Employee Tracker Time & Attendance System Time Clock Synchronization For Daylight/Standard Time Change

Table of Contents 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Overview Control Module Clocks (CMI) RSI Handpunch Symcod Synel TS3000 and TS9000 Inquiry Tracker Atomic Time Sync Glossary of Terms

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Overview Time Sync - Overview As of 2007, most locales in Canada and the U.S. start and end Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November, respectively. (Prior to 2007 the dates were the first Sunday of April and the last Sunday of October.) This document will help you make Daylight Saving Time adjustments to your Advanced Tracker software and time clocks. Time clock accuracy The internal clocks are quite accurate, and once set, will keep time by themselves. However, most of the time clocks do not have any built-in calendar of when they need to ‘spring ahead’ or ‘fall back’. Your retrieval computer, however, does have this ability, because Microsoft Windows can adjust for Daylight Saving Time automatically. Therefore if you configure your retrieval software to set the time clock to the same time as the computer, your time clock will remain accurate. Windows accuracy This means, however, that the clock in your computer must always be accurate, that it does not drift by itself. Computer clocks are notorious for not keeping time perfectly, therefore the computer should get its time from a trusted external source. The most common way this is done is to have the retrieval computer pick up its time from a network server via the Windows Time service. All the workstations and other computers synchronize with the main server, and hopefully the main server picks up the correct time from an atomic clock. Another method would be for the retrieval computer to pick up the time itself from an atomic clock on the Internet. If you want the time synchronized more frequently (we recommend daily) or are on another version of Windows, many time sync utilities exist. One example is the free Atomic Clock Sync utility, described below. Time Clock Time Synchronization In general, the time clock’s time of day is set by the Advanced Tracker retrieval program. This is an optional setting in the retrieval program, though in most cases it is enabled. Occasionally automatic time synchronization is undesirable. Some reasons for this include: · The time clock is in a different time zone from the server. · There are multiple time clocks in multiple time zones served by a single server. · The location where the clock resides (e.g. the plant) wants the time to be a few minutes different from the server. · The server is unable to maintain accurate time. When the time clock is not synchronized to the server, it is necessary to set the time manually on the time clock when Daylight Saving Time starts and ends. The time clock may also occasionally need to be changed manually if its internal clock drifts over time. Retrieval Software Location Usually the retrieval software is located on a server, rather than on an individual’s workstation. Often this server is in a locked room and is inaccessible to users. Therefore it is usually the responsibility of the IT department to setup and adjust the parameters of the retrieval software. Additional Assistance This document attempts to provide all the information you need to keep your time clocks synchronized with the real world. However if you encounter difficulty you can contact Advanced Tracker for assistance, at 604.531.3774 ext 226, or by email at [email protected].

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CMI SaveTime and Genus Time Clocks

The CMI SaveTime and Genus series of data collection terminals may be served by any one of these retrieval programs: · Standard Retrieval (aka Shop Retrieval), · ATG aka All The Goodies Regardless of the program, they are all configured in much the same way: 1. Run the program in Setup mode, 2. Connect to the clock, 3. Use the time setting menu option to send your computer’s time to the clock. 4. Enable the automatic updating of the time with every retrieval (optional) You will need to repeat steps 2 through 4 for each CMI clock that you have. The specific instructions below are for ATG. If you are using Standard Retrieval or All the Goodies, you will find similar options to those described below. ATG Setup mode To run the retrieval program in Setup mode, you may already have an icon or shortcut for this purpose. If you do not, change the shortcut that you normally use to do retrieval, to include the word setup at the end of the target string. E.g., if the shortcut target is: "C:\Program Files\ATG\ATG.exe" Change it to be: "C:\Program Files\ATG\ATG.exe" setup If you change the standard shortcut, remember to change it back when you are finished with setup mode. Connect to the clock Select the clock to be adjusted in the drop-down box, and press the Connect button. Set the time Once connected, select the Operations > Time Control menu. Verify that the system time is correct, and press the Set Time button. Your CMI time clock is now in sync with the computer. Update with every retrieval (recommended) To have the retrieval program automatically update the time clock’s time whenever the retrieval program runs, go to the Setup > General menu. Check the checkbox labelled ‘Update date/time on terminal’.

