

4.	The following information appears: computer that contains the inventory and directory in which it is located. To begin with the uninstallation, click on the Next button.

5.	Click on the Finish button, to begin the uninstallation.


Installing the Data Collection Module in Servers

The higher the number of servers in which the data collection module is installed, the greater the number of workstations that will be audited. The wizard through which the collection module is installed creates a file denominated SERVERS.INI. To avoid the data of a workstation from appearing duplicated in several inventories, this file keeps the names of the servers that will carry out the capture and to which inventory this information should belong.

The procedure to follow in the installation of the data collection module, is as follows:

1.	From the Panda Administrator window open the branch corresponding to the server (whether NT or Novell) through which you want to carry out the data collection. Panda Administrator will show one branch corresponding to the antivirus and another one to INVENT.

2.	Select the INVENT branch, corresponding to that server.

3.	Click on the Install button of the toolbar. If this button is not enabled, it would indicate that the selected server already has the data collection module installed.

4.	Welcome window. This explains the process about to start. Click on the Next button.

5.	Select the Directory of the server in which the data collection module is to be installed. By default it will be INVCAP. Users should have read rights only, but not write rights.

6.	Select the Directory where the inventory is located. The objective is that Panda Invent obtains the organization tree and the administrative data template corresponding to the data that will be captured.

7.	Selection of the disk Drive, common to all the workstations that connect to this server (mapping).

8.	Selection of the Network type   in which the server is. Two possibilities exist:

•	Local Area Network (LAN). The search of users to on whom the captures should be carried out will be carried out in the whole tree.

•	Wide Area Network (WAN). The search of users on whom the captures should be carried out will be carried out in the possible replicas of those that are available in the server.

9.	Selection of the Users on whom the data collection should be carried out, when they connect to the server.

The list shows all the users that are connected to that server. It is possible to select the users about whom the data should be gathered and the characteristics that the capture in different cases should have.

NOTE: when you check ( · ) each one of the users, this indicates that information should be captured about that user. The collection characteristics won't affect the users that have their checkboxes enabled, but those that are selected (marked in blue). It is possible gather the data of certain users in one way and those of others in a different way. In conclusion, for the data of a user to be captured, it will be necessary to enable their corresponding checkbox.

The selection of users has certain characteristics of its own:

a.	All button. Data is captured of all users when they connect to the server.

b.	None button. Disables all the users. None of them will be captured when they connect to the server.

c.	Advanced button.  Allows to make specific selections on each one of the users.

d.	Collect hardware. The hardware information of the computers of the selected users will be gathered. It is possible to indicate when this collection should be carried out, clicking on the Schedule button.

e.	Collect software. The information of the software installed on the computers of the selected users will be gathered. It is possible to indicate when this collection should be carried out, clicking on the Schedule button. This option allows you to gather large quantities of information, so that it may take several minutes.

f.	Collect data of user's choice. The users will be able to decide if their data are captured or not (on connecting the server and when this should be carried out).  The user has the capacity to prevent or allow the collection of data (hardware and software).

g.	Collect in silent mode. The user is not aware that a data collection is being carried out (no window that indicates this appears).

h.	User edits administrative data.  Only effective the first time data is captured for a user. Only in this case the administrative data can be entered manually.

10.	Shows the Logon Script. A window appears with the final content of the Logon. It is possible to carry out modifications in it.

11.	End of the installation process. Clicking on the Finish button starts the copying of files.

NOTE: if there is some antivirus product (not Panda Software) in resident or permanent scan mode, the collection could be prolonged or produce conflicts (for example, detection of the collection program as a virus). However, if it is a Panda Software antivirus solution, Panda Invent will neutralize the activity of the antivirus during the data capture. On finalizing this capture the activity of the antivirus is resumed automatically.

12.	End of the installation process. Clicking on the Finish button starts the copying of files (Incorporate Data From Servers).


Reports: Breakdown report - Capture date
Reports: Distribution Report - Date of Capture

The Breakdown reports are generated immediately and do not require parameters to be set in a dialog box beforehand. Regarding the audited machines, several Breakdown reports exist:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM memory

By MHz..

By HD Capacity.

By Free space in disks

By Capture date

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by Capture Date in the Reports menu, a list is displayed with date ranges and the machines are organized according to their capture date. The information appearing in each line is as follows: Date of capture, Number of computers (indicates the number of computers, belonging to the inventory, whose information was captured in this period), %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The Breakdown by capture date reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph and a distribution graph. If items don't exist in the selected branch, or if these are not subject to the report, this won't be shown. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help.


