watchdog.exe INSTRUCTION:

Enclosed is rev 1.1 of the watchdog program. It now incorporates a checkbox
and a time selector which allows you to set the program to shutdown (and
restart a minute later) at any time. This version also gets around the
problem of not operating properly unless the advent software is licensed on
the PC so you should be able to test it on an unlicensed copy.

It needs to be installed in the startup folder on the computer so that when
the computer reboots it will start up automatically.

When you run it it will install in the 'system tray' (near the clock on the
PC). Right-clicking on the icon will give the option to configure it. To
configure you need to select the location where advent is installed, and
also the scan frequency (suggest 1 minute). Click on apply and then you
should be able to test the startup and shutdown buttons to start and stop
the program.

It works by every minute getting the size of the CSTRANS.TXT file. The
recent sizes are displayed in the window for interest's sake. After 5
minutes of statistics being gathered it then looks at these sizes. If all of
them are non-zero and are either the same or getting larger over the 5
minutes then it will shut down the program. A minute later the watchdog will
restart the program again.

This should detect the condition which seems to be happening such as the 
CSTRANS.TXT file getting larger and larger without being consumed by the 
rest of the program.

To make it work properly the other settings which must be done in Advent
are that the Com port scan time should be 2 seconds or so - must be much 
less than 60 seconds. And under Technician/Site 'Check lock file on startup' 
must not be checked - otherwise the system will hang waiting for user input 
when the program restarts. And finally under Technician/Features 'Exit from 
Login' must be ticked so that the watchdog program is able to shut the 
Advent program down.