todd@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (02/10/89)
Dear Consultant,
Introducing The Consulting Log V1.8 developed at the University of Kansas.
The Consulting Log is a Terminate and Stay Resident utility running
on DOS PC machines. The Consulting Log TSR enables academic
consultants who are interrupt driven (by user's questions) to interrupt
their current computer project (be it a microcomputer project or terminal
emulation) and pop-up a window to record information for tracking and/or
user statistics.
The Consulting Log TSR is designed to facilitate the tracking of consulting
questions to enable administrators to better understand the role of User
Servants within an academic environment. The file that is generated is
intended for use in analysis with some statistical package (we use SAS, see
the file CONSULT.SAS as an example of statistics generated here at KU).
We have found at the university that in order to impress (read overwhelm)
our supervisors, the more statistical reports generated the better. Once
impressed, these supervisors prove to be formidable allies in the fight
for bureaucratic recognition.
This TSR is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible to the consultants
who must use this program. No matter what the consultants are working on--
a microcomputer wordprocessor, a terminal emulator connected to a mainframe,
etc.--quick access to the Consulting Log's window is only a keystroke
away.
Version 1.8 of the Consulting Log is free to all accredited colleges and
universities. Commercial institutions are charged a nominal fee for use
of the Consulting Log V1.8. See the License Agreement in the documentation,
CONSULT.TXT.
So, have at it. To install the Consulting Log TSR, download the two files,
CONSULT.EXE and CONSULT.TXT to your micro, create a subdirectory called
\CONSULT on your boot drive, read the instructions (CONSULT.TXT) and type
CONSULT at the DOS prompt. A word of warning: The CONSULT.EXE file is a
binary file of 20770 bytes. Be sure to transfer the file to your micro
computer as a binary file and check its size to the above number for
verification.
Using kermit, be sure to set:
SET EOF NOCTRL-Z
REMOTE KERMIT SET FILE TYPE BINARY
GET CONSULT.EXE
To download the files via the Internet, FTP to KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU
[129.237.1.10], get the files CONSULT.TXT and CONSULT.SAS in ASCII
mode, and get the file CONSULT.EXE in BINARY (IMAGE) mode:
FTP KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU
User name: anonymous
Password: (anything)
get consult.txt
get consult.sas
binary
get consult.exe
quit
Version 1.8 is not the latest version. I have finished version 2.0
of the Consulting Log which adds some special features. First,
user-defined record structures enable an administrator to modify The
Consulting Log to track information specific to his or her needs, and the
consultants can create new databases for their own personal use, all of
which can be loaded into memory when needed.
Second, Pop-up help windows provide online help to the consultants. These
help windows can be modified to display any bit of information which may
or may not be associated with The Consulting Log. This help is not
context-sensitive, however a help index allows random access to the various
windows.
Finally, Context-sensitive pop-up help windows for each field in the
record allows the user to choose from a predefined list of values, thus
forcing conformity in information being collected. This feature will make
a great difference in reducing the "other" category when generating
statistics.
Because the work spent in upgrading the Consulting Log was considered
"over and above the call of duty" (read unnecesary but nice) by my
superiors, a nominal charge will be charged for upgrading to the new
version. This charge has not been determined, but I'm lobbying for
around $50.00 per machine or less. Contact me if you're interested in
more information.
I hope you find the Consulting Log useful in your pursuit for Universial
Understanding of the User Servants Role in the Big Picture. Please,
spread this program around. Send it to your colleagues, your friends,
your family, and the government. We all need proof in our justification
of deeds.
Sincerely,
Todd M. Gochenour
User Services
Academic Computing Services
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS, 66045
(913)864-0451
TODD@ukansvm.cc.ukans.edu