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RSI Hand Punch

The RSI Hand Punch series of data collection terminals is served by the ATG retrieval program. Configure the time by following these steps: 1. Run the program in Setup mode, 2. Connect to the clock, 3. Use the time setting menu option to send your computer’s time to the clock, 4. Enable the automatic updating of the time with every retrieval (optional), 5. Enable the automatic change for the next Daylight Saving Time occurrence (optional) You will need to repeat steps 2 through 5 for each Hand Punch that you have. ATG Setup mode To run the retrieval program in Setup mode, you may already have an icon or shortcut for this purpose. If you do not, change the shortcut that you normally use to do retrieval, to include the word setup at the end of the target string. E.g., if the shortcut target is: "C:\Program Files\ATG\ATG.exe" Change it to be: "C:\Program Files\ATG\ATG.exe" setup If you change the standard shortcut, remember to change it back when you are finished with setup mode. Connect to the clock Select the clock to be adjusted in the drop-down box, and press the Connect button. Set the time Once connected, select the Operations > Time Control menu. Verify that the system time is correct, and press the Set Time button. Your Hand Punch is now in sync with the computer. Update with every retrieval (recommended) To have the retrieval program automatically update the Hand Punch’s time whenever the retrieval program runs, go to the Setup > General menu. Check the checkbox labelled ‘Update date/time on terminal’.

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Symcod Time Clock

The TT-1000 and TT-2500 data capture terminals from Symcod (the yellow clocks) do not need any special action to keep the clock in sync with the computer. As long as the Symcod retrieval program is running and communicating with the clock, the retrieval program will keep the terminal’s clock synchronized. Within a few seconds of the time changing on the computer (which will probably happen automatically when Daylight Saving Time starts or stops), the time on the terminal will change.

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Synel Time Clock

The Synel series of terminals is served by one of two programs: 1. Syncomm, from the time clock manufacturer 2. Synel Retrieve, from Advanced Tracker If data retrieval and communications is done by the Syncomm utility, configure the time by following these steps: 1. Run Syncomm 2. Use the time setting menu option to send your computer’s time to the clock 3. Enable the automatic updating of the time with every retrieval (optional) 4. Enable the automatic change for the next Daylight Saving Time occurrence (optional) You may need to repeat step 2 for each Synel terminal or group that you have. Run Syncomm To run Syncomm, you may already have an icon for this purpose. If you do not, run Syncomm.exe from its installation folder, usually C:\Syncomm\Syncomm. Set the Time Press the Activities toolbar button. With the desired clock group or terminal(s) selected in the Terminals pane, press the Set date and time button. Verify that the system time is correct, and press OK. Your Synel terminals are now in sync with the computer. Enable Automatic Time Update (optional) To have Syncomm automatically update the terminal’s time every time the program runs, set the Collect and Clear function to include the time-setting function. Press the Set-up toolbar button. In the left pane, click on Activity Screen under Program Configuration. In the top right Activity pane, press the third two-dot button under the Collect column. In the bottom right Property of Button pane, press the Command tab. In the box for Command 3, enter “100,synset-datetime” (without the quotes). Press the Apply button at the bottom. Enable Automatic Daylight Saving Time (optional) This step is not required if the time clock is being updated with every retrieval (above) Press the Edit Program toolbar button. Open the clock programming file that Advanced Tracker customized for your organization. In the left pane, click on Day Light Saving. Set the parameters accordingly. Save the programming file. Press the Activities toolbar button. With the desired clock group or terminal(s) selected in the Terminals pane, press the Programming button. This will send the updated programming parameters to the time clocks. Synel Retrieve In some cases data is collected using the Synel Retrieve program instead of the Syncomm program. In those cases the time synchronization is done via Synel Retrieve. To run the retrieval program in Setup mode, you may already have an icon or shortcut for this purpose. If you do not, change the shortcut that you normally use to do retrieval, to include the word setup at the end of the target string. E.g., if the shortcut target is: "C:\Program Files\Synel Retrieval\synel.exe" Change it to be: "C:\Program Files\Synel Retrieval\synel.exe" setup If you change the standard shortcut, remember to change it back when you are finished with setup mode.