Reports: Breakdown by Administrative Data Report

The Breakdown reports are generated immediately and do not require parameters to be set in a dialog box beforehand. Regarding the audited machines, several Breakdown reports exist:

By Processor

By Operating system

By RAM memory

By MHz.

By HD Capacity

By Free space in disks

By Capture date

By Collection medium

By Administrative data

On accessing the option Breakdown by administrative data in the Reports menu, it is possible to indicate which is the field or administrative data on which the report should be based. These fields should be 'date type'. By default Panda Invent shows two fields. These are those that are created initially in anyone of the templates of administrative data: Guarantee expires and Purchase date. If the administrator has created some other field of this type, you could generate a Breakdown report for each one of them.

On selecting any of the fields (through the menu Reports– Breakdown by administrative data –Distribution “...”) the generation of the report is automatic. A list is shown where each one of the time ranges is indicated (in date dd/mm/yyyy) of the possible computers, as well as the number of computers in each range. The information appearing in each line is as follows: capture dates, Number of computers, %, Cumulative number and Cumulative%.

The Breakdown by administrative data reports are applied to the branch of the organization tree or of the physical display that is selected and they always show a bar graph and a breakdown graph. If elements don't exist in the selected branch, or if these are not subject to the report, this won't be shown. For further information on handling reports, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help.


Exporting Reports

In the same way that is possible to export the information to a database, it is also possible to export the result of a report. Having generated a certain report, it is possible to work with it in word processors (Microsoft Word) and/or spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel).

Note: the export only works with the report data, the graphics are not exported.

In the first place, we should generate the report. When this is presented, it is possible to export it. To do so, click on the following button of the toolbar:

 Export report (only unsaved reports) button. The directory where the file and the name of this should be saved should be indicated. You can also decide to what file type the export should be carried out, through the drop-down list Save as file type. If in this list we select RTF Format (* .RTF), the report will be exported to a Microsoft Word document. If we select the option MS Excel (* .XLS), the report will be exported to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.


Re-classification of Software

On many occasions, the administrator can carry out modifications to the applications database. It could be that certain software is considered as principal, although the administrator has defined it as secondary. In such cases, the software data audited will take these characteristics into account. The Reclassification of Software is used for this purpose.

By means of the option Re-classify Software, of the Tools menu, the administrator can determine two possibilities (not mutually exclusive), through the corresponding checkboxes:

•	Check principal applications audited.... In this case, an analysis of all principal software is carried out to know if it should no longer be considered as such (since it was eliminated from the applications database).

•	Check secondary software audited....  An analysis of all secondary software in the inventory is carried out to class it as main, if necessary. This operation can take some time, since the quantity of audited secondary software can be very large.

On concluding the re-classification process, there is a status report.


Alerts Bar in Panda Administrator and Panda Invent

Panda Invent keeps a record in which it registers each alert that has occurred and the follow-up of the components of a computer that is audited. The warnings are shown to the administrator in the status bar, or in the lower section of the Panda Invent window. These can be configured, indicating what they should be and in what circumstances they have to be shown.

Also from the configuration, it is possible to indicate to Panda Invent to monitor all the audited components. These will also be added to the record of messages and warnings.

All the messages can be grouped into three categories: dialog boxes with an OK button, audio alerts, or text presentation in the status bar. Some of the warnings that can be configured in Panda Invent are the following:

•	Incorporation alerts. It is possible to indicate that messages are shown when incorporating new items to the inventory (computers and/or components).

•	Scheduled alerts related to administrative data. It is possible to indicate under what circumstances messages relating to the administrative data of the inventory should be shown.

•	Update or capture messages. You can indicate that an alert is shown to certain workstations when a capture has not been carried out for some time on them.

•	Alerts during the incorporation of data (they show the name of the computer in question):

•	The machine name is different from the previously audited one

•	Repeated machine name.

•	Data with date prior to that already audited.

•	The format of the data is from an earlier version of the program.

•	The element has been added to the inventory (in the first incorporation)

•	There were “X” elements unlocated.

•	There were “X” elements unidentified.

•	Incorporation of " xxxxxx" canceled: the format of the data corresponds to a later version of the program.

•	Incorporation of " xxxxxx" canceled: the format of the data is different from that in the current inventory.

Component tracking alerts:

•	Component appeared (when incorporating data, a new component has been found).

•	Missing component (when incorporating data, a component that existed before has not been found).

As mentioned, all this information is stored in the history record. To access this, the option Alerts and messages history should be selected in the Tools menu. This option is also accessible from the pop-up menu (right mouse button), in the messages section.

The data shown in the record is: Message type (INC: incorporation, SYS: system message,..),  Date when it took place, Element object of the alert, Message that was shown at that moment, branch of the organization tree in which the element object of the alert is located (Situated in...) and who received this warning (Received by...).

