Prev: How to handle a submitted form with no changes -- bestpractices sought
Next: Counting Children!
From: Richard Quadling on 13 Sep 2010 06:26 On 12 September 2010 17:32, tedd <tedd(a)sperling.com> wrote: > Hi gang: > > I have a client who wants his employees' access to their online business > database restricted to only times when he is logged on. (Don't ask why) > > In other words, when the boss is not logged on, then his employees cannot > access the business database in any fashion whatsoever including checking to > see if the boss is logged on, or not. No access whatsoever! > > Normally, I would just set up a field in the database and have that set to > "yes" or "no" as to if the employees could access the database, or not. But > in this case, the boss does not want even that type of access to the > database permitted. Repeat -- No access whatsoever! > > I was thinking of the boss' script writing to a file that accomplished the > "yes" or "no" thing, but if the boss did not log off properly then the file > would remain in the "yes" state allowing employees undesired access. That > would not be acceptable. > > So, what methods would you suggest? > > Cheers, > > tedd What operating system is he using? Does he (for example), log into his computer and logoff/shutdown when he goes home? If he is using Windows (and I'm sure there are many ways to achieve this), then in the Startup folder, a small PHP script which sets a flag "I'm here", would allow the DB to know he's at least logged in. There are different ways to do this. http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_21195727.html covers login/logout/startup/shutdown. Do they have a clock card system for clocking in/out the building? Could you read the database that the clockings are logged in? An odd number for the day = he's in, even = he's out, missed clocking = screwed/guess. Ideally you want to "hook" into his normal activity if you can. -- Richard Quadling Twitter : EE : Zend @RQuadling : e-e.com/M_248814.html : bit.ly/9O8vFY
From: Steve Staples on 13 Sep 2010 09:10 here's a silly idea... put the database on his computer (or the entire app). that way, when he's *there* he is logged in. if the computer is off, he's not there, the app wont work (and the database). Steve On Mon, 2010-09-13 at 11:26 +0100, Richard Quadling wrote: > On 12 September 2010 17:32, tedd <tedd(a)sperling.com> wrote: > > Hi gang: > > > > I have a client who wants his employees' access to their online business > > database restricted to only times when he is logged on. (Don't ask why) > > > > In other words, when the boss is not logged on, then his employees cannot > > access the business database in any fashion whatsoever including checking to > > see if the boss is logged on, or not. No access whatsoever! > > > > Normally, I would just set up a field in the database and have that set to > > "yes" or "no" as to if the employees could access the database, or not. But > > in this case, the boss does not want even that type of access to the > > database permitted. Repeat -- No access whatsoever! > > > > I was thinking of the boss' script writing to a file that accomplished the > > "yes" or "no" thing, but if the boss did not log off properly then the file > > would remain in the "yes" state allowing employees undesired access. That > > would not be acceptable. > > > > So, what methods would you suggest? > > > > Cheers, > > > > tedd > > What operating system is he using? > > Does he (for example), log into his computer and logoff/shutdown when > he goes home? > > If he is using Windows (and I'm sure there are many ways to achieve > this), then in the Startup folder, a small PHP script which sets a > flag "I'm here", would allow the DB to know he's at least logged in. > > There are different ways to do this. > http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_21195727.html > covers login/logout/startup/shutdown. > > > Do they have a clock card system for clocking in/out the building? > Could you read the database that the clockings are logged in? An odd > number for the day = he's in, even = he's out, missed clocking = > screwed/guess. > > Ideally you want to "hook" into his normal activity if you can. > > > > -- > Richard Quadling > Twitter : EE : Zend > @RQuadling : e-e.com/M_248814.html : bit.ly/9O8vFY >
From: Ashley Sheridan on 13 Sep 2010 09:17 On Mon, 2010-09-13 at 09:10 -0400, Steve Staples wrote: > here's a silly idea... > > put the database on his computer (or the entire app). that way, when > he's *there* he is logged in. if the computer is off, he's not there, > the app wont work (and the database). > > Steve > > > > On Mon, 2010-09-13 at 11:26 +0100, Richard Quadling wrote: > > On 12 September 2010 17:32, tedd <tedd(a)sperling.com> wrote: > > > Hi gang: > > > > > > I have a client who wants his employees' access to their online business > > > database restricted to only times when he is logged on. (Don't ask why) > > > > > > In other words, when the boss is not logged on, then his employees cannot > > > access the business database in any fashion whatsoever including checking to > > > see if the boss is logged on, or not. No access whatsoever! > > > > > > Normally, I would just set up a field in the database and have that set to > > > "yes" or "no" as to if the employees could access the database, or not. But > > > in this case, the boss does not want even that type of access to the > > > database permitted. Repeat -- No access whatsoever! > > > > > > I was thinking of the boss' script writing to a file that accomplished the > > > "yes" or "no" thing, but if the boss did not log off properly then the file > > > would remain in the "yes" state allowing employees undesired access. That > > > would not be acceptable. > > > > > > So, what methods would you suggest? > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > > tedd > > > > What operating system is he using? > > > > Does he (for example), log into his computer and logoff/shutdown when > > he goes home? > > > > If he is using Windows (and I'm sure there are many ways to achieve > > this), then in the Startup folder, a small PHP script which sets a > > flag "I'm here", would allow the DB to know he's at least logged in. > > > > There are different ways to do this. > > http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_21195727.html > > covers login/logout/startup/shutdown. > > > > > > Do they have a clock card system for clocking in/out the building? > > Could you read the database that the clockings are logged in? An odd > > number for the day = he's in, even = he's out, missed clocking = > > screwed/guess. > > > > Ideally you want to "hook" into his normal activity if you can. > > > > > > > > -- > > Richard Quadling > > Twitter : EE : Zend > > @RQuadling : e-e.com/M_248814.html : bit.ly/9O8vFY > > > > > That's a genius idea! Thanks, Ash http://www.ashleysheridan.co.uk
From: tedd on 13 Sep 2010 09:32 At 9:10 AM -0400 9/13/10, Steve Staples wrote: >here's a silly idea... > >put the database on his computer (or the entire app). that way, when >he's *there* he is logged in. if the computer is off, he's not there, >the app wont work (and the database). > >Steve Silly or not, that *would* work. Now I have to figure out how to do that. Thanks, tedd -- ------- http://sperling.com/
From: tedd on 13 Sep 2010 09:36
At 11:55 PM -0400 9/12/10, Paul M Foster wrote: > >I hate to seem flippant, but here would be my conversation with this >customer: > >Customer: "My employees got access to the database while I was gone >yesterday!" > >Consultant: "Well, let's see. Oh, it appears you didn't properly log >out." > >Customer: "Yes, but I was *gone*. They weren't supposed to be able to >access the database unless I'm *here*." > >Consultant: "The only way we know that is if you log in and log out >properly. Now, if you like, we can put a nanny-cam in your office, and >whenever you're not there (like in the bathroom), the whole thing shuts >down. That will cost $x. Your choice. We've been working on the >mind-reading extension to PHP, but it's not finished yet." Customer: Thanks for your opinion. We'll be in touch. Customer to his secretary: Let's find someone who knows how to do this. Cheers, tedd -- ------- http://sperling.com/ |