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To have the retrieval program automatically update the time clock’s time whenever the retrieval program runs, go to the Setup > Clocks menu, or click on the Setup Clocks option, depending on the version of the program. Select the clock and press Edit. Enable the Auto update Date and Time option. If the clock is in a different time zone from the server that runs retrieval, set the Time Offset as required. Press OK to save the settings. Repeat for any other clocks.

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TS3000 and TS9000 Time Clocks

Please note that as of 2011, we have updated our ATG software to be compatible with these models of time clocks and the PEOnline software is no longer required. If you are still running PEOnline and would like to update your software, please contact our Help Desk for assistance with this. Thank you. The TS3000 and TS9000 do not need any special action to keep the clock in sync with the computer, if you are running the most recent version of ATG (aka All The Goodies) and as long as the option to Update Date and Time has been selected in ATG Setup (Setup -> General). The retrieval program (ATG) will keep the clock synchronized to the server time. Within a few seconds of the time changing on the computer (which will probably happen automatically when Daylight Saving Time starts or stops), the time on the clock will change. Please note: if you find that scans are not being retrieved from your TS3000 or TS9000 after a time change has occurred, please delete then recreate the connection in ATG Setup. This is the easiest solution to what has been identified as a hardware glitch. If you are not using a recent version of ATG (after 2011) and are still using PEOnline in conjunction with ATG, then the TS series of terminals are served by two programs: 1. PEOnline, from the time clock manufacturer 2. ATG aka All The Goodies, from Advanced Tracker Since data retrieval and communications are done by the PEOnline utility, configure the time by following these steps: 1. Run PEOnline 2. Use the time setting option under Tools -> Synchronize Time to send your computer’s time to the clock 3. Enable the automatic updating of the time by selecting Synchronize machine time with system time 4. Choose the two times during the day when you wish this synchronization to take place 5. Choose Synchronize Now to push the correct time out to the terminal and then choose OK. You can follow the above steps at any time to adjust the time on the terminal. You may need to repeat these steps for each terminal that you have.

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Online Inquiry / Web Inquiry /Employee Self Serve

These interactive programs allow employees to clock in and out using a computer instead of a physical time clock. They always use the time from the computer or server that is running the program. In the case of the Inquiry Tracker Employee program, the program usually runs on the user’s workstation, and therefore uses the time of the workstation. In the case of the web-based Inquiry, the program runs on the web-server, and therefore uses the time of the web-server. These programs do not have any configuration settings regarding the time.

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Atomic Clock Sync

There are many utilities available to keep a computer’s clock from drifting. One such example is Atomic Clock Sync. This free program will keep your computer’s clock synchronized with time servers operated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), or any other reliable public time source that uses the NTP protocol. You can set it up to run when your computer starts, as well as synchronizing the time once a day. This free download from Chaos Software Group has no spyware or advertising. Go to: http://www.worldtimeserver.com. If you cannot find Atomic Clock Sync on the Chaos website, or if Atomic is no longer available, you can Google for it.

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Glossary of Terms

2007 DST rule The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. beginning in 2007. Going from 2007 forward, Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. Canada followed the U.S. so as not to disrupt international schedules for broadcasting, air travel and other transportation. ATG A program from Advanced Tracker that retrieves scans from a number of clocks, including CMI and Hand Punch. Other types of time clocks may have their own programs to retrieve scans; the scans are subsequently processed by ATG after retrieval. The name ATG is short for All The Goodies (don't ask). Daylight Saving Time The purpose is to make better use of daylight and conserve energy. Note that the phrase Daylight Savings Time is incorrect. DST see Daylight Saving Time Time Clock Synchronization Time clocks do not get their time directly from the same source as computers do. The time clocks get their time signal from the program that retrieves the scans. Some programs connect infrequently to the time clocks, therefore the time clocks must be able to keep time on their own. Windows Synchronization Most Windows computers can synchronize their time to a 'master' computer, which in a networked environment, is typically the domain controller or active directory controller.

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