It is also possible to carry out certain operations from the menu that exists in this window.

File Menu.

•	Print. It shows a report on the complete record and allows you to print it.

•	Print selection. It shows a report in which only the highlighted or selected lines of the history record will appear and lets you print it.

Menu View–In initial order. If different arrangements have been carried out (clicking on the titles of the columns),  it will return to the original format of the record.

Menu Configure. It accesses the scheduled alerts configuration. Also, it will be possible to configure the characteristics of the system alerts and the tracking of components.


Recover Identification

In the inventory a computer that contains a hard disk can exist. As is logical, this hard disk is also part of the inventory. Each computer captured and incorporated by Panda Invent carries has a unique identifier. This identifier is like its passport (only one exists and it is only associated to that computer), and it is called Internal ID (it is a 12 character string).

The identifier of a computer is always stored in all of the hard disks that the computer has installed. This means that, accessing anyone of them, you can identify the computer that contains them. When the computer is connected to its server and this seeks to carry out a data collection, the first step is to recognize this computer. For this reason, it is necessary to detect the identifier. If it doesn't find it, it is considered to be a new computer.

Let us take the example of a computer with only one hard disk. Evidently, the computer identifier is stored here. Let us suppose that somebody decides to format this hard disk, or that it is definitively corrupted, or that it gets lost, etc. If the problem were only that, it would be enough to install another hard disk on the computer. But, how will we know which one is it?. That is to say, if this computer doesn't contain its identifier, we don't know which one is it. This means that, when carrying out a capture again (when, after having repaired it, it connects to the server), this won't be recognized. Therefore, the collection program will suppose that it is a new computer, ASSIGNING IT A NEW IDENTIFIER again.

After having assigned it a new Internal ID, it carries out the collection of its data. But, the data obtained from that same computer initially (but with another identifier) continues to exist in the inventory. Which are the correct ones?. Evidently the last ones that have been gathered are the most recent, but the previous ones could also be so. To sum up, a new computer whose data already existed in the inventory has been included. There will be conflicts if, moreover, some of the items were in Repair, Stores, Scrap, etc.

The solution to this problem is the automatic identifier recovery. To do this, select the machine and select the option Recover identification in the Tools menu. An alert is shown asking for confirmation of the operation. On answering affirmatively, you are asked to what server the computer in question will connect to from now on. Select one from the list and click on the OK button. In that same instant it will try to connect to this server. The Username and Password will be required.


Configuration - General

By means of this record it is possible to determine the characteristics that should be complied with when showing the corresponding data in the displays of the inventory and also, other general configuration possibilities:

When the sub-branches are viewed and when you are in the physical display...

•	Include the elements in Scrap. Having selected the display of the elements contained in the sub-branches, enabling this checkbox indicates that the items contained in the special branch “Scrap” should also be displayed.

•	Include the elements in Unlocated. Having selected the display of the elements contained in the sub branches, enabling this checkbox indicates that the elements contained in the special branch “Unlocated” should also be displayed.

•	Include the elements Unidentified. Having selected the display of the elements contained in the sub-branches, enabling this checkbox indicates that the items contained in the special branch “Unidentified” should also be displayed.

•	Include the elements in Stores. Having selected the display of the elements contained in the sub-branches, enabling this checkbox indicates that the items contained in the special branch “Stores” should also be displayed.

•	Include the elements in Repairs. Having selected the display of the elements contained in the sub-branches, enabling this checkbox indicates that the items contained in the special branch “Repairs” should also be displayed.

Delete, when incorporated, the data files located in:

•	Servers. The information captured through servers, is saved in certain files. When incorporating this data, it is possible to indicate that these files are eliminated from the server. This is what is specified when enabling this checkbox.

•	Floppy disks. The information collected through collection disks is saved in each one of these disks. When incorporating this data, it is possible to indicate that the files are eliminated from the disk. This is what is specified when enabling this checkbox.

Breakdown Reports

•	Breakdown Reports are generated for selected elements only when these number more than X.  In this case you have the option of replying the report DIRECTLY to the selected elements (without being asked for the application field): Do not ask. If this box is checked and the number of selected elements is greater than the X value, the report will be generated. This will be applied only to the selected elements, without asking the user anything. If these conditions are not met, the user will be asked to which elements it should be applied (application field).

Other general options:

•	Ask for confirmation when modifying the characteristics of the hardware of the computers manually. When you want to modify some of the hardware characteristics corresponding to a certain computer, confirmation will be requested to continue with the operation.

