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Chapter 2 - Configuring Staffinder Settings

The Preferences screens can be opened in the following methods:  Click View > Preferences on the Menu Bar, clicking the Preferences button on the Tool Bar.

Preferences are broken down into five (5) screens, they are detailed below:

Options Screen:
The Options screen (see Figure 2.0) contains many setting that determine how Staffinder starts up and shuts down.  Below is an explanation of these settings:

Figure 2.0

Prompt for user name at Startup:  When this selection is selected, Staffinder will show the log in screen when the program starts.  This is a good option if you share your computer with other users.  If this is not checked, it automatically logs in the last successfully logged on user.

Automatically sign me "In Office" at start up:  This option will automatically change your status to "In Office" when you log into Staffinder.  This option is best left on, as it keeps you from having to remember to sign In Office when the program starts.

Automatically sign me "Out for the Day" at shut down:  This option will automatically change your status to "Out for the Day" when Staffinder is closed.  This option is also best left on as it helps you keep your status up to date.

Warn before automatically signing me 'Out for the Day":  This option works with the option above it.  If this option is selected, Staffinder will pop up a screen telling you that your status is about to be changed to "Out for the Day" because the program is closing.  Options on this screen will let you keep the same status if needed.  We recommend leaving this option selected.

Disable Close button: When this option is selected and you click the 'X' button to shut down Staffinder it will minimize and not shut down.  This is handy if you frequently close down staffinder by mistake and wish to leave it running during the day.

Minimize Staffinder After Logging In:  When this option is selected, Staffinder will automatically move to a minimized condition.  You can double-click the icon in the system tray to maximize staffinder again.

Enable Idle Workstation Detection After [ x ] Minutes:
When this option is selected, Staffinder will monitor your keyboard and mouse for activity.  If no activity is detected in the time selected in X (minutes), your status will be automatically changed to "Unknown - Status Automatically Changed by System".  Once Staffinder detects any keyboard or mouse input, your status will automatically be changed back to "In Office".

Show Sign In/Out on Double Click:
Staffinder gives each user the ability to choose what occurs when they double-click a user name in the Employee Grid.  If this option is selected, double-clicking an employee brings up the Sign In/Out" screen.  Otherwise it shows the Employee Properties screen

Refresh Screen:
The Refresh screen (Figure 2.1) contains only one option.  This option allows each user to determine a Refresh interval for their PC.  Some employees (like receptionists) need this information updated automatically on a frequent basis so they can relay the information to other employees or customers.  Normal employees may only need the information a few times a day, where a manual refresh would most likely work.  If you are in a position where you are constantly accessing this information throughout the day, you should choose a frequent refresh time like 1 or 5 minutes.  If you don't need the information very frequently, choose 15 minutes or Never.

Figure 2.1

Reminders Screen:
Staffinder can alert you on when to start work, stop work, take a break and take lunch.  The Reminders screen (Figure 2.2) in Preferences is where you configure these features.  All reminders give you three options when they appear.  You can perform the action (like Sign In or take a Break), you  can skip it altogether, or you can postpone the event and be reminded later.  Below is the Reminder configuration screen:

Figure 2.2

Reminder Configuration:
Each Reminder contains at least two pieces of configuration information.  First, each one contains a checkbox.  This checkbox is used to enable or disable the reminder.  A checked Reminder is active and will start generating pop-up Reminders at the time specified in the time box.  Use the up/down arrows for each reminder to specify the time of day you want the Reminder to begin popping up messages.

Additionally, selections in Break Times allow users to specify the typical length of their breaks and lunch.  These times (in minutes) will be used to automatically determine what time the employee will return.  The return time will be inserted into the employee Back At column.

Appearance Screen:
Staffinder, through the Appearance screen (Figure 2.3) allows each user to configure certain cosmetic settings.  The settings are described below:

Figure 2.3

Show Gridlines:  This setting, when checked shows vertical and horizontal gridlines in the Employee Grid.

Auto size row height based on contents:  When this option is selected, cell data that is too long to be displayed in the current column width will wrap inside the cell, causing the row to grow in height.

Windows Color Styles:   If your running an older version of windows or using a low color depth setting you will want to disable this feature.  This can happen in environments like Citrix or Terminal Server where your color depth cannot exceed 256.  In order versions of windows like 9x or NT, you may encounter cases where the color cannot correctly display or your icons appear distorted.  By disabling this feature Staffinder will display using the standard colors and turn off the gradient effects.

Font Style:   If you have a favorite font, or are having trouble reading the default font, click the Change Font button and select a new font, font size, bold, italics... whatever suits your needs.

Font Color:  Continue to customize you own look for Staffinder by selecting your favorite font color.

My Group Screen:
Many times you might want to track the locations of employees in different departments.  Typically this would require finding the employees in the Everyone view or selecting each department for the employee(s) you want to view.  My Group (Figure 2.4) was created to allow each employee build a custom list of employee, regardless of what Department they are in. 

Figure 2.4

Building a Group:
Building a Group in Staffinder is easy.   The process is simply to move employees from the Employee List box (left side) to the Employee in My Group box (right side).  A drop down list for Department is available to help you locate employees within your organization.

Once you have created your group, simply click My Group in the Company Tree (left side of screen) to see only the employee you selected, regardless of their department.  You can work with employees in your group as you normally would.

You can add and remove people from your group as often as needed.

Staffinder contains settings that allow each employee to change which employees, if any, can manipulate their In/Out status or set their Do Not Disturb flag.  If the Staffinder administrators have granted this right, employees can make changes as needed using the Security screen (Figure 2.5).  Buttons and selections on the Tool and Menu bars will be grayed-out if administrators have locked this feature.

Figure 2.5

Changing Your Security Settings:
First, this screen requires you to enter your Staffinder username and password before any changes can be made to the screen controls.  If you'd like to change your password, click the Change button and follow the screens that appear.  Once you have successfully entered your username and password, you may adjust the following controls:

Security Disabled:  Click this option if you want to allow any employees to change your status from their desks.

Security Enabled:  By selecting this option, you make the choices below it available.

Employees cannot change my status:  Select this option if you would like no other employees to be able to change your status from their desk.

Receptionists can change my status:  This allows persons with Receptionist status to change your status from their desk.

My manager can change my status:  This allows the person assigned as your manager to change your status from their desk.

Employees in my department can change my status:  This allows all employees in your department to change your status.

Custom Security:  Clicking the Settings button allows the user to specify other employees who need the ability to change their In/Out status.  The following screen (Figure 2.6) is used to selected the individual employee(s).

Figure 2.6

 

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