•	Update the information regarding the number of files in the physical display every “X” minute(s). The number of data collection files to be incorporated can vary through time (as new collections are carried out). This option allows us to indicate how often the information on the number of these files, should be updated.


Configuration - Files Extensions

It is possible to indicate the extensions of the files that Panda Invent should audit and to determine under what conditions these should be considered as principal or secondary software. In the first checkbox the characters, corresponding to the extension are written, while in the drop-down list to the right, you can select the condition under which an application will be considered as principal.

Some of the conditions that appear by default, are the following: Determine automatically, Never, Always, If more than 100 KB, If more than 1 MB, If more than 10 MB, If more than 100 MB, If less than 1 month, If less than 3 months, If less than 6 months, If it contains “Permanent” (in some part of the Path or of the File name of the file appears the text string “Definitive”), If it contains “Principal” (the file will save the text string “Principal”). Nevertheless, after having selected any one of them, it will be possible to modify their values. That is to say, although it doesn't appear in the list of options, you can determine a condition of the type “If more than 15 MB.” To do so, it would only be necessary to select “If more than 1 MB” (for example) and to modify it, writing the new value in it.

 Note: it is advisable not to determine too many file types as principal applications, as the amount of software data would increase dramatically.


Configuration - Monitoring Components

Panda Invent can carry out exhaustive tracking of each one of the items that is indicated. It can also show alerts to the administrator when some of the elements move or are eliminated from their branch, etc. It is also possible to include this incident in the Messages and Alerts History.

Regarding the hardware tracking, you can indicate which elements  should be tracked (monitor and show alert), through the section of the corresponding checkboxes: Hard disks, Disk drives, Monitors, Video Cards, Sound Cards, Network Cards, Printers, Keyboards, Mouses, and Other devices. For each one of these components, two possible checkboxes can be selected:

•	Tracking. (*). It will only be marked if you want Panda Invent to carry out automatic monitoring of each one of the marked components by itself. In such cases, each movement of the component to the not located or not identified branches will be written down in the history of messages and alerts. This doesn't imply that the corresponding alert is generated.

•	Alerts. A warning will be shown that will indicate the movement of the corresponding item. This doesn't imply an exhaustive control of the movements of each component. Three types exist: Ask for acceptance (a dialog box will appear with the OK button), Audio alert (only a sound will be emitted) or Message only (only a message will appear in the Panda Invent status bar).

As far as software monitoring is concerned, a single option exists: When principal software elements are absent from the latest data collection, keep them in the inventory for X months With it the number of months that a software component, audited previously, should remain in the inventory is indicated (even though it was not detected in the last collection).

After enabling the checkboxes corresponding to the elements to be monitored, Panda Invent will use two branches that always exist in the organization tree: Unlocated and Unidentified. The first of them stores all those items that are known (identified, you know their ID), but their location is not known (or in what computer they should be). A “suspect” item (unidentified, or unlocated), will be placed automatically by Panda Invent in the corresponding branch.

On occasions problems can exist regarding the identification of an element. It could happen that the same element is in both the Unlocated branch and the Unidentified branch. That is to say, it is not known what it is, neither where it should be. In these situations, it is necessary to recognize and to solve problem of identity.

In such a case, whenever tracking this type of component, this circumstance is indicated to the administrator and the component is assigned to the new workstation. That is to say, a movement among branches of the inventory takes place. Given this situation, it is possible to solve the identification problem. To do so, the administrator will select the conflicting item and open the pop-up menu. This displays a window where the possible coincidences appear, ordered by level or coincidence degree (from greater to lesser, in percentage). To solve the conflict, just double click on the most likely possibility (generally marked in bold).

Several possibilities can occur. We will summarize some of them:

A component has moved from one computer to another.

A component, 'X' moves from computer A  to computer B. In the data collection of the computer B the appearance of a new component is detected. Therefore, this is placed in the branch of Unidentified components (if it is located). In the same way, the data is gathered for e computer A and that the fact that component' X' no longer exists is detected. Therefore, this component will pass to the Unlocated branch (if identified).

When solving this identity, the administrator receives a confirmation indicating that the two items (in each branch) could be the same item. If the administrator confirms it, component 'X' will be assigned to computer B and it will be eliminated from computer A. Finally, Panda Invent carries out the corresponding annotation in the history file.

A component has moved from a computer to repairs.

Component 'X' is extracted from computer B to be repaired. In its place (temporarily) the component 'Y' is placed.  On collecting the data of the computer B it seems to be that the component 'X' has disappeared (a new component 'Y' also appears). For this reason, it is placed automatically in the Unlocated branch (if it is identified).

As the component 'X' has moved directly to the repairs branch, it won't be found in any computer. This situation can be solved in two ways:

1.	The administrator decides to locate the elements (or some of them) of the Unlocated branch.

2.	If a certain time has passed (established in the configuration) Panda Invent shows a message to the administrator. This warns that Unlocated components have existed for some time. The administrator should solve this conflict.

New component that is placed in a computer.

The new component, 'X', is placed in computer A. Also, it replaces the component 'Y'. When carrying out the data collection corresponding to the computer A, a new component is recognized (not identified). This is placed automatically in the Unidentified branch (if you know where they are).

To be a new component, it is not considered as missing in any other computer of the inventory. This situation can be solved in two ways:

1.	The administrator accesses the unidentified components branch and solves the situation of one of the components.

2.	If a certain time has passed (determined in the configuration) Panda Invent shows a message to the administrator. This warns that unlocated components have existed for some time. The administrator should identify these components.

When solving the identification, a window appears where the coincidence level of each one of the components is indicated. The data corresponding to each one of these items are also reflected: Description of the component, Match level, Previous machine (computer in which that component was for last time, if it is of an item located in the Unidentified branch. If it is a component of the Unlocated branch, the information shown in this column will be the name of the computer in which it is at the moment.


Configuration - System Alerts

By means of this tab it is possible to indicate to Panda Invent to show certain alerts to the administrator, on specific occasions.

Inform that a machine is not updated when the time elapsed since the last capture exceeds “X” days. It is possible that you carried out the data capture of a computer, but that the information has not been incorporated up to that moment. This means that this information is not updated. It will only be so if the administrator incorporates it. The administrator can indicate when an alert that informs about this should be shown. This is done by indicating the number of days that should have elapsed, between the last capture and the incorporation of the data.

Inform of repeated machine names when incorporating computer data. When the incorporation of the data that previously have been collected is carried out, it is possible that the names of several computers coincide. To avoid this possible ambiguity, this option has been incorporated. On enabling it, the administrator will receive an alert that warns him of such a circumstance.


Configuration - Programmed Alerts

This class of alerts refers exclusively to certain administrative data. By default, alerts can be shown regarding the information contained in the fields Purchase date and Guarantee expires: (fields defined in the original template of the inventory). However, if the administrator has included new fields to this template (during the creation of the inventory), they would also be kept in mind when generating programmed alerts.

The generation of the conditions to produce this effect works in the following way. In the first column (Field i) you should select the type of administrative data that one has to keep in mind to show the alert (by default,  Purchase date  and Guarantee expiry). The second column allows  you to select the condition of that field (to warn when there are less than... or to warn when there are more than...). By means of the last two columns it is possible to indicate the space of time that should elapse (in days or months).

Finally, it is also possible to indicate the period of time (in months) that each one of these warnings generated should remain in the file corresponding to the alerts history and messages. To do so indicate the exact number in the section to Keep alerts in the history for... “X” months.


Configuration - Data Collection

 NOTE: the changes referred to in this section only affect the machines that are audited starting from this instant. It is not possible to modify the internal ID for machines that are already audited. You should be COMPLETELY CERTAIN about the operation you are going to carry out as it involves significant changes to the internal organization of the machines in question. From here on you MUST NOT assign the same identification to two different elements in the inventory.

By default Panda Invent, generates a code that represents and identifies each one of the elements in the inventory. This is the Internal ID (it is shown in the last column of machine and component displays). This code is generated automatically and randomly. It is a 12 character string (letters) that can never be duplicated. That is to say, this is the identifier of each item of the inventory. Therefore, all the operations that Panda Invent carries out on an item are based on its Internal ID.

The administrator may not have identified each one (or part) of the elements of the inventory with its own identification code. In this case the Internal ID could serve the same purpose. Nevertheless, just the opposite can happen. That is to say, the administrator can have assigned certain codes to each one of the items to inventory. Also, you could have included them (manually) within the ID field (administrative data). In such instances, it is better for the administrator to work with these ID codes as he will be more familiar with them, instead of doing it with the Internal ID.

The Internal ID that Panda Invent associates automatically to each one of the items is a “code” vital for carrying out certain operations. However, the ID field (more important for the administrator), is not used in this way. With the option In new machines, use the external ID as the internal identifier (Internal ID), indicates that the ID that the administrator has associated to a certain item becomes the most important. This change implies taking into account that the operation can only be carried out on the new elements that are collected and incorporated to the inventory.


Introduction to Panda Administrator

Panda Software offers a single, centralized solution for local networks. This allows the administrator to manage essential shared resources. It is also possible to know what hardware / software is installed and to carry out the necessary maintenance.

In order for this (and other antivirus protection functions) to be possible, the administrator has a network administration tool called Panda Administrator. This tool addresses two of today's great needs:

•	Monitoring of machines and components (hardware and software). Carrying out an automatic inventory of all the items (computers, peripherals,... etc.) that are connected to the network, besides others that are not connected to it (stand-alone computers isolated from the network, non-IT items,... etc.). Panda Administrator is the tool that supports the network administration of Panda Invent.

•	Antivirus Control. Antivirus protection is vital nowadays. More so in computer networks, where computer viruses spread easily and quickly. Panda Software has antivirus solutions for workstations (MS/DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95/98/2000/MIllenium, Windows NT WS, OS/2) and servers (Windows NT, Novell NetWare, Lotus Notices, MS Proxy, Firewall). Each one of them is based on and uses Panda Administrator. This gives support for the use of each one of the Panda antivirus solutions.


What is Panda Administrator?

It is a tool that allows the administration of inventories carried out in the network (computers and non-IT material), as well as the different antivirus, giving simple and effective control.

Panda Administrator goes through the network identifying Windows NT, Novell NetWare, Exchange, Lotus Notices, MS Proxy and Firewall CVP servers that it finds and presenting them in a list. On these and/or on their workstations, network auditing or antivirus operations can be carried out.

Inventory Operations.

•	Installation of Panda Invent on a certain computer of the network, installation on the servers of the data collection module (the server gathers the data when the workstations are connected to it).

•	Configuration of the data collection module (lets you indicate what data is gathered, how and when).

•	Bring the data collection module up to date.

•	Uninstallation of the data collection module.

•	Data Collection. You can gather the information corresponding to a workstation (when it is connected to a certain server), to servers, to unconnected computers (stand-alone), and to other machines and non-IT elements.

Panda Software's solution for monitoring all elements (computers, or not) is Panda Invent. This tool uses Panda Administrator to work on the network.

Operations regarding antivirus protection.

•	Installation of the antivirus on workstations and servers.

•	Configuration of the antivirus on workstations and servers.

•	Update the antivirus on workstations and servers.

•	Uninstallation of the antivirus on workstations and servers.

•	Scanning servers and workstations. Both immediate and scheduled scans can be carried out.

•	Replication in BDC´s. In Windows NT servers the antivirus module can be installed in PDC´s (Principal  Domain Controllers) and it can be indicated that these replicate this installation in the BDC´s (Backup Domain Controllers). This way the BDC´s carry out the distribution of the antivirus to the workstations, avoiding that this is done by PDC´s.

Panda Software's solution that protects a local network from viruses has the following items:

Panda Antivirus for Novell NetWare servers. Offers protection in Novell NetWare servers.

Panda Antivirus for Windows NT servers. Offers protection in Windows NT servers.

Panda Antivirus for Exchange servers. Offers protection in Exchange servers.

Panda Antivirus for Lotus Notes servers. Offers protection in Lotus Notes servers.

Panda Antivirus for MS Proxy servers. Offers protection in Proxy servers.

Panda Antivirus for CVP Firewall servers. Offers Firewall protection.

Panda Antivirus for PCs in network. Offers protection in the workstations that are connected to the servers (workstations).

Panda Administrator. This is the tool that allows these antiviruses to work in the network.

Also from Panda Administrator, the status of the network can be viewed with regards to the available or active servers at any moment in time, workstations connections,... etc. This way, the administrator can know in which servers the program is installed for data collection from workstations (when these connect to the server), in which servers it is possible to install them,... etc. At the same time, it is possible to install the antivirus protection in servers and/or workstations, to know where a virus has been detected (workstation and/or servers), to eliminate it, to update the antivirus,... etc.

This is why it is useful to understand how Panda Administrator works. The antivirus solution for workstations and servers that also depends on Panda Administrator is known as the Global Virus Insurance (GVI.). This Help will not talk about from the antivirus protection, but is centered on our IT inventory product, Panda Invent.

During the Panda Invent installation process, Panda Administrator will be installed. In one of the steps corresponding to the installation wizard, you can indicate the directory in which Panda Administrator should be installed. The following step allows to select the Panda Invent installation directory.


List of Servers

In the left section of the Panda Administrator window, the servers detected are shown. Novell NetWare, Windows NT, Lotus Notices, Proxy, CVP of Firewall and INVENT Servers.

By means of the Servers button, located on the tree, it is possible to choose what type of these you wish to view in the list. The possibilities are:

•	Novell Servers: only active Novell NetWare servers will be presented.

•	NT Servers: only active NT servers will be presented

•	Exchange Servers: only active Exchange servers will be presented.

•	Lotus Notes Servers: only active Lotus Notes servers will be presented.

•	Proxy Servers: only active Proxy servers will be presented.

•	Firewall Servers: only the active CVP Firewall servers will be presented.

•	Invent Servers:  only active Invent servers will be presented.

•	NT Workstations: only the Windows NT workstations connected at that moment to a server, will be presented,.

•	All: allows the presentation in the server tree of all the possible types that  are active at that moment.

All those servers with which there is an open connection can also present a symbol + to their left. If you click on it, a “branch” under the server in question will appear, with the name of Invent. All the operations that are carried out on this section will affect the workstations that are connected to that server.

To know if a connection is open to the servers that are presented in the tree, observe the icons that each one of them has.

 Not connected: an open connection with the server doesn't exist, although Panda Administrator has detected it. To carry out the connection, double click on it

 Connected: through Panda Administrator the server has been detected and an open connection to it also exists. It is possible to carry out actions on the inventory and antivirus of the server, besides the workstations that are connected to it. If the connection does not have administrator’s rights, certain actions cannot be carried out.

The information with respect to the Data collection module that can be installed on the servers will be similarly reflected in the server tree. Each one of the possible icons are shown next along with an explanation of their meaning.

 Server in which the Data Collection Module can be installed: in this type of servers the installation of the Data collection module is possible.

 Server in which the Data Collection Module is installed: this server will gather (when so indicated and under determined configuration conditions) the workstations data (the ones indicated in the configuration), when these connect to it.


List of Workstations

On selecting the Workstations branch in a server, those that gather information and those that receive the antivirus appear, provided they have been connected to the server selected on some occasion.

The data shown is as follows:

•	ID (identification): it shows the icon of the operating system installed on the workstation and its name.

•	O.S.: it indicates the operating system installed on the workstation.

•	User: it indicates the user's name with which the workstation has been connected to the network.

•	Start Session: it shows the date and the hour at which the connection was established.

•	Number of Viruses: it indicates the number of viruses that are detected.

To see only a certain type of workstations, it will be necessary to use the Workstations menu that it is exactly above the server tree (list of servers).


Button Bar

By means of the button bar it is possible to carry out the following operations:

•	Install: it installs the Data collection module in the selected server. Starting from that instant, the server will obtain information on the hardware and/or software (depending on the configuration) installed in each workstation that connects to it (it depends on the configuration). To expand on this information, look up the section on Installation of the Data collection module in Servers of this help.

•	Configure: it allows you to indicate how the data collection should be carried out in each one of the workstations, when these connect to the server. It is possible to indicate the type of information that should be collected (hardware and/or software). We can also oblige the user to introduce the administrative data. In the same way, it can be indicated when the collection should be carried out (in each workstation) and the users (or infrastructure) or on whom it should be carried out. To expand on this information, look up the section on Configuration of the Data collection module in Servidores of this help.

•	Update: updates the Data collection module in the server that is selected.

•	Uninstall: uninstalls the Data collection module in the server that is selected. Starting from that moment, the server won't carry out any data collection.

•	Details: shows information corresponding to the selected server.

•	Create Inv. / Invent: immediately after having installed Panda Invent, this button will have the title Create Inv., since it is necessary to create an inventory before executing Panda Invent for the first time. If an inventory has already been created, the button will have the title Invent. In this case, on clicking it, will run Panda Invent. It is also possible to create an inventory, by selecting a server and accessing the option Create new inventory in the Tools menu.

•	Help: it shows the program Help file.


Panda Administrator and Panda Invent Alerts Bar

The alerts bar appears in the lower section of the window, both in Panda Administrator and in Panda Invent. The objective of these is to show the events happening in the system and to warn the administrator, in certain circumstances.

To work with the Panda Administrator alerts bar, the pop-up menu should be used (right mouse button within). The following options are presented:

•	Clear log: it erases all the information that is being shown in the alerts bar at that moment.

•	Save as...: it lets you store the information in the alerts bar as a file. You can indicate the name of the file and the directory where it should be stored. Its extension will be LOG by default.

•	View automatically: the alerts bar of Panda Administrator will be shown whenever this application opens or runs.

•	Hide: click on the button located in the bar, in the top left-hand corner. Another form of hiding the alerts bar is to select the option View in Panda Administrator menu and to click on the option Events log bar.

To work with the alerts bar of Panda Invent, the pop-up menu should be used (right mouse button within the same). The following options are presented:

•	Select all: all the information that is in the alerts bar will be selected automatically. The selected text can be copied.

•	Copy: allows to copy the text selected in the alerts bar. After marking it, you can paste it in another document.

•	View messages and alerts history: it shows a file in which all the alerts that have appeared in the alerts bar are stored (during a certain period of time that you can configure). To expand on this information, look up the section on Messages and alerts history of this Help.


View Refresh

At the moment you begin to work with Panda Administrator, this displays a list of the active servers that it has found with which you can work. This list is the one that appears in the tree or in list of servers.

It could occur that, while you have been working with Panda Administrator, some of those servers have disconnected or new servers connected that were not active or available in the beginning. In this case, if the need arises to present those servers or to connect some that don't appear in the list, it would be necessary to refresh the views of these in the server tree (in the window corresponding to Panda Administrator).

To make this possible, access the menu View in the Panda Administrator toolbar. After doing so it will be necessary to select the option Refresh views. Immediately a dialog box will be displayed where it is possible to select the following:

•	Search of new elements: only those servers that were not there before the search will be added to the list.

•	Complete data refresh: in this case the search will be such that the list will be renewed to present the entire information again (servers that already appeared in it and those that have been detected at that moment). The ones that were accessible before but after the search have not been detected as active will also disappear from the list.


Authentication

The need can arise to connect to a server with which there was a previous connection or with the same server as the one that we are working with . In this case you do not want it to ask for username and password again but simply connect to it, without difficulty and without having to introduce this data.

This operation is possible through authentication. This process will carry out the connection to the server indicated without forcing the user to introduce his/her name or password.

By default, to carry out new authentications, it is necessary to access the option Authenticate connection that is in the File menu. Another possibility will be to enable the pop-up menu in the server (clicking on it with the right mouse button) and to select the option Authenticate connection.

The authentication can be carried out automatically, in any type of servers. Nevertheless, Novell servers will carry out it without the necessity of the user intervention (at the time of the connecting to this), while in NT servers the user will indicate that he wants to be authenticated automatically in them (at the time of the connection or later on). This means that in the connection to a Novell server this will carry out the operation, but in an NT server the user should indicate that it is automatic.

Once it has been indicated that the connection (with Windows NT servers) should be automatic, Panda Administrator will take charge of carrying it out when the user wants to open a connection with any one of the available NT servers.


Print this Help File

This help file will allow you to obtain information on any topics related to the Panda Invent. In addition, it will also allow you to print either specific sections or the complete Help file.

•	It you wish to print a specific topic, just click Print on the button bar.

•	If you wish to print a whole chapter (a book containing all the pages), press Help Topics and select the book from the main Help tab (Contents). Then, just press the Print… button.

•	If you wish to print the whole Help file, press Print Help File, on the button bar. You can also use the button below (Print All) or just click here.

NOTE: the printing of the whole Help file can take some time. Depending on the printer and the configurations settings, it will take up approximately 150 pages.


Reports: Machine Report

The repair reports are similar for  both machines and components, and are dealt with jointly here. The only difference between them is that in the reports referring to machines, graphs are not shown.

The purpose of these is to monitor repairs made to the components or audited machines. Depending on the display selected, you will be able to generate reports relating to the machines or to each component type.

By selecting the option Repair reports of the Reports menu, a dialog box is displayed where the report can be defined.

•	Application field. Permits indicating if the report is to be of The whole inventory, or Only displayed elements (those of the current display and filter).

•	Date range. Makes it possible to indicate the period of time when the repairs to be displayed took place. Date ranges are selected from drop-down lists. The checkbox All eliminates the range of dates (all the machines/components that have moved will appear).

•	Arranged by. Permits indicating whether the list generated by Panda Invent should be ordered by Number of repairs or by Number of days in repairs.

•	Options. This section will only be enabled in the reports for components. It allows to indicate what should appear in the report: Show report (displays the data), Show bar Graph (displays a bar graph corresponding to the data of the report), Show pie chart. It is possible to select several options as they are not mutually exclusive.

The result is a list where the machines or components are in shown in descending order according to the number of repairs or for the number of days in repair (within the dates entered). The graphics appear at the end of the list, if they have been selected.

The Repairs report for the components shows the following data: Type (component type), ID (code that identifies the component), First (date it was first repaired), Last (date it was last repaired), Number of repairs (number of occasions that it has been repaired), Number of days (number of days that it has remained unused due to repairs).

A summary of repairs also appears for components showing the Type, the Number of repairs, the percentage of repaired components of each class, in Number of days, the Average number of days. At the end of the report a bar graph and/or pie chart can be displayed (if selected when generating the report).

The Repairs report for computers shows similar data to that of the components, with the difference that no graphics of any type are displayed and in addition the Machine column is also displayed.

For further information on report handling, look up the section on Working with Reports of this help.


"Working with Reports